by admin | Nov 11, 2014 | Books, Historical, Romance, Western
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingDreaming on DaisiesDavid C. Cook (October 1, 2014)byMiralee Ferrell
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Miralee and her husband, Allen, live on 11 acres in Washington State. She loves to minister to women (as a certified Lay Counselor with the AACC) or through her writing, riding her horse, working in her flower beds and playing with her dogs—her 7 lb, long-haired Chihuahua, Lacey, spends a lot of time on her lap while Miralee is writing. Miralee speak at various women’s functions and has taught at writers’ conferences. She’s been writing since 2005, and her first book released in 2007. Since then, she’s had 10 more books release, both in women’s contemporary fiction and historical romance, and she’s had the honor of being a best-selling and award-winning author.
Learn more about Miralee and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When her father’s debts, brought on by heavy drinking, threaten Leah Carlson’s family ranch, she fights to save it. When handsome banker Steven Harding must decline her loan request, he determines to do what he can to help. Just as he arrives to serve as a much-needed ranch hand, Leah’s family secrets—and the pain of her past—come to a head. They could destroy everything she’s fought for. And they could keep her from ever opening her heart again.
This is western historical romance that offers hope and healing to the deepest wounds in a woman’s past.
If you’d like to read the first chapter of Dreaming on Daisies, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
I’m not sure how but I missed the first two books in the Love Blossoms in Oregon series. Now that I have read Dreaming on Daisies, I guarantee that I will definitely acquire them. I would love to read the backstories on some of the characters I met in this book.
Although the third book in the series, I can attest to the fact that Dreaming on Daisies can easily stand on its own merit. Although it is evident that many of the supporting characters probably had more pivotal roles in the earlier novels, knowing their background is not essential to the enjoyment of this one. Dreaming on Daisies may be historical fiction but many of the issues that confront Leah Carlson and Steven Harding are very little different than those faced by actual people in modern society. The author deftly illustrates the emotional, physical, and financial toll that addiction, abandonment, and unforgiveness can have on so many individual lives.
Dreaming on Daisies is an emotionally charged story with wonderfully realistic characters and a believable plot. Leah was a surprisingly strong young woman whose determination and work ethic managed to hide her vulnerability – most of the time. Steven may have appeared to be a city slicker banker but his dreams for the future included land and a home of his own – and those dreams may have begun to include Leah in them. Despite her apparent strength, there was something about Leah that brought out Steven’s protective instincts and his desire to help her pulled him directly into her family drama and secrets.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dreaming on Daisies with its strong emphasis on faith, forgiveness, and reconciliation. I look forward to reading the preceding novels of this series as soon as I can.
by admin | Nov 7, 2014 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Texas
MY REVIEW:
I am most familiar with Amanda Cabot’s historical novels but as I have enjoyed each and every one of them, I felt certain that I would also enjoy “At Bluebonnet Lake”, her latest novel which is contemporary fiction. I am happy to confirm that I did indeed enjoy every page.
I have a tendency to love books set in Texas, both historical and contemporary so “At Bluebonnet Lake” immediately had that going for it. I also tend to like stories with cowboys in them. Greg is NOT a cowboy. In fact he is a software designer who has made a fortune with the company he recently sold. Cowboy or not, Greg is just the right hero material for this book and I quickly forgave him for not being a cowboy. I liked the fact that Greg appeared to be an ordinary person like everyone else and no one knew how wealthy he was. Despite his wealth, he still battled deep-rooted insecurities instilled in him as a child.
On the other hand, Kate was an up-an-coming marketing guru with an eye on a partnership in the near future. With that goal in sight, she was not at all excited about spending an entire month in such a backwoods, run-down resort but her love for her grandmother kept her there. I will admit that I did not care very much for Kate at the beginning, but it didn’t take long at Rainbow’s End for her true colors to shine. Her interaction with the resort staff and people in the nearby town revealed a compassionate heart and a desire to help others. Kate’s drive and ambition stemmed from a desire to prove herself worthy.
There were so many things to like about this book. The characters were lifelike and quite likeable for the most part. Kate’s grandmother was a joy with just the right touch of wisdom and youthful determination. The plot moved along at a good pace and had a few surprises in store including a bonus romance. Faith was an integral part of the story but was never intrusive. The end was as expected but all the fun was getting to it.
“At Bluebonnet Lake” is about two very different people – one who has made it to the top of his field and is searching for a more simple life and one who is still driven to achieve the goal they have set before them. So what happens when these two meet and fall in love? Can they really find a future together? Will either be willing to even compromise their dreams for the other? I guess you will have to read the book to find out but I guarantee that you will enjoy the journey to learn their fate. I look forward to the next book in this series.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Her life is set to warp speed. His is slowing to a crawl. But love has its own timing.
Marketing maven Kate Sherwood’s world is fast-paced, challenging, and always changing. The last thing she wants to do is grind to a halt at Rainbow’s End, a dilapidated resort in the Texas Hill Country. Still, she cannot deny her ailing grandmother’s request to visit the place where she and her deceased husband spent one glorious week fifty years ago. There, Kate meets Greg, who appears to be the resort’s unassuming handyman. But there’s more to Greg than meets the eye–billions more, in fact.
Kate isn’t looking for romance, but she can’t deny the sparks of attraction that fly every time she and Greg are together. Could there be a future there? Or will Kate’s long-sought promotion take her back to the big city?
Amanda Cabot invites you to step into a place away from the pressures of the day. You might be surprised by what you find at Rainbow’s End.
Endorsements
“Two insecure overachievers meet in an unlikely setting and find themselves confronted by upside-down and inside-out questions: What, and who, is truly important in life? Anyone who loves a story of transformation (and who doesn’t?) will thoroughly enjoy Amanda Cabot’s At Bluebonnet Lake, set in the beautiful Hill Country of Texas.”
Suzanne Woods Fisher, award-winning, bestselling author of The Inn at Eagle Hill series
“Kate Sherwood has given up chasing rainbows of romance to concentrate on her career goals, but then she comes to Rainbow’s End, where love is in the air. In At Bluebonnet Lake, readers are sure to enjoy Amanda Cabot’s characters and her Texas Hill Country setting, a place rich in atmosphere and romance.”
Ann H. Gabhart, author of Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Love Comes Home
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of the Texas Dreams series, Christmas Roses, Summer of Promise, and Waiting for Spring. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers Best. She lives in Wyoming. Find out more at www.amandacabot.com.
by admin | Nov 6, 2014 | Books, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Quilts, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Quilted by Christmas is a charming love story filled with memorable characters, especially Taryn’s feisty grandmother Jemma. Set in North Carolina during the weeks leading up to Christmas, the story brings to light how our decisions can affect our life and those of others for many years to come.
The man Taryn loved has returned home after twelve years away in military service. Because of one huge secret made out of good intentions and because of the advice of others, Taryn wants to avoid Justin as much as possible. Due to a bit of manipulation by Jemma and subsequent events, Taryn and Justin are forced to spend more time together than she had planned. Their relationship seems so comfortable, just like old times that Taryn finds herself hoping for the impossible. Will Justin hate her if she reveals her secret?
Quilted by Christmas reminded me of the old axiom that begins with “Oh what tangled threads we weave…” So many decisions were made based on wounds inflicted by other people and so many secrets were kept – not only by Taryn. I loved the way Taryn learned to trust the Lord with her secrets and eventually learned the power of truth and forgiveness. I also liked the family quilt history and how the quilt Taryn and Justin worked on together eventually forced the truth out into the open. Quilted by Christmas is a perfect novel for the coming holiday season.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A grandmother’s last wish is to communicate God’s love through an Irish chain quilt.
Taryn McKenna believes she’s easy to forget. Abandoned by her parents and left behind when her high school sweetheart joined the army, she vows to never love again and throws herself into her love for the outdoors and the pursuit of a college degree—something no one else in her family has ever accomplished. Her goal, as a young teacher in the hills of North Carolina, is to leave a legacy in the lives of the middle?schoolers she teaches.
When Taryn’s grandmother Jemma, the only other person who ever held her close, has a heart attack that reveals a fatal medical condition, Taryn is corralled into helping Grandma work on a final project—an Irish chain quilt that tells the story of her history and the love Jemma knows is out there for Taryn. As the pieces of the quilt come together, Taryn begins to see her value. Can she learn to believe that God will never leave her behind even though others have?
Purchase a copy and learn more at the Quilts of Love website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jodie Bailey is Tarheel born and bred. After 15 years as a military spouse, she settled with her family back in North Carolina. She is the author of the military suspense novel “Freefall” and is a contributor to a devotional for military families, “Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home.” While not working on her next novel, she teaches middle?schoolers to love writing as much as she does.Find out more about Jodie at http://JodieBailey.com.
Quilts of Love | QUILTED BY CHRISTMAS –
Kindle Giveaway & “Merry Quilted” Facebook Party!
Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey. October’s QOL release is a warm Christmas tale of God’s steadfast love.
Enter to win a Kindle HDX, and RSVP for the “Merry Quilted” Quilts of Love Facebook party on December 9th.
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- Two copies of Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey (One for you and one to give away as a gift!)
- Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll
- Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven
Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 16th. Winner will be announced November 17th at the Quilts of Love blog.
Wait! There’s more! RSVP for the “Merry Quilted” Quilts of Love Christmas Book Chat Party on December 9th and connect with some of the Quilts of Love authors. Jodie Bailey, Laura V. Hilton, Cindy Loven, Cathy Elliott, and Gina Welborn will be hosting a “merry” evening of book chat, Christmas traditions, prizes, and more!
{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}
RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.
Hope to see you on December 9th!
by admin | Nov 6, 2014 | Books, Christmas, Novella, Romance
MY REVIEW:
The Yuletide is the latest release in The 12 Brides of Christmas novella collection that is being released during the weeks leading up to Christmas 2014 by Shiloh Run Studios. Short but sweet, this tale is just the right length for an evening relaxing by the fire after a long day of shopping or other holiday preparations.
With a historical setting on the prairies of Nebraska, this Christmas love story features Ewan Murray who loves his life-long friend Kate McDougall but because of circumstances beyond his control, has very little chance of winning her from the banker’s son who is much more able to provide for her. Challenged by her father to earn $70 by Christmas in order to win her hand, Ewan works as hard as he can but has little hope that he can achieve his goal in time.
Although in some aspects, “The Yuletide Bride” is somewhat predictable, it is peppered with interesting tidbits such as handmade reed flutes, Kate’s efforts to learn to play bagpipes, and a tense snowstorm rescue. Ewan’s faith and integrity combine to make him a worthy hero. The contrast between Kate’s two suitors will have the reader rooting for Ewan’s success.
Another fun story from The 12 Brides of Christmas collection.
This book was provided for review by Shiloh Run Studios.
Ewan Murray and Kate McDougall hold a mutual appreciation for music—and each other. But as she comes of age, Ewan realizes he must do something to prove his worth to her banker father. Will a refurbished heirloom and a sudden snowstorm be the key to earning permission to marry?
More About The Yuletide Bride with Michelle Ule
How about a short novella story that features a young man working hard to save up the incredible sum of $70 to win the hand of his young sweetheart in 1874 Nebraska?
What if we mix in pan pipes, bagpipes, a fiddle and an unhappy teamster who could never understand mathematics?
Barbour Publishing first approached a handful of writers about putting together this innovative collection around the infamous Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas. We were asked to choose one of those days, come up with an alternate title and write a story.
I figured most writers would aim for “five golden rings,” so I steered in a different direction, to one of the more obscure titles: 11 Pipers Piping.
They’re in The Yuletide Bride.
You just have to look for them.
I’ve been a musician since I received a piano for Christmas when I was six. I studied piano all through school and eventually extended my love for music to the woodwinds. After a short detour into percussion, I’ve learned to play the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, alto recorder and alto saxophone.
At our current church, I sing in the soprano section of the choir and play in a woodwind ensemble (clarinet–everyone’s favorite instrument!) once a month.
Since I also dance four days a week, you can say that music runs through my life all the time!
For this Christmas novella, I wanted to write a fun story that incorporated those eleven pipers and that also touched on a theme pertinent to many these days: making enough money to live on.
Ewan faces the biggest challenge of his life when his longtime sweetheart’s father asks him to prove himself capable of supporting Kate. He has to earn $70 by her Christmas birthday, or he’ll give her hand in marriage to a local banker.
Kate, for her part, learns what it means to be a helpmeet as she watches and tries to help Ewan earn the money for their future.
And then there’s the bagpipes . . .
I didn’t do any particular research while working on this book other than an attempt to play the bagpipes owned by my friend Bill Cummings, former North America clan chief for the Cummings line. We’ve got a video of me attempting to be a gawk, er, sound out of the pipes and it was fun to try.
In terms of Christmas celebration on the prairies of Nebraska–chosen because it was one place where reeds grew where it might snow at Christmastime–I relied on the stories told me by my grandmother of her family’s childhood, and also what I read in Laura Ingalls Wilder‘s Little House books. The striped candy Ewan associates with Christmas is a direct nod to young Laura.
I’m a genealogist and my massive family history (available in the Library of Congress and featuring more than 900 end note citations) is suitably called Pioneer Stock. I love the stories I unearthed about my family as I wrote that book before Ancestry.com was invented–so I did all the library-visiting research myself. While my mother was born in Sicily, my father’s ancestors first arrived in North American in 1627 Maryland. I loved researching and writing about their lives set against American history.
I have an entire page on my website devoted to my genealogy. Check it out if you think you might be related to me!
The Yuletide Bride is the first of two parts of a story concerning the MacDougall family. In writing this first Christmas novella, I discovered one of the seemingly “throw away” characters, actually had more poignancy and heft to him than I realized. I’m delighted Malcolm will have a story of his own in next summer’s The Sunbonnet Bride.
For quarterly information on Michelle’s writing and to keep tabs on what’s happening, subscribe to her email newsletter, by clicking here.
Who is Michelle Ule?
Michelle Ule is the author of five novellas and a Navy SEAL novel, including The Dogtrot Christmas which appeared in the New York Times best-selling A Log Cabin Christmas Collection (with Margaret Brownley) and last year’s best-selling A Pioneer Christmas Collection (co-authored with Vickie McDonough and Margaret Brownley!). A native of San Pedro, California, she played in the UCLA band and every year bakes a Ule log for her family’s Christmas celebration. She lives in northern California these days where she writes, reads and plans the next trip to an exotic location.
You can learn more about Michelle and read her twice-a-week blog at www.michelleule.com
You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest (for a Yuletide Bride Pinterest board, along with one about all the authors of The 12 Brides of Christmas).
Miralee and her husband, Allen, live on 11 acres in Washington State. She loves to minister to women (as a certified Lay Counselor with the AACC) or through her writing, riding her horse, working in her flower beds and playing with her dogs—her 7 lb, long-haired Chihuahua, Lacey, spends a lot of time on her lap while Miralee is writing. Miralee speak at various women’s functions and has taught at writers’ conferences. She’s been writing since 2005, and her first book released in 2007. Since then, she’s had 10 more books release, both in women’s contemporary fiction and historical romance, and she’s had the honor of being a best-selling and award-winning author.
