by admin | Nov 27, 2013 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Hawaii, Quilts, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingAloha RoseAbingdon Press (November 19, 2013)byLisa CarterABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A word from the author:
I am a wife and mother. My husband and I have two daughters and make our home in the beautiful state of North Carolina.
I am a teacher. With a Master’s degree in history, I have taught at the university, high school and middle school levels. After years of church involvement as a soloist, choir member and worship leader, I also teach music.
I am a writer. Delighted by the rhythm and musicality of words, I have been writing since childhood. In 2001, I won the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) Story Writing Contest that re-ignited a lifelong love of writing.
I am on a journey of faith. My ultimate desire through my life and my writing is to proclaim the truth of God’s Word, His redeeming love as seen in the life of Jesus Christ and to help others know for themselves this great, awesome God of all comfort and wisdom. He is enough for every need.
Learn more about Lisa and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Laney Carrigan sets out to find her birth family, her only clue is the Hawaiian quilt—a red rose snowflake appliquéd on a white background—in which she was found wrapped as an infant. Centering her search on the Big Island and battling fears of rejection, Laney begins a painstaking journey toward her true heritage. Kai Barnes, however, is determined to protect the people he’s come to regard as family. He thinks Laney is nothing more than a gold digger and blocks every move she makes toward her Hawaiian family. As their conflict escalates, it puts at risk the one thing that Kai and Laney both want most—a family.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Aloha Rose, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
With the quilt she was wrapped in when abandoned on her adoptive parents’ doorstep the only clue, Laney Carrigan’s quest to find her birth family quickly leads her to Hawaii where she connects with a grandmother and great aunt. She grows to love her long lost relatives as well as the lady helping to care for her grandmother who is losing her battle against dementia. The only fly in the ointment is Kai Barnes, her adopted cousin. Their love/hate relationship is a source of stress for both Laney and Kai – primarily because of unresolved issues in their lives.
Aloha Rose is a beautifully written novel with wonderful characters who are so alive! The plot is filled with emotional ups and downs as well as quite a few twists and a couple of big surprises. As one of the books in the Quilts of Love series, it is a given that a quilt and/or quilting details would play a prominent role which quilt lovers should find interesting. Details about Hawaiian history. language, and lifestyle added to my enjoyment. A strong message of faith runs throughout the story and plays a major part in the lives of Laney and Kai as they struggle to overcome their fears.
I enjoyed Aloha Rose and would recommend it to those who love quilts as well as anyone who just enjoys a good contemporary love story.
by admin | Nov 23, 2013 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Well, Anita Higman has done it again. She managed to grab my attention from the beginning of “A Marriage in Middlebury” and held it until the very last line.
Basically a story of lost love, “A Marriage in Middlebury” features Charlotte Rose Hill who walked away from the only man she ever loved for reasons that are later revealed within the narrative. When that same man, Sam Wilder returns to Middlebury to settle his father’s estate accompanied by a fiance, Charlotte quickly realizes that she has never stopped loving him. It won’t be easy having him back in town, especially since she has agreed that her tearoom will provide the refreshments for the wedding reception.
With a unique plot that has several unexpected twists, secrets from the past that are unearthed, various lovable yet quirky characters, and more than one romance, “A Marriage in Middlebury” has everything needed for a perfect romantic novel. It is a story of second chances as well as learning to place your trust in the Lord regardless of your circumstances. It is a heartwarming story in which everything turns out just right by its end.
This book was provided for review by the author and LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
One decision changed both their lives . . . but will love win in the end? Charlotte Rose Hill enjoys a comfortable life serving up country delicacies, uniquely blended teas, and matchmaking advice for her quirky, devoted customers. The only thing lacking is someone to share it with. At eighteen she denied Sam Wilder’s marriage proposal after his family convinced her to walk away from their relationship. They both moved on . . . or so she thought. When Sam walks back into her life more than a decade later, Charlotte is surprised that her heart still quickens. But is it because of his presence? Or because of the presence of Sam’s new fiancée? A second chance at love doesn’t happen often, but their past may keep them apart. Is it too late for Sam and Charlotte?
Purchase a copy HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.
by admin | Nov 22, 2013 | Books, Christmas, Historical, Shakers
MY REVIEW:
“Christmas at Harmony Hill” is Ann Gabhart’s Christmas novella with the same setting as her Shaker series. The story primarily features Heather Worth, a young bride during the Civil War who has been able to stay with her husband Gabriel by working as washerwoman for the Yankee troops. As her pregnancy reaches its end, Gabriel sends her home to be with her family because the battlefield is no place for a baby to be born. Heather arrives home to devastating news and finds herself unwelcome to stay. A letter from her mother directs her to Harmony Hill, a Shaker village where she can find help from her Aunt Sophrena. Heather’s arrival seems to be a sign from the Lord to Sophrena who has recently found herself struggling with the restrictions of the Shaker practices.
“Christmas at Harmony Hill” is a short, easily read story that is packed to the brim with historical facts about both the Shakers and the Civil War. More important, it relates those facts through the reactions and emotions of people who experienced that history which makes it much more personal. Through Heather and Sophrena’s experiences, the author tactfully manages to illustrate some of the errors in the Shaker beliefs without obvious finger pointing. It was however, quite interesting to learn more about the Shakers and the story behind their beliefs.
A warm and uplifting tale, “Christmas at Harmony Hill” is a story of forgiveness and reconciliation as well as the importance of family. This is one more book to be added to my Christmas book box.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
She stared up at the Shaker buildings. They took in those in need. That was why she was riding into their village. But she couldn’t stay here. Not forever. They divided families. She’d heard her grandmother speak harshly of the way Shakers didn’t believe in marriage and had special houses where children were kept from their parents.
Heather put a hand over the swell of her baby inside her. Surely they wouldn’t take a newborn from his mother’s bosom. Heather’s mother couldn’t have imagined that happening or she’d have never told her to come . . .
A stirring story of healing, hope, and home at Christmas
It is 1864 and the nation is torn apart by civil war when Heather Worth discovers she is with child. With her husband at the front and nowhere else to turn, she seeks refuge in the Shaker village of Harmony Hill. Amid the tumult of the times, Heather yearns for the peace she sees in this strange community. But can this longing really be fulfilled amid these people with their peculiar beliefs about family?
As Christmas approaches, the joy of new life and the love that is born of forgiveness may hold the answer.
Join bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart for a peek into the world of the Shakers–and the world of the human heart.
Read an excerpt of Christmas at Harmony Hill HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels–The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted–as well as other historical novels, including Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Words Spoken True. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Find out more at www.annhgabhart.com.
by admin | Nov 22, 2013 | Amish, Books, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
It would simply not be a complete Christmas season without Melody Carlson’s latest Christmas novella so I eagerly accepted the invitation to review “A Simple Christmas Wish”. Once again Melody has proven her talent and versatility as an author with this heartwarming tale that takes the reader from a Chicago apartment to an Amish farm in Ohio.
It was easy for me to identify with Rachel’s reluctance to follow the specifications in the will of her brother and his wife Miriam which granted custody of their daughter Holly to Miriam’s sister Lydia.. An extended stay in Lydia’s Amish home did little to ease Rachel’s misgivings but she had little choice in the matter. In fact the only glimpse of hope was Lydia and Miriam’s brother Benjamin who seemed to be sympathetic to Rachel and Holly’s dilemma.
A timeless story with more than one plot twist or surprise, “A Simple Christmas Wish” is the perfect choice for a quiet and relaxing winter evening by the fire.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
One girl in need of a home. One woman in search of a home for her heart. One Christmas where it all seems possible.
It felt strange to be out here in the middle of the night, still wearing the Amish dress–a dress that had belonged to Miri. Rachel’s footsteps crunched in the snow, and halfway between the barn and the house, she paused to look up at the night sky, wondering if more snow was in store, but all she saw was velvety black and stars. Millions of twinkling stars. She had never seen stars like that before, so bright and so close, almost as if she could touch them with her hand.
Rachel Milligan never imagined that she and her seven-year-old niece would spend the week before Christmas on a quaint Amish farm in Ohio. But with so many unexpected occurrences of late, perhaps she shouldn’t have been surprised.
With her young niece Holly in tow, Rachel anxiously makes her way from Chicago to Ohio’s Amish country. As love begins to blossom, family secrets emerge, and old wounds are healed, Rachel realizes that she will do whatever it takes to ensure that Holly has the loving family she needs.
Join bestselling author Melody Carlson on an emotional journey into the heart of what family truly means at Christmastime.
Read an excerpt of A Simple Christmas Wish HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, Christmas at Harrington’s, and The Christmas Pony. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. For more information about Melody visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.
