by admin | Oct 27, 2013 | Books, Historical, Romance, Smoky Mountains
MY REVIEW:
“My Hope is Found” is the third and final book in Joanne Bischof’s excellent Cadence of Grace series. I suppose this novel could be enjoyed as a stand-alone without having read the previous two volumes but why would anyone want to do so? Only by starting at the very beginning can one reap the full benefit of Gideon and Lonnie’s story as they weather the storms of life through the grace of God who provides them with hope.
As the book opens, Gideon has been set free from his obligations to Cassie who has sent him home to Lonnie. Naturally it just couldn’t be that simple and Gideon soon finds out just how complicated life can be. When he finally makes it back home he finds that Lonnie has another man in her life who is not willing to give her up easily. Trials and tribulation abound as Gideon seeks to prove himself to Lonnie despite his own doubts that he is the right man for her.
“My Hope is Found” is a deeply moving story that contains several surprising twists. Once again Bischof has penned a compelling tale that perfectly complements the first two books of this series. The entire series is so beautifully written with memorable characters. I won’t soon forget Lonnie and Gideon’s story and the books will gain a permanent space on my bookshelf. If you don’t read another series this year, find a way to read the Cadence of Grace series if at all possible.
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah
Publishing Group’s Blogging For Books program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Gideon O’Riley has been given another chance at a life with Lonnie.
But will the fight for her heart risk it all over again?
After finally finding love with his sweet bride Lonnie, Gideon’s heart was torn when a woman from his past claimed to be his true and rightful wife, forcing him away from his family. God’s merciful hand saw Gideon through the heartache, and with Cassie’s blessing, he is able to return home. Though his journey back through the Blue Ridge Mountains will hold a trial he never anticipated.
Meanwhile, Lonnie determines to seal off her heart from Gideon, convinced he is lost to her forever. Strengthening her resolve to move on is the fondness she has for the handsome Scotsman, Toby McKee—the young reverend she has come to care deeply for. His proposal of marriage offers a bright future for her and her young son.
Yearning to allow joy back into her life, Lonnie must put aside the broken pieces of her heart that still love Gideon. When he returns to find her betrothed to another, he has to place his hope in God, trusting that the One who redeemed their love once can do it again.
Read the first chapter HERE.
What others are saying about “My Hope Is Found”:
“A tender story, told with loving care, My Hope Is Found takes many a twist and turn, as Lonnie must choose between two good men. Her struggle is genuine, and the outcome remains deliciously uncertain until the joy-filled ending.” —Liz Curtis Higgs, New York Times best-selling author of Mine is the Night
“Joanne has hit a home run with her Cadence of Grace series, and this book wraps up the story nicely. But I was never sure of the ending—either man could have made her happy—until the end. With memorable characters and struggles aplenty, this is the kind of story that will have readers telling their friends, ‘You’ve got to read these books.’” —Lauraine Snelling, author of the Red River North series
“In My Hope is Found, God’s grace and tender mercies bloom in the rugged hills of early 1900s Appalachia. The familiar characters of the Cadence of Grace series live out the delicious tension of romance and reason, heartache and hope—discovering the true measure of love and lasting peace. If you need a healthy dose of hope for a pesky case of hopelessness, this one is a must-read.” —Mesu Andrews, author of Love Amid the Ashes
“Joanne has the rare talent of creating such compelling characters and story worlds that I wish her books would never end.” —Serena B. Miller, RITA Award–winning author of The Measure of Katie Calloway
“This deeply moving conclusion to the Cadence of Grace series will captivate your heart and keep you turning pages. Once again Joanne Bischof brings her well-drawn characters and beautiful setting to life in an intricately woven tale of faith and love that will leave you wanting more. I highly recommend it!” —Carrie Turansky, author of The Governess of Highland Hall
“A soaring conclusion to the Cadence of Grace series! With lyrical phrasing, Joanne Bischof blends measures of faith, hope, and love into pitch-perfect, soul-stirring harmony sure to resonate in every reader’s heart. Bravo!” —Jocelyn Green, award-winning author of the Heroines Behind the Lines series
“In My Hope is Found, gifted storyteller Joanne Bischof writes of redemption and reconciliation. Her characters stepped off the page and into my heart as I held my breath over their heartbreaks, disappointed dreams, and ultimate choices, all skillfully woven through with spiritual truths. Bischof has found her calling as a writer.” —Beth K. Vogt, author of Catch a Falling Star
“Amid the beauty of the Appalachians, Lonnie Sawyer O’Riley finds herself in an impossible situation created by her beloved Gideon’s wild past. Having no choice but to give him up and move on, she clings to stubborn hope that all will yet be well, somehow. Like a mountain trail, the story winds through sunlight and shadow, through love and despair, with glimpses of grace at every turn. My Hope Is Found is another keeper from Joanne Bischof.” —Meg Moseley, author of Gone South
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Married to her first sweetheart, Joanne Bischof lives in the mountains of Southern California where she keeps busy making messes with their home-schooled children. When she’s not weaving Appalachian romance, she’s blogging about faith, writing, and the adventures of country living that bring her stories to life. Be Still My Soul is her first novel.
by admin | Oct 25, 2013 | Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Perfectly Matched” relates the story of newly marrieds Edward Palmer and his mail-order bride Anna who are definitely not perfectly matched by most standards. Edward is a skilled at making and repairing clocks and watches and expects his life and home to work with the same precision as his creations. He is somewhat obsessive-compulsive and is not at all certain how to relate to his free-spirited new wife. Anna is an inexperienced homemaker but is determined to work hard to make her marriage work; however her penchant for rescuing animals tends to cause disruption in the Palmer home as well as some misunderstandings. One thing the pair do seem to have in common is strong physical attraction which leads to frequent scenes that some may find uncomfortable although nothing graphic is shared.
Both Anna and Edward are set in their ways but little by little each learns to compromise and to allow their differences to be complimentary rather than divisive. A strong message about the importance of trust in a marriage is evident.
While not my favorite novel by Maggie Brendan, “Perfectly Matched” was nevertheless entertaining with several quite humorous incidents and contained some good historical background as well.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
His life runs like clockwork. Hers is a spontaneous adventure.
But God’s timing is always perfect.
Anna Olsen knows it’s time to leave her sister’s increasingly crowded house and start a life of her own. Following both sisters’ examples, she becomes a mail-order bride, and after a short correspondence with clock maker and jeweler Edward Parker, she moves to Denver to become his wife.
Almost immediately it’s painfully apparent that Anna and Edward are very different. Anna is a free spirit who would rather be painting and enjoying the company of friends than cleaning house. Edward is a consummate perfectionist who, on their wedding day, hands Anna a list of chores that need to be done around the house daily.
Can this mismatched couple see past their differences to a harmonious future? Or will their disparate passions create obstacles neither is willing to surmount?
“Once again, Maggie Brendan has created a refreshing read with a powerful heroine and a hero to match. Readers will especially love the devotion given to animals in this charming historical romance.”–Kelly Long, bestselling author of A Patch of Heaven series
Read an excerpt from “Perfectly Matched” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Maggie Brendan is the bestselling author of several books, including the Heart of the West series and The Blue Willow Brides series. She was a 2013 finalist for the Published Maggie Award of Excellence, a 2013 finalist for the Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award, a 2012 finalist for Inspirational Reader’s Choice award, and a recipient of the 2004 ACW Persistence Award in Atlanta. She is a member of the ACFW; Author’s Guild; Romance Writers of America; Faith, Hope, and Love; and Georgia Romance Writers. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, researching for her novels, and spending time with her family. You can follow her at her website, her blog , and on Facebook and Twitter @MaggieBrendan.
by admin | Oct 24, 2013 | Amish, Books, Christmas, Contemporary Fiction, Quilts
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Christmas QuiltAbingdon Press (October 15, 2013)byVannetta ChapmanABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A Word From The Author:
I hold a BA and MA degree in English, and I am proud to be represented by Mary Sue Seymour, AAR. I have published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, and have received over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. I am honored to be a member of Romance Writers of America, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Faith Hope and Love.
I live and teach in the Texas hill country with my husband, cats, and a rather large herd of deer. Our four children have flown the nest; however, we are fortunate that they all live close enough to visit.
I have always felt that my faith was at the very center of who and what I am, and I am thrilled beyond words to be able to now write about something that is so near to my heart. At various times I have served as a pianist, teacher, church secretary, and worship team member. While living in the Dallas area, I served as an adjunct professor of English Literature at Dallas Baptist University. When we moved to a small town in Central Texas, I continued teaching for a few years, but I now write full-time and I play the keyboard in our church’s praise band.
My grandfather was born in Albion, Pennsylvania, and I am currently researching whether I might have Amish roots.
Learn more about Vannette and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Annie’s life is deliciously full as the Christmas season approaches. She helps her husband, Samuel, attend to the community’s minor medical needs. She occasionally assists Belinda, the local midwife, and most days, she finds herself delivering the buggy to her brother Adam. Annie’s sister-in-law Leah is due to deliver their first child before Christmas morning, and Annie is determined to finish a crib quilt before the boppli arrives. With six weeks to go, she should have no problem . . . but God may have a different plan. Leah is rushed to the English hospital when the infant arrives early, and Annie discovers the Christmas quilt may hold a far greater significance than she ever imagined.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Christmas Quilt, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Although the primary focus of The Christmas Quilt is the young Amish couple Adam and Leah who are expecting their first children (twins), Adam’s sister Annie also has a major role in the story. Leah and Adam have experienced marital problems due to her pregnancy but premature labor forces Leah to spend an extended time in the hospital until the twins’ birth. As a trained nurse and close friend, Annie agrees to stay to help Leah through the difficult days ahead. To help pass the time, Annie and Leah work on the unfinished quilt Annie has started for Leah’s babies and decide to share a story featuring a fruit of the Spirit for each block.
To me, the stories that Annie and Leah shared were the pivotal portion of the book as they touched Leah’s heart and changed her attitude toward her husband. At the same time their enforced separation inspired Adam to spend more time seeking the Lord and reading his bible which also changed his attitude toward Leah.
The Christmas Quilt is Amish fiction but the truths it conveys applies to anyone who is a follower of Christ. A warm-hearted story with a timely message, The Christmas Quilt is the perfect book for the days that lead to the Christmas season.
by admin | Oct 22, 2013 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingGreetings from the FlipsideB&H Books (October 15, 2013)byRene GutteridgeABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Rene GutteridgeRene is the author of seventeen novels. She also has extensive experience writing comedy sketches, and worked for five years as the director of drama for a church. She has a degree specializing in Screenwriting, for which she earned the Excellence in Mass Communication Award, and graduated magna cum laude.
She is married to Sean, a musician and worship leader, and has two children. They reside in Oklahoma, where Rene writes full time and enjoys instructing in college classrooms and writers conferences.
Learn more about Rene on her Website.
Cheryl McKay
Cheryl McKay has been professionally writing since 1997. Cheryl wrote the screenplay for The Ultimate Gift, based on Jim Stovall’s novel. The award-winning film stars James Garner, Brian Dennehy, and Abigail Breslin and was released in theaters by Fox in 2007. Cheryl also wrote the DVD for Gigi: God’s Little Princess, another book adaptation based on the book by Sheila Walsh, as well as the Wild and Wacky, Totally True Bible Stories audio series and books with Frank Peretti. Her screenplay, Never the Bride, has been adapted into a novel for Random House Publishers and was released in June 2009. She also released Finally the Bride: Finding Hope While Waiting, the non-fiction version of Never the Bride. She penned the film script for “A Friend for Maddie”. She recently released her autobiography, Finally Fearless: Journey from Panic to Peace. Cheryl and her husband live in Los Angeles.
Visit her website HERE or the ministry she runs with her husband, HERE.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Hope Landon has been rewriting other people’s greeting cards since she was six years old — there’s always a funnier caption. She’s all set to chase those creative dreams with her musician fiance in New York City until he leaves Hope at the altar, deciding he must not really love this girl if he can’t write a song for her. That may give her something to write about . . .
Hope disappears alone on what was supposed to be the couple’s month long honeymoon. Upon returning she learns of her funeral — everyone in her life concluded Hope must have killed herself after being jilted. Needing a fresh start more than ever, she heads for the Big Apple only to discover it’s not that easy to rent a place when you’ve been declared dead.
Taking shelter at the YWCA, Hope soon lands a job at a Christian inspirational greeting card company as an assistant to Jake, a guy who shut down his organization’s humor department. She has lost her faith in love; he needs to find something or someone that will make him laugh.
Is there anything in the cards for these two? Find out in the truly original Greetings from the Flipside by authors Rene Gutteridge (Boo) and Cheryl McKay (screenplay for The Ultimate Gift).
If you would like to read the first chapter of Greetings from the Flipside, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Having read several books by Rene Gutteridge, I was aware that her sense of humor can at times be somewhat unusual. I was a bit unprepared for what I found when I began reading Greetings from the Flipside. I was almost tempted to close its covers and resort to the cut and paste promotion and leave it at that. After all I had a huge stack of books waiting to be read and reviewed. I could justify skipping one of them – couldn’t I? Then it clicked. I suddenly realized what was going on and my interest was caught. I continued to read and actually enjoyed the process.
Now I don’t know quite how to review this book without revealing too much so I will stay away from the plot as much as possible. I will say that the book is two stories in one that are concurrent. One takes place in real time while the other is what is happening in Hope’s mind as she lies in a coma following a head injury. Sections titled “GREETINGS FROM MY LIFE” describe Hope’s coma induced dreams that seem to feed off the people who enter her hospital room and things she hears and smells. Characters, both real and imagined, are interesting and sometimes quirky. Situations Hope experiences during her coma are sometimes bizarre. Yet somehow Hope’s subconscious mind has some lessons she needs to learn and fortunately Hope connects with the truth before it is too late.
Greetings from the Flipside is probably one of the more unusual novels I have ever read but it is also one of the most intriguing. If you are looking for something different than the usual contemporary romance novel, Greetings from the Flipside might just be one to try.
