by admin | Jan 23, 2013 | Amish, Books, Romance
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Grace GivenRealms (January 8, 2013)
by
Beth ShriverABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Childhood memories of her grandfather’s ranch came alive as Beth wrote her first Amish story. Her parents grew up in the country, so she appreciates pastoral life and respects those who make a living off the land. She visits a nearby Amish community just south of Fort-Worth for an occasional church service or brunch with the bishop and his wife. And on the way home she stops at the community store to get some plum jam!
Beth received a degree in social work and psychology from the University of Nebraska. She worked as a caseworker for Boulder County Department of Social Services before starting a family. Beth and her husband, two children, along with two cats and a beagle live in Texas after moving from their first home in Colorado. She freelances for the local papers in her area and writes columns, devotionals for magazines, and novels in a variety of genres in both fiction and nonfiction. Beth is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Literary Agency.
Learn more about Beth and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
“Never doubt in the darkness what God has shown you in the light.” —Amish Proverb
Elsie Kline can’t forgive her sister for leaving the community. Gideon Lapp helps Elsie through her bitterness by studying the Martyr’s Mirror book that is centuries old, describing their ancestors’ sacrifice for their faith. But he feels there is something more. When the community moved to Texas, they were not welcomed by some of the locals. They have told Katie and Elsie that harm will come to their community if they don’t go back up north where they came from. Gideon stays by Elsie’s side as she learns to give grace and to humble herself to accept grace as well.
“Beth has a heart for helping others, whether through her nonfiction and fiction writing or in other capacities. It has been my pleasure to read and respond to her work during the past few years of knowing her.” —Leanna Ellis, Author of Facelift and Forsaken and winner of the National Readers Choice Award.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Grace Given, go HERE.
by admin | Jan 23, 2013 | Books, Regency, Romance, Suspense
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Mystery of the HeartRealms (January 8, 2013)
by
Jillian KentABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jillian Kent is a busy writer and the alter ego of Jill Nutter, a full-time counselor.
Jill spent the first semester of her senior year of college at Oxford studying British Literature, where she fell in love with England. During this season, she came to appreciate the written word, the rich imagery of romantic poetry like The Highwayman, and historical novels of many types, including Jane Austen and all things Regency.
Jill received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Bethany College in West Virginia, and her Masters Degree in Social Work from WVU, and she brings her fascination with different cultures and societies into her writing.
Jill has always been a romantic at heart, so readers will find a good dose of romance woven through each of her novels. Jill, her husband Randy, and children Katie and Meghan are animal lovers. They currently own two dogs, Boo-Boo and Bandit and a menagerie of cats, Lucky, Yuma, Snow, and Holden. Critters of all assortments make their appearance in her stories.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Lord Eden is intrigued when he discovers Lady Mercy Grayson’s secret, but how can he hope to gain her heart when he is forced to betray her?
Lady Mercy Grayson longs be a physician like her big brother, Devlin, Lord Ravensmoore. However, society would never tolerate a female physician, let alone one who is a noblewoman. So Mercy takes matters into her own hands, disguising herself as a man to get through medical school. But then a male colleague discovers her secret, which is only the beginning of Mercy’s problems that could destroy her dreams forever.
The Prince Regent is awaiting the return of Vincent St. Lyons, Lord Eden, whom he sent on a secret voyage to locate and bring back a relic that some believe possesses the power to heal. St. Lyons discovers Mercy washed up on England’s shore upon his return and agrees to give her safe passage to London aboard a ship of men practicing African Vodun. Both must face treacherous circumstances, difficult decisions, and a growing attraction to one another that could forever change the course of their lives.
As the final installment in the series, the theme of this book is God’s plans for our lives. “Whatever the hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might” (Eccles. 9:10).
If you would like to read the first chapter of Mystery of the Heart, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
Mystery of the Heart is a romantic mystery/suspense with a setting in Regency era England. In some ways it reminded me of the gothic romance novels I used to read in my younger days when good clean fiction was a bit easier to find outside the Christian genre. Although there was no brooding hero, or someone locked in the attic, or a dark and scary mansion, there was still an element of the dark mystery that made those old novels so intriguing.
Many elements worked together to make this novel a page-turner for me. With an ancient relic that changed hands several times under violent circumstances before it finally found its way into the king’s hands, a group of African Vodun (voodoo) practitioners who were an additional threat, and Mercy’s mysterious stalker, the stage was set for plenty of suspense. Then there was the handsome Lord Eden who rescued her from certain death at the beginning of the story and remained a part of her life due to other circumstances. The attraction between them was obvious but each of them had other plans for their lives that did not involve romance or marriage.
Mystery of the Heart was a great book with a captivating plot and wonderful characters. It was fun to touch base again with characters from the first two novels of The Ravensmoore Chronicles. I enjoyed the entire series so much that I hate to see it end.
by admin | Jan 21, 2013 | Anthology, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
What is the next best thing to a new novel by one of your favorite authors? How about a collaboration between four of them? Yes, four of my favorite authors have once again joined forces to take their readers back to the picturesque and romantic Vermont town of Smitten. Even its name breathes romance doesn’t it? Each author has contributed a separate novella featuring one of the three Thomas sisters and their mother Anna. Although individual stories could stand alone, each one flows into the other seamlessly to provide a bigger overall picture of life in the Thomas family and Smitten. Once again I was majorly impressed at how well these authors worked together to provide such a flawless combined story.
To summarize, each of the Thomas sisters and their mother had pretty much given up on love for themselves and in some cases were afraid to take a chance on it. As is the usual case in an unashamedly romantic book such as “Secretly Smitten”, the reader can expect the perfect man to show up for each of them at just the right time. That’s a no-brainer but it doesn’t detract at all from the enjoyment provided. It also doesn’t hurt that there is a bit of mystery woven through the stories that involves a long believed dead fiance of Grandmother Rose.
Plenty of humor, action, drama, mystery, and of course romance, blend perfectly together to make “Secretly Smitten” the ideal getaway for these cold winter months. It would also make a good beach read. I am sure many readers will be wishing that Smitten, Vermont was not just an imaginary town. I for one would love to visit and/or live in such a remarkable place.
Be sure to grab a copy of “Secretly Smitten” and while you’re at it, pick up a copy of the first installment “Smitten” too if you haven’t already read it.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Summer, fall, winter, spring-Smitten, Vermont, is the place for love . . . and mystery!
There’s a secret in Grandma Rose’s attic-a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?
The mystery intrigues Rose’s three granddaughters-Tess, Clare, and Zoe-and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?
Join popular romance novelists-and real-life BFFs-Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for four delightful intertwined tales of mystery and sweet intrigue.
Purchase a copy of “Secretly Smitten HERE.
MEET “THE GALS”:
RITA-finalist Colleen Coble is the author of several best-selling romantic suspense novels, including “Tidewater Inn”, and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series. * Christy Award finalist and two-time winner of the ACFW Book of the Year award, Kristin Billerbeck has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times. Her books include “A Billion Reasons Why” and “What a Girl Wants.” * Denise Hunter is the award-winning and best-selling author of several novels, including “A Cowboy’s Touch” and “Sweetwater Gap.” She and her husband are raising three boys in Indiana. * Diann Hunt has lived in Indiana forever, been happily married forever, loves her family, chocolate, her friends, her dog, and, well, chocolate.
Find out more about Coble, Billerbeck, Hunter, Hunt HERE.
Secretly Smitten | An Evening of Giggle, Gab & Prizes
The “gals” are celebrating with a fun Live Webcast on February 5th. They’ll be debuting the *NEW* animated Smitten trailer, giving away tons of prizes, dishing on the book and their friendship. They’ll also be wrapping up the Secretly Smitten blog tour, answering audience questions and testing your trivia skills. Don’t miss the fun and bring your friends. Click here to RSVP and set up a reminder.
by admin | Jan 19, 2013 | Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Third book in The Midwives series, “Choices of the Heart” features Esther Cherrett, a young midwife trained by her mother. Caught in the middle of scandal and blaming herself, Esther accepts a position as teacher in the Appalachian mountains in order to escape the controversy. Upon her arrival Esther finds herself in the middle of a family feud and the love interest of two cousins. She also learns that she hasn’t run away far enough because someone knows her history and wants to frighten her away. In addition she finds that she can’t turn her back on her medical training that is needed so desperately among the mountain people who surround her.
The primary characters are true-to-life with strengths and flaws. Although a minister’s daughter, Esther struggles with her faith due to her circumstances. Caught in their family conflicts, both Griff and Zach are determined to put an end to the feud but seem helpless against the grudges held by other members of their families.Tensions escalate as more threatening incidents occur and the true reasons behind the violence are both surprising and regrettable.
Peppered with humor, faith, drama, action, romance, and suspense, “Choices of the Heart” is both entertaining and informational. I especially found it interesting to learn that although depended upon by their communities, most midwives were often avoided because they knew too much about their patients and families.
I enjoyed “Choices of the Heart” and would recommend it to lovers of historical fiction.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Laurie Alice Eakes brings to life a gripping story of trust, deception and bittersweet loss, as a young woman learns the true meaning of choices of the heart. In the third book of The Midwives series, you will be transported back to 1840’s Appalachia with a tender romance that includes closely guarded secrets and a bitter feud.
Esther Cherrett comes from a proud line of midwives and was trained by her mother to take over the family calling. But when a scandal threatens all she holds dear, Esther takes a position as a teacher in the western mountains of Virginia instead. There she finds herself in the midst of a deadly family feud and courted by two men on opposite sides of the conflict. When it seems as though her past has followed her all the way into the mountains, all she wants is to run away again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Laurie Alice Eakes is the author of Lady in the Mist, Heart’s Safe Passage, A Necessary Deception, A Flight of Fancy, and several other novels. She won a National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007 for Family Guardian. Laurie Alice writes full-time from her home in Texas, where she lives with her husband and sundry dogs and cats.
Praise for Laurie Alice Eakes and Choices of the Heart:
“The gifted Laurie Alice Eakes has done it again with a page-turner romance straight out of the Hatfield and McCoy feud. The wonderful period detail sucked me into 1840s Appalachia, while the realistic characters and tender romance kept me reading late into the night.”–Linda Goodnight, Carol and Rita Award-winning author
Reviews for Lady in the Mist, #1 in The Daughters of Bainbridge House series:
4 Stars = Compelling, page turner
The first book in Eakes’ new Midwives series is filled with secrets, a budding romance and mystery with characters who have their doubts about themselves and those around them. Readers will not be able to put this gem of a novel down. – RT Patsy Glans
It’s always wonderful when you start reading a novel with the hope of being entertained and distracted from your busy life, only to be blown away by the discovery of a new favorite author. Laurie Alice Eakes’s novel had that exact affect on me, and I can’t verbalize how pleasing it is to uncover a gem of a story like this one. – The Christian Manifesto Rachel Ropper
