by admin | Sep 14, 2012 | Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Loosely based on actual historical facts, “Unending Devotion” is the story of Lily Young, a young woman dedicated to finding and rescuing her younger sister from a life of prostitution. As she searches northern Michigan in the late 1800’s with her foster father Oren as his photographic assistant, Lily manages to free other girls from the same lifestyle. Unfortunately, she has yet to locate her sister. When she and Oren land in Harrison for awhile, her impetuous nature places Lily in more than one dangerous situation and stirs up unwanted trouble for herself and some of her new found friends. Although Connell McCormick is a bit wary of Lily and her unbridled enthusiasm to right wrongs, he nevertheless feels compelled to protect her.
I really liked the characters of Lily and Connell. Lily is one of those rare people who did not assume that the “soiled doves” chose their profession and deserved whatever happened to them but viewed them as victims who needed to be saved. Connell was a young man who was raised to respect and protect women and treated them accordingly. Although not in agreement with Lily at first, he gradually opened his eyes to the truth and realized that there are times that people must take a stand for what is good and true no matter the cost.
With a plot that moves at a good pace, well-developed characters, a nice mixture of drama, suspense, humor, and romance, “Unending Devotion” is laced with historical fact and Biblical principles. I thoroughly enjoyed and story and the fact that it left me with plenty to think about. I would definitely recommend this novel.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Michigan, 1883
In Her Darkest Hours, Is He the Man She Needs?
Lily Young longs to find her lost sister or will die trying. Heedless of any danger, she searches logging camps and towns, posing as a photographer’s assistant. And then she arrives in Harrison, Michigan–and the sights of Connell McCormick.
Connell is determined to increase the fortune of his lumber-baron father and figures as long as he’s living an upright life, that’s what matters. But when Lily arrives in town she upends his world, forcing him to confront the truth that dangerous men have gained too much power while good men turn a blind eye.
Vexing but persuasive, Lily soon secures Connell’s help, drawing them ever closer to each other. Will standing for what’s right cost them both everything?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of The Doctor’s Lady and The Preacher’s Bride. She won the 2011 Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Colorado Romance Writers and was a finalist for Best Debut Novel in the 2011 ACFW Carol Awards. Currently she makes her home in central Michigan, with her husband and five busy children. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog at JodyHedlund.com.
Nikon Camera Giveaway and 9/18 Facebook Party!
Enter and RSVP today. Celebrate with Jody by entering to win a Nikon Camera Prize Pack!
See what folks are saying about Unending Devotion!
One “devoted” winner will receive:
- A Nikon COOLPIX Digital Camera
- $25 Shutterfly gift certficate
- Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 17th. Winner will be announced at the “Unending Deovtion” Author Chat Facebook Party on 9/18. Connect with Jody, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!
So grab your copy of Unending Devotion and join Jody on the evening of the September 18th for a chance to connect with Jody and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)
Don’t miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!
by admin | Sep 12, 2012 | Amish, Books, Romance
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe BridesmaidBethany House Publishers (September 11, 2012)byBeverly LewisABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Beverly’s first venture into adult fiction is the best-selling trilogy, The Heritage of Lancaster County, including The Shunning, a suspenseful saga of Katie Lapp, a young Amish woman drawn to the modern world by secrets from her past. The book is loosely based on the author’s maternal grandmother, Ada Ranck Buchwalter, who left her Old Order Mennonite upbringing to marry a Bible College student. One Amish-country newspaper claimed Beverly’s work to be “a primer on Lancaster County folklore” and offers “an insider’s view of Amish life.”
Booksellers across the country, and around the world, have spread the word of Beverly’s tender tales of Plain country life. A clerk in a Virginia bookstore wrote, “Beverly’s books have a compelling freshness and spark. You just don’t run across writing like that every day. I hope she’ll keep writing stories about the Plain people for a long, long time.”
A member of the National League of American Pen Women, as well as a Distinguished Alumnus of Evangel University, Lewis has written over 80 books for children, youth, and adults, many of them award-winning. She and her husband, David, make their home in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, and spending time with their family. They are also avid musicians and fiction “book worms.”
Learn more about Beverly and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Latest in Chart-Topping Amish Fiction from Beverly Lewis
Twenty-seven-year-old Joanna Kurtz has made several trips to the altar, but never as a bride. The single young Amishwoman is a closet writer with a longing to be published something practically unheard of in her Lancaster County community. Yet Joanna’s stories aren’t her only secret. She also has a beau who is courting her from afar, unbeknownst even to her sister, Cora, who, though younger, seems to have suitors to spare.
Eben Troyer is a responsible young Amishman who hopes to make Joanna Kurtz his bride–if he can ever leave his parents’ farm in Shipshewana, Indiana. Yet with his only brother off in the English world, intent on a military career, Eben’s hopes for building a life with his dear Joanna are dimming, and patience is wearing thin. Will Joanna ever be more than a bridesmaid?
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Bridesmaid go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
The Bridesmaid is yet another intimate look into the Amish life by one of the genre’s most well known authors. This time the focus is on Joann Kurtz who is quickly becoming known as an old maid in Lancaster County. When she and Eben meet on a trip away from home, she and Eben are both certain they have met their perfect match. Unfortunately circumstances surrounding them seem to be intent on keeping them apart.
Written in Lewis’ descriptive style that makes the reader care about her characters, The Bridesmaid can be easily read in just a few hours. The plot moves at an easy pace and there is just enough drama and conflict to keep the story interesting. Lewis provides enough details about the Amish lifestyle and some of its rules and regulations that I find extremely harsh that it makes me wonder exactly what the current fascination with the Amish is all about. Over all The Bridesmaid is a good story, especially for fans of the genre but I’m not sure there is anything about it that really sets it apart from other similar books.
by admin | Sep 11, 2012 | Books, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
I read “The Reunion” in just a few hours today because I didn’t want to put it down. As someone who lived through the Vietnam war years, I found so much familiar truth about how our returning soldiers were treated during that time. I have personally known some men who served during that war and some who didn’t come home. Dan Walsh has brought to vivid life the tale of one of the unsung heroes of Vietnam – a man who was broken both in body and spirit by the war and who lost everything that was important to him as a result.
“The Reunion” is a story that plumbs the depths of human emotions and I believe that only a hardened heart could remain untouched when reading it. I personally cried quite a few tears because I was so touched by the outpouring of love and respect for Aaron Miller. “The Reunion” is a story of love, honor, and the triumph of the human spirit when led by God. It is an uplifting, heart-warming narrative that renews my faith that truly good people who care for others remain in our country.
I could give more details about the story itself but it is one that just needs to be read to be appreciated. Take my word for it and pick up a copy soon. You won’t be sorry.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Expert storyteller Dan Walsh pens a new tale filled with the things his fans have come to love – forgiveness, redemption, love and that certain bittersweet quality that few authors ever truly master. Fans old and new will find themselves drawn into this latest story about restoration for the broken and ignored.
Walsh brilliantly weaves together two stories of men embroiled in turmoil – Aaron Miller a Vietnam vet who returned from war only to lose everything and of Dave Russo, a writer unable to love again. The Reunion opens with Aaron, 40 years after the war, slowly putting his life back together. Dave uncovers his heroic actions during the war, leading both men to find a second chance in life and love – if they’re willing to take a risk.
Walsh captures genuine emotion in his writing, and according to RT Book Reviews, he “demonstrates that, like Nicholas Sparks, men are capable of writing romantic fiction.”
Walsh has mastered telling stories set in separate time periods. The Reunion is a contemporary story with flashbacks to Vietnam. When Walsh was young, he hated history until he discovered a few non-fiction history books that read like page-turning novels. “They made history come alive,” says Walsh. “Reading became a joy. That’s my goal now, to create that same experience for my readers. I hope they get inspired and thoroughly enjoy themselves.”
“Available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dan Walsh is the award-winning author of The Unfinished Gift, The Homecoming, The Deepest Waters and Remembering Christmas. He lives with his family in the Daytona Beach area, where he’s busy researching and writing his next novel. Visit www.danwalshbooks.com for more information.
CONTEST:
Don’t forget to enter the Reunion book giveaway contest!
http://danwalshbooks.com/the-reunion-book-giveaway-contest/
by admin | Sep 11, 2012 | Books, Historical, Post Civil War, Romance, Texas, Western
MY REVIEW:
It is a special treat for me to read a book by one of my favorite authors in a very favorite genre – western historical romance. And it is set in Texas, a place I’ve always thought I’d like to live. There’s just something about the land and people of Texas that appeals to me. As expected, “Taming the Wind” delivered a riveting story with plenty of action, drama, suspense, and romance to go around. I was at first concerned that the novel might be a little short on romance since the guys were all going off on a trail drive while the women folks stayed at home. Knowing that a trail drive took literally months away from home, I didn’t know how Tyler and Carissa would ever manage to get together. I should have known that was a needless worry – after all they are the primary characters in a romance novel. And no, that wasn’t a spoiler – if you read the back cover you know the inevitable ending. It’s just the getting to that point that is the unknown quantity.
Needless to say, I heartily endorse “Taming the Wind” as well as most any novel Tracie Peterson has ever written. I consider her one of the premier Christian historical fiction authors at this time. If you are unfamiliar with Tracie’s work, do yourself a favor and check out “Taming the Wind”. Better still, invest in the entire Land of the Lone Star series.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A young widow nursing the wounds of her past…
A cowboy with demons of his own…
Though grateful for the blessing of her daughter, Carissa Lowe has accepted that widowhood is her lot in life. Bound by fear and mistrust, she feels incapable of opening her heart again.
Tyler Atherton has never forgotten Carissa. When he discovers she’s living with her sister on a nearby ranch, his life becomes intertwined with the lovely widow’s. And Carissa’s daughter, Gloria, seems determined to wrap herself around his little finger. But while Tyler longs to provide a home and future for Carissa, he is haunted by an obligation he feels unable to fulfill.
Challenged by mounting hardships, can Carissa and Tyler preserve their fledgling love in a land as unforgiving and vibrant as the people who call it home?
See what other bloggers are saying about “Taming the Wind” HERE.
Purchase a copy of “Taming the Wind” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over eighty novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling Heirs of Montana and Alaskan Quest series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Visit Tracie’s Web site at www.traciepeterson.com and her blog at www.writespassage.blogspot.com
Celebrate with Tracie by entering to win a Kindle Fire!
See what people are saying about Taming the Wind.
One winner will receive:
- A Brand New Kindle Fire with Wi-Fi
- The entire Land of the Lone Star series by Tracie Peterson
Hurry, the giveaway ends on 9/25/12. Just click one of the icons below to enter. The winner will be announced at Tracie’s “Taming the Wind” Author Chat Party on 9/26! Connect with Tracie, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!
So grab your copy of Taming the Wind and join Tracie on the evening of the September 26th for a chance to connect with Tracie and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)
DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN,
RSVP TODAY. TELL YOUR FRIENDS VIA
FACEBOOK or
TWITTER AND INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 26TH!
