Showing posts with label Litfuse Tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Litfuse Tours. Show all posts

March 17, 2018

His Risk by Shelley Shepard Gray - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Book details
Series: Amish of Hart County (Book 4)
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Avon Inspire (March 6, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062469150
ISBN-13: 978-0062469151

Book description
An undercover English DEA agent will do anything to protect the Amish girl he loves.

Calvin Fisher left the Amish community at fourteen and never looked back. Only his brother's illness can bring him back to Hart County. Now, as Calvin works to make amends, he meets Alice, a local nursery school teacher, and falls hard for her. But he has a secret that could threaten the happiness he's finally found.

Alice shouldn't like-or want-Calvin. He's English, has a questionable past, and an even more questionable job. Still, she can't help being intrigued. Though Calvin assures Alice that he's worthy of her, she's torn between surrendering to her growing feelings and steering clear of him.

When a sudden surge of criminal activity alarms the community and even targets Alice, Calvin fears that his double life has put everyone he loves at risk. As for Alice, she can't help but wonder if the brave and honorable man she's lost her heart to is far more dangerous than she could ever imagine.


Meet the author - Shelley Shepard Gray
Shelley Shepard Gray is a "New York Times" and "USA Today" bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

Find out more about Shelley at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.

My thoughts
This was a good addition to this series. It is not necessarily your typical Amish as it talks about a gentleman leaving his Amish family to do a job you would not expect of an Amish person - a DEA agent. In this book there is a little bit of suspense, mystery and adventure as the town gets targeted for crimes, then you through in a bit of romance and devotion to balance it all out. I did not want to put this book down as I wanted to know what was going to happen next and how Calvin was going to deal with it. Of course I liked Alice as well as who could not she was a nice girl who was trying not to fall for the "bad" guy, but could she help herself - you must read the book to find out. I will be looking forward to the next book in this series to see what the author has in store for us.

March 1, 2018

Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren - Reivew

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own

Book details
Series: The Sugar Baron's Daughters (Book 1)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 6, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764230247
ISBN-13: 978-0764230240

Book description
In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father's estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.

Although it flies against all the conventions, they're determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, conventions are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined-and that's just the start of what their eyes are opened to in this harsh and unfamiliar world.

Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives.
To keep her family together and save the plantation that is her last chance at providing for them, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

Meet the author - Lisa T. Bergren
Lisa T. Bergren has published more than 40 books with more than 3 million books sold combined. She's the author of the Christy Award-winning "Waterfall," RITA®-finalist "Firestorm," bestselling "God Gave Us You," and popular historical series like Homeward, Grand Tour, and more. She's also a recipient of the RT Lifetime Achievement Award. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and three teen-and-older children.

Find out more about Lisa at http://lisatawnbergren.com.

My thoughts
This was a good interesting book for me. I liked how the author captured the time and place of the story. The author also did a good job of developing the characters. Of course my favorite was Ketuarh. She was a strong woman and did what she thought she had to keep her family together and save the family plantation. All the little details the author put into this story really made you get a deeper understanding of the things the characters were going through. Such bad things that can happen in such a beautiful place. But in the end it all seemed to come together. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in this series. 

December 16, 2017

Seeds of Hope by Barbara Cameron - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own

Book details
Series: Harvest of Hope (Book 1)
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Gilead Publishing (November 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1683700554
ISBN-13: 978-1683700555

Book description
A heartwarming tale of discovering love right in front of you
Miriam Troyer has had a secret crush on Mark Byler since she was a teenager, but she knows they can never have a relationship: Mark is a big-city attorney and an Englischer. Her Amish community is too far removed from all he knows-and she loves her quiet way of life.

Mark has always loved his visits to his grandfather's farm, but he's convinced the Amish life isn't for him. There's so much of the world to see and experience, and the excitement of his successful law practice can't be matched by the slow pace of life found back home in the country.

But when things go wrong and his firm distances itself from him to try to save themselves, Mark finds himself back at his grandfather's farm. Could life in this simple world be worth living after all? Especially when the teenager he remembers has grown into a woman that could be his future. Suddenly, these two people whose lives seem so far apart may get a chance to really see each other for the first time.


Meet the author - Barbara Cameron
Barbara Cameron has a heart for writing about the spiritual values and simple joys of the Amish. She is the best-selling author of more than 40 fiction and nonfiction books, three nationally televised movies, and the winner of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. Her books have been nominated for Carol Awards and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award from RWA's Faith, Hope, and Love chapter. Barbara resides in Jacksonville, Florida.

Find out more about Barbara at http://barbaracameron.com.

My thoughts
This is the first book in a new series by this author. I thought it was a good start and look forward to more in the series. The characters were well developed and made me think of them as real people that we may all know. Both the main characters Miriam and and Mark had some big decisions to make in their lives. It was nice to be able to "see" what they were thinking as they were going through the process. This author likes to add all the little details to make this story not only fun to read but also emotionally involved. Another good book by Barbara Cameron - always a joy to read her books. 

November 16, 2017

The Gift by Shelley Shepard Gray - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own

Book details
Series: The Amish of Hart County
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Avon Inspire (November 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062469142

Book description
A special Christmas story about love and blessings in the next book in the Amish of Hart County series

The Schwartz family is happy to be spending Christmas on their new farm in Hart County. But when Susanna Schwartz hears gunshots that causes her buggy to overturn, and then her little sister falls through a wooden bridge into the icy creek, it becomes clear from these dangerous "accidents" that someone wants them gone.

Neil Vance has been heartbroken ever since his parents lost their family farm. He knows it's not the Schwartz family's fault, but he can't help but be resentful. Until he meets Susanna. She is kind-hearted and bold, and Neil can't stop thinking about her pretty green eyes.

Neil thinks the accidents are just that, but Susanna's father is convinced the Vance family is responsible. Susanna refuses to believe Neil would do anything to harm her. She's fallen in love with him and knows he is a good man. But her family is ready to pack up and move, and time is running out to uncover the truth before someone gets hurt . . . or worse.


Meet the author - Shelley Shepard Gray
Shelley Shepard Gray is a "New York Times" and "USA Today" bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

Find out more about Shelley at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.

My thoughts
When you start reading this book you are grabbed on the first page. I wanted to know right away who was causing the accidents. Like Susanna's father you think the obvious person would be Vance and his family but you don't want to it to be him so you keep looking for clues to figure out who it could be. This book was full of adventure, mystery and love. It was fun to go back to Hart County and meet some new friends. The author does a good job of developing the characters and making them very likable. This series has been fun to read and while they are best read as the series you can read them and stand alone books and still be enjoyed. 

September 30, 2017

Many Sparrows by Lori Benton - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own. 

Book details
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook (August 29, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601429940
ISBN-13: 978-1601429940

About this book
Either she and her children would emerge from that wilderness together, or none of them would. . . .

In 1774, the Ohio-Kentucky frontier pulses with rising tension and brutal conflicts as Colonists push westward and encroach upon Native American territories. The young Inglesby family is making the perilous journey west when an accident sends Philip back to Redstone Fort for help, forcing him to leave his pregnant wife Clare and their four-year old son Jacob on a remote mountain trail.

When Philip does not return and Jacob disappears from the wagon under the cover of darkness, Clare awakens the next morning to find herself utterly alone, in labor and wondering how she can to recover her son . . . especially when her second child is moments away from being born.

Clare will face the greatest fight of her life, as she struggles to reclaim her son from the Shawnee Indians now holding him captive. But with the battle lines sharply drawn, Jacob’s life might not be the only one at stake. When frontiersman Jeremiah Ring comes to her aid, can the stranger convince Clare that recovering her son will require the very thing her anguished heart is unwilling to do—be still, wait and let God fight this battle for them?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Meet the author - Lori Benton
Lori Benton was raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American history going back three hundred years. Her novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history. When she isn’t writing, reading, or researching, Lori enjoys exploring and photographing the Oregon wilderness with her husband. She is the author of “Burning Sky,” recipient of three Christy Awards, “The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn,” Christy-nominee “The Wood’s Edge,” and “A Flight of Arrows.”

Find out more about Lori at http://loribenton.blogspot.com.

My thoughts
There is nothing I like more than a book about then for it to be set in the 1800s and to have pioneers and Native Americans as characters. I have read many books by this author and she never disappoints me. She does a good job of setting the scenes and characters. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose not only your husband but your son as well. Clare was such a strong woman. First she gives birth on the wild frontier then she goes after other son - determined to rescue him from his captors. While reading this book you will find yourself going through many emotions from sadness, to anger to grief to relief. In my my opinion this was another hit by Lori. 

Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own

Book details
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook (September 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0735290032
ISBN-13: 978-0735290037

About this book
Decades of loss, an unsolved mystery, and a rift spanning three generations

Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears.

Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can’t understand her mother’s overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother’s inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan—a cold case agent—cherishes her grandmother’s lavish attention and affection.

When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel’s painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that’s been lost?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Meet the author - Kim Vogel Sawyer
Kim Vogel Sawyer is a highly acclaimed, best-selling author with more than one million books in print, in several different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband Don, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope and redemption. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and grandchildren.

My thoughts
I really liked this book. The whole mystery behind the disappearance of Maggie had me wanting to read as fast as I can. I wanted to find out what happened. You can only imagine the guilt that Diane held onto her whole life, so you could understand her sense of being over protective. When Meghan found out about the cold case she was determined to solve it. I thought the author did a good job of developing the story and characters. This could have been a real life story. I felt drawn in from the first page. I also liked how through trying to solve this case the family was brought together. 

Gathering the Threads by Cindy Woodsmall - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own

Book details
Series: The Amish of Summer Grove (Book 3)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook (August 15, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601427034
ISBN-13: 978-1601427038

About this book
Finally back in the Old Order Amish world she loves, will Ariana’s new perspectives draw her family closer together—or completely rip them apart?

After months away in the Englisch world, Ariana Brenneman is overjoyed to be in the Old Order Amish home where she was raised. Yet her excitement is mixed with an unexpected apprehension as she reconciles all she’s learned from her biological parents with the uncompromising teachings of her Plain community. Although her childhood friend, ex-Amish Quill Schlabach, hopes to help her navigate her new role amongst her people, Ariana’s Daed doesn’t understand why his sweet daughter is suddenly questioning his authority. What will happen if she sows seeds of unrest and rebellion in the entire family?

Meanwhile, Skylar Nash has finally found her place among the large Brenneman family, but Ariana’s arrival threatens to unravel Skylar’s new identity—and her sobriety. Both Ariana and Skylar must discover the true cords that bind a family and community together and grasp tight the One who holds their authentic identities close to His heart.

Gathering the Threads is the third and final novel in The Amish of Summer Grove series.

Meet the author - Cindy Woodsmall
Cindy Woodsmall is the "New York Times" and CBA best-selling author of nineteen works of fiction and non-fiction with more than a million copies sold. Her connection with the Amish community has been featured in national media outlets such as ABC’s "Nightline," the "Wall Street Journal," and a National Geographic documentary on Amish life. Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains.

My thoughts
This is the third book in the Amish of Summer series and I suggest you read each of these in order. Although this book gives a recap of the first two books in it. The author also had a few touchy subjects - bullying, substance abuse, adoption, babies switched at birth. I felt bad for both Ariana and Skylar as there was a little bit of turmoil for both of them. The author does a good job of combining both the English and Amish worlds and shows how it is to have gone from one world to the other. It could not have been easy for them. I thought this was a fitting ending to this series as the author did a good job of tying everything together. 

July 15, 2017

A Letter from Lancaster County by Kate Lloyd - Review

I received this book free from the publisher

Book details:
Series: Lancaster Discoveries (Book 1)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (July 1, 2017)
ISBN-13: 978-0736970211

About this book:
Two sisters get a second chance at life and love

Angela---Her mother's untimely death, a struggling marriage, a strained relationship with her sister, Rose, and regrets over what might have been haunt her. Despite being a wife and mother, she feels she has little to show for her life.

Rose--Still single, she longs for a husband and children. But Angela has all that and still isn't happy. Rose wants to be closer to her older sister, but she and Angela couldn't be more different. Both strong women, will their sibling rivalry ever end?

* * *

When a letter arrives from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Angela and Rose decide to visit Aunt Silvia, their mother's Mennonite sister, in the heart of Amish country. This vacation could provide the opportunity both sisters need to sort out their issues. And yet instead of finding a new way of connecting with each other, Angela and Rose discover surprising family secrets that add to their strife and threaten Rose's romance with a new beau.

Through it all, the two sisters must find the faith necessary to face their personal problems and allow God to restore hope and healing to their hearts and relationship as only He can.

Meet the author - Kate Lloyd:
Kate Lloyd is a bestselling novelist whose books include "A Portrait of Marguerite" and the Legacy of Lancaster trilogy. A native of Baltimore, she enjoys spending time with friends and family in rural Pennsylvania and is a member of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. She now resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband.

Find out more about Kate at http://katelloyd.com.


My thoughts:
I am enjoying this new series by Kate. As you are reading this you are finding out secrets about Angela and Rose's family right along with them. I did not want to put the book as I could not wait to see what they would find out next. It was also nice to see the mix between the Mennonite/Amish world and the English world. The characters were great people to get to know and to travel along with in their journey. In this story the author explores relationships in a way that is touching and emotional at time. This like the last Amish book is not like your traditional Amish book which made it even more appealing to me. I can't wait to see what the author has in store with the rest of this series. 

His Guilt by Shelley Shepard Gray - Review

I received this book free from the publisher

Book details:
Series: The Amish of Hart County
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Avon Inspire (July 4, 2017)
ISBN-13: 978-0062469137

About the book: 
A suspenseful tale of an Amish man who will risk all to protect the woman he loves.

Mark Fisher has returned home to Hart County, determined to put the past behind him. Two years ago, after being wrongly accused of assault, he left the Amish community, though never forgot his home. When the one person who had helped him through his rough times asks for help, Mark returns. But it is pretty Waneta Cain who makes him want to stay...
Neeta is one of the few people in Hart County who doesn't believe Mark is guilty of hurting anyone. However, his worldliness and tough exterior do make her uneasy. As she begins to see the real man behind all the gossip and prejudice, she wonders if he is the man for her.

Just when Mark starts to believe a new life is possible, a close friend of Neeta's is attacked. Once again, everyone in the community seems to believe he is guilty. But what hurts most is Neeta's sudden wariness around him. When another woman is hurt, a woman who is close to both Neeta and himself, Mark fears he knows the real culprit. And time is running out. Will Mark be able to find him before Neeta becomes his next victim?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Meet the author - Shelley Shepard Grey:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.


My thoughts:
I enjoyed this turn on the traditional Amish fiction. This story had a bit of a mystery going on which I enjoyed. It made the book even more fun to read than normal. The author liked to drop clues when you were not expecting them. I thought she also did a good job in describing what it was like growing up in a small town. Everyone knows everything about everyone. This is not the typical book that Shelley writes but I have enjoyed it. If you are looking for a fun new series than I suggest this one. This is the second book in this series. It is better if you read them in order but it can also be read as a stand alone. 

February 28, 2017

Home to Paradise by Barbara Cameron - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: February 15, 2017
Number of pages: 320
Genre: Amish Fiction
Series: Coming Home #3
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Synopsis:
Rose Anna Zook has watched her two older sisters marry two Stoltzfus men and has always thought she and John, the third Stoltzfus brother, would marry, make a home together, and have children. But John has other ideas. He’s enjoying his Rumschpringe in the Englisch world a little too much and isn’t interested in returning to the Amish community—especially to marry.

Rose Anna is determined to bring her man back into the Amish fold. John is equally determined to live his life free and unencumbered. Who will win this battle of wills? Will love prevail?

My thoughts:
This is the first book in this series and I did good with reading it as a stand alone book. I thought the story was a nice story and liked getting to know Rose Anna and John and watching their relationship grow. They had a few things to overcome but that is what helped the story move along in my opinion. John had a few wild oats to sow before he could make his decision on what he wanted in life and I am sure for Rose Anna it was hard to wait on what he decided to do. I thought the characters were nicely developed and the story line was a good one to follow. 

About the author:
Barbara Cameron has a heart for writing about the spiritual values and simple joys of the Amish. She is the best-selling author of more than 40 fiction and nonfiction books, three nationally televised movies, and the winner of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. Her books have been nominated for Carol Awards and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award from RWA's Faith, Hope, and Love chapter. Barbara resides in Jacksonville, Florida.

Join Barbara on Thursday, March 9, for a live author chat party on her Facebook page with fun prizes to be won! Click the graphic below for more details and to RSVP. Hope to see you there-bring a friend or two who loves Amish fiction!

October 27, 2016

Christian's Hope by Ervin R. Stutzman - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: October 11, 2016
Number of pages: 302
Genre: Amish Fiction
Series; Return to Northkill #3

Synopsis:
When Christian Hochstetler returns to the Amish after seven years in captivity, he finds that many things have shifted.

Captured as a child during the French and Indian War, Christian has spent much of his life among Native Americans, who cared for him and taught him their ways. Now that Christian is home, his father wants him to settle back into their predictable Amish life of farming, and Christian's budding friendship with Orpha Rupp beckons him to stay as well.

Yet Christian feels restless, and he misses his adoptive Native American family---who raised him as their own son. When faced with a life-altering decision, will Christian choose the Amish identity that his father desires for him? Or will he depart from his family and faith community yet again?

Christian's Hope tells the story of the younger brother of Joseph and son of Jacob, whom readers have come to love in the first two books in the Return to Northkill series. Based on actual events and written by a descendant of the Hochstetler family,Christian's Hope brings the sweeping epic of the Return to Northkill series to a soul-stirring end.

My thoughts:
This book was interesting to me. I can not imagine what Christian was going through after having lived with the Native American for many years and then returning to the Amish. I can only imagine that it was hard to return to Amish life after that as things were so different between the two worlds. Christian had a lot to deal with - wanting to return to his adopted family yet wanting to stay in the Amish world. I like that this entire story is based on actual events. It gives us a glimpse into what some people had to actually go through. I thought the author did a good job of not only capturing the time and place of the story but the emotions felt by the characters. They were well devloped. This is the third book in this series and I have not read the first two but I was able to keep up with the story line. I wish I would have found this author with book one as he has me wanting to know more. So I will be going back to the rest of the series. 

About the author:
Ervin R. Stutzman is author of Jacob's Choice,Joseph's Dilemma, Tobias of the Amish, and Emma,A Widow Among the Amish. Born into an Amish home in Kalona, Iowa, Stutzman based the Return to Northkill series on the life of his ancestor, Jacob Hochstetler. He has been featured on TLC's Who Do You Think You Are?

October 22, 2016

An Amish Family Christmas by Shelley Shepard Gray - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: October 18, 2016
Number of pages: 288
Genre: Amish
Series: A Charmed Amish Life

Synopsis:
In Shelley Shepard Gray's fourth book in her Charmed Amish Life series, an unlikely Amish romance reveals that Christmas is a time for family, miracles---and love.

Ever since his father died in a tragic fire, Levi Kinsinger has felt adrift. Newly returned to Charm, Ohio, Levi is trying to fit into his old life, only to discover he seems to have outgrown it.

But when Julia, his young widowed neighbor, asks for his help with a Christmas project, Levi finds a sense of purpose for the first time in months. She and her daughter are new to Charm and could use a friend, a job Levi takes personally. Soon enough, friendship grows into attraction, but Levi can't help having doubts. There's something about Julia that doesn't ring quite true . . .

Like Levi, Julia Kemps has survived her fair share of hardships---but only by hiding the truth of her past. Being an unmarried mother in an Amish community was unthinkable. Feeling hopeless, Julia did the only thing she could do: she moved to a new town and pretended to be a widow. But meeting Levi, she's hopeful for the first time. Little by little, she begins to imagine telling him her darkest secret, and eventually . . . perhaps even sharing her life with him.

Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together . . . in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2dYRwqr

My thoughts:
We are back in Charm, Ohio this time to celebrate Christmas. I like how the author included some situtations that you don't always see in most Amish stories. It reminds us that their communities have some problems just like us. This is the final book in the series and I thought the author did a good job of wrapping everything up although I would like to hear more about this community. As always we get to meet more charming characters that we love. This story gripped me from page one and did nto let go until the end. I also thought it read quickly. I look forward to more books by this author. 

About the author:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.



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A Sister's Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: September 27, 2016
Number of pages: 272
Genre: Amish
Series: The Charmed Amish Life #3

Synopsis:
In Shelley Shepard Gray's third book in her Charmed Amish Life series, a respectable young woman finds herself falling for an Amish man from the wrong side of the tracks.

Amelia Kinsinger is the perfect Amish woman---at least according to her neighbors. And while Amelia takes pride in her role as homemaker, she's also harboring a secret: She's been in love with bad boy Simon Hochstetler for as long as she can remember. Too bad he's about as far from "perfect" as an Amish man could get . . . but that's exactly why she's so drawn to him.

Life hasn't been kind to Simon. He ran away from an abusive home at fifteen and things went downhill from there. Eventually, Simon landed in prison. But the experience changed him. Now back in Charm as a grown man, he's determined to make a new life for himself and not think too much about his wild past . . . unless it pertains to Amelia.

He's loved Amelia for years. To him, she represents everything good and kind in the world. When he realizes that she returns his affections, he starts calling on her in secret, even though her older brother Lukas---who just happens to be Simon's best friend---has made it perfectly clear that Amelia deserves better. Simon disagrees and believes he's the only one who can truly make her happy.

But when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain of events that forces them to consider their future together---and face their past mistakes. There's a chance for love . . . but only if Simon dares to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past.


Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2e2XBTQ

My thoughts:
This has been a fun and enjoyable series by Ms. Gray. In this book we get to follow Amelia and Simon. As with each book in this series I have enjoyed getting to know the characters. I like how the story tells us how the characters deal with everyday situtations. In this book Simon is a bad boy and Amelia's family does not care for him because of this. What they must learn is he is not the person they think he is, he is better. There are a lot of emotions in this book from sadness to happiness and everything in between. I thought this was a fitting book to add to this series. 

About the author:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.



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September 17, 2016

God Bless Us Every One by Eva Marie Everson - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: September 6, 2016
Number of pages: 224
Genre: Christian Fiction

Synopsis:
Charlene Dixon---called Charlie by family and friends---is devastated at the recent loss of her job.

For the last five years, the twenty-seven-year-old has blossomed as the activities director of an exclusive all-girls school. But when a misunderstanding with the headmistress leads to a pink slip right before the holidays, Charlie packs up her dreams and returns to her grandmother, Sis, who raised Charlie as her own in the mountains of North Carolina.

When Charlie arrives---broken and confused---Sis immediately puts her granddaughter to work behind the scenes of the local school's Christmas play, A Christmas Carol. Charlie prickles at working with Dustin Kennedy, the drama teacher and her old crush from schooldays, but is even more put out at that the choice of the Dickens' classic for the holiday performance. When she discovers her estranged father's involvement her world turns on its head once more. But when Sis and Dustin encourage her to take a deeper look at the story behind A Christmas Carol, Charlie learns about trust, faith, and forgiveness and the needs of people in their own community.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2bUfaqD

What did I think of this book:
I thought this was a nice book that will help to get you in the mood for the holidays, but at the same time is fitting to be read at any time of the year. It is not just about holidays but so much more. I felt so bad for Charlie when she looses her job right before the holidays, what can be more devestating. Instead of watching her mope about her grandmother has other plans to get her out of the funk. So Charlie starts working on the Christmas play for the local school. While working on the play Charlie works through many emotions. I like how the author began each chapter with a part of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. This book was a modern telling of the story. If you like A Christmas Carol then you will enjoy this book. Also this is a very short book that can be read in one day or a weekend. A touching story.

About the author:
Eva Marie Everson is an award-winning speaker and author of The Road to Testament, Things Left Unspoken, This Fine Life, Chasing Sunsets, Waiting for Sunrise, Slow Moon Rising, and The Potluck Club series (with Linda Evans Shepherd). She is the president of Word Weavers International, Inc., a member of AWSA, ACFW, RWA, the director of Florida Christian Writer's Conference, and the contest director for Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer's Conference. She and her husband make their home in Casselberry, Florida.

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September 7, 2016

Starving Hearts by Janine Mendenhall - Review and Giveaway

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Published: May 16, 2016
Number of pages: 300
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Triangular Trade Trilogy #1

Synopsis:
Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage.

She yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God's existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way. . . .

Mr. Peter Adsley is joining the clergy, and he desires a godly wife by his side. After a failed attempt to obtain one, he engages in a clandestine meeting with the bewitching young woman who keeps crossing his path. But she is so unsettling.

Destined for disappointments, Peter and Annette both endure disgraceful situations. Will Peter's faith sustain him through overwhelming setbacks? Can Annette overcome her doubts? Or will their starving hearts yield to the machinations of a mad man?

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/28OtflH

What did I think of this book:
This is the first book in a new trilogy that I was happy to start. I felt like she did a good job in devolping the characters. I am looking forward to getting to know each of them better. This book reminds me of Jane Austen's books. There is romance as well as a few twists and turns in this book so you get a little of everything. This book moves along quite nicely and we get to travel to multiple countries. The main character goes through so many emotions from a tragic event to finding happiness. I liked following the characters along through their journey. An interesting book. If you are a fan of Jane Austen or Downton Abbey then I think  you will enjoy this book. 

About the author:
Janine Mendenhall teaches teens English, of all things! Sometimes she sleeps, but most nights she reads, writes, or watches movies like Pride and Prejudice and claims she's researching her next book. Splickety Love and Splickety Prime have published her flash fiction. She and her husband, Tom, live in North Carolina where they and their two golden retrievers help gratify the needs of their five children and two cats.

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Join in the search for love and acceptance with Janine and Starving Hearts by entering to win the Delightful Heart Gift Pack Giveaway.

starving hearts - 400 

One grand prize winner will receive:
starving hearts - collage 

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on September 12. The winner will be announced September 13 on Janine's blog.

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August 20, 2016

Fetching Sweetness by Dana Mentink - Review and Giveaway

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: August 1, 2016
Number of pages: 224
Genre: Romance, Christian Fiction

Synopsis:
Standing between Stephanie and her dream is one hundred pounds of lovable trouble.

It should have been so simple for Stephanie Pink: Meet up with Agnes Wharton in a small town in California, retrieve the reclusive author's valuable new manuscript, and be promoted to a full-fledged literary agent.

But Agnes's canine companion, Sweetness, decides to make a break for it before Stephanie can claim her prize. Until Agnes has Sweetness safely back at home in Eagle Cliff, Washington, Stephanie will never set eyes on the manuscript she needs to make her dreams come true.

When Stephanie tracks the runaway mutt to a campground, she meets Rhett Hastings---a man also on the run from a different life and a costly mistake. Rhett agrees to help Stephanie search for the missing dog . . . thus launching a surprising string of adventures and misadventures.

Once Sweetness gets added to the mix, it's a recipe for love and loss, merriment and mayhem, fun and faith in the backwoods of the Pacific Northwest.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2auLee3

My thoughts:
This is the second book in this series that I have read and I think I enjoyed it even more than the first one. I enjoy the writing style of this author as she turns this story into a quick read. It is also cute how the books have animal themed titles. The main character was very likeable to me as she is a bookaholic just like me. I enjoyed "watching" how Rhett and Stephanie's relationship grows throughout the story. For me one of the great thing about this book is the inclusion of the dogs. I love books that have a great pet that is just like a family member. This book is full of romance, humor and encouragment - an all around good book. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. 

About the author:
Dana Mentink lives in California, where the weather is golden and the cheese is divine. Dana is an American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year finalist for romantic suspense and an award winner in the Pacific Northwest Writers Literary Contest. Her suspense novel, Betrayal in the Badlands, earned a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third and fourth grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with her husband, two daughters, a dog with social anxiety problems, a chubby box turtle, and a feisty parakeet.

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Giveaway:


August 13, 2016

The Loyal Heart by Shelley Shepard Gray - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: July 12, 2016
Number of pages: 320
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Lone Star Hero #1

Synopsis:
Robert came to Galveston to fulfill his promise to a dying man and look after his widow. He didn’t expect to find love in the unlikeliest of places.

Robert Truax, former Second Lieutenant and Confederate officer in the Civil War, made a promise to his comrade Phillip Markham. If anything happened to Phillip, Robert would look after his beloved wife, Miranda. She was his life, his world, his everything.

After the war, Robert is left to pick up the pieces and fulfill his pact. When he arrives at Miranda's home in Galveston, Texas, things are worse than he imagined. Phillip's name has been dragged through the mud, everyone in town believes him to be a traitor, and his widow is treated as an outcast. Even more disturbing is her emotional well-being. Miranda seems hopeless, lost, and so very alone.

Robert had thought his duty would be simple. He would help Miranda as quickly as possible in order to honor a promise. But the moment Robert laid eyes on her, his plans changed. He's mesmerized by her beauty and yearns to help her in any way he can.

He makes it his duty to protect Miranda, turn her reputation around, and to find some way to help her smile again. But it doesn't prove to be an easy task—Robert knows something about Phillip that could shake Miranda to the core and alter her view of the man she thought she knew so well.

My thoughts:
This was an enjoyable book set in the Civel War period in Texas. The author captured the time and place with such ease that you know she did a lot of research when writing this. Like most women in this time period Miranda was a strong woman. I enjoyed getting to know her and to follow her on her journey through life. It was very nice of Robert to help Miranda out. I also enjoyed following their relationship grow. I can not imagine all the things she had to go through. Although through her writing the author does a good job of escribing it all. A very enjoyable book. 

About the author:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail. Find Shelley on her website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com, on Facebook: ShelleyShepardGray, and on Twitter @ShelleySGray.

June 4, 2016

A Daughter's Dream by Shelley Shepard Gray - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: May 24, 2016
Number of pages: 272
Genre: Amish Fiction
Series: The Charmed Amish #2

Synopsis:
A young teacher and farmer discover they have much in common, especially when it comes to healing old wounds from the past . . . and finding love in one another.

Rebecca Kinsinger has always dreamed of being a teacher. But when she’s given the opportunity she’s been waiting for at Charm Amish School, she’s dismayed to discover that teaching is hard work—work she’s afraid she’s not very good at.

That is, until Lilly Yoder joins the class. A thirteen-year old who’s just lost her parents, Lilly is in need of someone like Rebecca. For the first time since starting her new job, Rebecca feels a sense of purpose. But when she meets Lilly’s uncle, Jacob, his good looks and sweet, easy-going temperament are hard to ignore. How can she even entertain romantic thoughts of Jacob when his niece is her student?

Suddenly becoming Lily’s sole caregiver, Jacob Yoder never thought he’d be a single parent—or a farmer. Having been living in Florida as a carpenter, Jacob feels more at home wielding a hammer than a backhoe. The only bright spot in his life is Rebecca Kinsinger. As Lily and Rebecca develop a bond, Jacob’s fondness for the pretty teacher grows, too.

But when a fateful accident brings them together, Rebecca and Jacob must choose between duty and desire. Will they follow the path before them? Or set out to find true happiness . . . and true love?


What did I think of this book:
This was another nice installment into the The Charmed Amish Life series. Shelley has a was of writing books that make you feel a part of the story. I like how she makes the characters seem so real. For me her stories are easy but very enjoyable to read. I also enjoyed the touch of romance that is added to this story. I liked how they took in Lily and raised her. To me that was touching. I also like how the family values come out in the author's stories of the Amish. A good addition to this series.

About the author:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

June 3, 2016

Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd - Review

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: May 10, 2016
Number of pages: 320
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: Treasures of Surrey #2

Synopsis:
Isabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty.

For as long as she can remember, beautiful and free-spirited Isabel has strained against the rules and rigidity of the Fellsworth School in the rolling English countryside. No longer a student, Isabel set her sights on a steady role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would enable her to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father’s death.

The unexpected arrival of a stranger with news of unknown relatives turns Isabel’s small, predictable world upside down, sweeping her and her young charge into a labyrinth of intrigue and hidden motives.

At her new family’s invitation, Isabel and Lizzie relocate to Emberwilde, a sprawling estate adjacent to a vast, mysterious wood rife with rumors and ominous folklore—along with whispers of something far more sinister. Perhaps even more startling, two handsome men begin pursuing Isabel, forcing her to learn the delicate dance between attraction, the intricate rules of courtship, and the hopes of her heart.

At Emberwilde Isabel will discover that the key to unlocking the mystery of her past may also open the door to her future and security. But first she must find it—in the depths of Emberwilde Forest.

What did I think of this book:
Sarah Ladd has done it again and captured my attention with another hit in this Treasures of Surrey series. It is a nice blend of romance and mystery which suits me just fine. This book was a real page turner for me and kept me reading long into the night. The mysterious forest really had me wondering at times. I found the characters well developed and enjoyed getting to know them. Also I thought that the author got the time period and all the descriptions down pat. Sarah is good at doing her research and it shows in her writing. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. 

About the author:
Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.


Blog Tour Schedule:

5/31/2016
Billy | Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
Jalynn | A Simple Life, really?!
Heidi | Heidi Reads...
Hayden | A Tree, A Book, and a Breeze

6/1/2016
Dawn | ReadLove

6/3/2016
Angela | A Holland Reads
Nicki | Confessions of a Teenage Bookworm
Cara | Cara Putman

6/4/2016
Laura | The Calico Critic

6/5/2016
Heidi | Heidi's Wanderings
Kristie | Moments
Faye | Labor Not in Vain
Kendall | The Merry Wife of Windsor

6/6/2016
Susan | Susan Heim on Writing
Carole | The Power of Words
Pamela | Daysong Reflections
Tressa | Wishful Endings
Hallie | Book by Book

6/7/2016
Sydney | Singing Librarian Books
Linda | Mocha with Linda
Kav | Best Reads
Michaela | Baker Kella
Alecia | Cherished by Alecia

6/8/2016
Shecki | Greatly Blessed
Crystal | Our Perfectly Imperfect Life!
Victor | Vic's Media Room
Amy | Pause for Tales
Alyssa | Sunrise Avenue 

6/9/2016
Lori | Morning Glories and Mionflowers
Abbi | Christian Novels
Laura | Harvest Lane Cottage
Kemi | Homemaking Organized

6/10/2016
Lena | A Christian Writer's World
Vera | Chat With Vera
Tarah | Literary Time Out
Kathleen | Reviews From The Heart
Bonnie | The Koala Mom

6/11/2016
Julie | More Of Him
Shannah | Faith * Love * Books
Becky | Christian Chick's Thoughts

6/12/2016
Amanda | Inklings and Notions
Carrie | Reading Is My SuperPower

6/13/2016
Dominique | Mama Bear Reads
Brittany | Britt Reads Fiction

6/14/2016
Beckie | By The Book
Bethany | Perfect Beginnings
Barbara | Fic Gal
Mackenzie | Spreading His Grace
Raechel | God's Peculiar Treasure Raechel
Jamie | Books and Beverages
Annie | Just Commonly 
Margaret | The World As I See It
Rachel | Smiling Book Reviews
Alannie | Between the Lines
Kari | The Editor's Note