Friday, January 31, 2014

A Match Made in Texas

A Match Made in Texas
A Novella Collection
Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, Carol Cox
(Bethany House)
ISBN: 978-0764211768
January 2014/384 pages/$14.99

There's a secret matchmaker at work in frontier Texas!

In the small town of Dry Gulch, Texas, a good-hearted busybody just can't keep herself from surreptitiously trying to match up women in dire straits with men of good character she hopes can help them. How is she to know she's also giving each couple a little nudge toward love?

A Cowboy Unmatched
Neill isn't sure who hired him to repair Clara's roof--he only knows Clara desperately needs his help. Can he convince this stubborn widow to let down her guard and take another chance on love?

An Unforeseen Match
Hoping to earn an honest wage on his way to the land rush, Clayton ends up on Grace's doorstep, lured by a classified ad. He may have signed on for more than he expected though--and he may have found the one woman who can keep him from moving on.

No Match for Love
Andrew can't fathom how refined Lucy ended up as the caretaker to his dotty aunt, and somehow her arrival has prompted even more bizarre occurrences around the ranch. When they join forces to unearth the truth, will the attraction between Andrew and Lucy develop into more?

Meeting Her Match
When the tables are turned and a tenderhearted meddler becomes the beneficiary of a matchmaking scheme, her world is turned upside down. As her entire life changes, will she finally be able to tell the banker's son how much she cares for him?

About the Authors

Karen Witemeyer

Two-time RITA finalist and winner of the coveted HOLT Medallion and ACFW Carol Award, CBA bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance because she believes that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.com and on Facebook.


Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy is an award-winning, bestselling author known for her fun and lively historical romances. An author, teacher, and journalist, Mary lives on an eastern Nebraska ranch with her cowboy husband and has four daughters and two grandchildren. Learn more at www.maryconnealy.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter.


Regina Jennings

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children. Find out more at Regina's website www.reginajennings.com and find her on Facebook and Twitter.


Carol Cox

Native Arizonan Carol Cox has an abiding love for history, mystery, and romance. The author of more than 25 books, she believes in the power of story to convey spiritual truths. Carol lives with her husband and daughter in northern Arizona, where deer and antelope really do play--within view of the family's front porch. Visit her website at www.authorcarolcox.com and find her on Facebook and Twitter.


MY THOUGHTS

Oh my! What a fun book! I knew it would be from the moment I saw the cover. And the title. And the four authors involved in creating this delightful novella collection! While I'm such a fast reader that I usually shy away from novellas because they just don't last long enough, I do love reading a collection such as this where authors tie their stories together with a common thread and recurring characters. A challenge with novellas is having a plot that is complex enough to be interesting but is able to be resolved without seeming rushed. Each of these stories accomplished this with ease. Karen Witemeyer opens the collection with a tale that moves quickly and contains a bit of danger. I particularly liked how tender and loyal Neill and his brothers could be, while at the same time they were tough and a force to be reckoned with! Regina Jennings pens a poignant tale in the second novella as she depicts a woman with a challenging disability and a man who helps her see what she is capable of accomplishing. Carol Cox takes the third novella in a different direction with a bit of a mystery, and Andrew's aunt and Lucy are adorable and a spunky twosome! Mary Connealy brings this satisfying collection to a close with her trademark humor and an unexpected match for the person behind all of the other matches. Having met most of these authors, I can imagine the fun they had planning these novels and the laughter that must have occurred during their conference calls. Valentine's Day is approaching, the perfect time of year to enjoy these sweet romances. Highly recommended.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

FIRST - Heart of Mercy

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!


You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:

Whitaker House (January 1, 2014)

***Special thanks to Cathy Hickling for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award winning romance author, Sharlene MacLaren has released 13 novels since embarking on a writing career in 2007. After a career teaching second grade “Shar” says she asked God for a new mission “that would bring her as great a sense of purpose” as she’d felt teaching and raising her children. She tried her hand at inspirational romance, releasing Through Every Storm to critical and popular acclaim in 2007, and the rest, as they say, is history. She quickly became the top selling fiction author for Whitaker House, has accumulated multiple awards, and endeared herself to readers who can’t get enough of her long, luscious and often quirky tales – both historical and contemporary. Her novels include the contemporary romances Long Journey Home, and Tender Vow; and three historical series including Little Hickman Creek series (Loving Liza Jane; Sarah, My Beloved; and Courting Emma); The Daughters of Jacob Kane (Hannah Grace, Maggie Rose, and Abbie Ann) and River of Hope (Livvie’s Song, Ellie’s Haven, and Sofia’s Secret).

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

 Mercy Evans has known a great deal of heartache and hardship in her 26 years. She lost her mother at a young age and was only 16 when her father was killed in a brawl sparked by a feud with the Connors family that spans several generations. When a house fire claims the lives of her two best friends, Mercy is devastated, but finds comfort in caring for their two sons, who survived thanks to a heroic rescue by Sam Connors, blacksmith in the small town of Paris, Tennessee. Yet the judge is determined to grant custody only if Mercy is married. Mercy loves the boys as her own, and she’ll go to any lengths to keep them—but what if that means marrying the son of the man who killed her father?  Set in the 1880’s, Heart of Mercy is the first book in MacLaren’s new Tennessee Dreams series.


MY THOUGHTS:

Sharlene McLaren begins her brand-new series with Heart of Mercy and it promises to be an absolute delight! I immediately fell in love with Mercy, those sweet orphaned boys, and even Sam from the opening pages of the book. This story demonstrates how bitterness and long-standing feuds can take on a life of their own and wreak havoc long after the details of the original offense have been forgotten. McLaren weaves in a few surprises as this thoroughly satisfying story unfolds. I'm already looking forward to the upcoming books in this series set in Paris, Tennessee.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Series: Tennessee Dreams (Book 1)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Whitaker House (January 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1603749632
ISBN-13: 978-1603749633


AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:


1890
Paris, Tennessee
“Fire!”
The single word had the power to force a body to drop his knees and call out to his Maker for leniency. But most took time for neither, instead racing to the scene of terror with the bucket they kept stored close to the door, and joining the contingent of citizens determined to battle the flames of death and destruction. Such was the case tonight when, washing the dinner dishes in the kitchen sink, Mercy Evans heard the dreaded screams coming from all directions, even began to smell the sickening fumes of blazing timber seeping through her open windows. She ran through her house and burst through the screen door onto the front porch.
“Where’s the fire?” she shouted at the people running up Wood Street carrying buckets of water.
Without so much as a glance at her, one man hollered on the run, “Looks to be the Watson place over on Caldwell.”
Her heart thudded to a shattering halt. God, no! “Surely, you don’t mean Herb and Millie Watson!”
Mercy Evans and Millie Watson, formerly Gifford, had been fast friends at school and had stuck together like glue in the dimmest of circumstances, as well as the sweetest. Millie had walked with Mercy through
the loss of both her parents, and Mercy had watched Millie fall wildly in love with Herb Watson in the twelfth grade. She’d been the maid of honor in their
wedding the following summer.
But her voice was lost to the footsteps thundering
past. Whirling on her heel, she ran back inside, hurried to extinguish all but
one kerosene lamp, snatched her wrap from its hook by the door, and darted back
outside and up the rutted street toward her best friends’ home, dodging horses
and a stampede of citizens. “Lord, please don’t let it be,” she pleaded aloud.
“Oh, God, keep them safe. Jesus, Jesus….” But her cries vanished in the
scramble of bodies crowding her off the street as several made the turn onto
Caldwell in their quest to reach the flaming house, which already looked beyond
saving.
Tongues of fire shot like dragons’ breath out windows
and up through a hole in the roof. Like hungry serpents, flames lapped up the
sides of the house, eating walls and shattering panes, while men heaved their
pathetic little buckets of water at the volcanic monster.
“Back off, everybody. Step back!” ordered Sheriff
Phil Marshall. He and a couple of deputies on horseback spread their arms wide
at the crowd, trying to push them to safety.
Ignoring his orders, Mercy pressed through the
gathering mob until the heat so overwhelmed her that she had no choice but to
stop. Besides, a giant arm reached out and stopped her progress. She shook it
off. “Where are they?” she gasped, breathless. “Where’s the family?”
The sheriff moved his bald head from side to side,
his sad, defeated eyes telling the story. “Don’t know, Miss Evans. No one’s
seen ’em yet. We been scourin’ the crowd”—he gave another shake of the
head—“and it don’t appear anybody got out of that inferno.”
“That can’t be.” A sob caught at the back of her
throat and choked her next words. “They were at my place earlier. I made
supper.”
“Sorry, miss.”
“Someone’s comin’ out!” A man’s ear-splitting shout
rose above the crowd.
Dense smoke enveloped a large figure
emerging—staggering rather like a drunkard—from the open door and onto the
porch, his arms full with two wriggling bundles wrapped in blankets and
screaming in terror. Mercy sucked in a cavernous breath and held it till
weakness overtook her and she forced herself to let it out. Could it be? Had
little John Roy and Joseph survived the fire thanks to this man?
“Who is it?” someone asked.
All stood in rapt silence as he passed through the
cloud of smoke. “Looks to be Sam Connors, the blacksmith,” said the sheriff,
scratching his head and stepping forward.
“Sure ’nough is,” someone confirmed.
Mercy stared in wonder as the man, looking dazed and
almost ethereal, strode down the steps, then wavered and stumbled before
falling flat on his face in a heap of dust and bringing the howling bundles
with him.
Excited chatter erupted as Mercy and several others
ran to their aid. Mercy yanked the blankets off the boys and heaved a sigh of
relief to find them both alert and apparently unharmed, albeit still screeching
louder than a couple of banshees. Through their avalanche of tears, they
recognized her, and they hurled themselves into her arms, knocking her
backward, so that she wound up on her back perpendicular to Mr. Connors, with
both of the boys lying prone across her body. In all the chaos, she felt a hand
grasp her arm and help her up to a sitting position.
“Come on, Miz. You bes’ git yo’self an’ them
chillin’s out of the way o’ them flames fo’ you all gets burned.” She had the
presence of mind to look up at Solomon Turner, a former slave now in the employ
of Mrs. Iris Brockwell, a prominent Paris citizen who’d donated a good deal of
money to the hospital fund.
Mercy took the man’s callused hand and allowed him to
help her to a standing state. By the lines etched in his face from years of
hard work in the sweltering sun, Mercy figured he had to be in his seventies,
yet he lifted her with no apparent effort. “Thank you, Mr. Turner.”
Five-year-old John Roy stretched his arms upward,
pleading with wet eyes to be held, while Joseph, six, took a fistful of her
skirt and clung with all his might. “Come,” she said, hoisting John Roy up into
her arms. “We best do as Mr. Turner says, honey. Follow me.”
“But…Mama and Papa….” Joseph turned and gave his
perishing house a long perusal, tears still spilling down his face. John Roy
buried his wrenching sobs in Mercy’s shoulder, and it was all she could do to
keep from bolting into the house herself to search for Herb and Millie, even
though she knew she’d never come out alive. If the fire and smoke didn’t kill
her, the heat would. Besides, before her eyes, the flames had devoured the very
sides of the house, leaving a skeletal frame with a staircase only somewhat
intact and a freestanding brick fireplace looking like a graveyard monument.
Her heart throbbed in her chest and thundered in her ears, and she wanted to
scream, but the ever-thickening smoke and acrid fumes burned to the bottom of
her lungs.
With her free hand, she hugged Joseph close to her.
“I know, sweetheart, and I’m so, so sorry.” Her words drowned in her own sobs as
the truth slammed against her. Millie and Herb, her most loyal friends. Gone.
Sheriff Marshall and his deputies ordered the crowd
to move away from the blazing house, so she forced herself to obey, dragging a
reluctant Joseph with her. At the same time, she observed three men carrying a
yet unconscious Sam Connors across the street to a grassy patch of ground.
Several others gathered around, trying to decide what sort of care he needed.
Of course, he required medical attention, but Mercy felt too weak and dizzy to
tend to him. Best to let the men put him on a cart and drive him over to Doc
Trumble’s. Besides, she highly doubted he’d welcome her help. He was a Connors,
after all, and she an Evans—two families who had been fighting since as far
back as anyone could remember.
She’d heard only bits and pieces of how the feud had
started, with a dispute between Cornelius Evans, Mercy’s grandfather, and
Eustace Connors over property lines and livestock grazing in the early 1830s.
There had been numerous thefts of horses and cattle, and incidents of barn
burnings, committed by both families, until a judge had stepped in and defined
the property lines—in favor of Eustace Connors. Mercy’s grandfather had gotten
so agitated over the matter that his heart had given out. Mercy’s grandmother,
Margaret, had blamed the Connors family, fueling the feud by passing her hatred
for the entire clan on to her own children, and so the next generation had
carried the grudge, mostly forgetting its origins but not the bad blood. The animosity
had reached a peak six years ago, when Ernest Connors had killed Oscar
Evans—Mercy’s father.
“That man’s a angel,” Joseph mumbled into her skirts.
“What, honey?”
“John Roy was wailin’ real loud, ’cause he saw
somethin’ orange comin’ from upstairs, so he got in bed with me, and after a
while that angel man comed in and took us out of ar’ bed.”
She set John Roy on the ground, then got down on her
knees to meet Joseph’s eyes straight on. His were still red, his cheeks
blotchy. She thought very carefully about her next words. “Where were your
parents?”
Joseph sniffed. “They tucked us in and went upstairs
to their bedroom. John Roy an’ me talked a long time about scary monsters an’
stuff, but then, after a while, he went to sleep, but I couldn’t, so I got up
t’ get a drink o’ water, and that’s when I heard a noise upstairs. I looked
around the corner, and I seed a big round ball o’ orange up there, and smoke
comin’ out of it, and I thought it was a dragon come to eat us up. I runned
back and jumped in bed with Joseph and tol’ him a mean monster was comin’ t’
get us, and I started cryin’ real loud.”
John Roy picked up the story from there. “And so we
waited and waited for the monster to come after us, but instead the angel saved
us. I think Mama and Papa is prolly still sleepin’. Do you think they waked up
yet?”
Mercy’s throat burned as powerfully as if she’d
swallowed a tablespoonful of acid. Her own eyes begged to cut loose a river of
tears, but she warded them off with a shake of her head while gathering both
boys tightly to her. “No, darlings, I don’t believe they woke up in bed. I
believe with all my heart they awoke in heaven and are right now asking Jesus
to keep you safe.”
“And so Jesus tol’ that angel to come in the house
and get us?” Joseph pointed a shaky finger at Sam Connors. The big fellow lay
motionless on his back, with several men bent over him, calling his name and
fanning his face.
Mercy smiled. “He’s not an angel, my sweet, but
that’s not to say that God didn’t have something to do with sending him in to
rescue you.”
“Is he gonna die, like Mama and Papa?” John Roy asked
between frantic sobs.
“Oh, honey, I don’t know.”
She overheard Lyle Phelps suggest they take him over
to Doc Trumble’s house, but then Harold Crew said he’d spotted the doctor about
an hour ago, driving out to the DeLass farm to deliver baby number seven.
A few sets of eyes glanced around until they landed
on Mercy. She knew what folks were thinking. She worked for Doc Trumble, she
had more medical training and experience than the average person, and her house
was closest to the scene. But their gazes also indicated they understood the
awkwardness of the situation, considering the ongoing feud between the two
families. Although the idea of caring for him didn’t appeal, she’d taken an
oath to always do her best to preserve life. Besides, the Lord commanded her to
love her neighbor as herself, making it a sin to walk away from someone in
need, regardless of his family name.
She dropped her shoulders, even as the boys snuggled
close. “Put him on a cart and take him to my place,” she stated.
As if relieved that his care would fall to someone
other than themselves, several men hurried to pick him up and carried him to
Harold Crew’s nearby buggy.
“What about us?” Joseph asked.
The sheriff stepped forward and made a quick study of
each boy. “You can stay out at my sister’s farm. She won’t mind adding a couple
o’ more young’uns to her brood.”
Joseph burst into loud howls upon the sheriff’s
announcement. Mercy hugged him and John Roy possessively. “Their parents were
my closest friends, Sheriff Marshall. I’d like to assume their care.”
He frowned and scratched the back of his head. “Don’t
know as that’s the best solution, you bein’ unwed an’ all.”
“That should have no bearing whatever on where they
go. Their parents were my closest friends. They’re coming home with me.” She
took both boys by the hands, turned, and led them back down Caldwell Street,
away from the still-smoldering house and the sheriff’s disapproving gaze.
Overhead, black smoke filled the skies, obliterating any hope of the night’s
first stars or the crescent moon making an appearance.






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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

CFBA - Scraps of Evidence

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Scraps of Evidence
Abingdon Press (January 21, 2014)
by
Barbara Cameron

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from the author:

CBD, CBA, and ECPA bestselling author of 35 books (including new series upcoming for Abingdon Press in 2011/2012) including fiction and non-fiction books for Abingdon Press, Thomas Nelson, Harlequin, and other publishers.

I sold three films to HBO/Cinemax and am the first winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.




My two novellas won the 2nd and 3rd place in the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest from the Faith, Love, and Hope chapter of RWA. Both were finalists for the novella category of the Carol Award of the American Christian Writers Award (ACFW).

ABOUT THE BOOK

Tess has taken some ribbing from her fellow officer, Logan, for her quilting hobby. He finds it hard to align the brisk professional officer he patrols with during the day with the one who quilts in her off-time. Besides, he’s been trying to get to know her better and he’d like to be seeing her during those few nights a week she spends with her quilting guild. Then one afternoon Tess and Logan visit her aunt in the nursing home, and the woman acts agitated when Tess covers her with the story quilt. Aunt Susan is attempting to communicate a message to them about Tess’s uncle. There’s a story behind this quilt, they realize, one that may lead them to a serial killer. Will they have a chance to have a future together, or will the killer choose Tess for his next victim before they find him?

If you would like to read the first chapter of , go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

As anyone who has read my reviews knows, I'm a big fan of Abingdon's Quilts of Love series, so I read this book with eager anticipation. While there was much to like about it, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The overall story was intriguing and the characters were likeable, but even though I had a final copy and not an unproofed ARC (Advance Review Copy), the book suffered from a lack of tightness and editing. Several threads were introduced yet not tied up in the end, and it would have been better if they had been eliminated rather than leave the reader dangling. The identity of the serial killer was so obvious that I expected it either to be a red herring or for the point of view to occasionally give a peek into the person's warped mind. Even the name of a primary character was different in the story than on the back cover blurb (and in the blurb above), which was disconcerting. (The aunt is also in the hospital, not in the nursing home.) I was still able to enjoy the story in spite of these distractions but I was disappointed to see a story with so much potential fall short.



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Monday, January 27, 2014

A Promise Kept


A Promise Kept
Robin Lee Hatcher
(Thomas Nelson)
ISBN; 978-1401687656
January 2014/304 pages/$15.99

God was going to save her marriage, Allison was sure of it. But neither her husband nor her marriage had been saved.

What had become of His promise?


Tony Kavanagh had been Allison’s dream-come-true. They were in love within days, engaged within weeks, married and pregnant within a year. Her cup bubbled over with joy . . . but years later, that joy had been extinguished by unexpected trials.

The day Allison issued her husband an ultimatum, she thought it might save him. She never expected he would actually leave. She was certain God had promised to heal; it was clear that she’d misunderstood.

Now, living in the quiet mountain cabin she inherited from her single, self-reliant Great Aunt Emma, Allison must come to terms with her grief and figure out how to adapt to small town life. But when she finds a wedding dress and a collection of journals in Emma’s attic, a portrait of her aunt emerges that takes Allison completely by surprise: a portrait of a heartbroken woman surprisingly like herself.

As Allison reads the incredible story of Emma’s life in the 1920s and 1930s, she is forced to ask a difficult question: Does she really surrender every piece of her life to the Lord?
Drawing from her own heart-wrenching story of redemption, A Promise Kept is Robin Lee Hatcher’s emotionally charged thanksgiving to a God who answers prayers—in His own time and His own ways.

Read a chapter.

Purchase a copy and learn more at Robin’s website.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robin is the author of 65+ novels and novellas. Her home is in Idaho, where she spends her time writing stories of faith, courage, and love; pondering the things of God; and loving her family and friends.
Find out more about Robin Lee at http://robinleehatcher.com.
MY THOUGHTS

This is a beautiful novel in its own right but the fact that it has its roots in the author's own personal testimony makes it even more touching. Robin Lee Hatcher weaves a poignant tale that explores the all-too-common circumstance of a marriage ripped apart by addiction in spite of every effort made by the committed Christian spouse to protect the union. Allison Kavanagh's situation touches the heart as she moves to a remote cabin--inherited from her great-aunt Emma--in the mountains north of Boise, Idaho following her divorce, and her pain is palpable as she wrestles with her faith with gut-wrenching honesty. Entwined among this contemporary story is a historical tale, that of Aunt Emma, as revealed in her journals which Allison discovers in the house--and which open Allison's eyes to a new perspective of God's timing and His redemptive plan. This is a novel to be savored, pondered, and then shared with a friend. Don't miss it!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Don't miss Robin Lee Hatcher's stunning new novel, A Promise KeptRobin is celebrating with a fun giveaway and an encouraging Facebook Author Chat Party.

promisekept-400

 One winner will receive:
  • A Kindle Fire HDX
  • A Promise Kept by Robin Lee Hatcher
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 6th. Winner will be announced at the "A Promise Kept" Facebook Author Chat Party on the 6th. Connect with Robin and friends for an evening of encouraging book chat, prizes, and an exclusive look at Robin's next book!

So grab your copy of A Promise Kept and join Robin on the evening of February 6th for a chance to connect 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 by clicking JOIN at the event page.
Spread the word—
tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on 2/6!





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Thursday, January 23, 2014

A Home for My Heart


A Home for My Heart
Anne Mateer
(Bethany House)
ISBN: 978-0764210648
September 2013/352 pages/$14.99

A sweet story of hope and love set against the poignant backdrop of a 1910 orphanage

Sadie Sillsby works as the assistant to the matron at the Raystown Home for Orphan and Friendless Children, pouring all her energy into caring for the boys and girls who live there and dreaming of the day she'll marry her beau, Blaine, and have children of her own. But when the matron surprises everyone by announcing her own engagement, Sadie is suddenly next in line for the esteemed job of running the orphanage.

There's one glitch. The matron cannot be married. She must focus her attention on the financial, legal, and logistical matters of the Home. Sadie's heart is torn. Should she give up her plans for a life with Blaine in order to continue serving these children who have no one else? Does she, a young woman who was once an orphan herself, have what it takes to succeed in such a challenging career? And when the future of the Home begins to look bleak, can Sadie turn things around before the place is forced to close forever?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anne Mateer is a three-time Genesis Contest finalist who has long had a passion for history and historical fiction. She and her husband live near Dallas, Texas, and are the parents of three young adults.

For more information, visit her website at www.annemateer.com or find her on Twitter or Facebook.


MY THOUGHTS

Last fall when I attended the ACFW conference, I enjoyed sitting down at several of the meals and discovering a book next to each plate, compliments of the publisher. One of those books was Anne Mateer's A Home for My Heart. I have been so swamped with book reviews and work that I hadn't had a chance to read it but while recovering from surgery I was able to catch up a bit. I had enjoyed Mateer's debut historical novel Wings of a Dream (reviewed here) a couple of years ago, and this story was just as charming. The time period and setting came alive as I read, and my heart ached for the children Sadie cared for. (And as a side note, I have to say how glad I am that we no longer use the term "Friendless Children" to identify those whose parents are no longer able to care for them! What a horrid moniker!) Mateer has created a host of endearing characters (and a few annoying ones as well!) in this heartwarming tale and weaves a timeless message of faith and trust throughout. A thoroughly satisfying read that I am happy to recommend!



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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

A Hodgepodge for Your Wednesday


1. It was decided on Sunday the Denver Broncos will meet the Seattle Seahawks in this year's Super Bowl. So when was the last time you bowled? Not where you thought this question was going is it? Do you like to bowl? Are you any good?

Hmm, we had a church staff bowling party last fall, if I remember correctly. It was a lot of fun, although I am not a good bowler. I generally hover around the 80's and occasionally have a stellar lucky game and hit 100.

2. Should sports stars be role models?

The occasional one could be, but not as a general rule. It's just a game. People get way too wrapped up in it.

3. January is National Oatmeal month...are you a fan? How do you like your oats?

I do like oatmeal, although I rarely take the time to make it. It has to be the real stuff, not instant. I like it with brown sugar, raisins, and pecans on it and a little milk is good too.

4. What is one book on your reading list for 2014?

Coming up soon, I'm looking forward to reading Distortion by Terri Blackstock. She writes great suspense!

5. What would you like your future self to say to your present self?

This world is not your home.

6. When scrolling through the TV guide, what is one movie title that makes you want to stop, grab the popcorn, and watch for a while?

The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Mary Poppins. . . .oh, she said just one! LOL

7. What are two style trends you hope never come back into fashion?

The sixties and the seventies. Unfortunately, they seem to be coming back. I didn't like 'em the first time, and I don't like 'em the second time around, either!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We've had some wonderfully warm days lately, but it's about to get really cold again. Every year I have to remind myself not to get eager for spring too early!



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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Dare to Love Again


Dare to Love Again
The Heart of San Francisco (Book 2)
Julie Lessman
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800721664
December 2013/416 pages/$14.99

She's a sassy socialite burned by love. He's a jaded cop burned by the upper class.
When sparks fly . . . will love catch fire again?


Spunky Allison McClare is determined to be a fearless, independent woman. But when she takes a notion to explore the wild Barbary Coast, she quickly discovers she's no match for the unsavory characters that haunt the dark streets.

Detective Nick Barone would rather do almost anything than teach this petite socialite self-defense, but it seems he has little choice. Sparks fly every time the two meet until a grudging friendship develops into something deeper. But is he just a fraud like all the rest of the men Allison's cared for? Or is he the one who will let her dare to love again?

Award-winning author Julie Lessman brings the glamour of Gilded Age San Francisco to vibrant life in this journey to find a love that never fails.


"With memorable characters and an effervescent plot that's as buoyant as it is entertaining, Dare to Love Again is Julie Lessman at her zestful best."--Tamera Alexander, bestselling author of A Lasting Impression and To Whisper Her Name

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston series and the Winds of Change series The recipient of 14 Romance Writers of America awards, as well as many other accolades, Lessman was chosen as the #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2011 and 2012 Readers' Choice Awards. She resides in Missouri with her family. You can contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.

MY THOUGHTS

Julie Lessman's name is synonymous with romance and Dare to Love Again is yet another example why! While this book can be read as a standalone, you'll enjoy it that much more if you have met many of the characters in the first book in this series Love at Any Cost (which I reviewed here). The opulence of Nob Hill is juxtaposed against the depravity of the Barbary Coast and it isn't clear if the greatest danger comes from the clash between the two cultures or from within. Lessman's expertise at building romantic tension makes the pages sizzle. While Allison and Nick are the focus of this story, Allison's mother, Caitlyn, continues to wrestle with her relationship with Logan McClare, her late husband's brother who betrayed her decades earlier but whose singleminded focus is on winning Cait's hand. I could not turn the pages fast enough in this one, folks, and held my breath as the ending approached. I am already eagerly anticipating book three in the series!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”




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Monday, January 20, 2014

The Calling


The Calling
The Inn at Eagle Hill (Book 2)
Suzanne Woods Fisher
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800720940
January 2014/336 pages/$14.99

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers her trademark twists, turns, and tender romance in this delightful and exciting visit to the deceptively quiet community of Stoney Ridge.

Twenty-year-old Bethany Schrock is restless. Her love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending the incredibly hot summer days wading through a lifetime's accumulation of junk at the home of five ancient Amish sisters. About the only thing that holds her interest is the spirited and dangerously handsome Jimmy Fisher---and he seems bent on irritating her to no end.

When the sly old sisters and a guest at the Inn get Bethany involved in running the local soup kitchen and starting a community garden, she suddenly finds herself wondering, Shootfire! How did that happen? Despite her newfound purposefulness, a gnawing emptiness about a childhood mystery continues to plague her. Encouraged by Jimmy Fisher, she will seek out the answers she craves---and uncover a shocking secret that will break her heart, heal it, and point her to love.

Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Get Amish proverbs delivered right to your mobile device! Download the Free App! http://bit.ly/10Tygyi

Learn more about Suzanne at http://suzannewoodsfisher.com


MY THOUGHTS

Suzanne Woods Fisher stands out among the plethora of Amish authors out there, and this novel and series (I reviewed the first book, The Letters, here) continue to show why. Far from formulaic and predictable, The Calling is populated with individuals--both Amish and Englisch--so authentic they could be a neighbor or family member. Fisher isn't afraid to tackle hard issues in this novel, homelessness and mental illness among them, and paints them with a realistic yet compassionate brush. Bethany Shrock's character is well-portrayed, and I was excited to see how that pesky Jimmy Fisher turns out now that he's all grown up! And I loved the five old Amish sisters (none of them younger than 80!) from the very first pages of the book but was not prepared for how very dear they would become as the book unfolded. The latest guest at the Inn ministers to Bethany and the others even as they help her gain some perspective on her life. An element of danger, secrets brought to light, as well as forgiveness, faith, and love, entertwine in this thoroughly satisfying story that made me wish once again that I could actually visit Stoney Ridge. Highly recommended!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell and Litfuse Publicity as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher is celebrating her newest book, The Calling, by giving away TWO iPads, TWO Kindles, and TWO Nooks!

 
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Two grand prize winners will receive:
  • An iPad
  • The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Four second place winners will receive:
  • A Kindle Fire HDX or a Nook HD—winner's choice!
  • The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. All winners will be announced February 10th at Suzanne's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun;
enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 10th to see if you won one of the great prizes!
(Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement
delivered to your inbox!)


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Friday, January 17, 2014

With Autumn's Return


With Autumn's Return
(Westward Winds)
Amanda Cabot
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800734619
December 2013/416 pages/$14.99

She's planning on instant success. She didn't plan on love.

When Elizabeth Harding arrives in Cheyenne to open her medical practice, she is confident that the future is as bright as the warm Wyoming sun. Certain she'll have a line of patients eager for her services, she soon discovers the town may not welcome a new physician--especially a lady doctor. Even Jason Nordling, the handsome young attorney next door, seems to disapprove of her chosen profession.

When a web of deceit among Cheyenne's wealthiest residents threatens to catch Elizabeth and Jason in its snare, they must risk working together to save one of Elizabeth's patients--even if it means falling in love.

Read an excerpt.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of the Texas Dreams series, Christmas Roses, Summer of Promise, and Waiting for Spring. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers Best. She lives in Wyoming. Find out more at www.amandacabot.com.
MY THOUGHTS

Amanda Cabot concludes her Westward Winds series with a thoroughly satisfying read. In fact, she may have saved the best for the last! Each of the books about three sisters are stand-alones, and while I loved Abigail's story in Summer of Promise (reviewed here) and Charlotte's in Waiting for Spring (reviewed here), this one is my favorite. Once again, Cabot brings the newly settled Wyoming Territory of the late 1880's to life with vivid imagery, unforgettable personalities, and timeless struggles. As much as I enjoyed Elizabeth & Jason's story, the interwoven subplots were just as powerfully written and equally captivating, and I couldn't put this one down. A thread of danger adds a layer of intrigue to this novel, reminding the reader that the land may be tamed easier than the darkness within a person's heart. This is a must-read book and series!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”



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Thursday, January 16, 2014

The Dancing Master

The Dancing Master
Julie Klassen
(Bethany House)
ISBN: 978-0764210709
January 2014/432 pages/$14.99

Finding himself the man of the family, London dancing master Alec Valcourt moves his mother and sister to remote Devonshire, hoping to start over. But he is stunned to learn the village matriarch has prohibited all dancing, for reasons buried deep in her past.

Alec finds an unlikely ally in the matriarch’s daughter. Though he’s initially wary of Julia Midwinter’s reckless flirtation, he comes to realize her bold exterior disguises a vulnerable soul–and hidden sorrows of her own.
Julia is quickly attracted to the handsome dancing master–a man her mother would never approve of–but she cannot imagine why Mr. Valcourt would leave London, or why he evades questions about his past. With Alec’s help, can Julia uncover old secrets and restore life to her somber village…and to her mother’s tattered heart?

Filled with mystery and romance, The Dancing Master brings to life the intriguing profession of those who taught essential social graces for ladies and gentlemen hoping to make a “good match” in Regency England.

Read an excerpt.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane–”Jane Eyre” and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She is a three-time Christy Award winner and a 2010 Midwest Book Award winner for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. Find out more about Julie at her website.


MY THOUGHTS

Julie Klassen once again delivers a tale of romance and intrigue that will sweep you away to another era. As much as I love to read about the many balls and cotillions that filled the social calendar of the Regency elite, I never gave a thought to the subject of how the young people learned the many steps of the various dances required at such events. The Dancing Master gives a glimpse of the life of one in such a profession, wrapped up in a fascinating tale. Both Julia and Alec are memorable characters that are easy to like and sympathize with as they deal with the fallout of others' choices and the impact of secrets long hidden. Don't miss the latest novel from this three-time Christy Award winning author!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers & Litfuse Publicity as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


Best-selling author Julie Klassen will be hosting a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway and a live webcast event (1/23) to celebrate the release of her latest novel, The Dancing Master. Enter and RSVP today!



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One winner will receive:
  • A Kindle Fire HDX
  • The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 23rd. Winner will be announced at the "All Things Jane (from Austen to Eyre)" Live Webcast Event on January 23rd. Connect with Julie for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Julie will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books, Jane Austen DVDs, fun "Jane" merchandise, and gift certificates throughout the evening.




So grab your copy of The Dancing Master and join Julie and friends on the evening of January 23rd for a chance to connect 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 by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.
Hope to see you on the 23rd!




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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

An Appy with the Hodgepodge.


1. Are you a force to be reckoned with? In what way?

Well, someone called me tenacious the other day, does that count?! I think all of us are to some extent in regards to our kids. But overall, while I can talk a good talk, I'm relatively meek when push comes to shove.

2. What are two things you love about the wintertime? Or, if love feels like too strong a word, what are two things you 'like' about winter?

a) Spring comes next! and b) burrowing under a blanket with a cup of hot tea.

3. Pomegranate, kumquat, persimmon, kiwi, and guava are all fruits said to have health benefits, particularly during the winter months. Do you have a favorite on the list? Are there any on the list you haven't tried?

Kiwi would be my favorite of those. Pomegranates are just strange and I'm not a eg fan. I don't recall ever having tried a kumquat, persimmon, or guava.

4. I passed a local church yesterday and noticed they had this on their outdoor sign- 'When all else fails, do the right thing.' Your thoughts?

Why wait until "all else fails"? Saves a lot of time and grief do to the right thing first off!

5. Do you ski? According to one list I've seen, the top 5 ski destinations for 2014 are-St. Anton Austria, Whistler Canada, Cortina Italy, Tahoe USA, and Zermatt Switzerland. Of the five listed, which would you most like to visit? We can make skiing optional if that helps the non-skiers with their answer.

I've been skiing once. It was not the most stellar experience. LOL So none of those places particularly draw me. I've always wanted to go to Canada, though, so I'll vote for that one.

6. What's the last thing you looked for online? (Besides my blog!)

Info on a medication.

7. What saying, slogan, quote, or motto have you seen lately that inspires you for the new year?

Totally a blank on this one.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

This week started out unexpectedly when I had my appendix out Sunday morning. I was home by that afternoon and am slowly recovering. It is definitely more fun to be the nurse than to be the patient!



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Monday, January 13, 2014

But Of Course!

What other surgery would a book lover have?!



I'll be back when the fog of anesthesia and pain meds wears off!



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Thursday, January 9, 2014

She Shall Be Praised

She Shall Be Praised
A Women of Hope Novel
Ginny Aiken
(Faith Words)
ISBN: 978-0892968466
January 2014/400 pages/$14.99

When socialite Emma Crowell stops the carriage on the way to Portland to 'exercise' her new puppy, the last thing she expects is to be left behind in decidedly unsuitable attire, let alone kidnapped. Fortunately, she is soon found by local rancher Peter Lowery. Unfortunately, he has no intention of abandoning his livelihood to take her back to civilization until the fall. He will, however, provide food, shelter and safety, and in return he expects Emma to earn her keep.

Emma is surprised to find she enjoys the challenges of life at the cabin and feels drawn to Peter and his young son Robby. But though willing to learn, no matter how she tries, she never seems to live up to expectations. As Emma seeks God's guidance and aspires to the picture of womanhood shown in the 31st chapter of Proverbs, Peter comes to realize that he may be underestimating the strength and character behind this woman's beauty.

Read an excerpt here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ginny Aiken, a former newspaper reporter, lives in Indiana and frequently travels to Pennsylvania with her engineer husband. Born in Havana, Cuba, raised in Valencia and Caracas, Venezuela, she discovered books early and wrote her first novel at age fifteen while she trained with the Venezuelan Classical Ballet Company. She burned that tome when she turned a "mature" sixteen. Ginny has taught novel-writing seminars and workshops at Harrisburg (PA) Area Community College and Penn State University.

MY THOUGHTS

I've enjoyed Ginny Aiken's books in the past but somehow I've missed the first two A Women of Hope books. I'm so glad I read this one, however, and now I'm eager to read the others. Aiken has created a fresh and unique plot twist to cause Emma and Peter to cross paths, and all I can say is, I'm glad I wasn't with Emma on that carriage! She is initially rather spoiled and a bit annoying, but then who wouldn't be if thrust into the same situation? Plenty of twists and turns keep this story moving and while the conflict and adjustment make the sparks fly, humorous moments balance the emotion. A thread of danger and suspense weaves in and out of the story, providing additional tension, and the pages almost turn themselves. Of course, little Robby is a heart-melter! All in all, this is a very satisfying novel and I'm happy to recommend it.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Faith Words as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”



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