21 Days of Christmas

21 Days of Christmas:
Stories that Celebrate
God's Greatest Gift
Kathy Ide
(Broadstreet Publishers)
ISBN: 978-1424550517
September 2015/160 pages/Hardcover/$14.99
Book 2 in the Fiction Lover's Devotional series.
Christmas is more than just a holiday. It is a time to recapture the joy and wonder of God s greatest gift: His Son, Jesus.

21 Days of Christmas, the second book in the Fiction Lover's Devotional series, will warm your heart with stories about giving, loving, and family. These engaging tales celebrate the hope and joy that make this blessed season unique. At the end of each story you ll find an insightful message that will help you discover anew the true meaning of this special time of year.

So grab a cup of hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick, curl up in your favorite chair beside a picture window overlooking a serene spot, and savor the true meaning of Christmas through these inspirational and encouraging stories


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Compiler and editor Kathy Ide has been a published author since 1989. She has written fiction and nonfiction books and is the author of Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors. She has ghostwritten ten nonfiction books and a series of five novels. She also writes columns of writing and editing tips for blogs and newsletters. Kathy makes her home in Orange County, California.

MY THOUGHTS

I enjoyed reviewing 21 Days of Grace (reviewed here), so I was happy to have the opportunity to read and review this second book. Once again, Kathy Ide has compiled a book of enjoyable and inspiring stories, this time centered around Christmas. Since I was not as familiar with most of these contributing authors as with the first book, this was a good opportunity to sample their writing. Each story is followed by a brief paragraph containing a related Life Application. This is a good book to use for personal reflection as well as in a group setting. The beautiful, hardback format makes it a nice gift.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from Kathy Ide for 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.”

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A Reason to Stay

A Reason to Stay
A Texas Gold Novel
Kellie Coates Gilbert
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800722746
October 2015/336/$14.99
Sometimes the thing that keeps us from making the wrong choice is the one thing we can't control

As an investigative reporter and the host of her own TV talk show, Faith Marin works to expose the truth for her viewers. But in her personal life, she's anchored her world with firm boundaries in order to hide a family history she'd like to forget. By contrast, her husband Geary's life is an open book. An easygoing pro bass fisherman, Geary is the ultimate family man--and his overbearing relatives don't know the meaning of boundaries.

Faith and Geary haven't been married long when their differences start to derail their tender relationship. Surely love shouldn't be this hard. While Faith considers whether divorce is the only answer to their issues, tragedy strikes. With her life in the balance, she finds that the one she has been shutting out may be the very one she cannot bear to lose.

Kellie Coates Gilbert takes you on an emotional roller coaster as she weaves together unexpected trial, self-discovery, and forgiveness in this profoundly honest portrait of the tensions that can break a marriage--and the ultimate healing power of love.

Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kellie Coates Gilbert is a former legal investigator and trial paralegal and the author of A Woman of Fortune and Where Rivers Part. Gilbert crafts her emotionally charged stories about women in life-changing circumstances in Dallas, Texas, where she lives with her husband. Learn more at www.kelliecoatesgilbert.com.

MY THOUGHTS

One of these days Kellie Coates Gilbert might write a book that doesn't reach in and grab my heart, but today is not that day! A Reason to Stay is women's fiction at its best. Gilbert's expert character development and gift of story combine to create a compelling tale. Rather self-absorbed and driven, Faith is not the most likable character as the book begins but trials have a way of honing rough edges, and I viewed her more favorably as the story progressed. Heart-wrenching events and powerfully realistic moments lend an authenticity that made me feel as if I personally knew Faith and Geary. This is a book to read with the tissue box close by. A Reason to Stay is a must-read!


Read my reviews of the first two Texas Gold novels:

A Woman of Fortune
Where Rivers Part


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell 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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A Respectable Actress

A Respectable Actress
Dorothy Love
(Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-1401687595
October 2015/384 pages/$15.99
When India Hartley is accused of murder, she must uncover the deceptions of others to save herself.

India Hartley, a famous and beautiful actress, is now alone after her father’s death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah’s Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night’s performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.

A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best—and handsomest—lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.

Because India can’t go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia lowcountry and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip’s dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.

Learn more and see what others are saying about this book by clicking here.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A native of west Tennessee, Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. When she isn’t busy writing or researching her next book, Love enjoys hiking, traveling, and hanging out with her husband Ron and their rambunctious golden retriever. Find out more about Dorothy at http://dorothylovebooks.com.



MY THOUGHTS

This fascinating novel combines murder, mystery, and not a little mayhem--as well as romance, of course--as it opens with a bang. The post-Civil War setting and the prevailing attitudes toward the acting profession greatly influence the story line and plot, and the author uses this to deepen the character development and add layers to the story. Secrets and unexpected twists in the plot kept me rapidly turning pages as I endeavored to determine who murdered the lead actor. Unsettling events at the plantation where India has been secreted add to the tension. Grab your copy of A Respectable Actress today.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishing and Litfuse Publicity Group 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.”

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Vendetta

Vendetta
The Nikki Boyd Files
Lisa Harris
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800724177
September 2015/304 pages/$14.99

The first 48 hours are the most critical.

No one needs to push Nikki Boyd to excel on the Tennessee Missing Persons Task Force. The case of her own missing sister, still unsolved after ten years, is the driving force in her work. When a Polaroid photo of a missing girl shows up at a crime scene, Nikki quickly recognizes similarities to the past. The closer she gets to the abductor, the more she feels this case has become personal, and she is not the hunter . . . but the hunted.

With this explosive first book in The Nikki Boyd Files, award-winning author Lisa Harris takes you on a fast-paced pursuit of justice that will have you holding your breath until the heart-stopping finish.


"Filled with red herrings and heart-pounding danger, Vendetta will leave readers anxiously awaiting Nikki Boyd's next adventure."--Irene Hannon, bestselling author of the Private Justice series


Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Harris is a bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from Romantic Times. She has sold over thirty novels and novella collections. Along with her husband, she and her three children have spent over ten years living as missionaries in Africa where she homeschools, leads a women's group, and runs a nonprofit organization that works alongside their church-planting ministry. The ECHO Project works in southern Africa promoting Education, Compassion, Health, and Opportunity and is a way for her to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves . . . the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice" (Proverbs 31:8).

When she's not working, she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa, visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com or her blog at myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com. For more information about The ECHO Project, please visit www.theECHOproject.org.



MY THOUGHTS

Oh. Wow. Lisa Harris quickly vaulted onto my list of favorite authors a couple of years ago when I read one of her books, and this one is her best yet. From the opening scene to the final sentences, I was swept up into this story. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening or had figured out the answer, the story took another turn and I was once again holding my breath with a white-knuckled hold on the book. Harris keeps up a rapid pace in this heart-pounding suspense, and the amount of adrenaline and coffee required by Nikki and her team would keep me awake for a month! I could not put this one down and read it in an afternoon/evening. Fair warning: the first chapter of book 2 is in the back of the book. I read it and now I am already on pins and needles waiting for its release next year! Don't miss this book and this series!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell 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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Murder at the Courthouse

Murder at the Courthouse
A Hidden Springs Mystery
A. H. Gabhart
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800726768
October 2015/336 pages/$12.99

Welcome to Hidden Springs
pop. 732 731

Michael Keane's stressful days as a Columbus police officer are done. He's ready to relax into his new position as deputy sheriff in his sleepy hometown. Nothing ever happens in Hidden Springs, Kentucky--and that's just fine with Michael.

Nothing, that is, until a dead body is discovered on the courthouse steps. As Michael works to solve the case, it seems that every nosy resident in town has a theory. When the sheriff insists Michael check out one of these harebrained theories, his surprising discovery sends him on a bewildering search for a mysterious killer that has him questioning everything he has ever believed about life in Hidden Springs.

Bringing with her a knack for creating settings you want to visit and an uncanny ability to bring characters to life, A. H. Gabhart pens a whodunit that will keep you guessing.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A. H. Gabhart is Ann H. Gabhart, bestselling author of many novels, including Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Love Comes Home, as well as several popular Shaker novels such as The Outsider, The Believer, and The Innocent. Ann grew up in a small rural town in Kentucky much like Hidden Springs, but she is happy to report nobody was ever murdered on her hometown's courthouse steps. Ann and her husband still live on a farm near that same little town in Kentucky. Learn more at www.annhgabhart.com.


MY THOUGHTS

I've enjoyed a number of Ann Gabhart's earlier books, so I was intrigued when she decided to write a cozy mystery series. Murder at the Courthouse is an engaging tale containing an assortment of eccentric characters. Gabhart creates a charming town in Hidden Springs and the unexpected crime causes no small amount of upheaval in the community. Don't mistake "cozy mystery" for simplistic, however, as Gabhart weaves in plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the end of the book. A delightful read, this novel will keep you alternately smiling and rapidly turning pages to find out "whodunit." I'm already eagerly anticipating my return to Hidden Springs with the next book in this series!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell 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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Falling Like Snowflakes

Falling Like Snowflakes
A Summer Harbor Novel
Denise Hunter
(HarperCollins/Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-0718023713
September 2015/352 pages/$12.99
When the Christmas season finds Eden in Summer Harbor, Maine, she's on the run from trouble. Romance is the last thing on her mind.

Riding in a bus in the thickly falling snow, Eden Davis wonders how it ever came to this-fleeing under cover of night with young Micah sleeping fitfully in the seat beside her. When a winter storm strands them in Summer Harbor, Maine, Eden wonders if what might have been the end could be a new beginning.

Beau Callahan is a habitual problem-solver. He's recently left his job with the sheriff's department to take over the family Christmas tree farm to save it from insolvency. But he's flummoxed. During the busiest season of the year, he's shorthanded. Then Eden shows up looking for work, and Beau believes he's been rescued. Competent, smart, and beautiful, Eden's also guarded and quiet. He soon figures out she comes with a boatload of secrets. But Beau can't seem to help himself from falling for her.

As Christmas Eve approaches, Beau discovers he'll do anything to keep Eden safe. But who's going to protect his heart from a woman who can't seem to trust again?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 20 books, including Dancing with Fireflies and The Convenient Groom. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn't orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are raising three boys. You can learn more about Denise through her website DeniseHunterBooks.com or by visiting her FaceBook page at facebook.com/authordenisehunter


MY THOUGHTS

I love when fall arrives and Christmas novels begin to hit store shelves! Falling Like Snowflakes is the perfect book to curl up with on a cool evening. Denise Hunter creates a heart-warming story with characters that work their way into your heart. Eden's situation garnered my sympathies, especially with sweet little Micah. The "game" they played to mask their identities was heart-wrenching, and I longed for them to find a safe haven in Summer Harbor. Hunter manages the perfect balance between Eden needing to be rescued and her tenacity and independence, providing depth to the story. Add this delightful book to your fall reading list today!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson BookLook Bloggers. 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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Back to the Hodgepodge

It's been a few weeks since I've been able to join Joyce for the Hodgepodge. What fun questions--as always!--she has this week!



1. October 21, 2015 is Back to the Future Day. Did you see the movie? The sequels? In the second film, Doc takes Marty into the future to prevent Marty's future son from making a mistake. They leave 1985 and land on a 'skyway' on October 21st, 2015. So tell us, what were you doing in the fall of 1985?

I've seen all the movies, but the first one was my favorite.

In 1985, I was single and transitioning from being the "head nurse" (as they still called it back then!) of a post-surgical unit in the hospital to being a supervisor in Home Health.

2. If time travel were possible, would you want to go to the future? The past?

Well, it's tempting to go back and relive a day when my kids were tiny, but I know it's best just to cherish the sweet memories. And I certainly don't want to peek into the future! I've always loved this old song, written back in 1909:

If we could see beyond today as God can see
If all the clouds should roll away, the shadows flee
O'er present griefs we would not fret
Each sorrow we would soon forget
For many joys are waiting yet
For you and me

If we could know beyond today as God doth know
Why dearest treasures pass away and tears must flow
And why the darkness leads to light
Why dreary days will soon grow bright
Someday life's wrongs will be made right
Faith tells us so

If we could see, if we could know, we often say
But God in love a veil did throw across our way
We cannot see what lies before
And so we cling to Him for more
He leads us 'til this life is o'er
Trust and obey

3. We're not flying cars, but some of the technology imagined in the 80's film has indeed come to pass in real life 2015--flat screen TVs on the wall, tablets, fingerprint recognition, video conferencing, online banking, 3-D movies, motion controlled video games, drone cameras, and smart glasses (Google glass). Do you worry technology is growing at a rate so fast we'll soon be unable to keep up with its demands? Do you think the Internet does more harm than good?

I don't think technology is the problem. It is just another tool that Satan uses to pull the human heart farther away from God.

4. Your favorite dish prepared in a slow-cooker? Your favorite fast food?

Taco soup. And Chick-fil-A.

5. No time like the present, down time, face time, pressed for time, in the nick of time, make time, mark time, or just in time...which timely saying most relates to your life right now?

At this moment, down time. I've had some brutal work days, but right now it's my days off and I am soaking in the reading, resting, and recovering!

6. Tell us about a place you went as a child or younger person that's no longer there or is now something else. How does that make you feel?

It's been ten years and it still makes me sad to know it's gone. Such an integral part of growing up in Houston.

7. Describe your comfort zone.

Home and family.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm happy for those who enjoy it, but I absolutely do not see what is relaxing and stress-reducing about the new fad of adult coloring books. Just looking at them makes my heart rate go up! LOL Color me crazy! What about you? Are you a fan?

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Miracle Drug - and 5 Book Giveaway!

Miracle Drug
Richard Mabry
(Abingdon Press)
ISBN: 978-1630881184
September 2015/320 pages/$14.99

Overcoming these odds will take more than a miracle drug—it will take a miracle.

The infection wasn’t supposed to happen, but it did. The treatment was supposed to take care of it, but it didn’t. Then Dr. Josh Pearson discovers why—his patients, including the former President of the United States, have been dosed with a different strain of the original virus, one that is universally fatal. The only chance for survival is treatment with an experimental drug, but the manufacturer might already have discarded its supply.

As if treating the President of the United States isn’t stressful enough, the situation goes from bad to worse when Rachel Moore, a nurse Josh is falling in love with, falls ill. With the nation’s eyes on him, Josh must pull off a miracle to save a man who holds a good deal of power and the woman who holds his heart.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician who writes “medical suspense with heart.” His novels have won multiple awards: a semifinalist for International Thriller Writers’ debut novel; finalists for the Carol Award, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and Romantic Times’ Reader’s Choice Award; and both finalist and winner of the Selah Award. Miracle Drug is his ninth published novel. He and his wife live in Frisco, Texas. Find out more about Richard at http://www.rmabry.com.



MY THOUGHTS

I am a big fan of medical novels and the Christian suspense genre, so combining the two is a win-win! Dr. Richard Mabry has crafted a compelling story that could come from today's headlines. The tug of war between politics and personal relationships takes center stage when two lives hang in the balance, and Dr. Mabry portrays the tension well. In spite of the caveat at the front of the story advising that the bacterium and drug names are fictitious, the authenticity informed by the author's medical background made want to look them up more than once! Complex characters and multiple possible suspects kept me guessing at the resolution throughout the story. Don't miss Miracle Drug; it's just what the doctor ordered!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity Group 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.”


Enter to win a copy of Miracle Drug—five winners will be chosen! Click the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced November 2 on Richard’s blog!

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Love Everlasting

Love Everlasting
Brides of Seattle
Tracie Peterson
(Bethany House Publishing)
ISBN: 978-0764210631
September 2015/320 pages/$14.99


Growing up in a Seattle bridal finishing school never prepared Abrianna Cunningham to become one of the brides, but now Wade Ackerman, who has always been the reliable boy next door, is indicating he wants to be more than friends. And even the people closest to Abrianna believe Wade is the man she should marry. So why is she having such a hard time choosing between Wade Ackerman and Priam Welby?

Watching Welby's relentless pursuit of Abrianna is making Wade's blood boil. Welby can offer her wealth and security, but what about character and integrity? Surely Abrianna can see past Welby's smooth tongue and fine clothes. Can't she?

Caught between the devil and the boy next door, either choice she makes will change Abrianna's life forever.


Read an excerpt.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana. Learn more at www.traciepeterson.com.

MY THOUGHTS

I've been enjoying this series by Tracie Peterson, especially since I've visited Seattle and learned a bit of its history. This book can be read alone but knowing these characters from the previous novels made it that much more enjoyable. Well, except for that dastardly brute, Priam Welby! Peterson combines an authentic setting with a powerful story and the result is a page-turner that is difficult to put down. I alternately laughed and winced at the situations and antics in which Abrianna managed to find herself. The spiritual thread weaves naturally through the story without being heavy-handed or preachy. All in all, this is a delightful novel, and I hate to see this series end. Grab your copy today!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Bethany House Publishers. 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.”



Q&A WITH TRACIE PETERSON

1. Why did you write Love Everlasting?
Love Everlasting is the conclusion of the Brides of Seattle series. Throughout this series the focal character of Abrianna Cunningham has led readers on a merry chase through the streets of Seattle, dealing with the poor and homeless as well as the young bridal candidates at the Madison School for Brides. The series has shown Abrianna come to accept that she can’t always charm or even force her way through the circumstances of life. Now she realizes her childhood friend Wade Ackerman is the man
she loves, but she fears that accepting his proposal of marriage will change everything.

2. Why was this particular setting and time period important to you?
Seattle lost most of its downtown to a fire in 1889. As I read about the details related to that fire and the aftermath, I was amazed at how quickly Seattle rose from the ashes. Also amazing was that no one was killed in the fire, despite a very faulty series of city water pipes and an understaffed and underfunded fire department. Seeing the opportunity to make their town better, the citizens refused to wallow in self-pity and instead put their hearts and minds into re-creating Seattle. Much of the town was rebuilt in a year. Love Everlasting covers some of that time period, and hopefully the characters reveal that drive and inspiration.

3. How did you go about researching for Love Everlasting?
Since it was book three in the series, I had a great deal of the information already on hand. However, there were details that sent me back to Seattle for research. I also had an amazing Seattle historian who helped me with all sorts of pesky questions. I’m always blessed by the people God sends my way who help deliver some of the most amazing facts.

4. What motivated the spiritual aspect of the story?
The heart of survival is an underlying theme throughout the story. Not only was this important in the citizens of Seattle but also in the lives of my main characters. Abrianna faces several challenges that threaten to destroy all that she loves. She finds her strength in God, but she also comes to realize that sometimes God sends help in the form of others. She has to learn that “no man (or woman) is an island” and that, as the Bible says, “Two are better than one,” and sometimes an entire team of people is better still. Abrianna fears change because she’s grown accustomed to her independent life. Throughout her spiritual journey she will come to terms with change and dependency, as well as love and its many forms.

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The Spendor of Ordinary Days

The Splendor of Ordinary Days
A Novel of Watervalley
Jeff High
(NAL)
ISBN: 978-0451474100
October 2015/432 pages/$15.00
Readers of Jan Karon’s Mitford series and Patrick Taylor’s Irish Country series will fall in love with Jeff High’s funny, heartfelt Watervalley series.



The pastoral charm of small-town Watervalley, Tennessee, can be deceptive, as young Dr. Luke Bradford discovers when he’s caught in the fallout of a decades-old conflict.

After a rocky start as Watervalley’s only doctor, Luke Bradford has decided to stay in town, honoring the three-year commitment he made to pay off his medical school debts. But even as his friendships with the quirky townsfolk deepen, and he pursues a romance with lovely schoolteacher Christine Chambers, several military veterans’ emotional wounds trigger anger and unrest in Watervalley.

At the center of the clash is the curmudgeonly publisher of the local newspaper, Luther Whitmore. Luther grew up in Watervalley, but he returned from combat in Vietnam a changed man. He fenced in beautiful Moon Lake, posting “Keep Out” notices at the beloved spot, and provokes the townspeople with his incendiary newspaper.

As Luke struggles to understand Luther’s past, and restore harmony in Watervalley, an unforeseen crisis shatters a relationship he values dearly. Suddenly Luke must answer life’s toughest questions about service, courage, love, and sacrifice.

Dedicated to the Wounded Warriors whose scars cannot be seen and for those who hope, pray, and wait for them to be whole again.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After growing up on a farm in rural Tennessee, Jeff High attained degrees in literature and nursing. He is the three-time winner, in fiction and poetry, of an annual writing contest held by Vanderbilt Medical Center. He lived in Nashville for many years, and throughout the country as a travel nurse, before returning to his original hometown, near where he now works as an operating room RN in open-heart surgery. He is the author of the Watervalley novels, including More Things in Heaven and Earth and Each Shining Hour. Find out more about Jeff at http://www.watervalleybooks.com/.


MY THOUGHTS

I was intrigued by this series when offered the chance to review this book, so I bought the digital versions of the first two novels, More Things in Heaven and Earth and Each Shining Hour and read them first. While The Splendor of Ordinary Days can be read as a standalone, I loved having the background of the characters and events that preceded this third novel of the series. Watervalley is a quaint and often quirky small town in the Tennessee hills, and Jeff High captures all of the nuances--good and bad--of a community that has weathered war, betrayal, unrequited love, and more. High populates the town with characters of all sort, and the strength of this novel likes in the development and interactions between the various individuals. As a caveat, this is a general market novel, and while I found it to simply depict a slice of real life, ultra-conservative Christian readers may be disappointed by mild language and the presence of alcohol within the story. However, I found Watervalley to be a charming place to pull up a chair and visit a spell, and I loved this tale's reminder to step back from the busyness of life and enjoy The Splendor of Ordinary Days.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NAL and Litfuse Publicity Group 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.”


When several military veterans’ emotional wounds trigger anger and unrest in Watervalley, Dr. Luke Bradford learns some important lessons in service, courage, love, and sacrifice in The Splendor of Ordinary Days by Jeff High. As Luke struggles to understand Vietnam War veteran Luther’s past, and restore harmony in Watervalley, an unforeseen crisis shatters a relationship he values dearly.

Join Jeff in celebrating the release of The Splendor of Ordinary Days with a Kindle Fire HD 6 giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• Signed copies of all three Watervalley books
• A Kindle Fire HD 6

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 27th. The winner will be announced October 28th on Jeff's blog.

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Promise to Keep Plus a Giveaway!

Promise to Keep
(Promise of Sunrise)
Elizabeth Byler Younts
(Howard Books)
ISBN: 978-1476735054
October 2015/352 pages/$14.99

World War II Marine Joe Garrison returns home from war longing to be a father to his deaf daughter, Daisy, only to find that she is attached to Esther Detweiler, the Amish woman who has raised her since his wife’s death in this touching historical romance.

Orphaned as a child, Esther Detweiler is used to caring for herself and her ailing grandmother. They made the best out of a hard life and poverty without asking for help. They even take in her shunned cousin’s deaf daughter, Daisy, when her mother dies and her father goes off to war. When Esther’s grandmother dies, Daisy is all she has.

When war veteran Joe Garrison returns, all he can think about is recovering from the horrors of war and building a relationship with his seven-year-old daughter. Daisy, however, is unwilling to leave Esther, whom she loves. Joe and Daisy get to know each other again, but Joe struggles with nightmares and fatherhood is proving to be more difficult than he imagined. Esther loves Daisy and despite her Amish ways, Joe finds himself drawn to her as a woman and not just a caregiver.

As their love blossoms, Joe decides to send Daisy away to a school for the deaf which propels their lives into turmoil and a battle for love and family.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Byler Younts is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She was Amish as a child and after her parents left the church she still grew up among her Amish family and continues to speak Pennsylvania Dutch. She lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband and two daughters. Learn more by visiting her website and Facebook Author Page.

MY THOUGHTS

Elizabeth Byler Younts is in a class all her own when it comes to writing Amish fiction. Her family history lends an authenticity that resonates throughout her stories, and this, her third standalone novel in this series, is a beautiful historical tale set in the World War II era. A gifted wordsmith, Younts swept me back decades and immersed me in the the lives of Esther, Daisy, and Joe. The attitudes of the time toward deafness were an eye-opener for me and, quite frankly, heartbreaking. Younts weaves a mulit-dimensional tale as she delves into matters of family, tradition, faith, and love. Raw and honest, this book made me cry and smile, and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Don't miss this book or this series, and add Younts to your list of must-read authors. Highly, highly recommended!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Elizabeth Byler Younts and Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster. 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.”



Click on the titles to read my reviews of the first two novels in this series:
Promise to Return
Promise to Cherish


GIVEAWAY!!

I have an extra copy of this book that I am giving to one of you! Enter via Rafflecopter below.

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The Imposter

The Imposter
(The Bishop's Family)
Suzanne Woods Fisher
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0800723200
September 2015/320 pages/$14.99
A heart once deceived should not be easily fooled again . . .

Katrina Stoltzfus thought she had life and love all figured out: she was going to marry John and live happily ever after. But as her plans crumble before her eyes, she struggles to face an uncertain future. When a widow asks for help starting a new business, Katrina quickly agrees. She needs time to heal her broken heart, to untangle her messy life, to find a purpose.

What she doesn't need is attention from Andy Miller, a farmhand who arrives at the widow's farm just when help is most needed--and who always seems to say the right thing and be in the right place, at the right time. Is Andy for real or too good to be true? She's been deceived once before, and she isn't planning on experiencing it again.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Stoney Ridge for a tale of love, uncertainty, and trusting God to write your story.

"Suzanne is an authority on the Plain folks, and that's important to readers when it comes to Amish fiction. She always delivers a fantastic story with interesting characters, all in a tightly woven plot."--Beth Wiseman, bestselling author of the Daughters of the Promise and the Land of Canaan series

Read an excerpt.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author whose most recent novels include Anna's Crossing and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

MY THOUGHTS

I have loved Suzanne Woods Fisher's books since her first novels appeared eight or so years ago. As she settled into the Amish genre, she has remained one of my must-read authors, even though it's a genre I rarely read. In The Imposter, Fisher once again creates a compelling story that delves deeper than many other Amish books. Her characters are multi-faceted and authentic, and the issues they face are relevant to many and go beyond the stereotypical Amish/Englisch tug-of-war. Matters of faith and tradition weave together naturally in this tale as Katrina endeavors to find her life's purpose and face the future with hope. As a bonus, I was delighted to discover that this new series is set in Stoney Ridge, the delightful community Fisher created for two previous series. I'm already looking forward to the next novel. Don't miss The Imposter!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Baker/Revell Publishing 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.”

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Just Show Up-- Plus a Tried & True Friendship Giveaway!

Just Show Up:
The Dance of Walking
Through Suffering Together
Kara Tippetts & Jill Lynn Buteyn
(David C Cook)
ISBN: 978-1434709530
October 2015/192 pages/$15.99
Kara Tippetts’s story was not a story of disease, although she lost her battle with terminal cancer.

It was not a story of saying goodbye, although she was intentional in her time with her husband and four children. Kara’s story was one of seeing God in the hard and in the good. It was one of finding grace in the everyday. And it was one of knowing “God with us” through fierce and beautiful friendship.

In Just Show Up, Kara and her close friend, Jill Lynn Buteyn, write about what friendship looks like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry, and even cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.


ABOUT THE AUTHORS

The late Kara Tippetts was the author of The Hardest Peace and blogged faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com. Cancer was only a part of Kara’s story. Her real fight was to truly live while facing a crushing reality. Since her death in March 2015, her husband, Jason, is parenting their four children and leading the church they founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Jill Lynn Buteyn is the author of Falling for Texas, an inspirational novel, and a recipient of the ACFW Genesis Award for her fiction work. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethel University. Jill lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children. Find out more about Jill Lynn Buteyn at http://jill-lynn.com.



MY THOUGHTS

As a nurse and someone who has served as Care Minister for my church for several years, I am passionate about reaching out to folks during the hard seasons of their lives. I followed Kara's journey intermittently at mundanefaithfulness.com and more consistently as her earthly life ebbed to a close, and I was touched by the community that surrounded her family--and that continues to walk this difficult road with her husband and children. Just Show Up, which Kara began writing before her death with her close friend Jill Lynn Buteyn, is a moving and practical guide for ministering to those in hard places. It also provides wise counsel for those who find themselves on the receiving end of care. Whether the hard is illness, death, job loss, infertility, divorce, or a host of other issues that upend one's life, Just Show Up will not only encourage you but equip you with realistic advice. Jill and Kara's warm and authentic styles made me feel as if I were sitting in the room with them as I read. Though Kara's illness was heartbreaking, the love and community experienced in the midst of unspeakable sorrow is a beautiful picture of God's grace and the way he designed the Body of Christ to function. Don't miss this gem!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from David C Cook 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.”



What does friendship look like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry—and even cancer? Kara Tippetts and Jill Lynn Buteyn teamed up to write Just Show Up, a story of their close friendship and walk through Kara's battle with terminal cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.

Celebrate the gift of friendship with a Tried & True Friendship giveaway—a prize for you and for a friend!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Just Show Up
• Two Ombre Layer Necklaces—one for you and one for a friend

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 23rd. The winner will be announced October 26th on Jill's blog.

Is one of your friends going through a tough time—maybe you need some encouragement? Stop by Kara and Jill's author page, click on the reviews bar, and read through some bloggers' stories of how their friends got them through suffering.

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