Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Rebecca's Bouquet (Hope Chest of Dreams #1) by Lisa Jones Baker




Three young Amish women, gifted with hand-carved hope chests to hold their treasures and their dreams for the future, find the inspiration they need to help them reconcile love and faith in the most unexpected ways…

The last thing Rebecca Sommer dreamed her plan to wed would bring is a heart-wrenching choice. She thought she and her betrothed, William, would spend the rest of their lives in Illinois’ heartland, raising a family in their close-knit Amish hometown. But when he must travel far out of state to save his ailing father's business, Rebecca braves her relatives' disapproval—and her own fears—to go work by his side. And though she finds herself ever more in love with the dedicated, resourceful man he proves to be, William’s growing interest in English ways may be the one challenge even her steadfast faith can't meet…

William knows he couldn't ask for a more loyal wife-to-be. And the bravery that helps Rebecca tackle every obstacle makes her even more admirable. He simply won't ask her to sacrifice her deepest beliefs, no matter how right they are for each other. But the patience and care that crafted Rebecca's hope chest is somehow showing them there's more than one way prayers can be answered—and hearts brought together forever.


Amazon


About The Author





Lisa Jones Baker grew up near a small Amish town in Illinois that she frequented with her family on weekends. She's also a dog lover and a fan of Scottsdale, Arizona, where she spent nearly two decades. Lisa graduated from Illinois State University with a French major, has been on 5 out of 7 continents, and considers her parents the best in the world. Raised in a Christian home, Lisa has always been blessed with love and support.  

Website 


My Review




This is the first book in a new series about a carved hope chest given by Sam, an Amish wood carver with a lot of wisdom, and the first box goes to Rebecca as she begins her journey.
Rebecca is sure of one thing and that is that William Conrad are meant for each other, so when a call comes for William that his father has had a heart attack and needs him to come to Indiana, she know she must go with him.
Leaving their Amish community and support and heading into the English world has to be a very big shock and eye opener for them. Turn on a TV and sit back in air conditioning, and William seems to be accepting of these great comforts, while Rebecca loves the modern laundry room, and adores the kitchen with all its conveniences and gadgets.
Then a number of threats against Rebecca’s life are received, and she is going back home, will William stay and embrace the English comfortable life, or will he go back to Arthur Illinois and his Community.
The answers are here, and you are going to be page turning to get to all the answers. There are two more books to come and I’m looking forward to reading each of them.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.


Website

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Dead Reckoning by Caitlin Rother






Retirees Tom and Jackie Hawks were delighted when attractive, personable Skylar Deleon and his pregnant wife, Jennifer, offered cash to purchase their yacht, the Well Deserved. But a trial voyage turned into a nightmare. The Hawkses were never seen again, while the Deleons claimed the older couple had signed over control of their assets to them.

The outrageous story became even more shocking when Skylar and Jennifer were tried for murder. Now, in this updated edition of her true-crime classic, bestselling author and award-winning journalist Caitlin Rother reveals eye-opening developments in the case, including Skylar’s decision to transition to a transgender woman—despite living in a men’s prison. But for the former child actor, the answer to “Where Are They Now?” is still Death Row.


About The Author



New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored nine books: Her latest, I'll Take Care of You, as well as Lost Girls, Poisoned Love, Dead Reckoning, Body Parts, Twisted Triangle, Deadly Devotion, Naked Addiction, and My Life, Deleted.

Rother, a Pulitzer Prize nominee, worked as an investigative reporter at daily newspapers for nineteen years before deciding to write books full-time. Her work has been published in Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Huffington Post and The Daily Beast. She has appeared dozens of times as a crime expert on Nancy Grace, the Jay Thomas Show, Investigation Discovery, E!, HLN, the Oxygen Network, Greta Van Susteren’s On the Record, XM Radio, America at Night, CSPAN and various PBS radio and TV affiliates.

 Rother works as a book doctor/publishing and research consultant and teaches narrative non-fiction writing at UCSD Extension and San Diego Writers, Ink. Please visit her website at http://caitlinrother.com



My Review

 

This updated book will blow your socks off, and if you were related to the victim you would want to carry out your own justice. How can we treat our prisoners better we do our Vets and law abiding citizens. What is this nation coming to? Makes you wonder if crime does pay, and don’t forget this person is on death row.

I received this book through the Author and was not required to give a positive review. 

The Amish Christmas Kitchen by Kelly Long, Jennifer Beckstrand, and Lisa Jones Baker






A dash of joy brings everything together . . .

Something’s always baking in an Amish oven, and at Christmastime, all the ingredients for joy are at hand. Wrap yourself in the warmth of the Amish home—and the Plain peace of hearts joined by love. Each story includes a recipe from the author!
 
BAKING LOVE ON ICE MOUNTAIN
Kelly Long
Newly married, Clara Mast and Daniel Kauffman have little to give but love during their first Christmas season together. But generous hearts are always willing to be creative in this “Gift of the Magi” inspired story. 

THE CHRISTMAS BAKERY ON HUCKLEBERRY HILL
Jennifer Beckstrand
When shy Katie Rose Gingerich’s dat sends her to Huckleberry Hill to secure a marriage proposal, she never expects to long for carefree Titus Helmuth—or to hope that he might want to spend every Christmas with her . . .

THE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS COOKIE
Lisa Jones Baker
A charity auction, an unexpected friendship, and a stubborn spirit combine in an unusual courtship. But for Emma and Jonathan, overcoming obstacles is just one of the lessons to be learned about special blessings this holiday season.




About the Author

Kelly Long is the author of the acclaimed Amish Patch of Heaven series and has been a finalist for the coveted Carol Award from the American Christian Fiction Writers. Her novel Lilly's Wedding Quilt was a Goodreads Favorite Book of the Year in 2011. Born and raised in the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania, she’s been married for nearly 25 years and has five children. Please visit her at kellylongbooks.com.

Jennifer Beckstrand is the RITA nominated and award-winning author of the Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series. She loves writing about the plain Amish life and the antics of Anna and Felty Helmuth. She and her husband have been married for thirty​-one​ years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and ​four adorable grandchildren​, whom she spoils rotten. Readers can visit her website at www.jenniferbeckstrand.com.

Lisa Jones Baker grew up near a small Amish town in Illinois that she frequented with her family on weekends. She's also a dog lover and a fan of Scottsdale, Arizona, where she spent nearly two decades. Lisa graduated from Illinois State University with a French major, has been on 5 out of 7 continents, and considers her parents the best in the world. Raised in a Christian home, Lisa has always been blessed with love and support. She loves to hear from readers via email at lisajonesbaker1@gmail.com.

My Review





The first story is by Kelly Long, Daniel Kauffman tries to fulfill a dying wish to his friend, but isn’t successful, and two years later, he is really interested in Clara. Clara appears to still grieving for her late husband, and has really become a recluse, has Daniel learned his lesson, and now will take his time with her.
There are a few cute chuckles here, and there are goats involved, and lots of cookies. A really sweet, in more ways than one, cookies and candy, children and a bit of romance, Christmas story, and a very fast and timely read.

The second story is by Jennifer Beckstrand who has brought back my favorite couple Annie and Felty, and their desire to marry off their grandchildren. This one is Titus’s chance, and Annie has opened her home Katie Rose as at 24 she is here to have Amos fall in love with her.
Meek and kind Titus writes poetry and is quietly there helping Katie, while Amos, at least what I read, was a demanding guy, and you feel like he is doing a favor just coming around. We hope that Katie sees what is right under her nose, and I’m not rooting for Amos.
The final story is by Lisa Jones Baker and her love for a little guy, he needs life saving surgery, and his brother’s pride of not being able to afford the surgery without help. There is also a spark of romance, but all is helped by delicious cookies, and so many tries to get the perfect recipe.
All of the stories do include a recipe for you to try, yum!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review. 



The Trouble with Mistletoe (Heartbreaker Bay, #2) by Jill Shalvis






If she has her way ...

Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her ...

He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.

Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead-gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him ...

Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice ...

Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish—and let the mistletoe do its work .


Kindle: bit.ly/MistletoeAmazon
iBooks: bit.ly/MistletoeiBooks
Nook: bit.ly/MistletoeNook
Paperback: bit.ly/MistletoePaperback
GooglePlay: bit.ly/MistletoeGooglePlay
Kobo: bit.ly/MistletoeKobo
BAM: bit.ly/MistletoeBAM



About The Author




New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras with her family and far too many assorted quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental.

Look for Jill's latest, SWEET LITTLE LIES on shelves and e-readers now, and get all her bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold.

Visit Jill's website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Connect with Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/JillShalvis
Connect with Jill on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jillshalvis
Connect with Jill on Tumblr: http://jillshalvis.tumblr.com
  


My Review




Willa and Keane are two people that are thrown together by a cat, and Petunia seems to love Willa. Keane is one of those men that turns heads, and Willa recognizes him immediately, but Keane acts like he has never seen her before.
You will love the chemistry between these two, and the banter that goes on will put a smile on your face. While these two sure have past baggage, and as youngsters no one could understand what the other was going through.
Keane has a thriving business as property flipper, and Willa is in her glory with her Pet Shop, we get to go to a doggy wedding, smile!
Can these two get past their own pasts, and find a life together, maybe the mistletoe will help, as these two struggle to get beyond their beginning.
I received this book through the Author, and was not required to give a positive review.

Monday, September 26, 2016

The Raven (Coffey & Hill #2) by Mike Nappa






As part of his regular street performance, a deception specialist who goes by the name The Raven picks his audience's pockets while they watch. It's harmless fun--until he decides to keep the spare wallet a city councilman doesn't seem to miss, hoping for a few extra bucks. When he finds not money but compromising photos of the councilman and his "personal assistants," The Raven hatches a plan to blackmail the man. However, he quickly finds himself in over his head with the Ukrainian Mafia and mired in a life-threatening plot code-named, "Nevermore."
Private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill must scramble to sort out the clues--and their complicated feelings for each other--to rescue The Raven and save hundreds of lives from a wildcard bent on revenge.
Mike Nappa snags readers from the first page of this fast-paced thriller--and he never lets go until the end.






Mike Nappa is an entertainment journalist, as well as a bestselling and award-winning author with more than one million books sold worldwide.
When he was a kid, the stories of Edgar Allan Poe scared him silly. Today he owns everything Poe ever wrote.
A former fiction acquisitions editor, Mike earned his MA in English literature and now writes full time.


My Review

As we reunite with Trudi Coffey and her x-husband Samuel Hill they are still together, but really apart. Trudi ends up rescuing The Raven who has gotten in way to deep at blackmailing a member of the Ukrainian Mafia, a magician who has picked the wrong pocket.
We also have Mamma Bliss, who is grieving beyond grief for her lost grandson, and wanting revenge, but who will or who has already paid? Of course, The Raven, in some ways reminds her of her lost loved one, and you see her take him under her wing.
As the events of this book unfold, you won’t know who will be still alive by the end, and for what? Yes, as always greed is involved, but this one also has a bit more, and I found myself quickly absorbed in finding out how this one is going to end, and yet in some ways I didn’t want to know.
This book is pure action; from one second to the next I was wondering who the good and bad guys were. Be ready to be on your toes, and now I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
I received this book through Revell Fiction, and was not required to give a positive review.


Saturday, September 24, 2016

Supporting Books Banned Books Week ~ $10 Amazon Gift Card


While not all books appeal to me as I'm sure the same for you, I do feel that we should be able to choose what we want to read. I've included a link to a list of some of the books that someone feels should be banned! Because of this I have joined BookHounds in supporting books, I'm offering a $10 Amazon Gift Card, so you can choose your own book. Just Fill out the attached Rafflecopter, and Good Luck!

http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/node/10232



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to visit the other participants!!

 

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Mattie's Pledge by Jan Drexler






A Tender, Poignant, and Heartwarming Glimpse into the Amish Migration West from Pennsylvania
Mattie Schrock is no stranger to uprooting her life. Even as her father relocated her family from one Amish community to the next, she always managed to find a footing in their new homes. Now as the Schrock family plans to move west from Somerset County to a fledgling Amish settlement in Indiana, she looks forward to connecting with old friends who will be joining them from another Pennsylvania community--friends like Jacob Yoder, who has always held a special place in her heart.
Since Mattie last saw Jacob, they've both grown into different people with different dreams. Jacob yearns to settle down, but Mattie can't help but dream of what may lie over the western horizon. When a handsome Englisher tempts her to leave the Amish behind to search for adventure in the West, will her pledge to Jacob be the anchor that holds her secure?
Tender, poignant, and gentle, "Mattie's Pledge" offers readers a glimpse into Amish life in the 1840s--and into the yearning heart of a character they'll not soon forget.





About The Author





Jan Drexler brings a unique understanding of Amish traditions and beliefs to her writing. Her ancestors were among the first Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1700s. Their experiences are the basis for her stories. Jan lives in South Dakota with her husband, their four adult children, two active dogs, and a cat. When she isn't writing, she enjoys hiking the Black Hills and the Badlands. She is the author of the Love Inspired novels The Prodigal Son Returns, A Mother for His Children, and A Home for His Family.

My Review

As this story begins we are back in the Lancaster Pennsylvania area and with the Schrock family, and we are with another daughter Mattie and her desire to see this country.
As the story opens the family is busy getting ready for their journey to the new Amish settlement in Indiana, and the hopes of abundant farm land at affordable prices. We are with the family and friends when the old friends from another community arrive to go with them to their new homes.
Jacob Yoder remembers Mattie from their old settlement and is so fond of her, you can see the sparks fly, but Mattie isn’t sure she wants to end her journey at Indiana, the mountains and ocean lay ahead and she wants to see it all. Will Mattie ever get over her restless wandering desire or will she leave with a handsome stranger that seems to pose danger.
This is a glimpse into Amish life in our country back in the 1840’s, and life is a bit rough traveling in wagons across our States. I will tell you once you open the cover of this book, you will be quickly turning the pages to find answers.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.


The Christmas Angel Project by Melody Carlson






Perfect for readers who want a heartwarming and hopeful Christmas story
Five women from different walks of life have become close friends through their book club--enjoying one another's company even more than they enjoy the books. So when the leader of the book club unexpectedly passes away on the cusp of the Christmas season, the four remaining friends are stunned. They relied on Abby for inspiration and motivation. She was the glue that held them together, and they're sure that without her the group can't continue.
When the group gathers "one last time" to open a bag Abby's husband gives them, they find Abby had made each of them an angel ornament for Christmas, crafted especially for each woman and accompanied by a sweet and personal note. Inspired by their beloved friend, together Cassidy, Louisa, Grace, and Belinda decide to commit themselves to becoming Christmas Angels to others in need. Each woman will use her life situation and talents to reach out and help others in her own unique way--little knowing that her own life and her relationships will be changed forever.
Fan favorite Melody Carlson is back with another touching Christmas story sure to grip readers' hearts and perhaps inspire them to become Christmas Angels themselves.
(less)



Amazon

About The Author





Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, the Life at Kingston High series, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. She is the winner of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon.


My Review

Five women regularly getting together for a monthly book club, when one of them suddenly dies, Abby it seems was the glue that held them together. Would the remaining four friends be able to form some kind of bond to keep the group together, seems rather small for a book club, maybe something else.
Abby being gone seems to answer them with a gift of homemade angel ornaments, and surprisingly each one looks like the receiver, but there is more to each ornament as they are about to discover. The four remaining decide to get together and grieve, but they begin to discover a personal note to each of them, how did she know? She was taken unexpectantly and yet!
This book will make each one of the look deeper into yourself, and as these women found their strength from each other, you will be surprised at the outcome of this short, page-turner book. A great message here and your going to love this story!
I received this book through Revell Publishing and their Blogger tour and was not required to give a positive review.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Love Gone Wrong (True Crime Box Set, Notorious USA) by Caitlin Rother



New York Times bestselling USA series

Florida, Georgia, South Carolina

Welcome to Florida, the Sunshine state with a darker side than most. The mecca for wealthy retirees to enjoy their younger girlfriends, yachts and marble-floored mansions, where recreational drugs, sex and booze flow like the warm water that hugs the coast. Where teenage girls and their boyfriends kill their parents in the name of love, and women shoot their boyfriends then claim self-defense. New York Times bestselling crime authors Caitlin Rother and Gregg Olsen join to release this compilation of murder cases from the vacation destination that is home to Disney World and miles of beaches, yet also has more killers on its death row than any other state but California. This compilation pairs two sets of cases with similar circumstances but very different outcomes. In the first story, a former flight attendant murders her multimillionaire boyfriend of eighteen years, using a gun, a knife, a hammer (and possibly poisoned his gin as well), claiming he was abusive for years and put a loaded gun to her head. In the second story, a woman with a history of violent, drug-addicted boyfriends kills her latest lover after only a few weeks together, alleging that he forced a gun into her mouth in a drug-induced rage. In the third story, a 15-year-old girl falls in love and wants to have a baby with a boyfriend who is four years older. Her mother, who wants to end the relationship, ends up dead after being stabbed, choked, and injected with a syringe loaded with bleach. Finally, a 16-year-old girl and her 20-year-old boyfriend conspire to fatally bludgeon her disapproving father with a baseball bat.

Welcome to Georgia, where the all-mighty dollar trumps mercy and lawfulness on an all-too-regular basis. Where hit men can be hired for small sums and lovers can be manipulated into killing innocent people, all out of greed. In the first story, the socialite wife of a multimillionaire is fatally shot by a flower delivery man on the day of a key divorce hearing. After sending authorities on a global fugitive hunt, the man responsible is brought back to face justice twenty years later, wearing only one sandal on his gout-ridden feet. In the second, a crooked businessman trying to go straight is shot in his driveway by a hit man wearing a ski mask and camouflage gear—one in a nationwide series of contract-for-hire murders, advertised in the classified-ad pages of Soldier of Fortune magazine. And finally, a Gulf War veteran and father of three is kidnapped, beaten and stabbed by the lover of his on-and-off-again wife, who wants to collect life insurance benefits and pay off her house. The lover makes a deal for a life sentence and a chance at parole, while the wife gets the death penalty. She becomes the second woman ever to be executed in Georgia, even after the Pope, other faith-based advocates and two of her children fight for her clemency, citing her dramatic repentance and rehabilitation through religion.

And finally, in South Carolina, where racial strife and righteous, heavily-armed indignation leads to murder. Rother brings listeners a compilation of crime stories from this former Confederate state: the first woman in South Carolina to go to the electric chair after a vengeful feud over a dead calf turned fatal; the state's most prolific serial killer who managed to kill a fellow prisoner while on death row; and the young white man accused of trying to incite a race war by fatally shooting nine African-Americans during Bible study in a historic church.


Amazon


About The Author



New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored nine books: Her latest, I'll Take Care of You, as well as Lost Girls, Poisoned Love, Dead Reckoning, Body Parts, Twisted Triangle, Deadly Devotion, Naked Addiction, and My Life, Deleted.

Rother, a Pulitzer Prize nominee, worked as an investigative reporter at daily newspapers for nineteen years before deciding to write books full-time. Her work has been published in Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Huffington Post and The Daily Beast. She has appeared dozens of times as a crime expert on Nancy Grace, the Jay Thomas Show, Investigation Discovery, E!, HLN, the Oxygen Network, Greta Van Susteren’s On the Record, XM Radio, America at Night, CSPAN and various PBS radio and TV affiliates.

 Rother works as a book doctor/publishing and research consultant and teaches narrative non-fiction writing at UCSD Extension and San Diego Writers, Ink. Please visit her website at http://caitlinrother.com



My Review


Compelling read and three books providing in this set, and once you finish one you will be quickly on to the next. What a great buy, and makes a wonderful read for those who love non-fiction.
Kill Him Some More are true stories that make it even worse, you can’t imagine how these could happen.
If you were in your fifties and your beauty was fading would you kill your elderly boyfriend, no he never married you, now he wants younger woman, so she showed him. Then we have people on drugs, these people are so damaged by what they are doing to their bodies, and now they are killing one another. Justice, but who and what do you believe?
The tragedy are the young teenagers whom the parents have literally lost control of them completely, they do as they please, and may have you believing they are following the rules, but no, they are now facing murder charges. Follow these trials to the end, and yet where are the answers to preventing these horrible acts?
Caitlin Rother presents the facts here, you don’t have to do the digging, she has it all and it is not pretty, and how these people die is horrible.
A Complicated Woman: South Carolina, Notorious USA I didn’t know that the first woman who went to the electric chair was from South Carolina, nor that it evolved over the death of a calf. The cases in this book involve a famous Senator Strom Thurmond, and a serial killer Pee Wee Gaskin, who is even able to kill while in prison.
There is so little value in human life, and the last case tells about a resent man who killed the people who opened their church to him, and in the end they lived their faith and forgave him.
Such needless killings, and it seems there are different reasons, but mostly hate. So very sad.

Dead on Delivery has the State of Georgia in its mind, and the crimes have home in the Peach State. We find greed rearing its ugly head, and in one a wife planning the murder of her husband for a non-existent insurance policy, a war veteran who spends his day helping a friend.
I never knew, even if it doesn’t exist now, that there was a magazine people advertised in to offer their services as a sniper, murder for hire? We find this service being used, we also see a lot of missteps but in the end, it is all laid out to greed, and Caitlin Rother has brought all of this story to us, we don’t need to hunt through pages and pages of documents. I find it hard to believe that these things are happening, my head in the sand, yes.
Then we also have Mr. Wealthy, he doesn’t want to give his soon to ex-wife a cent, and so we do away with her. We watch how justice has a long time coming, but in the end we sometimes wonder if it has been served.
Compelling page turning read, and you will wonder if the death sentence should be used, while I agree with it, it is controversial.
I received this book from the Author, and was not required to give a positive review.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

A Love Made New (Amish of Birch Creek #3) by Kathleen Fuller


Abigail Schrock knows God can make all things new, but does that include her broken heart?


It seems as if everyone is falling in love in Birch Creek, including Abigail Schrock. But when heartbreak descends on her already fragile world, she can’t help but feel that if she’d only been a little prettier, she could be on her way down the wedding aisle. To make matters worse, Abigail’s two sisters have found love, while all Abigail can seem to find is the chocolate she has stashed away in the pantry.


Asa Bontrager has never had trouble with the ladies in his Amish community—his good looks have always gotten him far. Which is why he’s baffled by the call he’s received from God to pursue Abigail, a woman who seems determined to turn him away.


Can Abigail find the peace and joy she so desperately desires? Will she allow herself to stop running and melt into the embrace of unforeseen comfort? If she does, she may just discover a love powerful enough to lift the heavy burden of grief weighing her down and restore her hope in a promising future.


Amazon

About The Author





Kathleen was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, and now make my home in beautiful Geneva, Ohio. I’ve been married to James for 15 wonderful years (really, they have been wonderful!)  We have three terrific children, three dogs, and an overwhelmed cat. We have also raised cattle, pigs, and chickens at various times over the years. We would have gone into the goat business, but I had to draw the line somewhere. I started writing in 2000, and published my first short story a year later. Since then I have authored several short stories, novellas, novels, and have done a lot of freelance non-fiction work. I have also worked as an editor. I have a Masters degree in Special Education, emphasis on teaching the blind and visually impaired, and a Bachelors in Early Childhood/Elementary Education. I have taught all age groups ranging from age 4 to age 18. A few of my favorite things: my relationship with Christ, chocolate (of course!), autumn, a satisfying book, good friends, a sense of humor, people who don’t take themselves seriously, haunting melodies, NFL football, and did I mention chocolate?

My Review 




This is the third book in this series and this is Abigail’s story, don’t worry if you haven’t read the other two, we are caught up to date as we go along, but once you start this one, you will want to read the other two.
Along with Abigail’s story we also have Irene, whose life in some way parallels Sol’s, the one we really disliked from the previous books, but no more, he has found his way back to God. These stories meld and yet are different, alike in that all participants are Amish, but of course different as people. With Irene I wanted her father’s problems to be resolved, and no one to get hurt, but Sol, even for his mother’s sake my desire was that his father would never return.
Will these couples end up together, the answers are here, and all they need to do is follow their faith and God, and if they are meant to be they will follow his Will,
I loved being reunited with old friends and in the charming town of Birch Creek, I wanted to move there, and you also be page turning to find the answers. Enjoy!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

Monday, September 12, 2016

The Bible and Me: Stories with a Message to Live By by Lois Rock, Alida Massari (Illustrations)


Thoughtfully retold, The Bible and Me begins with the faith stories of the Old Testament that tell of God’s unfailing love. The New Testament describes the coming of God’s son Jesus Christ, who by his life and teaching showed how all people could be reconciled to God. Finally, the stories of Jesus’ friends and followers are that of their faith, hope, and love. Each story ends with a prayer, psalm, or passage for reflection. 


About The Author







Lois Rock is the Commissioning Editor for Lion Children’s Books, as well as a highly respected and trusted author in her own right, acclaimed in many different countries for her books of prayers, Bible stories, and non-fiction books about the Christian faith.

Lois lives in Oxfordshire, is married and has 3 children, all of whom are now grown up. She enjoys cycling and walking and has helped to lead church children’s groups for many years, an experience that she draws on when writing books for children. 


My Review



This hard covered book will become a go to book at your home for your little ones, geared to the 5 to 8 year old, great for little hands to bring to you to read to them.
As you turn the pages bring God’s word to them in a way they can understand, they eyes will be quickly drawn to the bright colors and illustrations on the pages. Bible stories retold in a way your little ones can understand. Starting with the Old Testament and forward to the New Testament, we travel from the Beginning, the great flood on to exile and return, then on to the child of Bethlehem, with 128 pages through to the new Jerusalem.
What a great gift for your own little one, or another child that you want to share your faith, hope and love with, and then with a special time for reflection. The perfect book to cuddle up with your child and share the word of God with, sharing the stories his unfailing love, giving the right messages for them to live by.
I received this book through Kregel Publishing and was not required to give a positive review.  

Friday, September 9, 2016

Pop Manga Coloring Book: A Surreal Journey Through a Cute, Curious, Bizarre, and Beautiful World by Camilla d'Errico

Manga artist and Pop Surrealism superstar Camilla d Errico presents her first everadult coloring book, filled with portraits, patterns, and the stunning artwork her fans and collectors have come to love.
This one-of-a-kind book offers you the opportunity tocollaborate with d Errico, adding your colors to her gorgeous black and whitelinework. Featuring everything from haunting and surreal character portraitsto pages filled with patterns and designs all rendered in d Errico sinimitable style, "Pop Manga Coloring Book "is guaranteed toprovide hours of coloring fun and excitement."





Amazon

About The Author








Camilla d’Errico is an Italo-Canadian artist who has been making waves in the fine art and comic industries with her manga-influenced style. Ever the prolific artist, Camilla is comic artist/creator and Pop Surrealist painter, while also contributing to the vinyl art toy movement, and expanding her style into fashion, accessories, toys and other merchandise.
Camilla resides in Vancouver, BC, where she paints and draws comics, and more recently has been working with entertainment companies on feature films and videogames. She has distinguished herself through her ability to seamlessly weave comic art and manga with surrealist elements, wrapping it all together with an extensive emotional palette. Thanks to her relentless energy, dedication, and creativity, she has followed her dream of successfully working creatively for a living.


My Review





If you enjoy Mange at all this book will surely bring a smile to your face and warm your heart as your fingers itch to start coloring. Once you finish perusing the pages, and oohing and aahing, you will probably flip through again and again trying to decide which page to start first.
The choices are wonderful and this is a one of kind type of coloring book, original drawings, and your friends are going to be so envious and feel you are so lucky to have this. You might want to get some for gifts, the ultimate to inspire everyone.
Would I buy for my friends and family, definitely, the pictures are beautiful, and compelling, and a wonderful 80 pages.
I received this book through Blogging For Books and was not required to give a positive review.



Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Mount Hope: An Amish Retelling of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park by Sarah Price






When her father can no longer provide for his large family, Fanny Price is sent away from her small Amish community in Colorado to live with her aunt’s family in Mount Hope, Ohio. Fanny immediately feels out of place at the Bontrager farm but finds a friend in her aunt’s stepson, Elijah Bontrager. As time passes, Fanny begins to long for their friendship to blossom into something more, but her hopes are dashed when Elijah starts to court someone else. With her uncle pressuring her to marry a man who can take her off his hands, Fanny must learn to rely on God for her future.

Amazon



About The Author




The Preiss family emigrated from Europe in 1705, settling in Pennsylvania as the area's first wave of Mennonite families. Sarah Price has always respected and honored her ancestors through exploration and research about her family history and their religion. At nineteen, she befriended an Amish family and lived on their farm throughout the years.
As a masterful storyteller, Sarah Price prides herself on presenting an authentic Amish experience for her readers. Many of her stories are based on actual people she has met and her own experiences living among the Amish over the years. Sarah now resides in Morris County, New Jersey with her family.
While she started out as an Indie author, she signed on with Realms, an imprint of Charisma House and Waterfall Press, an imprint of Brilliance Publishing. Her first book, First Impressions: An Amish Adaptation of Pride and Prejudice was released in May 2014.

Get the latest news about Sarah Price on Facebook, Twitter, and sarahpriceauthor.com 


My Review


This story is the retelling of Jane Austin’s Mansfield Park with an Amish Twist. Fanny Price is an obedient young girl and helps her family as much as she can at eight years; the family is very poor and struggling to survive in Colorado. Now the parents make a life changing decision for Fanny and she is sent to live with her mother’s sisters in Ohio, can you imagine doing such a thing?
Fanny Price becomes a model Amish woman, and again is very obedient, although she tries to meld into the woodwork; she is very attentive to her aunts. Her one solace is her aunt’s stepson, Elijah, who talks to her and really seems to see her, the one person she can share with.
Of course life can never be smooth, and we travel these rough spots though Fanny’s eyes, and really walk in her shoes. Will she ever find her own man, home and children, or is she destined to be a caretaker for the older members of the family.
I really enjoyed this read, and as some of the sinister members try to take hold, we hope for the best for our Fanny.
I received this book through Net Galley the Publisher Realms, and was not required to give a positive review.


Write Now Literary Virtual Book Tour Presents: Beyond The Face Of The Movies by C. C. Lassiter



Please join author D. C. Lassiter as she tours the blogosphere with Write Now Literary and her new release Beyond The Face Of The Movies, from Sept 1-30, 2016.



Publication Date: July 7, 2016
Paperback & E-Book: 200 pages
Publisher: Pneuma Springs Publishing
ISBN-10: 1782284168
ISBN-13: 978-1782284161
Genre: Non-Fiction, Christian Living




About the Author


D.C. Lassiter resides in the Pennsylvania area and is a student of God's word. After being called from a life of modeling and singing, she is now heading to Lancaster Bible College to complete her Bachelor's degree in Theology & Biblical Studies with a minor in Communications. D.C. Lassiter is single and worships at Blue Route Vineyard Community Church. 
She also writes on her blog as well as various online Christian magazines and counsels women struggling with separation or divorce. You can also find her engaging with her listeners, on the radio, every Sunday as she hosts Dovetales from 2:30-3:30 pm eastern time. Through guests willing to share what the Holy Spirit has done in and for their lives, D.C. Lassiter has an opportunity to encourage many towards a personal relationship with the Godhead which is for everyone: all nationalities, all races, all ages and all backgrounds.


About The Book



Have you ever wondered why after watching a movie you are left with a residue of emotions? Perhaps after the credits have rolled off of your screen, you've experienced a sense of peace, empowerment, exhilaration, fear or maybe a better understanding of how to deal with a personal issue you've struggled with.
Whether we are a believer in God or not, everyone will come to a place where the choices they've made will lead them to asking themselves, "How did I get here?" And as we run from co-workers and then to friends and family pleading for an answer as to how it all went so wrong, we will still have to choose, in the end, which path we'll take. Don't be fooled, because once you decide it is you and only you who will ultimately have to live those choices out.
Beyond the Face of the Movies will show you at heart just how similar we all are and whether you see your life resembling a Hollywood movie or a real life biblical character you will discover, underneath all the glitz and the glam, that people are still the same when it comes to making mistakes.
Many times God challenges us to go deeper than the surface of the movie, in hope that we will discover principles that can be gleaned from beneath the excitement and buzz of the film.
By juxtaposing Hollywood movies and biblical characters, the author connects the dots for the reader so that they are guided through fundamental biblical truths in order to better understand and navigate through their own life challenges on a daily basis.
What does Bruce Almighty have in common with the biblical Samson? What is Prophet Jonah doing in the Wizard of Oz instead of going down to Nineveh? Find out in this fun and feisty easy-to-read book, and while you are at it - take the time to look beyond the surface of the movie and you will sense God speaking to you in encouraging, practical and at times convicting ways.

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Tuesday, September 6, 2016

The Wish by Beverly Lewis

A Compelling Story of Friendship from the Top Author in Amish Fiction
Leona Speicher got the "sister" she'd always dreamed of the day Gloria Gingerich and her family moved to Lancaster County Amish farmland. The Arkansas newcomers seem to be everything a devout Plain family should be, and Leona can't help comparing Gloria's engaging young parents to her own.
Leona's cousin shows a romantic interest in Gloria around the same time as Gloria's older brother expresses his fondness for Leona--it seems likely the two young women will marry into each other's families, remaining close friends for life. Thus, Leona is shocked when the Gingeriches suddenly pack up and disappear after being expelled from the church for reasons no one will discuss. Despite Leona's pleas, Gloria goes with them, leaving more than one broken heart behind.
When Gloria unexpectedly contacts Leona after a silence of several years, Leona makes up her mind to persuade her friend to return to Lancaster County and the Amish ways. Leona's new beau, the deacon's son, is alarmed when Leona decides to go after Gloria. Will Leona's dearest wish lead to her own undoing?


Amazon





About The Author




Beverly Marie Jones (Lewis) was born in the heart of Amish country—Lancaster, Pennsylvania. At the tender age of nine, she began writing short stories and poetry. Prior to that, she made up lyrics to the "little fingers" piano pieces she learned, at the age of five.
"My mother saved everything I wrote, even the stories I dreamed up during my grade school years," Beverly says. One such tale is semi-autobiographical, about a young girl whose parents can no longer afford to give her piano lessons. The manuscript was 77 pages long and titled "She Shall Have Music," penned under the shade of a lone willow tree. "Reading, writing, and playing piano have been top three on my list of favorite things," she says.
Booksellers across the country, and around the world, have spread the word of Beverly's tender tales of Plain country life. A clerk in a Virginia bookstore wrote, "Beverly's books have a compelling freshness and spark. You just don't run across writing like that every day. I hope she'll keep writing stories about the Plain people for a long, long time."
A member of the National League of American Pen Women, as well as a Distinguished Alumnus of Evangel University, Lewis has written over 80 books for children, youth, and adults, many of them award-winning. She and her husband, David, make their home in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, and spending time with their family. They are also avid musicians and fiction "book worms."

My Review




A story of a young woman's lust for the other side of the fence, doesn’t it always look greener? Leona has a dear friend in Gloria, and as a young girl she wishes she could be a part of her family, everything about them is so much better than hers.
When abruptly without so much as a goodbye they are gone, and she doesn’t hear from her best friend/sister for over three years, a lifetime, and a grieving time for such a loss. When Gloria finally contacts her, she begs Leona to come to her, and we begin to wonder what is going to happen to our girl? Will she decide she likes what has happened to this family that was so dear to her, will she end up being English?
When Gloria comes back to Lancaster with her, will Leona’s family let in the door? She is no longer Amish and is driving a car, and carrying a cell phone, or will she look to return to her roots. All of the answers are here and more, a delightful read that you won’t want to put down and will be page turning late into the wee hours of the morning.
I received this book through Net Galley and Bethany House Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.





The Hawaiian Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter






 Join Mandy Frey as she and three friends leave their Amish community in Indiana for the trip of a lifetime to Hawaii. But when Mandy and one of her friends miss the cruise ship after a port of call on Kauai, how will they adjust and get back home? Find out in this brand new romance from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, writing with her daughter-in-law Jean Brunstetter.

Amazon



About The Author



A nationally recognized authority on the Amish community, Wanda E. Brunstetter has sold more than seven million copies of her fiction and nonfiction books. Wanda enjoys an uncommon kinship with the Amish and continues to visit their communities throughout the country. Her books have won numerous awards and topped several bestselling charts.

My Review

A very different type of Amish story, we are going to Hawaii, and we are using cameras and cell phones, and doing tourist things, we are also on a cruise ship.
Four dear friends decide to take a trip of a lifetime, and decide to take a cruise to Hawaii and Mexico, this is happening before they join the Amish church. Now you can picture these sheltered young women being on this exciting journey, how different for them. Mandy, Ellen, Barbara and Sadie decide early on their trip to each take separate side trips and then share their experiences with each other so that they are able to see more.
Well you can guess what happens and yes, Mandy and Ellen are late getting back to the ship while in Kawai and when they get to the dock the ship is gone. Now what? This part of the story will change lives forever.
These girls sure had God’s hand on them, you can imagine all kind of bad things happening, but they end up staying with Christians and this is where the lost quilt comes into the story.
I enjoyed this quick read, questioned some of Mandy’s actions, but then remembering they are in their run around time, but I could see that Ellen was more set in her faith. The ending to me left a lot to be desired, it seemed a bit rushed, but then I didn’t write the book, and as I said this is a very different Amish story.
I received this book through Net Galley and Barbour Press, and was not required to give a positive review. 


 


Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Presents: Cats, Carats and Killers (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries) by T. C. LoTempio

  Cats, Carats and Killers (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries) by T. C. LoTempio About Cats, Carats, and Killers Cats, Carat...