Keturah - Lisa T. Bergren

Pages: 352
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: February 6, 2018

About the book (from Amazon):

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

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

Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives. 

Set on keeping her family together and saving her father's plantation, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

My thoughts:

From the moment I started reading this book I was hooked!  I'm not normally a fan of historical fiction, but thought I'd give this title a try.  As previously mentioned in other blog posts, I'm a fan of book covers...I mean really, it's what I first notice and they can totally grab my attention and get me interested in a book.  And what's not to love about this cover??  From the beautiful sunset (sunrise?), to the beach and palm trees, even the main character's dress...it's beautiful!  

Cover aside, the writing and storytelling is spot on...you can tell it's from a seasoned author, comfortable drawing the reader in and inviting them to sit and stay for a spell.  The characters are well-developed and likable, so much so that I cannot wait to hear the stories of Verity and Selah, two of Keturah's sidelined females.

If you're looking for excitement and adventure, make sure you pick up this first book in a new series by Bergren!

I give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it.

**I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.**

All Things Now Living - Rondi Bauer Olson

Publisher:  Written World Communications
Pub Date:  May 15, 2017

This new YA release might be just the thing for your teen reader!  

About the book:

Her whole life Amy has been taught the people of New Lithisle deserve to die, but when she falls for Daniel, she determines to save him.

Sixteen-year-old Amy doesn't like anything to die, she won't even eat the goats or chickens her mama has butchered every fall, but she can't let herself pity the inhabitants of New Lithisle. In a few short months the dome they built to isolate themselves from the deadly pandemic is predicted to collapse, but her whole life Amy has been taught it's God's will they die. They traded their souls for immunity to the swine flu virus, brought God's curse upon themselves by adding pig genes to their own.

Then, while on a scavenging trip with her father, Amy is accidentally trapped in New Lithisle. At first her only goal is to escape, but when she meets Daniel, a New Lithisle boy, she begins to question how less-than-human the people of New Lithisle are.

Amy's feelings grow even more conflicted when she learns she didn't end up in New Lithisle by mistake. Her father is secretly a sympathizer, and was trying to prevent the coming destruction.

Now time is running short and Amy has to decide if she will bring the computer program her father wrote to his contact or save herself. Installing the program could prevent the dome's collapse, but if Amy doesn't find her father's contact in time, she'll die, along with everyone else.

About the author:

Rondi Bauer Olson is a reader and writer from Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where she lives on a hobby farm with her husband, Kurt. She has four grown children, works as a nurse, and also owns a gift shop within view of beautiful Lake Superior.

Find out more about Rondi at http://rondibauerolson.weebly.com.

"Total Christmas Makeover" by Melissa Spoelstra

Pages: 208

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Pub Date: October 3, 2017

From Amazon:

In the bustle of the Christmas season, it can be easy to get swept up in all of the things to do. But it’s important to pause and remember that our priority should be to spend time celebrating Christ’s birth and not forget to invite Jesus to his own party.

Christmas is far more than a celebration of an event from long ago or a modern holiday centered around shopping. Mindfully take time to listen to how God continues to speak through the Christmas story as the Gospel narratives centered around the birth of Jesus provide encouragement and revelation concerning the love of God and his wisdom for us today.

In Total Christmas Makeover, author and Bible teacher Melissa Spoelstra provides a practical approach for you and your family to turn your attention toward God’s grace day-by-day as you prepare for Christmas. This 31-day devotional presents key scriptures, ideas to implement with each reading, and questions for reflection to guide you in rediscovering rituals, relationship, and rest to connect you more deeply with Christ this holiday season. 

My thoughts:

This is  great study or book to work through right before (or during) the holiday season.  I liked the "practical approach" and "reflection questions" the best.  I don't know necessarily if I would do this during the holiday season, I don't feel as if I would be able to devote a lot of time to it.  I think I might spread it out throughout November and December though and give it a try.

I give this book 4 stars and was given a copy inexchange for my review and promotion.

About the author:

Melissa Spoelstra is a popular women's conference speaker, Bible teacher, and writer who is madly in love with Jesus and passionate about helping women of all ages to seek Christ and know Him more intimately through serious Bible study. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Bible Theology and enjoys teaching God's Word to diverse groups and churches within the body of Christ. She is the author of the "First Corinthians: Living Love When We Disagree," "Joseph: The Journey to Forgiveness," and "Jeremiah: Daring to Hope in an Unstable World Bible" studies and "Total Family Makeover: 8 Steps to Making Disciples at Home" book. She lives in Dublin, Ohio, with her pastor husband and four kids.

Find out more about Melissa at http://melissaspoelstra.com.

Control Girl: Lessons on Surrendering Your Burden of Control from Seven Women in the Bible

Publisher:  Kregal Publications

Publication Date:  January 27, 2017

Pages:  216

About the book (from Amazon):

Little fights with your husband and kids. Unhappiness when things don't match your version of perfect. Tension, anger, fear, anxiety--it all begins with a heart that craves control. When your perspective of how life should go replaces God's, you doom your quest for security, peace, and joy before it even starts. 

Thankfully, there is a better way.

Join Shannon as she shares what she has discovered about her own control struggles and 
about God from studying seven Control Girls in the Bible. Whether it was Eve's desire to know instead of trust, Sarah's inability to wait for God to move, or Rebekah's controlling hand on her family's future, each of these women's stories contain warnings and lessons for us today. 

Learn how you too can lay down this burden of trying to control everything and find rest in surrendering to the One who truly is in control.

My thoughts:

I'm a planner.  I don't like surprises and I like to know what to expect, and when to expect it.  I've found myself repeating these things the last few weeks when in conversation with others...along with the phrase, "some might call me a control freak".  Yes, I'm not ashamed to admit it, I like to be in control.  I may or may not have some major control issues in my life.  But what's wrong with liking to be in control? That's a good thing, right?  Sometimes yes; sometimes no.  It all depends on the type of control one is desiring, and how it affects those around you.  This book could not have come at a better time in my life.

First off, let's start with the cover of the book.  It's so pretty!  I love the purple colors, the flower, and the overall layout of the cover.  As I've mentioned before, covers sell books.  We all know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but if we're honest, that's what most of us do.  Present company included. Let's just take a moment and enjoy the cover one more time before moving on...

Okay, let's get down to the nitty gritty of the book.  Otherwise known as the guts. Each chapter is split up into multiple lessons, making this a very easy read. Whether you decide to read straight through the chapter (not what I would recommend), or take it one lesson a day (my recommendation), you will find that it's very user friendly.  At the end of the lessons there are scriptures to look up, questions to answer, and a thought to meditate on.  But don't let that scare you, there are only a handful of questions for each one.  And let's be real; not everyone will want to write their answers in the book, and that's okay.  As long as you're thinking through them, you're getting out of the book what the author intended you to.

How many times have we worked our way through the Bible or a study only to be left thinking, "I could never be like so-and-so in the Bible.  She is the perfect woman."  Let me reassure you, that is not the case with this book!  The lessons that are taught throughout this book are lessons that are learned from seven women in the Bible.  They weren't perfect women, they were women like you and me.  They had control issues and they too needed to learn to overcome them.

Shannon Popkin is an excellent communicator, never coming across "preachy" or above all of this.  She too is a woman who has struggled with control.  She knows our pain.  She is reaching out to help us navigate our way through.  

I've only just begun my journey through this book, and would love to have you join me.  If you'd like to pick up a copy for yourself, click the Amazon link above.  Care to share what your biggest control issue is with?  Leave a comment and lets get the discussion started.  There's safety in numbers, right?  Don't be afraid to admit the issue.  Buy the book...you won't regret it!  I give this book 5 stars.

*I was given a copy of this book for my honest review*

"Getaway with God" - Letitia Suk

"Getaway with God" by Letitia Suk

Genre; Nonfiction, Religion, Christian Life, Spiritual Growth
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Publication Date: November 27, 2016
Pages: 160

Interested in entering Letitia Suk’s ‘Getaway with God’ Giveaway?  Click here.

From the publisher:

What if a simple day away could transform your life?

Does spending time with God sound like just one more thing to check off an ever-increasing to-do list? How are you supposed to fit in anything that threatens to be more time-consuming? Too often there's simply no room to experience the intimacy, grace, and peace that God offers us.

Getaway with God does more than invite you to step away from life's pressures to take a personal retreat. It shows you exactly why you must--for your sake and for your family's.

With grace and warmth, Letitia Suk provides step-by-step guidance and the necessary tools to enable any woman on any budget to plan time away, whether it's a quick, half-day break or a weeklong time of restoration. You'll find detailed steps for preparation, including descriptions of different kinds of retreats and how to choose the best one for you, and you'll learn ways to bring the renewal you experience home with you. Practical appendixes identify retreat centers nationwide and provide exercises and prayers to kick-start your getaway with God.

No matter what your season in life, the time for retreat is now!

My thoughts:

An easy read, this book is a great tool for those looking to spend more time with God.  Many women long to getaway, but have no clue how to make it happen.  Taking the time to read this book, the author gently guides the reader in the steps needed to make it a possibility.  The cover is pretty, nice and inviting.  Restful, peaceful, and pleasing to the eye, the cover image is just the beginning of what the reader will find when purchasing this book.  Whether for yourself or a gift, this book would make a great read for this winter season.  Take your time working through the pages; plan a "Getaway with God" this spring or summer.  

Stop by Amazon and pick up your copy today.

*I give this book 4 stars and was given a copy of it in exchange of my honest review.*

The Inn at Ocean's Edge - Colleen Coble

About:

Claire's visit to a luxury hotel in Maine awakens repressed memories, threatening all she holds dear.

In 1989, Claire Dellamare disappeared from her own fourth birthday party at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine. She showed up a year later at the same hotel, with a note pinned to her dress but no explanation. Nobody knows where Claire spent that year---and until now, Claire didn't even know she had ever been missing.

But when Claire returns to the Hotel Tourmaline for a business meeting with her CEO father, disturbing memories begin to surface . . . despite her parents' best efforts to keep them forgotten.

Luke Rocco lost his mother under equally mysterious circumstances---at the same time Claire disappeared. After a chance encounter reveals the unlikely link between them, Claire and Luke set out together to uncover the truth about what happened that fateful year.

With flashbacks swimming just beneath her consciousness and a murderer threatening her safety, Claire's very life depends on unscrambling her past . . . even if her family refuses to acknowledge it. Someone-maybe everyone-is hiding something from Claire Dellamare, and it will cost her everything to drag the truth out into the light.

My Thoughts:

It's been awhile since I have read a Colleen Coble book, but this one definitely had my attention with the ocean and beach theme!  Let me first start out by saying...I am so glad this is the beginning of a new series with her!  

I knew my review date was quickly approaching for this book, but I'd been putting it off because my plate is completely overflowing at this time...school, work, my family, and so on.  My husband was going to be gone this past Friday evening, and all 3 of my children were headed off to grandparent houses for sleepovers.  What better to do on an evening by myself then to cuddle up with a brand new book?  

Within minutes of starting The Inn at Ocean's Edge, I knew I was in trouble...I was hands down hooked, line and sinker!  You see, I hadn't intended to spend my entire evening alone reading, there was, after all, some housework I needed to get done.  But the mystery behind the story line was so intriguing, I just couldn't put it down.  And so, that's how my husband found me when he got home late that night...curled up with Coble's book and an iced tea for company!

Ocean's Edge definitely did not disappoint this reviewer!  I was so caught up in the events of the book, I found myself quickly turning the pages, as if I could speed up my reading any faster.  Mystery and suspense followed me throughout every page, and I found myself trying to solve the case before the characters in the story did!  By the end of the book I was emotionally spent, but satisfied with the ending.  My only regret was that it ended all too soon, and book 2 is not due out for some time. 

If you're looking for a great read, you'll want to make sure to purchase this 5 star novel by Colleen Coble!

About the author: 

Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble's addictive brand of romantic suspense.

Find Colleen online: Website, Facebook, Twitter

Visit Litfuse Publicity Group to find out more about this book and tour!

Interested in purchasing the book?  Visit Thomas Nelson or Amazon

**I received this book in exchange of my honest review**

Seagrass Pier - Colleen Coble

From the publisher:

In a secluded corner of Hope Beach, one woman must decipher a stranger’s memories . . . before they cost her everything.

Elin Summerall was one of the lucky ones. Not only did she get a heart transplant, but the donor was a perfect fit. A miraculously perfect fit.

But when Elin begins having violent flashbacks—and vivid dreams of being strangled—she realizes that she has been the recipient of more than just a new heart . . . Elin is remembering her donor’s murder.

Her strange affliction has attracted some unwanted attention: from the press, from the authorities . . . and from the killer himself. Now, living alone with her young daughter and aging mother, Elin is being stalked—by a man she’s only met in her nightmares.

The police are dubious of her story, but one off-duty FBI agent is eager to help her: Agent Marc Everton, the father of Elin’s daughter.

Of course, he doesn’t know about that. Yet.

Now, in a remote cottage on Hope Island, Elin and Marc must probe the secrets buried in her borrowed heart. And there’s no time to waste. One man is desperate to silence her—before she remembers too much.

My thoughts:

Colleen Coble...need I say more?  I love being able to pick up a book from a favorite author knowing exactly what I'll get, and not being disappointed!  A great super fast read, Seagrass Pier will not disappoint.  This is book 3 in a series, I would suggest reading books 1 and 2 first for the background stories.

**I received this book in exchange of my honest review.** 

RUMSPRINGA’S HOPE | Kindle Giveaway from Beth Shriver

All My Belongings - Cynthia Ruchti

About the book (from the publisher): A new life and a new identity can't protect Becca from a past that refuses to go away.

After spending years running from the shame her father put on her family, Jayne is determined not to let him steal her future in the same way he stole her childhood. Changing her name to Becca Morrow, she moves to California and settles into a new life and new job caring for ailing mother of handsome young businessman, Isaac Hughes.

But just as she's wondering if she and Isaac are headed for a relationship, Becca's patient passes away under unusual circumstances. Suddenly, her past catches up with her and the unnerving details of her heritage threaten to destroy all sense of home and all hope for love.

Even if she could clear her name, a phone call wraps a suffocating shroud around her heart. Her estranged father needs her help. But can Becca open her new life to the man who ruined her past?

If you're interested in picking up a copy of this book, visit this website:  http://ow.ly/x96lt

About the author: Cynthia Ruchti has more than three decades of radio broadcast experience with "Heartbeat of the Home" radio and currently serves as Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers.

Looking to spend a great evening making new friends all while praying you'll be the winner of of a $200 gift?  Make sure you enter the giveaway and RSVP to join Cynthia Ruchti on June 11th for her webcast!

**I received this copy in exchange for my review**

A Stitch and a Prayer - Eva Gibson

About the book (from the publisher):

The frontier life isn't easy - especially when you're alone and with child.

My darling, darling wife,

I wanted to wake you and tell you I was leaving.  But I hate good-byes.  I am trying to keep the promise I made to you.  Hold on to this note until you receive a letter.  This is my promise to write as soon as I can.

Your loving husband, Will

It seemed like just yesterday when Will had returned from the Klondike gold rush, when they had celebrated their wedding, and when they began their life together in the Northwest woods. But now Florence's husband was gone and only this note remained.  Where did Will go?  And why did he leave so abruptly?

As worry and fear threaten to overcome her, Florence is inspired to craft a quilt to grace the bed she knows she will once again share with Will.  The design of the quilt is a labor of love and each stitch is a prayer for her husband's safe return.  But will Florence's prayers be answered?  Will her husband keep his promise and come back to her before their baby arrives?

My thoughts:

I cannot imagine waking up one morning to find you're husband has left. He didn't leave in anger after a fight, they weren't having problems, he just left after having written a loving note to his wife. And on top of him leaving, to be pregnant and alone during the late 1800's/early 1900's would have been difficult in itself.

This is the 5th Quilts of Love book I have received, and so far I have not been disappointed! A Stitch and a Prayer is very well written, and the story-line so well convincing that I feel as if I'm actually there, living it out along with Florence. While this is my first encounter with Gibson, I've read that she is the author of 20 other books, definitely worth checking into her other works!

**I received this book in exchange for my honest review**

A Promise in Pieces - Emily Wierenga

About the book (from the publisher):

A small gift, a simple promise, a life forever changed It’s been more than fifty years since Clara cared for injured WWII soldiers in the Women’s Army Corp. Fifty years since she promised to deliver a dying soldier’s last wish. And fifty years since that soldier’s young widow gave her the baby quilt—a grief-ridden gift that would provide hope to countless newborns in the years to come. On her way to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Clara decides it’s time to share her story. Little does she know she will re-gift the quilt one more time—to a recipient who, perhaps, is most deserving of all.

My thoughts:

As I've mentioned before with a few other books from this series, I love the idea and concept of these books!  Now...if you do a quick search for this series, you will find that this is not the first in the series.  It's ok, relax, and take a deep breath.  You do not have to read every book that was written before this one!  The series title is, more or less, a way to link the "like" subject books together for those wishing to read more on the same topic!  Don't believe me?  Check out the series homepage, here.

Each time I pick up a new book from the Quilts of Love series I am intrigued by the connection people (women especially) have with quilts.  Whether it's the older generation that quilted them, or the younger generation that experiences them for the first time, quilts and their history bring many people together.

The author of this book, Emily Wierenga, was a new author to me when I saw this book.  With that said, this was another great story to add to this series!  I can't recommend them enough!  You won't go wrong with whichever one you pick!

**I received this book in exchange for my honest review**

A Sensible Arrangement - Tracie Peterson

About the book:

Marty Dandridge Olson is ready to leave behind the pain of the past.  Answering an advertisement for a "Lone Star bride," she leaves her Texas ranch and heads to Denver to marry a man she doesn't know.

Jake Wythe is the man waiting for her.  Burned by love, he marries now simply to satisfy the board of Morgan Bank, which believes a man of his standing in society should be wed. Together Jake and Marty agree they are done with romance and love and will make this nothing more than a marriage of convenience. 

When missing money and a collapsing economy threaten his job, Jake's yearning to return to ranching grows ever stronger, much to Marty's dismay. But a fondness has grown between them, as well, further complicating matters.

What will happen when their relationship shifts in unexpected ways...and dreams and secrets collide?

My Thoughts:

Tracie Peterson is a well-known Christian Fiction author...can you ever go wrong with any of her books?  I love the whole "mail order bride" subject in this book...I tend to romanticize the whole ordeal.  I'm sure if I had been alive during those times my opinions may have been different!

Following along as Marty and Jake forge a relationship sometimes gives the feeling that we're on the outside looking in, peering in through their personal windows.  But then the mystery of the missing money draws the reader in and you feel less like an intruder, and more like a treasured friend as you help them sort things out along the way.

I give this book 4 stars and would definitely recommend it to Tracie Peterson fans!

Visit Litfuse Publicity to see more on this book tour!

**I received this book in exchange for my honest review**

iPad Mini Giveaway & A SENSIBLE ARRANGEMENT Live Webcast Event with Tracie Peterson

Maybelle in Stitches - Joyce Magnin

Genre:  Books; Christian fiction
Publisher:  Abingdon Press
Publication Date:  03/18/2014
Rating:  4 Stars








About the book (from the back cover):

Maybelle can't sew.  But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother's house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it.  At first, it's just a way to fill the lonely nights while her husband, staff sergeant Holden Kanzinzki, is away fighting in World War II.

Yet when Maybelle discovers that the quilt is made from scraps of material that can be traced back through her family heritage, the project is suddenly much more important.  Then word comes that Holden is missing in action, and with little else to do, Maybelle clings to the quilt as much as the the hope that her husband is still alive.  As neighborhood friends gather around Maybelle to help her through the unknown days and nights ahead, it is the quilt that becomes a symbol of her unflagging belief that Holden will return-to her, to their home, and to their quilt-covered bed.

My Thoughts:

I can't imagine being alive during WWII and having a family member off fighting in the war.  Movies, books, and first hand stories have all shared in the emotion and feelings that people had at that time.  The thought that a "quilt" could bring any type of comfort to a person during these times is what generational hand-me-downs are all about!  Quilts, over time, have a way of connecting people together in a way like no other time can.

I loved the symbolism of the quilt, and the significant role it played in this story.  The Quilts of Love series is such an amazing concept, like the quilts themselves.  The books are all tied together as a series, with only the "quilts" being the connecting factors.  The characters in the different novels may never meet, but the stories that are handed down and the patchwork of the quilt pieces are enough to bring the readers back to each and every new story that unfolds!

I give this book 4 stars and would definitely recommend it to others!

Interested in winning a new spring wardrobe?  Click here for more details!

**I received this book in exchange for my honest review**

“500 Hats” Kindle Fire Giveaway from Joyce K. Ellis

Genre: Books; Christian fiction
Publisher: Encourage Communications; Second Edition edition
Publication Date: 04/26/2013
Rating: 4 Stars



About the book:

In the 500 Hats of a Modern-Day Woman you'll find strength, purpose, and perspective to balance your many roles--and gain insight into the roles of women around you.  With honesty, humor, and practicality, Joyce Ellis helps you see how your roles can fit together to make a difference in your world. (Amazon)

My thoughts:

Looking for a fun and interesting read?  Ellis is an entertaining storyteller, telling it like it is.  A super fast read, your housework may just have to wait until you're finished with the chapter you're on!  Great as an individual or a group read, you may just want to grab some friends and get together and start a book club!

Make sure you stop by and enter to win a Kindle Fire during the dates listed below!

Follow this link to find out more!

**I received this book in exchange for my honest review**

A Sky without Stars - Linda A. Clare

Genre:  Books; Christian fiction
Publisher:  Abingdon Press
Publication Date:  02/18/2014
Rating:  4 Stars

 


About the book:

After her husband is killed on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, Frankie Chasing Bear wants a fresh start. But in 1951, relocating through the US government’s Relocation Program didn’t just mean a new town; it meant a new way of life. Frankie quickly learns that raising her son, Harold, to revere his Lakota heritage will be a challenge in the white man’s world.

Searching for a way for her son to respect his ancestors but also embrace a future of opportunity, she begins a Lakota Star-pattern quilt with tribal wisdom sung, sewn, and prayed into it—something that will not let him forget where he came from. A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars, but neither the quilt nor her new life come easily to Frankie. Federal Agent Nick Parker, for instance, is the last man Frankie wants to trust. She’s already struggling to understand Nick’s culture, how can she embrace his Christian faith? Will Frankie learn that love is the most important ingredient for her son’s quilt—and life itself? "A brave and beautiful blending of two worlds, A Sky Without Stars brings hope and healing to an often neglected time period and people. 

My thoughts:

Now...if you do a quick search for this series, you will find that this is #14 in the series.  It's ok, relax, and take a deep breath.  You do not have to read every book that was written before this one!  The series title is, more or less, a way to link the "like" subject books together for those wishing to read more on the same topic!  Don't believe me?  Check out the series homepage, here.

Each time I pick up a new book from the Quilts of Love series I am intrigued by the connection people (women especially) have with quilts.  Whether it's the older generation that quilted them, or the younger generation that experiences them for the first time, quilts and their history bring many people together.

Clare did a great job in this story with a history of the Lakota heritage.  Informational and entertaining all at the same time is what earns this book 4 stars!

Want to enter to win a Kindle Fire HDX?  Visit here to find out more details!

Win a Kindle HDX!

**I received this book in exchange for my honest review**

Where Courage Calls - Janette Oke & Laurel Oke Logan

Genre:  Books; Fiction, Romance, Western & Frontier
Publisher:  Bethany House Publishing
Publication Date:  2/14/2014






About the book:

Beth Thatcher has spent her entire life in the safe, comfortable world of her family, her friends, and the social outings her father’s wealth provides. But Beth is about to leave it all behind to accept a teaching position in the rugged foothills of western Canada. Inspired by her aunt Elizabeth, who went west to teach school several years ago, and gently encouraged by her father, Beth resolves to put her trust in God and bravely face any challenge that comes her way.

But the conditions in Coal Valley are even worse than she’d feared. A recent mining accident has left the town grieving and at the mercy of the mining company. The children have had very little prior education, and many of the locals don’t even speak English. There isn’t even a proper schoolhouse. In addition, Beth’s heart is torn between two young men–both Mounties, one a lifelong friend and the other a kind, quiet man who comes to her aid more than once.

Despite the many challenges, Beth is determined to make a difference in the rustic frontier town. But when her sister visits from the East, reminding her of all the luxuries she’s had to give up, will Beth decide to return to her privileged life as soon as the school year is over?

My thoughts:

From one of the christian fiction author's that started my love for reading! 

My 9 yr old girls and I recently watched When Calls the Heart movie and tv series...imagine our enjoyment when we realized this book would be releasing soon!  This is one of those books that you can pull off the shelf and feel confident in what you'll be getting just because of the name that is associated with the title! 

Every young, old, new, and in between reader should check this novel out!  I give this book 5 stars!

**I received this book in exchange for my honest review**

Interested in purchasing the book?  Click here.

Quilts of Love KINDLE FIRE HDX Giveaway | Barbara Cameron’s SCRAPS OF EVIDENCE

Genre:  Books; Christian fiction
Publisher:  Abingdon Press
Publication Date:  01/21/2014
Rating:  4 Stars






About the book:

Could a quilt really hold the secrets of a serial killer?

Tess struggles to balance her career as a police detective and caring for her Aunt Susan.  Her partner, Logan, wants to help but finds it hard to believe the brisk professional officer he works with during the day has a softer side--and a love of quilts.  It's a love Tess shares with Aunt Susan, who cherishes a particular quilt she made when she was younger.

When some of Susan's cryptic comments about the quilt and its origins spark Tess's curiosity, the detective in her leads Tess to unravel the story behind this heirloom.  As she discovers the origins of the quilt, Tess unexpectedly uncovers clues that may lead her to a serial killer...a killer who is quite willing to kill again to keep his secrets hidden.

My thoughts:

Now...if you do a quick search for this series, you will find that this is #14 in the series.  It's ok, relax, and take a deep breath.  You do not have to read every book that was written before this one!  The series title is, more or less, a way to link the "like" subject books together for those wishing to read more on the same topic!  Don't believe me?  Check out the series homepage, here.

If you're looking for a little bit of mystery, and a little bit of romance, Barbara Cameron does not disappoint in this novel!  I give this book 4 stars and think you might just enjoy it more than you think you will!

Want to enter to win a Kindle Fire HDX?  Visit here to find out more details!

**I received this book in exchange for my honest review**

Anomaly - Krista McGee

About Anomaly: Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds left to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.

Decades before Thalli's birth, the world ended in a nuclear war. But life went on deep underground, thanks to a handful of scientists known as The Ten. Since then, they have genetically engineered humans to be free from emotions in the hopes that war won't threaten their lives again.

But Thalli was born with the ability to feel emotions and a sense of curiosity she can barely contain. She has survived so far thanks to her ability to hide those differences. But Thalli's secret is discovered when she is overwhelmed by the emotion in an ancient piece of music.

She is quickly scheduled for annihilation, but her childhood friend, Berk, convinces The Ten to postpone her death and study her instead. While in the scientists' Pod, Thalli and Berk form a dangerous alliance, one strictly forbidden by the constant surveillance in the pods.

As her life ticks away, she hears rumors of someone called the Designer---someone even more powerful than The Ten. What's more, the parts of her that have always been an anomaly could in fact be part of a much larger plan. And the parts of her that she has always guarded could be the answer she's been looking for all along.

Thalli must sort out what to believe and who she can trust, before her time runs out . . .

My thoughts:

What a super fast read!  I started out dragging my feet with this book...the beginning didn't grab me, and I wasn't sure if I would be able to make my way through it.  In the end, I was glad I stuck with it!

While there were some confusing areas of this novel, I enjoyed the mystery behind it.  Was Thalli in in a realistic world, or was she living a dream?  Was anyone else around her real, or were they a type of robot?  Oh my...trying not to give anything away with this review!

Let's just leave it at this...I give this book 4 stars, and would recommend it to anyone that is a sci-fi fan.  This book (in a way) reminded me of the movie "Lock Out", it had similar aspects to it.  I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, but am afraid it is not due out for some time!

**I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion**

“Anomaly” iPad Mini Giveaway from Krista McGee

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