Wednesday, November 30, 2016

The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser

I found this book to have a fresh new idea that was very nicely worked into the history that was occuring at this time.  Being an immigrant myself, I can see how Annie felt about wanting to achieve more than what she appears to have been born into.  Coming to America as a maid for wealthy people, she found herself feeling as this was her lot in life.  She was unable to go or do anything without permission.  She and her two friends plan to run away from the life of servitude and look for better things.

Although that was the hope, it didn't always happen as she had hoped.  Yet despite sadness and hardships, Annie has the faith to keep moving forward.  And as new doors open up for her, she finds an exciting new life.  Annie is a good person, although at times, led in a path that wasn't perfect.  She's human and does human things.But in so doing, has learned to trust God and listen to his direction as she moves forward.

I really enjoyed this book.  It was so different and I actually learned something about a topic I knew very little about.  Very entertaining book!  Look forward to reading more from this author.

I received a copy of this book from the Barbour Publishing Company for my reivew.

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Choosing Real by Bekah Jane Pogue

Choosing Real was an interesting book and shared the author's feelings about her relationship to God and how He can help her and us in our lives if we will just let Him in and listen to what is said by Him.

As we go through life, we often forget, in our day to day dealings with work, home, family and friends, that God is there, seeing to our every need, regardless of our awareness of Him.  It is important for each of us to take the time to ponder, and to learn of God's hand in our lives and to accept the answers He has for us.

The author, Bekah Jane Pogue, has a lot of Spirit-led experiences that she shares in her book.  It shows as a reminder that we can accomplish much by listening to the Spirit as we go about our daily life.

I felt that this book was an uplifting read and that we all can succeed, no matter our individual stations in life.  And that we don't need to put on a facade but become real and embrace the God that created us, who cares for us, and will not forsake us.

A highly inspirational book, that will bring us all back to "Real".

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Medical Judgment by Richard L. Mabry, M.D.

Was this a good book?  Yes, it was really, really good!  I had to keep reading because I had to know who was the culprit that was tormenting Dr. Sarah Gordon and causing her total fear and anguish.  There were lots of suspects and I was sort of leaning towards one of them.  But I was wrong.  The poor woman didn't know who to trust, nor did she know why all this craziness was happening to her just months after the accidental  deaths of both her husband and her daughter.

Dr. Sarah learns a lot about herself and that she can be stronger than she was while her husband was still alive.  She tries to take her life back into her own hands only to have more problems.

This book is good.  If you like suspense and a lot of mystery, this is the book for you!

Sunday, November 20, 2016

The Highwayman of Cordovia by Linda Weaver Clarke

The Highwayman of Cordovia is the second book of the new Rebels of Cordovia series by Linda Weaver Clarke.  I love reading a series and seeing characters from a previous book in the series reappear.  It's wonderful to see how things turned out for them.

This book is the story of Christine, a pastor's daughter and Austin.  Austin and Christine had been friends as youth and separated through the years.   As their paths cross again after many years, things spark up between them.  Yet their lives do not appear to be headed in the same direction.

Christine begins to fall in love with Austin but is not aware of his true self and would not approve of the life he is leading.  The twists and turns will keep you turning the pages.  These books express good moral values and are very enjoyable.

The book is a clean Christian read and historical in nature, which I enjoy.  It was a good book and I look forward to the 3rd book in the series.

I received an e-book copy from the author for my honest review which I have given.

You can read more about this great series at this link where Linda writes about her new series.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Karla by Sharon Srock (Audible Version)

Faith, love, patience, loss, recovery and forgiveness are some of the themes that you will see in this wonderful book by Sharon Srock.  It is book 6 in the Valley View series.  It can easily be considered a stand-alone book as well.  It is the final book of this series.

I really enjoyed it.  Being close to Karla in age, I can understand her feelings of loss after a long, happy marriage and then trying to make it on her own.  It is interesting to see the reactions of friends and family as Karla tries to emerge from the darkness of her loss and return to living a happy and fulfilling life.

Relationships with family can be strained as is apparent in this book and made it feel real to me.  I think the characters were well portrayed and it was easy to see their feelings as they dealt with the problems they faced.

I enjoyed the expression and characterization of the narrator, Laura Jennings, and felt that she did a great job to bring across the feelings of the people she portrayed.  I definitely want to read and "listen" to more books by this author.

I received an Audible version of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given.
You can grab a copy at this link.

Mystery On the Bayou-Audible Version by Linda Weaver Clarke


I just recently finished listening to the Audible version of Mystery on the Bayou.  I really enjoyed it.  As a young girl reading was my beloved pastime that my friends and I continued to do together through our elementary school years.  Mysteries were my favorite genre in those days, and I can see that my love for mysteries has not waned.

Linda writes a fun and interesting story line.  This is book 6 in the continuing series of the Amelia Moore Detective series.  In book 6, we find Amelia and Rick, two happy newlyweds in a cozy retreat for their honeymoon, only to be approached by a woman who asks Amelia to locate a son she gave up for adoption 16 years ago.  She has discovered she has a hereditary disease that she feels an urgent need to inform her son about.  Not knowing could be deadly for him.  Amelia takes on the case which leads her to Bayou country and a not so easy to resolve case. 

There are several twists and turns making lots of interesting reading.  And I am happy to see that a book 7 is on its way.  I enjoyed listening to the Audible version very much and if you enjoy cozy mysteries, with a little touch of romance, you will surely enjoy it as well! 

The narrator Diane Lehman has a great way of changing voices of each of the characters and she even can sing the tunes the characters sing.  Now there's talent.  It's really enjoyable listening and relaxing to this fun Audible book after a long stressful day at work.  

I received an Audible copy of this book for my honest review, which I have given. You can get your copy here!

Monday, November 14, 2016

Christmas in the Cove by Carol Ross

This was my first book by this author.  I really enjoyed it.  It was a contemporary romance but definitely a clean read.  Just my style.

The book starts out with lots of action and an accidental reunion of a long separated couple.  But will this reunion be possible because of their ending together?  Aubry felt great loss when Eli separated from her.  Why?  Now after twelve years things are not so easy to forget, yet Aubry and Eli find themselves working together in their dangerous jobs.

A very intriguing storyline with romance, suspense and lots of action.  A good book for those who enjoy a mystery.  And a great Christmas read! I hope to read more from this author.

I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Her Holiday Protector by Lenora Worth

The book grabs you from page one.  It starts with a murder and the detective Blain Kent is on the scene.  It is quickly determined that the killer is after Rikki Allen, a member of a crime family.

When Blain realizes that she is a member of this family, he must decide whether to trust her or not.  The plot is a captivating one and a fun read.  I enjoyed this book and the author's writing style.  This was a clean read with a nice romance.

Monday, November 7, 2016

The Rebel Series–Stories of Love and Liberty by Linda Weaver Clarke

The Rebel Series–Stories of Love and Liberty


 I am excited to have author Linda Weaver Clarke write a guest post for my blog.  Be sure to watch the trailer at the end.  You won't want to miss it!

Welcome to my blog, Linda!


There was a time when swashbuckling men and brave women engaged in daring and romantic adventures, those who fought with bravery and valor. These courageous men and women were looked up to because they defended the people.

“This creative take on a Robin Hood-like story is charming and touching, and teaches some great morals about agency and choice. It reminded me of childhood fairytales of good versus evil, with a nice romance weaved into it.” –Author Charissa Stastny

In The Rebels of Cordovia, a group of men and women who called themselves Robin’s Rebels realize they must help the people survive this oppression. In this battle for freedom, a love story begins to blossom. Daniel, a rogue and a leader of the Freemen, doesn’t realize that the sweet feminine woman he has met and is falling for happens to be the leader of Robin’s Rebels. Realizing the importance of uniting all the rebel groups, Daniel tries to recruit Robin’s Rebels but they refuse. Now he has to find a way to convince them. When he finds out the leader is actually a woman, what will his reaction be?

After reading this story, Susan Ortlieb from Suko’s Notebook Reviews wrote: “Linda Weaver Clarke writes with passion and grace, and the love story in this book is simply wonderful. In fact, this aspect of the story was the strongest draw for me. (Are love stories set in the past more romantic than those set in the present day?) I thought that Robin and Daniel sounded perfect for each other, and I enjoyed the steady development of their relationship. This charming book was a pleasure to read, and I relished it.”

The tales from The Rebel Series have adventure, sweet romance, and delectable kisses. These are stories of love and liberty that takes place between the 18th and 19th Century. In the sequel, The Highwayman of Cordovia, the people enjoy their new-found liberty but all is not well. One year after Cordovia gains its freedom, a group of powerful men plan to take over the small country and replace the leader with a king.

With the help of a bold highwayman and a pastor’s daughter, they try to save their country from being taken over by a power-hungry leader. As they strive to stop the Kingmen and thwart their plans, Christine finds herself falling in love with Austin Knight. The only problem with their relationship is that she thinks he is her knight in shining armor instead of a highwayman. If she finds out his trade, what will her reaction be? As a pastor’s daughter, will love override her values?

“Linda Weaver Clarke has a storyteller's talent for enchanting and mesmerizing the audience. There are also some exciting surprises and twists that will delight the heart. Definitely a must read!” --Cindi Clubbs, Mommasez Reviews

The Highwayman of Cordovia, the second book in The Rebel Series, will be available on Dec 3rd, 2016. Read sample chapters of both books at http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com.

About the Author
Linda Weaver Clarke has traveled throughout the United States, teaching people to write their family history. She is the author of historical romances, mystery/adventure series, a children’s book, and a cozy mystery series. All her books are family friendly. Visit www.lindaweaverclarke.com.

Watch a book Trailer below!

The Rebels of Cordovia
The Rebels of Cordovia from Linda Weaver Clarke on Vimeo.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Cowgirl Up by Heidi M. Thomas

This was a bit of a different type of book for me.  I liked the history and how the cowgirls were able to do the same events as men but only after time and much effort on their parts.  To "Cowgirl up" means to not whine, cry, complain, but rather to be tough and handle whatever comes your way.

It was interesting how there were so many injuries, yet they recovered only to get back in the saddle. This was a well researched book on this topic.The stories that were written about were of cowgirls from Montana, their shows and competitions.  It was a very interesting historical book.


Saturday, November 5, 2016

Saving Gideon by Amy Lillard





Saving Gideon was a book of a 3 part series by Amy Lillard.  It was great.  I have now read 2 of the books of this series and definitely want to read the one I haven't read yet. although this is can be a stand alone book, as well.

This story of heartache for both parties defined how together they restored the direction of both their lives and helped each other to gain back the trust and happiness both had lost.

I really enjoy Amy Lillard's Amish books.  She really seems to have a definite connection with the ideals and the shortcomings of human nature and the need to find God in each of our lives.

The storyline was unique and interesting.  The book held my attention and I had a hard time putting it down.  I will continue reading books by this author.  She is GOOD.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Slender Reeds by Texie Susan Gregory

This was the first book I have read from this author.  I hope it won't be the last.  It was really good.  I have to admit, that I have not read any Biblical fiction until reading this.  Wasn't sure how it would flow, but really enjoyed it.  I have read the Bible many times over but never really thought about how some of the Biblical characters actually felt and what they experienced on a more personal level.

This book, although a work of fiction, appears to be very well researched as far as customs, facts and actual events.   The story unfolded in such a way that you really felt like you knew them and their thoughts, fears and concerns were brought across very well.

As Jochebed begins to fear for the life of her son and takes actions to save him, you can feel her feelings and understand that she was a mother then with the same emotions as a mother in today's world.

This book brought across many Christian attributes of trust, both in God and your fellow man, love of family and friends and of staying true to God, regardless of the trials and persecutions that exist in life.

I highly recommend this book.  It gave great insights to a time period we may not have had a way to understand otherwise.

Disclosure:  I was given a copy of this book from the publisher, Barbour books, for my honest review which I have given.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Chat with Vera Giveaway

http://chatwithvera.blogspot.com/2016/10/du-iz-tak-by-carson-ellis-from.html  Follow the link for a chance to win a cute children's book.