Saturday, April 28, 2018

The Perfect Bride by Debbie Lynn Costello

Loved this novella by Debbie Lynn Costello!  I love castles, and the time period so much.  Often travel to Europe just to explore the old castle ruins.  It's so fun to imagine the lives they lived there.  Even some of the things that weren't so good, lead to very interesting historical knowledge.

I loved that I even learned some new vocabulary as the terminology was probably quite different in those years.

The story between Avice and Philip was very well written and I could imagine something like that happening.  I loved the ending.  Not what I thought would happen!

I really enjoyed this book.

I received an ebook version of this book from the author.  No review was expected.  All thoughts are my own.

Friday, April 27, 2018

A Past Forgiven by Lorana Hoopes

This book was a bit different for a Christian fiction, but did cover issues of young adults that affect many people and causes grief and problems for many of them.

Jess and Chad find themselves at the same college, both with attitudes and problems from the past that cause behaviors to be difficult to deal with for people around them.

Jess is disappointed and angered that she doesn't receive the private room she requested and has a religious roommate.  Something she would not have wanted, ever!

But as she meets Chad and they are instantly attracted.  Both with pasts they keep buried in their hearts.

As their hearts are turned by friends and relatives, they realize there are changes needed.  But will they be able to fix the problems?  And if so, how?

This book was very real life.  Our lives, and those of many are not perfect.  There are things everyone needs to work on to better themselves.  Sometimes this is a difficult process.  Enjoyed the book.

I received an ebook copy from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

My Heart Belongs in Glenwood Springs, Colorado Millie's Resolve by Rebecca Jepson

I have loved every one of these books.  And I have read quite a few so far!  This might have been one of my favorite in the series.  Loved the story and it was very enjoyable to read. 

After losing the love of her life, she finds herself working as a nurse for his mother.  The job is not an easy one and hard to deal with seeing her lost love. 

She is a very wonderful and giving person and this story really brought that out.

I loved it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

A Mother's Gift Blog Tour, Guest Interview and Giveaway from Charlotte Hubbard!






A Mother’s Gift
by Charlotte Hubbard

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am so happy to have Charlotte Hubbard with me today on my blog!  She is one of my favorite authors.  Welcome Charlotte!  I would love to ask you a few questions so that your readers will get to know you!

What are your favorite TV shows?
            I haven’t really watched TV since “Murder, She Wrote” went off the air—seriously! I watched a few seasons of the Downton Abbey series (on tape, not in real time), but otherwise I’d much rather read, crochet, or embroider—or play with my dog!— than sit staring at a screen. Our TV is downstairs in the family room, where Neal can enjoy watching ball games, etc. and I don’t have to endure the sports noise or the endless commercials. 

What is your favorite meal?
            Heh, if it’s food I tend to eat it (well, except for spicy or Middle Eastern/curry stuff). Anything Italian is good, or basic steakhouse food, or chicken. I mostly avoid fried stuff, and I consider tofu a nonfood. I love veggies and beans, but I could never be a full-time vegan.

If you were to write a series of novels, what would it be about?
            Hmmm...you mean like my Promise Lodge series, or the earlier Simple Gifts, Seasons of the Heart, and the Cedar Creek Amish series I’ve already completed?!

Is there a writer you idolize? If so who?
            Over the years, I’ve admired a lot of authors. I used to love Phyllis A. Whitney and Victoria Holt’s Gothic novels, and on the opposite end of the spectrum I’ve read a lot of Stephen King. I wish Linda Castillo would write more Kate Burkholder Amish mysteries, and write them faster!  I’m currently devouring Alan Bradley’s mystery series about 11-y-o Flavia DeLuce, a young chemistry nerd who solves local murders in her post-WWII English town. I make a point of NOT reading most current authors of Amish stories similar to my own, because I don’t want to leech onto their plots or ideas.
   
How did you come up for the title of this book?
            My editor and I first chose the title A MOTHER’S CHOICE for this book, because it went along with my earlier Mother’s Day stand-alone, A MOTHER’S LOVE. We changed it to A MOTHER’S GIFT, however, after my editor wondered if the  word “choice” would make readers think it touched on pro-life/abortion issues—which are totally unrelated to the Amish way of life, and are social “hot potatoes” we steer away from so we don’t alienate readers. Book titles can be trickier than you think!

Thank you Charlotte!  And here is a little about your latest book.  Readers be sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

GENRE:  Inspirational Romance (Amish)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

For Leah Otto, marrying Jude Shetler is a long-held dream come true. As a young girl, she was captivated by his good looks and talent as an auctioneer. When Jude, now a widower with three children, begins to court her, Leah doesn’t hesitate. Other men may not appreciate her tomboy ways, but Jude values Leah’s practical nature and her skill with the animals she tends, and both enter the marriage with joy and optimism.

Three months later, Leah feels as if her world is coming down around her. Her twin teenage step-daughters, Alice and Adeline, are pushing boundaries and taking far too many risks, while five-year-old Stevie deeply misses his mother. Leah, more at ease in a barn tending her goats and chickens than in a kitchen, struggles with her housekeeping duties.

Then a baby is abandoned on their doorstep, and Leah must search her soul. Caring for little Betsy fills her with renewed purpose and the strength to begin pulling her family together. With Jude’s steadfast support, Leah finds that what she once thought of as a happy ending may be something even better—the beginning of a life rich in love, faith, and unexpected blessings.


Read an Excerpt from this book:


Jeremiah Shetler leaned his elbows on his kitchen table, gazing earnestly at his younger brother—who, at thirty-three, was surely old enough to know better about what he was getting into. “Last chance to see reason, Jude,” he stated bluntly. “If you go through with this wedding tomorrow, you’ll be signing on for a lifetime of sorrow and regret.”


Jude’s dark eyes flashed with resentment. “Sounds more like my marriage to Frieda—God rest her soul,” he added quickly. “Why can’t you let me find my happiness with a woman who won’t keep secrets? A woman who adores me and makes me laugh?”

“Leah’s a nice girl, jah,” Jeremiah said with a shake of his head, “but she’s clueless about such basic activities as putting a gut meal on the table—”

“Why are you telling me this?” Jude demanded.

Jeremiah exhaled forcefully. He’d never understood what Jude saw in Leah. He could only assume that his widowed brother was so desperate for affection and companionship that he was willing to settle for a woman who’d never progressed beyond being the tomboy daughter Raymond and Lenore Otto hadn’t taught much about a wife’s responsibilities.

“Have you ever eaten a meal Leah cooked?” he challenged. “Vernon Gingerich has told me that any time he’s visited the Otto home, Lenore’s been bustling around in the kitchen and Leah’s been in the front room chatting with him and her dat. And at our family dinners these past months, Leah’s cleaned up the dishes, but I’ve not seen any signs that she knows how to operate a stove.”

“Lenore does the cooking when Vernon visits because he’s her bishop, and she enjoys cooking for a man now that Raymond’s gone,” Jude explained impatiently. He raked his hand through his disheveled dark waves, glancing downward with an anguished sigh. “Come on, man. You know how it is to lose a wife—and you don’t even have kids to look after. Doesn’t the loneliness—the need for adult conversation—eat you alive at times?”

Jeremiah looked away, his heart pierced by the blatant reminder of Priscilla’s absence. After three years of living without her, he did indeed know how the silence of nights alone clawed at a man’s heart like a relentless beast. But he needed to pursue his present purpose before Jude made the biggest mistake of his life.



AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Charlotte Hubbard is the acclaimed author of Amish romance and fiction that evokes simpler times and draws upon her experiences in Jamesport, the largest Old Order Amish community west of the Mississippi. Faith and family, farming, and food preservation are hallmarks of her lifestyle—and the foundation of all her novels. A deacon, dedicated church musician and choir member, she loves to travel, read, try new recipes, and crochet. A longtime Missourian, Charlotte now lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband and their border collie, Vera. Please visit Charlotte online at www.CharlotteHubbard.com.


CharlotteHubbard.com
Facebook: Facebook    www.Facebook.com/Charlotte.Hubbard1


Order Ebook
Kindle  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073NPM8G8/

Kindle UK   http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073NPM8G8/

Kindle Canada http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B073NPM8G8/

Kindle Australia http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B073NPM8G8/

iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-mothers-gift/id1254897917?mt=11

iBooks UK  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-mothers-gift/id1254897917?mt=11

iBooks Canada https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/a-mothers-gift/id1254897917?mt=11

iBooks Australia https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/a-mothers-gift/id1254897917?mt=11

iBooks New Zealand https://itunes.apple.com/nz/book/a-mothers-gift/id1254897917?mt=11

Nook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-mothers-gift-charlotte-hubbard/1126683560?ean=9781496712196

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-mother-s-gift-8

Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Charlotte_Hubbard_A_Mother_s_Gift?id=MI0qDwAAQBAJ

Order Print
Kensington Bouquet
March 27, 2018
ISBN-13: 9781496712189
ISBN-10: 1496712188
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1496712188/

Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ISBN=1496712188

Amazon Canada http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ISBN=1496712188

Barnes & Noble http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9781496712189

Books-A-Million http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781496712189

Chapters Indigo http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/a/9781496712189-item.html

IndieBound http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781496712189

The Book Depository

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
April 2: Rogue's Angels
April 2: Long and Short Reviews
April 3: The Book Connection - review
April 4: Unabridged Andra's
April 5: Hearts and Scribbles
April 5: Sharing Links and Wisdom
April 6: Two Ends of the Pen
April 9: Splashes of Joy - review
April 9: Straight From the Library
April 10: Southern Gal Loves to Read - review
April 10: Romance Novel Giveaways
April 11: BooksChatter
April 12: Bookaholic
April 12: Punya Reviews...
April 13: Laurie's Thoughts and Revews
April 16: Fabulous and Brunette
April 16: T's Stuff - review
April 17: Edgar's Books
April 18: Maureen's Musings - review
April 18: Cafinated Reads
April 19: Locks, Hooks and Books - review
April 20: Vickie's Kitchen and Garden - review
April 20: The Pen and Muse Book Reviews
April 23: Hope. Dreams. Life... Love
April 24: Sunnie Reviews
April 24: Deal Sharing Aunt
April 25: The Avid Reader
April 26: A Chick Who Reads - review
April 26: Miss Tinas Amish Book Reviews
April 27: XoXo Book Blog



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Sunday, April 22, 2018

Journey to Respect by Lyn Cote

This is book 3 of the series entitled Patriots and Seekers by Lyn Cote.  It can certainly be read as a stand-alone book, so no worries if you haven't read the series.

I loved this book!  I love historical and I loved the social aspects of this book and how it came together for good.  The story has great ethical and social lessons and lots of great historical information.

There were no slow moving parts in this book. It was a page turner and I had a difficult time to close it and get some sleep!

Lyn Cote is an excellent author and I have enjoyed many of her writings and will continue to do so.

I received an ebook copy of this book from the author with no expectations of a review.  All thoughts are my own.

Saturday, April 21, 2018

The Proud Shall Stumble by Gerald N. Lund

Author Gerald N. Lund sets the stage in vol. 4 in his Fire and Steel Series for the very hard times yet to come.

People are living in plenty in the US not paying attention to the signs of the times.  As Hitler gains followers and power, people are misled to believe all he says.

This is a time of history, where the world starts to crumble both physically and spiritually.

This is a really good book and helps to awaken your thoughts to see things around you unfold.

Very interesting read!

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

The Amish Teacher's Gift AND GIVEAWAY!

This was the first book that I have read and reviewed for this author and I loved it. 

Ada is a teacher in a special needs Amish school.  The incidents the author writes about aren't glossed over but very accurate in how it is to have a special needs child and that they can be very difficult at times.  I know this first hand.  That honesty came through and appealed to me, personally.  I enjoyed the characters and the experiences that they shared and the not always perfect lives they led.  They had issues to overcome and to deal with.  Made it real!  Made it believable.

I really loved reading this book and hope I will have a chance to read many more from this very talented author.

I received an ebook copy of this book from the author.  All thoughts are my own.


This giveaway ends on April 25th, so hurry and spread the word!
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Tuesday, April 17, 2018

An Unexpected Redemption by Davalynn Spencer

The second in a 2 book series called Front Range Brides was a sweet and very interesting book by Davalynn Spencer.

Elizabeth finds herself abandoned by a husband more interested in the gold mines then in her and returns to her hometown planning on finding her own way.  She meets the sheriff, Garrett, and their first encounter does not make a good impression.

As their paths intertwine and they find themselves interacting together, they both hold back something of their past they aren't yet willing to share and be open about.

This book is really a good book.  I even like the cover as she does fit the time period.  A lot of the historical covers I have been seeing have "modern" looking women, with modern make-up and hair styles.  This one fits the time and the book.

I have enjoyed both books of this series, and can't wait till another book comes out from this same author.

I received an ebook copy of this book from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Sanctuary by David and Beverly Lewis

Melissa James has a good life, or does she?  There are underlying things from her past that are keeping her alert, aware and afraid.

This mystery is a page turner and a very captivating read.  It's a book that once you start it, you can't put it down.  I read it in one sitting.  It's really good.  And it keeps you guessing as to who she should trust till the very end.

As she finds some peace at an Amish and Mennonite community, she also worries for those who befriend her.

Although this book was published quite some years ago, it is contemporary in every way.

I enjoyed this book very much!

Monday, April 9, 2018

Edith and the Mysterious Stranger (Audible Version) By Linda Weaver Clarke Narrated by Carolyn Kashner

Just love listening to Linda's Audible books!  She has chosen a great narrator and I have enjoyed this and other Audible books that she has narrated.  Audible books are great for busy people like me, who don't always have time or free hands to "turn the pages".  It's nice to have someone do that for me.

This was another sweet romance by Linda Weaver Clarke and book 2 to her Bear Lake Family Saga does not disappoint.  I have been enjoying this series and happy that I was given a chance to read these books.

Edith is an educated woman who is very particular about men.  She doesn't wait to get to know the inner man if the first or second encounter with this person are not what she expects.  Knowing this, her secret admirer decides that he would like her to get to know him before she has the chance to reject him.  As he finds his own way to court her, she finds herself enthralled with this mysterious man who has not revealed his identity to her.  Will he have better success than the others who have attempted to court this interesting woman?  You will need to read this one for yourself and I am sure that you will enjoy it. 

I hope that I will be able to read this entire series.  

Disclosure: I received this ebook from the author for my honest review which I have given.

First Love Forever Romance Collection by Susanne Dietze, Cynthia Hickey, Marcia Gruver, Carrie Fancett Pages, Martha Rogers, Lorna Seilstad, Connie Stevens, Jennifer Uhlarik

Here's a collection of very sweet love stories about "first loves".  There is always something special about first loves, something you never forget about.  These stories are interesting and uplifting.

The authors are well-known and blend well into a 9 part collection that make for a very enjoyable read.  They are historical in nature and range from 1861-1910.

Each story is a story of rekindled love of the past.  I love the idea of the book and the contents of it.  I enjoyed reading each one!

I received a copy of this book from one of the authors.  All thoughts are my own.

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Shadows of Hope by Georgiana Daniels

This is the first book of this author that I have read.  It isn't my normal "comfort zone" genre, but I have to say it was very engaging and had a lot of real life "realities" in it. 

That being said, the book holds the reader's attention throughout.  It was pretty fast moving for the most part.  I felt sad that Kaitlyn's relationship with her parents did not help her through the circumstances that she finds herself in.  But I am sure that is another real life challenge that often needs addressing.

Although Kaitlyn feels remorse for her situation, she doesn't wallow in it, but works to find her path again.

I wasn't too happy about Colin as a character, for obvious reasons stated in the book blurb, however, he tries to work through his issues as well.

The book  was good.  Glad I got to read it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Starting From Scratch by Kate Lloyd

I really enjoy Kate Lloyd's Amish books and this one added to that feeling!

This was a book of redemption, of misconstrued gossip and misunderstanding of truth.

As Jake and Eva try to redeem themselves, things seem to get in the way of that goal.  Yet they continue to work towards that goal.

This book has some romance, some mystery and suspence.  It is written in first person, Eva.  So you can understand her thoughts and feelings as the book progresses. 

In a well-paced book, Eva goes through the process of making important decisions in her life, never rushing to meet everyone's approval of being baptised into the faith.  I felt that she was a careful person, not wanting to make a mistake and wanting to do the best she could for both herself and others.

This was probably my favorite book from this author.  It wasn't a  "cookie-cutter" Amish, a term that I have seen regarding descriptions of some Amish books, but had a new and unique concept which was very enjoyable to me.

I highly recommend this read.  And it will keep you up reading late!

I received a copy of this book from the author.  All thoughts are my own.

Chat With Vera Blog Review and Giveaway For A Most Noble Heir


Giveaway here!