The Lawman's Return by Lynette Eason ~ Review

Astor's Review:

Action-packed adventure!

Deputy Clay Starke returns home with a mission on his mind, and one goal: to solve the murder of  his brother. But without his usual resources, Clay is forced to use his wits and rely on the beautiful Sabrina who is a Social Worker. But when his detective work draws Sabrina into danger, and now they are both targets in the killer's deadly game, will Clay be forced to give up the hunt in order to save the woman he has come to love?

A fast-paced read filled with non-stop action, drama and romantic tension. Engaging from the very beginning, I found myself speeding through this story and at the same time wishing it was a little longer!

Sabrina and Clay work well together  I loved their interaction and dialogue together. Their passion for justice and how they cared for others.

Overall, this was a fantastic read from cover to cover, great characters, mystery, drama, romance, and action. I would definitely recommend this book!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Amish Nanny by Patricia Davids ~ Review

Lucie's Review:
Clara Barkman knows what it is to lose parents at an early age, and being forced to live with a cruel uncle. So when Clara meets Micah a young boy who lost his parents and who is now living with his uncle, she fears that he may also be mistreated. As it turns out, Micah's Uncle Ethan is a very nice man who is just over his head, trying to raise his brother's three children and run his business. After Clara rescues the younger two from the creek, Ethan asks her to be their nanny and Clara agrees.

Will the orphaned children ever have a family again?

This is a sweet tale the fits the Amish setting well, with strong main characters, and many wonderful side characters that you may recognize if you have read the companion books. The plot had several twists, the pace was great, and the dialogue was excellent.

I really loved Clara, because even though she thinks of herself as timid, she is very brave in many other ways.

Overall, this was a delightful read, with many twists and plenty of action. A very enjoyable read!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Match of Wits by Jen Turano ~ Review

My Review:

Agatha Watson is always up for an adventure, and that is just what she stumbles upon  in a Match of Wits.

Two years after leaving the city, Agatha finds herself in Colorado and in the company of a pig. Literally. Not only that but she finds herself face to face with Zayne Beckett, the man who broke her heart two years ago when he became engaged to another. Can Zayne and Agatha find the friendship they once had while evading the assassins who are after Agatha?

This was a fast-paced, quirky, and laugh-out-loud hilarious read, filled with plenty of witty banter that brought a smile to my face.

Agatha and Zayne have been in every single book since the beginning of the series, as some of my favorite side characters, and I have wanted them to be together since book one! One of my favorite characters in this book was Mr. Blackheart. My goodness, he was hilarious! I loved him, and Agatha tormented him so, but he was a very wise man in his own way. And of course I found Matilda irresistibly adorable!

One of the very best things about this book was the witty banter between Agatha, Zayne, and Mr. Blackheart, it had me laughing so hard, absolutely, wonderfully hilarious!

Overall, this was a completely delightful read that I enjoyed all the way through. Adventure after adventure this book brought a smile to my face, with it's quick wit, sass, and humor. Definitely a book I would recommend.




Thank you to Ms. Turano for providing me with this review copy in return for an honest review!

Cloak of the Light by Chuck Black ~ Review

My Review:

Drew is a talented football player, who befriends the nerdy Benjamin Berg who introduces him to a whole new world of physics and a love of academics. But everything goes wrong when a lab explosion takes Drew's eyesight. But what Drew saw in the lab he can never forget. Soon after the accident, Ben Goes missing, and Drew begins to recover his eyesight, but he is seeing things that he never saw before...
Can Drew find out the meaning behind these strange invaders and save his friends before it is too late?

A fast paced read that took me utterly by surprise!
If someone had tried to explain to me what this book was about I would have said, "Uh-uh, not for me." Because honestly this book is akin to (forgive the geek in me) Doctor Who, in if you try to explain how wonderfully awesome this book is to them they will likely find you somewhat lacking in sense.

I'm not usually up for supernatural thrillers, because far to often I find myself disagreeing with something to some degree or another making it pretty much impossible to enjoy, but this one was different. I fairly devoured every page of this action-packed read, that not only is well written with a fantastic, yet flawed hero, it brings to life the spiritual warfare that is a reality all around us. I love how in the back of the book Mr. Black talks about why he chose to represent spiritual warfare the way that he did along with scripture passages to back him up. I really felt that the author took the time and effort to meticulously go over the details in order to make this book as accurate an illustration as he could.

Overall, this was a wonderful book filled with characters that make you want to cheer for them all the way through, one of my favorites besides Drew, was definitely Ben. I loved his loyalty, and from the beginning he was a character that instantly captured my attention. I would definitely recommend this wonderful book, and I can't wait to read the next one!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Triple Knot by Emma Campion ~ Review

My Review: 

A Triple Knot tells of the plight of Fair Joan of Kent, a naive young woman in the French Court. Joan is haunted by nightmares of her father's execution, and with great beauty comes a burden. Joan is pursued by men of all ranks, and her hand in marriage is promised to a man who with whom the king seeks to make an alliance, yet her heart is promised to only one.

I find myself fascinated with the lives of royals of the past, probably most notably, the Tudors, with that said, I must say that it was quite different diving into French history as I am not as familiar with their history and backgrounds. So perhaps that was the reason I found myself simply not connecting to that characters, which in turn made this a rather difficult read for me. I just didn't find myself wanting to read more, which is unusual for a book like this.

There is an extensive cast of characters, and good sense of history and detail. Honestly, this book just wasn't for me, and I cannot honestly recommend it. Thank you.


I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In the Field of Grace by Tessa Afshar ~ Review

 
My Review:

Ruth and Boaz's love story has long been one of my favorite love stories of all time, and this book made me fall in love with it all over again.

Ruth is the youngest in a household of daughters, unwanted, and invisible. That is, until she befriends Naomi, who introduces her to her son. Ruth marries Naomi's son, but a few years later tragedy strikes and Ruth's husband dies. With no where else to go, Ruth follows Naomi back to Israel where she finds kindness in the field of Boaz.

A riveting retelling of one of the Bible's greatest love stories, that brings to life the struggles and risks, along with a cultural understanding that adds depth to this beautiful tale. Ms. Afshar helped me to experience this story in a whole new way, along with possibilities for why things might have happened the way they did.

From the beginning I was riveted to that page, though it was a story I have read many times over, I was glued to the page waiting to see what would happen next. I loved how Ms. Afshar portrayed Boaz, Ruth, and Naomi, as well as how she fleshed out the story with the many colorful side characters such as Adin, Abel, Dinah, and Hannah.

Overall, this was a heartfelt, lyrical retelling of Ruth, filled with love, loss, loyalty, hope, and God's great promise.  I would highly recommend this fantastic retelling!

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing In The Field of Grace River North; New Edition edition (July 1, 2014) by Tessa Afshar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TESSA AFSHAR was voted "New Author of the Year" by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader's Choice Award 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. She was born in Iran, and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Destitute, grief-stricken, and unwanted by the people of God, Ruth arrives in Israel with nothing to recommend her but Naomi's, love. Her loftiest hope is to provide enough food to save Naomi and herself from starvation.

But God has other plans for her life. While everyone considers Ruth an outcast, she is astounded to find one of the most honored men of Judah showing her favor.  Long since a widower and determined to stay that way, Boaz is irresistibly drawn to the foreign woman with the haunted eyes. He tells himself he is only being kind to his Cousin Naomi's chosen daughter when he goes out of his way to protect her from harm, but his heart knows better.

Based on the biblical account of Ruth, In the Field of Grace is the story of a love that ultimately changes the course of Israel's destiny and the future of the whole world.


If you would like to read the first chapter of In The Field of Grace, go HERE.

Firewall by DiAnn Mills ~ Review

Astor's Review:

Taryn's married bliss is cut short when a bomb goes off in one of the airport terminals on the way to her honeymoon--and the bomber/terrorist is her new husband! After the dust clears, Taryn and her husband are the prime suspects in the attack.

Agent Grayson Hall's job is to find those responsible for the, and even though all evidence points to Taryn are her new husband, things just don't seem to add up and Taryn seems genuinely baffled by everything that has just happened. Grayson can't seem to shake the feeling that Taryn is innocent.

With the media out for blood, it is up to Taryn and Grayson to clear her name her name once and for all, while avoiding the forces that will stop at nothing to see that they don't discover the truth.

This is a fast-paced action packed read, with concise chapters that left me wanting more. Great characters, and a terrific plot line, I read this book in record time, and found myself reading it in every spare moment. Hands down, this book is a winner, and probably my favorite DiAnn Mills book to date!

Taryn is thrust into a terrible nightmare of a situation, but she trusts God, and takes everything one step at a time, as she and Grayson work to unravel the conspiracy.

Overall, this is a fantastic read, that I enjoyed every minute of. I had a hard time putting it down and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes a fast paced action/suspense read, with a touch of romance!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising." 

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Firewall Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (July 1, 2014) by DiAnn Mills

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.

DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills


ABOUT THE BOOK

After a whirlwind romance, Taryn Young is preparing to board a plane at Houston International Airport, bound for a dream honeymoon, when a bomb decimates the terminal. Injured but still alive, she awakens to discover her husband is missing and they’re both considered prime suspects in the attack. Further, the FBI is convinced her husband isn’t who he appears to be.

Agent Grayson Hall’s number-one priority is to catch those responsible for the day’s act of terror. All evidence is pointing to Taryn and her new husband. But his instinct tells him her pleas of innocence are genuine. Is her naiveté just for show, or could she truly be another victim of a master scheme, possibly linked to the software she recently developed for her company?

With both their lives and reputations on the line, and the media outcry for justice increasing with each passing minute, Taryn and Grayson have no choice but to trust one another . . . and pray they can uncover the truth before they become two more casualties.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Firewall, go HERE.

Forsaken Dreams by MaryLu Tyndall ~ Review

Lucie's Review: 

A dramatic and action filled adventure, where everything that can possibly go wrong seems to go wrong...Especially for poor Eliza.

All Eliza wanted was a fresh start, where no one knows of her past.
Colonel Blake Wallace also wants to escape his past, and his mission is to start a new colonization in Brazil. He chooses people from all walks of life, who can work to together to form a tight knit community away from the Northern influence and oppression. Blake chooses Eliza for his vision because of her experience nursing during the war, but Eliza knows that if her were to discover her secret, everything would come down in shambles.

Eliza is a very headstrong and likable character. Even in the midst of her own personal agony she reaches out to those around her, and cares for those who are hurt or ill. She also recognizes her own struggles and weaknesses, and the more her faith is tested the more she grows in it.

Blake is something of a tragic hero, torn between what his head is telling him and what his heart wants.

This book plunges right into the action, and keeps up a fast pace throughout, there are many plot twists, and the story follows various storylines, with plenty of secrets to be discovered. The setting was simply gorgeous with the lush descriptions of Brazil. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading the next one in the series.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Elusive Hope by MaryLu Tyndall ~ Review

Lucie's Review: 

Picking up right where Forsaken Dreams  left off, the colonist have arrived in Brazil and are working together to establish a settlement. And everyone is working hard to make it work, except for the Scotts who were rich plantation owners before the war and think themselves too good for honest work. Their daughter Magnolia tries to help out, but nothing she does is good enough for his father, so she decides to find a way back to Charleston and to her former fiance.

Hayden Gayle was once a stowaway, but he has found his place, and had his own reasons for coming to Brazil, and the time has come to leave. So when Magnolia hires him to take her to Rio, he agrees.

There are plenty opportunities for Magnolia and Hayden to get to know each other over the course of their journey, even though initially there is plenty of name calling to go along with their bonding.

Back at the settlement they have discovered an ancient temple inhabited by evil spirits who have escaped and them commence forward to haunt the colonists, which led to a part of the storyline that I found weird and more than slightly disturbing.

My favorite parts of this book were the parts about Hayden and Magnolia, who both came to rely on each other so much during their journey as well as experience personal individual character growth.

Overall, the part about the temple was just really strange to me and I'm not completely sure if I can honestly recommend this book because of it. But for the most part I did enjoy this novel.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

MindWar by Andrew Klavan ~ Review

My Review:

Rick Dial used to have it all, the looks, the girls, and a football scholarship to Syracuse. But after a horrendous car accident that breaks both his legs everything becomes unclear. But when Rick is recruited by a top secret organization to engage in MindWars to protect the world as we know it, he cannot refuse, not when so much is at risk.
Can Rick succeed where others have failed, and be the hero that everyone believes him to be?

A fast-paced, action-packed, coming of age tale, set in a digital Realm where the trees are blue and the ground is red. MindWar is a book that is in many ways hard to explain without sounding crazy, yet the way it is presented, it all comes to life in vivid hues.

Rick is a likable young man, struggling to cope after his accident and his father left his family, the dangers he faces in the Realm are a secret that could put his family in danger if they knew about his activities.

I loved how Mr. Klavan created a world so unreal, and vivid, yet made it so believable and real. This is only the second book I have ever read by this author, and I've got to say that I'm hooked!

Overall this is a fantastic start to what is sure to be a fantastic trilogy, centered around a young man and an all out battle between good and evil in a digital age. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers ~ Review

My Review:

Found by Pastor Zeke, abandoned beneath a bridge, little Abra soon captures the hearts of those around her, but as her world shifts and changes around her she still feels like the unwanted child left under the bridge. A series of events and choices bring her to Hollywood and on the fast-track to becoming a big star. But the glisten and gleam of stardom are not what they seem, no one knows the price she has paid for such attention better than Abra...

A captivating and engaging novel that compelling tells of God's great love for us.

Now I don't know if this was just me, but I found Bridge to Haven to be strikingly, (in a completely good way), similar to the much acclaimed Redeeming Love as by Ms. Rivers. As it is a layered allegorical tale of God's never-ending and unfailing love for us, no matter how far we fall we are never out of His reach.

I loved how Ms. Rivers brought all of the threads of this compelling story together, through the heartbreak and imperfections, and gloom filled prisons, God's faithfulness was present in the whispers and the very fibers of the threads.

Some of my very favorite characters were only there for a few pages, but made a big impact on the story, like Murray the hairdresser, and Mary Ellen. And Joshua was the perfect hero in shining armor, honorable, and following God's beckoning, and leading, even when it meant waiting. My heart went out to Peter and Priscilla, who loved Abra dearly through it all.

Overall, this is a excellent novel by Francine Rivers, memorable, riveting, and powerful. I will be honest though, and tell you right now that you might need a box or five of Kleenex! I found myself glued to the pages and finished it in a impressive less than two days -- which is fast for me these days. A fantastic book, though I would caution younger readers to wait to read this book as it has mature themes and content, though much more toned down and not as explicit as it could have been! Definitely a book that I will remember for many years and would recommend to many others.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Beneath the Dover Sky by Murray Pura ~ Review

My Review: 

Picking up right where Ashton Park left off, following the seven Danforth children as they travel the globe, marry, and have children of their own, in the looming shadow of WWII.

Filled with drama and rich in history, Beneath the Dover Sky follows the Danforths through new heartaches, and new loves, as their family grows and changes.

One of my favorite story threads was that of Libby and Michael and how they adopted a Chinese girl named Jane. Jane was easily my new favorite character, because of her stubborn determination, and sensitive observations, it broke my heart that her new grandparents struggled so to accept her as one of their own. And how she bonded with Terry warmed my heart and made me an instant fan of Terry, as his kindnesses to Jane truly showed the excellent caliber of his character.

Just a side note: I would recommend reading this series in order. Because reading the prequel will make many of the character motivations more clear and their pasts together more understandable.

Overall, this was a fantastic novel, a well written family saga full of diverse characters, each of which walk the earth in their own unique ways, following where the Spirit led. Definitely a series I would recommend for fans of family sagas such as Downton Abbey. 


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Dancing for the Devil by Anny Donewald with Carrie Gerlach Cecil ~ Review

My Review:

Anny Donewald tells her story, sharing from her heart about her past and the great things that God has done and is still doing in her life.

Anny Donewald grew up the daughter of a famous NCAA basketball coach, with the eyes of a small town constantly upon her and family. Anny experienced sexual abuse at a young age, and again in college, and eventually found herself working as a stripper and raising her young daughter on her own.

Anny tells her story honestly and compellingly about the heartache, and struggles she faced, and many of the parts of the books are rather hard to read, my heart went out to her, and I rejoiced as I read about how she came to faith, and her strong desire and drive to follow God and help other women trapped by the sex industry.

I loved how Anny talks about how God used her to reach people, and even though she was doubtful, she followed his beckoning, which eventually led to her starting an organization called Eve's Angels to help women escape the sex industry.

Overall this was a heartfelt, and at times painful memoir. There are of course, adult themes in this book, but I do feel that she did spare many details in the telling of the story, giving the story enough edge to convey the story realistically and call readers to action, yet holding back many of the darker elements of the life that Anny previously experienced, mostly for the sake of the readers. I definitely think that the explicit elements were handled well, and fit very well with the kind of book that it is. Definitely one I would recommend, as a powerful story of redemption.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Ragamuffin Movie Review + GIVEAWAY!

My Review:

Ragamuffin is a touching moving based on the life of Rich Mullins a gift song writer and recording artist, probably most famous for his song Awesome God. This movie gives an honest look at his controversial life and prodigal son like tale.

I will start out by saying that while this is Christian movie, the PG-13 rating is very fitting for the kind of content that this movie contains, such as mild but semi-frequent swearing. So this isn't the kind of movie that you would want to share with young children, but would be a good film for older teens.

I loved how this film dug deep, and really wasn't a fluffy, all is well kind of movie, but a raw and honest one, about a man who truly wanted to follow God with everything he had, yet struggled with demons, such as drinking and drugs, and found himself falling short. This isn't a movie about the perfect Christian, because honestly none of those exist, we are all constantly falling short of God's glory and the level of perfection that he requires. But that is why we have Jesus Christ. And that is what I thought was so cool about this movie, it was about a man who was honest about his struggles and imperfection. It's easy to look at others and think that we are better Christians, but are we? Nope. And I think that this movie did a great job of showing how much each of us is truly need a savior.

Overall, this was a good movie with a powerful message, yet at the same time I am hesitant to praise everything about how it was done, I personally believe that the swearing was unnecessary, and the timeline was a bit hard to follow. But overall a movie worth checking out.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

About:

RAGAMUFFIN is based on the life of Rich Mullins, a musical prodigy who rose to Christian music fame and fortune only to walk away and live on a Navajo reservation.

An artistic genius, raised on a tree farm in Indiana by a callous father, Rich wrestled all of his life with the brokenness and crippling insecurity born of his childhood. A lover of Jesus and a rebel in the church, Rich refused to let his struggles with his own darkness tear him away from a God he was determined to love. As he struggled with success in Nashville and depression in Wichita, Rich desired most of all to live a life of honest and reckless faith amidst a culture of religion and conformity.

“This film reminded me that what really made Rich special was how undistracted he was with the things of this world.” —Michael W. Smith (singer/songwriter

Rating: PG-13 (for thematic elements and smoking)

Official website: http://ragamuffinthemovie.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richmullinsfilm

Twitter: https://twitter.com/richmullinsfilm

Find the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYXTnIKD-0kP67cvzjmS3ow

To enter the giveaway leave a comment answering this question: Do you think that swearing is ever necessary in a movie? Also leave your email address (youremail at yahoo dot com -- so spammers don't get it) so I can contact you if you win. The giveaway ends 7/15/14

Emma, Mr. Knightley & Chili-Slaw Dogs by Mary Jane Hathaway ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

Caroline Ashley grew up in the South, a place flush with ancestral mansions, social restrictions, expectations, and well to do families, much akin to Regency Era England. Caroline's one escape was when she left for college and worked for the Washington Post. But upon the death of her father she returns home, ever the dutiful daughter, to again take part in Southern society along side her mother.

Brooks is Caroline's best friend, and a college professor with a large hound named Absalom. He's known her for years, and been and inside observer of her parent's difficult marriage. Both Brooks and Caroline have their own theories about love and marriage and decide to test their theories at the many parties they are required to attend.

But will they ever realize that love might not be as impossible for them as they may think?

Ms. Hathaway puts a modern spin on a classic, with this rendition of  Jane Austen's Emma. There were multiple parallel themes and characters to Emma and it was fun to try and figure out who was who, and how the book would differ from its inspiration. I especially loved the idea of a Jane Austen themed barn dance!

I think that this book does just what it sets out to do, the South taqking on Jane Austen classic and giving them a fresh new feel, giving Caroline an Emma-like modern flair, and making Brooks the epitome of the perfect Southern gentleman who wants to get out of friend zone. I loved the interaction between Brooks and Caroline, it was very well done and had glimmers of  Knightley and Emma's relationship.

There are many colorful characters, and humorous situations, as well as some misunderstandings. This was an enjoyable read, that kept my attention throughout and was very engaging. Definitely a book to check out!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Truth Be Told by Carol Cox ~ Review

My Review:
Amelia Wagner returns to her hometown to find her father dying of cancer. After her father's death it is up to her to carry on his legacy of letting the truth be told through the newspaper that her father left her. While looking for a newsworthy story, Amelia discovers her father's research into what appears to be suspicious dealing involving a prominent business that is buying up random properties.

Ben Stone is an employee of Great Western, running from his calling he wants to make a living working for Great Western. But when Amelia comes poking around, he finds himself questioning everything he thought the company stood for, as well as making him think about the past he left behind.

An engaging tale from the early days of Arizona, filled with wonderful characters that will make you want to stay in Arizona for a while longer. Brimming with western adventure and wonderful side characters, one of my favorites being Jimmy, who always put a smile on my face.

I loved how important the truth and integrity were for Amelia and her father, and throughout the story there were themes of redemption and obedience, with comparisons to Jonah of the Bible.

Overall, this was a fantastic read, with wonderful characters that had me cheering for them all the way through. I loved Amelia and Ben's dedication to truth no matter what the cost. An entertaining read, with a good old fashion western mystery, and heroes that make you want to cheer for them all the way through, along with lessons of faith and the value of the truth. Loved it!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

A Hero in the Making by Laurie Kingery ~ Review

Lucie's Review:


Nate Bohannan is an unlikely hero, he came to Simpson Creek as a banjo player & sidekick for a medicine show. He has his dreams, non of which include staying very long in one place.
Ella Justiss is determined to make it on her own, she puts everything she owns into making a go of her cafe, but the only place she can afford is the backroom of a saloon, so when the saloon gets torn up, so do Ella's dreams.

Can two unlikely people with different dreams come together to find what they both need?

Ella and Nate are both likable characters, who want to move forward with their lives. Many Simpson Creek regulars reappear to help them on their way, including the Spinster's Club which is still alive and well though their focus has changed.

This book has plenty of great interaction between the characters, as well as humor, drama, action, and the occasional inevitable misunderstandings. I loved how both Ella and Nate grew in their faith and character. This was a delightfully engaging read that stands well on it's own, though it is part of a series. I especially loved the ending--but I can't tell you about that! ;)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Her Montana Cowboy by Valerie Hansen ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

This is a fun introduction to what is sure to be a fantastic new series about a small town in Montana, called Jasper Gulch. The townspeople are are a mission to breath new life into the town with a huge centennial celebration.

Ryan Travers is a rodeo cowboy who rides the roughstock, and saves his money. This is the first time in a long time that he'll be in the same place for three weeks straight. He intends to leave right after the rodeo, but he meets a young woman, Julie, who causes him to rethink everything he thought he believed.

Ryan is a forthright and honest man, telling Julie from the start that he isn't the kind of guy that she is looking for.

Julie is the youngest daughter of a Montana cattle rancher, with her own business raising sheep for their wool and selling it online. She knows that Ryan doesn't think that he is good for her, but Julie is hoping she can change his mind.

A wonderful read from beginning to end, perfect for lovers of cowboy romances. There was plenty of great interaction between the characters, as well as lots of fun rodeo action. The town is a warm community full of colorful characters, I especially loved the dog, Cowboy Dan :)

A delightful and entertaining read, interwoven with themes of faith and forgiveness.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."