Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

Gerrit Laninga is sentenced to be executed. He has made his peace with God and is ready to die, but when the shot is fired it doesn't take his life. A young man and his sister take him into their home  and care for his wounds.
Cornelia was widowed four years ago when the Germans invaded the Netherlands, but for the sake of her late husband she takes pity on Gerrit and agrees to help care for him.
Will Gerrit and Cornelia be able to whether the storms on their horizons?

Snow on the Tulips is a beautiful novel that slowly won me completely over, with its flawlessly engrained themes of faith and courage set during WWII. The characters were so well developed, each with their own unique battle to face.

This story swept me away to another time and place, with its easy to read, engaging style, and I loved how raw and realistically it dealt with the human condition and the intensity of the times and setting. When I paged to the very back of the book to the authors notes, I read that this book is based on a TRUE STORY, and that just blew me away and made me love the book even more.

Overall, a strong novel from author Liz Tolsma, definitely a book that I would recommend to someone looking for a fantastic read that is hard to put down and will tug at your heartstrings. I could tell that there was a lot of research put into this book and the fact that this book is based on a true story is just amazing. A memorable read, and I mean that in a completely positive way!



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."

Dangerous Passage by Lisa Harris ~ Revell Blog Tour & Review

Astor's Review:

Detective Avery North, is a young widow swept into her latest case, investigating the mysterious murders of two young women who could have been unconnected, except for a black magnolia tattoo. Avery, has always suspected that her late husband's death was the result of his friend's betrayal, and she is determined to find the proof that will bring his killer to justice.
Jackson is a coroner who offers his help to Avery in untangling the murders, and as the danger grows they find themselves relying on each other and on God in this edge of your seat suspense-filled adventure!

What a story! I had a hard time putting this one down,  and if my eyes didn't get tired so quickly I would have read it straight through in one sitting.

Jackson's grandfather was a great addition to the story and brought humor, wisdom, and warmth to the story. The characters were well developed and I felt like they were truly brought to their limits.

Overall, this book was very well written with plenty of plot twists and well paced throughout, there was never a moment when I got bored or didn't want to keep turning the pages to find out what would happen next. I would highly recommend this book, and I'm counting down the days till I can read the next book in the series!

Available September at your favorite bookseller, from Revell, a Baker Publishing Group

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."

The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship by Brenda Minton ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

Gage Cooper is on his way home to Cooper Creek, after a bad run in with a bull at his last rodeo has him re-evaluating his life. He stops to help a young woman, who turns out to be Layla Smith a girl that he knew and hurt in high school. It doesn't take long for Gage to see that she and her brother, Brandon, could use some help keeping their fences up, so he volunteers to help her out to make amends for what he did to her in the past.
Layla doesn't trust Gage, and she knows that he is just helping because he feels guilty, and that he'll just leave again. She's had to be strong ever since her parents died, will she find the strength to give Gage another chance?

The Cowboy's  Christmas Courtship is a heartwarming Christmas tale that brings back many of the past characters from the previous books about Cooper Creek, that we've come to know and love. Full of moments that would make even a Grinch smile. I loved the scene where Gage tries his hand at waiting tables, definitely one of my favorite scenes!

Even though you might not think that you are ready for Christmas, this book might just change your mind! I liked how the characters interacted naturally, and how Gage connected well with Brandon, who was something of a troubled teen. I would definitely recommend this book, I never want to miss a single book by this talented author and neither will you once you pick one up!


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."

The Invention of Sarah Cummings by Olivia Newport ~ Revell Blog Tour & Review

Lucie's Review:

Sarah Cummings grew up an orphan with a longing for what she believes to be the better things in life. Sarah is a maid in the Banning household, and she is good with a needle and thread so when the society ladies cast off their old clothing, Sarah takes it and remakes it. But when she befriends a society lady by the name of Lily, Sarah feels the need to impress her, and makes up a whole new identity for herself as Serena Cuthbert. Before she knows it Sarah is balancing two lives. In a world that judges by appearances, will Sarah find out who her real friends are?

The newest installment in the Avenue of Dreams Series bring back many of the characters from the previous books, and delves into the life of Sarah Cummings.

I really liked the characters of Lily and Simon, because they were honestly and completely themselves. They were always true to their character, and values.

I guess the main part of the book was about Sarah and how she came to terms with her life and found contentment with where she was, than about a romance or relationship.

Overall, to be honest this was a hard book to read because Sarah kept digging herself deeper into the hole that she made for herself. But in the end it was a good story and it all came together well. So a tougher read with a good ending.

“Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”


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."

Unspoken by Dee Henderson ~ Review

Astor's Review: The companion to Dee Henderson's Best-seller, Full Disclosure does not disappoint.

Eighteen years ago, Charlotte and her twin sister were kidnapped and in the years since Charlotte has tried to put what happened out of her mind. Upon the death of Charlotte's grandfather, she inherits billions in antique coins so she makes a deal with Bryce to help her sell them, but the better he gets to know her the more he longs to protect her from the secrets of her past.

An eighteen year old mystery, a dark secret, and a marriage of convenience, all make for a great story, but mix them all together and you've got Unspoken by Dee Henderson. There are high speed chases and romance, in this twisting, winding, action-packed read.

I've long been a Dee Henderson fan and this one was definitely a good one. Bryce was an admirable hero because he stood by faithfully and gave Charlotte her space when she needed it and yet was there for her. He was also a strong man of faith.

The character interaction was very well done and I really liked Charlotte and Bryce together!

Overall, a terrific book with great characters and a great plot. Part romance, and part mystery, suspense. It was different from any of Dee Henderson's other books in that it had a little more romance in it and more character development, and a little less mystery and action, but I think that might have been why I enjoyed it so much! I like it when authors go outside their normal formula to mix it up a bit. I would give this book five stars. Excellent all the way.

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."

Update: Hey there!

Hey there! I know I've been a bit absent from the blog lately, the last 2 weeks I've been getting used to college and juggling reviews, work, helping out at church and a few other things!

Right now I'm studying to be a Dental Assistant, and depending on how well that goes I might pursue more options in that field. The main thing that is different for me is being more careful with my time management. Since I got a lot done when I was in 7th, 8th & 9th grade, my main high school years were pretty light, now I'm finding that it is harder to balance everything, but be assured that I am making to time to fulfill my obligations, and am actually finding time to read again!

I don't know if I told y'all this, but I also work part time at Cracker Barrel, and I have been for almost a year now. It's a nice job that is relatively low stress and I can make a little extra money. I've had a lot of adventures with my great co-workers, and even met some famous reality star, that I had no idea was even famous until someone told me that he had his own reality show, and I don't even remember his name! And I like the environment, so that's what I did for most of the summer. I'm a cashier, in case you were wondering.

Right now though I work part time, and for the most part focus on my studies. And I'm counting down the days till December 11th when finals are over and I have a nice Christmas holiday! But it's nice that I am able to live at home for now so I don't have to worry about rent, roommates or other things like that, for which I am very thankful!

I'm still helping with AWANA, which is something I will probably do till the day I die, because it is such a rewarding and fulfilling program. I love how as a leader, I am privileged to be able to help a child hide the word of God in their heart! Such a great thing! If you are looking for a way to make a difference, I would strongly recommend getting involved with your local AWANA group, (AWANA groups are all across the US and in many other countries) because it is such a wonderful program that introduces children to God's word, and hopefully to Jesus Christ.

So just to clear up the questions about this blog, I will totally still be blogging, but it just might be less often or in spurts. But my mom has been reviewing lately, and she actually has been really enjoying it! So until next time!

Faye




 

Adoring Addie by Leslie Gould ~ Review

Lucie's Review:
A sweet Amish romance, with a twist of Shakespeare!

Addie Cramer's family and friends all think that she should marry Phillip Eicher, a man who only seems to talk about the plans that her has for her farm, and not about anything that would indicate that he even thinks of her. But when she falls for Jonathon Mosier, a young man whose family is involved in a feud with Addie's family, trouble ensues. Will Addie and Jonathon's love find a way through their families' feud?

Such an upbeat, fun romance that I enjoyed immensely. The characters were well written and I liked the connection with Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet -- without such a tragic end, what could be better?

I loved how Addie's story was filled with familiar characters from the previous book, like the twins and many of the main families.

Jonathon was a very honorable man, and I liked how he didn't want to be only courting her in public and he sought to heal the rifts between their families. Addie was great too, and it was so great how they worked together to fix the problems between their families.

Overall this book was such a fun read, I was hesitant to read it at first just because sometimes Amish books are a bit predictable, but I really was surprised at how much I liked it. And I will definitely reading the rest 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."

Jasmine by Diane T. Ashley & Aaron McCarver ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

Jasmine selfishly runs away, to pursue a glamorous life as an actress on a showboat. She manages to get a few small roles and attracts the sultry attention of the lead actor, Vance Hargrove, and the jealously of the lead actress.
David is now a detective with the Pinkertons and he feels fiercely protective of her, because he has loved he since they were both children.
Can Jasmine ever unravel the dangerous path she has set her foot upon?

The final book in the Song of the River series, follows Jasmine's journey. And I would definitely recommend reading this book if you read the previous book and enjoyed them, because it catches up with Camellia, Lily and their families, along with some of the side characters and old friends from those books as well.

I think my favorite character was David, because he had a strong faith and he was so noble and steady throughout. Yet his struggles were relatable, because he worried about Jasmine and had to realize that God was in control and he had to trust God with Jasmine.

Overall, good read with misunderstanding and tension throughout, because I never knew what she would do next. The end was really well done, and there was poignant growth for both Jasmine and David. As well as containing a great mystery, that kept me guessing! All in all, a good 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."

When the Clouds Roll By ~ Myra Johnson ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

When Gilbert and Samuel come back from war, they come back crushed in spirit, struggling with the demons they faced at the forefront. Annamarie's fiancé Gilbert isn't the same man he used to be, he lost his leg along with his faith. Samuel is Gilbert's friend who he met on the plane and he was an army chaplain, who comes to visit and tries to help Gilbert find the answers, while searching for them himself.

This book tells of the struggles that men returning from war struggle with, and how it affects the ones they left at home. Both Gilbert and Samuel were coming from a dark place emotionally at the start of the book, yet both of them dealt with their struggles in different ways, making choices that affected the rest of their lives.

There were some difficult themes that this book dealt with and so I felt that this book dealt with some strong topics, that might not be for young people.

Overall, it was kind of a sad book because much of the book dealt with the aftermath of war and the devastation that it can bring to relationships and help others form. One of the characters that stood out to me was Mary, because she honestly did have feelings for a man who had no intention of ever following through, so maybe someday she'll find someone great! Samuel and Annamarie's relationship was well developed and I really liked how Annamarie was able to get past her disappointments and move forward with her life. A good read, that showed a wide range of character development and emotion.


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."

Trapped by Irene Hannon Revell Blog Tour & Review

Astor's Review:

Laura Griffin is a librarian, who is determined to do anything to find her younger sister who suddenly when missing on a cold winter night, leaving nothing but a brief note.
She finds herself teaming up with PI James Devlin, but the more that they search, the more they convinced they become that something more sinister than they ever could have imagined is at play...

With action, every step of the way and fraught with romantic tension Trapped is a book that you won't want to miss. The dialogue was sharp and witty, and I felt that the characters really connected with each other.

There was plenty of action, and mystery in this thriller of a novel, though it is the second in a series it could easily be read as a stand alone because there is very little connection, exception that one of the main characters is related to the related to the main character of the previous book.

Overall, if you are a fan of Ms. Hannon or just love a good action packed, suspense filled, novel with winding twists and turns that made for a thrilling read.

“Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

 

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."