The Covered Deep by Brandy Vallance ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

This book follows Bianca Marshal from the small town in Ohio where she grew up to London and then the Holy Land. It's the trip of a lifetime that she won by writing an answer to an advertisement her father found in the paper from an English lord.

There are many other people on the trip with Bianca, Mrs. Madeline Greene, Mr. Tabor & Paul Emerson. But it soon becomes apparent as their journey progresses that everyone except Bianca is hiding something, and that Sir Adrian has brought them all together for reasons of his own...

My favorite character had to be Paul Emerson. He tells Bianca his conversion story right off the bat, but he soon realizes that she also needs to hear about his past. Paul is a man who stays true to his faith, and is completely honorable.

There are many interesting details about the Holy Land shared in this book, and I also think that it did a great job of capturing the tensions, unrest, and prevalent there. Though I will mention that there was content that  I don't think would be appropriate for younger readers.

This book was slow to start, and while it did pick up, it also jumped around from character to character more often than I liked.  The interaction between the characters was strong, with themes of faith and forgiveness, though there were times when I felt a bit lost in some of the scenes.

Overall, this was a very interesting and unique read. I'll admit that it wasn't always easy reading for me, but I did for the most part enjoy it because by midway through I was hooked. Definitely a very different read for me.


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."

Reading Challenge Conclusion

So the reading challenge didn't go quite the way I expected as I found myself watching some TV so I didn't finish the books I wanted to, but I do feel like I made some great headway. Today I will be focusing on posting reviews, since I now have more than a few to give :) So definitely be on the lookout for some new reviews from my mother and I :D

Visible Threat by Janice Cantore ~ Review

Astor's Review:

Continuing from the first book in the series, Brinna Caruso and Jack OReilly are back for another gripping adventure.

When a dead girl is found in the river, with a mysterious tattoo on her hip Brinna and Jack team up to solve the mystery, but what they find may be far darker than they could have imagined..

Will they be able to save the innocent before it is too late?

This is a thrilling series full of non-stop adventure, action, and great emotional and spiritual depth. Brinna, Harold, and Jake are a great team as they fight for the truth and uncover the cruel realities of a fallen world.

Full of multiple twists and turns along the way. I appreciated how this wasn't just an action-packed adventure, but also had great emotion depth, dialogue and humor, adding to the lively pace.

Brinna's struggles with her faith were realistic, especially considering her job and what she saw everyday. And I have loved watching her grow in her faith through this series.

Overall, an all around awesome read, that I would highly recommend!



This is a book that our family owns, not part of a review program.

Reading Challenge #1

Finished Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund and I must say that I loved it and I think that it is one of her best books to date! Absolutely fantastic!

Started In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin, and reading on and off Si-cology 101 by Si Robertson, along with Doctor Who: Blood Cell by James Goss, and London Dawn by Murray Pura. :)

Here's an Update

I don't know about you but I've been pretty busy this summer, working, visiting relatives, attending a cousin's wedding, getting ready for school, going to a Josh Turner concert, spending time with friends, and blogging, I can't believe summer is almost over!

But the impending end of summer isn't all bad, though there are some serious drawbacks, like having to go back to school (for those of you who don't will be completing my second year of Dental Assisting training this coming fall and spring). But there are many perks to it as well, such as the return of my favorite TV shows like Doctor Who for one ;) It will be a busy nine months to say the least, as I will be juggling my part-time job, school, AWANA, blogging, choir, and hopefully still making time for friends and reading :)

As far as I know I will still be blogging, but right now I'm playing it my ear, as I've already got a handful of titles set for review this September as well as a fun giveaway that may be in the works :)

So in anticipation of my future crazy schedule I am challenging myself to a 12hr reading challenge to see how many books I can knock off of my currently-reading pile, would you believe that I am in the middle of 5 right now?

I will post an update sometime during the challenge and then again afterwards. Tomorrow you will probably see some reviews as a result :)

The Bravest Princess by E.D. Baker ~ Review

My Review:

The adventures of the Wide-Awake Princess continue in this sweet mash up of fairy tales.

Annie's sister Gwendolyn is finally marrying her prince, yet Annie cannot help but still feel like an outcast as many of the guest avoid her, afraid of being as beautiful as they are made by magic. But when her friend Snow White calls on her for help, she and Liam travel to her kingdom to help her find her missing evil stepmother and find true love.
Will they be able to rise the challenge and find the evil queen before it is too late?

A humor laced fairy tale, from E.D. Baker. Funny and sweet, this book was a welcome read for me, as I have long been a fan of E.D. Bake since around the time that her hit Frog Princess was a brand new book.

I think my favorite thing about this book was how all of the princes were vying of Snow White's hand, in their own silly and at times insincere ways. Especially as some of the princes were returning characters from previous book in the series, some of them even had once tried to court Gwen (Sleeping Beauty).

One of my favorite characters had to be Dog, who was of course a dog, but he could talk. And he had a way of saying things in just a typical guileless, straight out honest way that I thought perfectly  captured his character.

Overall this was a great installment in the series, and for me it was a bit of a throwback to when I was younger and read these types of books more frequently. Definitely a fun book for fans of princesses and fairy tale adventure!

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 Wrangler's Inconvenient Wife by Lacy Williams ~ Review

Lucie's Review:


I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced western adventure.

It starts out with a bang, or rather, a train wreck. Which set the wonderfully fast pace, that was filled with plenty of action and adventure along the way! Ethan White is a true cowboy hero, even though he tries to hide it behind his beard and gruff demeanor.

Fran will do almost anything to protect her sister, Emma. She lied about her age so that they could go together on the Orphan Train, and she agrees to marry a man she just met in order to provide protection for both herself and her sister.

I appreciated the dialogue and humor between Ethan and his brothers. Which added another dimension to the story and gave it so much more depth.

Fran was my favorite character, as city girl from Tennessee she is faced with many challenges and adjustments, yet she tackled them without a complaint as well as showing great wisdom and courage in building a relationship with Ethan.

Overall, this was a completely enjoyable story, and one of the best westerns that I've read in a long time, with realistic depictions of cattle drives and other details. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great romantic 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."

The Healer's Touch by Lori Copeland ~ Review

Lucie's Review: 
 Lyric Bolton's life has never been easy. Everyone in Bolton Holler gives Lyric and her sister, Lark a wide berth because they believe that their mother is crazy.

Then one night something crashes through their barn door and Lyric finds a strange man's body so battered and bruised that he is not recognizable. Lyric figures that he is not long for this world, but he miraculously wakes up, with no memory of who or where he is. As she get's to know him and as he heals he begins helping around the house, she begins to doubt her previous suspicions about him...


One of my favorite things about this book was the humor and interaction between Lyric and Joseph. There was also a pretty funny ornery horse that brought a smile to my face, because he was sweet as pie to the girls, but stepped on Joseph whenever he got half a chance.

It took a while but eventually the main characters were interacting and there was action and drama a plenty.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read, I loved how important faith was to both Lyric and Joseph, and they kept trusting despite the hardships they faced. Just an all around terrific book from Lori Copeland!



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 Heart to Heal by Allie Pleiter ~ CFBA Tour

Lucie's Review:

Heather Browning has a heart for the hurting. As a guidance counselor at Gordon Falls High School she will do almost anything to help the students there succeed, especially Simon who is in a wheelchair. She will even put up with her friend JJ's brother, Max "Hot Wheels" Jones.

Max faces everything head on. Even being in a wheel chair, he has flames on his car and wheelchair, and doesn't mind calling attention to himself wherever he goes. He personality is quite the opposite of the timid Simon whom he is supposed to be helping. But Max surprises himself with how much he really does want to help Simon and prove to Heather that he can be a good mentor.

This book starts out strong, with well developed and interesting characters. Max does a lot of growing up and we see great changes in his character and faith.  Heather has amazing communication skills and she helps Max see his fall in a whole new way, even when she's mad at him she doesn't tear him down.

But I was very disappointed by the way homeschooling was portrayed in this book, like it was the worst possible option for Simon, and how it made Simon's parents out to be villains for deciding to do so. And I found Max's attitude towards Simon's parents to be childish and disrespectful throughout most of the book, though he did come to his senses later.

Overall, this was a sweet romance with great characters and side characters like Violet Sharpton, who was one of my favorites. An entertaining 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 A Heart to Heal Love Inspired (July 15, 2014) by Allie Pleiter

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and nonfiction. An avid knitter, harp player and non-reformed chocoholic, she spends her days writing books, doing laundry, running carpools and finding new ways to avoid housework. Allie grew up in Connecticut, holds a BS in speech from Northwestern University and currently lives in suburban Chicago, Illinois. The "dare from a friend" to begin writing eight years ago has blossomed into a career that includes numerous public speaking engagements, two books on parenting; Becoming a Chief Home Officer and Facing Every Mom's Fears and now novels for Steeple Hill Books. She is the mother of two children and, most recently, a Havanese dog named Bella.


ABOUT THE BOOK

The Courage To Hope.

Guidance counselor Heather Browning is desperate. She needs a mentor to help Simon, a disabled student who is struggling at Gordon Falls High School. Unfortunately, hotshot Max Jones is her only option. Confrontational and cavalier, Max uses his flashy persona to hide the bitterness he's felt since his life-changing accident. Perpetually cautious, Heather finds Max's bad-boy bravado as intriguing as it is infuriating. But as Heather and Max work together to build Simon's self-confidence, they begin to trust each other. Max has never been slow and careful with anything. Can he be gentle with Heather's heart?

Gordon Falls: Hearts ablaze in a small town.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of A Heart to Heal, go HERE.

The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron ~ Review

Lucie's Review:

This book was a wonderfully unexpected surprise. Engaging from the beginning it kept me glued to the page throughout.

This novel beautifully weaves two stories together, one from the present day and one from the past centered around a picture found in a concentration camp. The stories blend well, switching with ease between the times.

I loved the fact that even though this is a work of fiction, that it was based on real situations and the story felt authentic and realistic, like it really could have happened.

The main characters were fantastic, and well developed, with great dialogue that moved their relationships. There were also many wonderful side characters, one of my favorites being Omara who helped Adele survive not just physically, but also gave her hope.

I learned so much about Auschitwitz, and how there really was a women's orchestra and many works of arts were found inside the camp.

Overall, this was a fantastic read that I would highly recommend, it had everything and more, drama, romance, heartbreak and hope. And it explores how people, even when surrounded by such horror found ways to create beauty and worship God. Once I started reading it I didn't want to stop!


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 the book: A mysterious painting breathes hope and beauty into the darkest corners of Auschwitz---and the loneliest hearts of Manhattan.

Manhattan art dealer Sera James watched her world crumble at the altar two years ago, and her heart is still fragile. Her desire for distraction reignites a passion for a mysterious portrait she first saw as a young girl---a painting of a young violinist with piercing blue eyes.

In her search for the painting, Sera crosses paths with William Hanover, the grandson of a wealthy California real estate mogul, who may be the key to uncovering the hidden masterpiece. Together, Sera and William slowly unravel the story behind the painting's subject: Austrian violinist Adele Von Bron.

A darling of the Austrian aristocracy, talented violinist, and daughter to a high-ranking member of the Third Reich, Adele risks everything when she begins smuggling Jews out of Vienna. In a heartbeat, her life of prosperity and privilege dissolves into a world of starvation and barbed wire.

As Sera untangles the secrets behind the painting, she finds beauty in the most unlikely of places: in the grim camps of Auschwitz and in the inner recesses of her own troubled heart.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/zhXo3

About the author: Kristy Cambron has been fascinated with the WWII era since hearing her grandfather's stories of the war. She holds an art history degree from Indiana University and received the Outstanding Art History Student Award. Kristy writes WWII and Regency era fiction and has placed first in the 2013 NTRWA Great Expectations and 2012 FCRW Beacon contests, and is a 2013 Laurie finalist. Kristy makes her home in Indiana with her husband and three football-loving sons.

Find Kristy online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/kcambron

Welcome to the launch campaign for debut novelist Kristy Cambron's The Butterfly and the Violin. Romantic Times had this to say: "Alternating points of view skillfully blend contemporary and historical fiction in this debut novel that is almost impossible to put down. Well-researched yet heartbreaking. . . ."

Kristy is celebrating the release of the first book in her series, A Hidden Masterpiece, with a fun Kindle Fire giveaway and meeting her readers during an August 7th Facebook author chat party.

 One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 7th. Winner will be announced at The Butterfly and the Violin Author Chat Party. Kristy will be connecting with readers and answering questions, sharing some of the fascinating research behind the book, hosting a fun book chat, and giving away some GREAT prizes. She will also be giving an exclusive look at the next book in the series, A Sparrow in Terezin!

So grab your copy of The Butterfly and the Violin and join Kristy on the evening of August 7th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 7th!