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Friday, May 31, 2013

The Promise Box



Lydia Wyse left home at 16 and never looked back. She couldn't bear the thought that she wasn't wanted and was simply given up. It was something she had difficulty coming to terms with. Growing up Amish but learning that she was adopted. Her birth mother gave her up since she was a product of rape and didn't want the reminder to  face every day after she was born. To her Amish mother who remained unable to have children, Lydia was a blessing from God. Feeling like she would never have the opportunity to love a child that belong to her, she was more than thrilled to adopt Lydia. In fact to her, Lydia was a promise from God.

Now called back home for her Amish mother's funeral, Lydia begins to experience more than just home sickness and grief when she arrives home. She feels remorse for all the years she spent away from her Amish mom, hoping to find some answers for where she fit into the world, and now returning to her hometown in West Kootenai in Montana, she wishes she had one more day with her Amish mother to tell her how much she appreciated all her love that she took for granted. She helps her father process his own grief now that he is growing older and no longer has anyone but the Amish community to care for him, he hopes Lydia might find it in her heart to come home to live once again, but he's not about to suggest or pressure her in anyway.

The one thing Lydia's Amish mother has left behind for her is a small, wooden box handcarved by her father in which she has kept the promises that she believes God has provided since before Lydia was born. It is a legacy of sorts that contains personal notes and letters to Lydia beginning from before she was born until her final days of waiting to see if Lydia would ever some home again. Her heart simply gave out waiting but her love still goes on and is waiting to be discovered as Lydia cherishes this personal time with her mother through her written promises.

Now if Lydia can find it in her heart to come home to stay once again. Her employer believes that Lydia has it within her to write the next best-seller about what it's like to leave and return to the Amish community and has agreed to provide her with enough time to do just that. While Lydia spends time in prayer considering her options of staying in Seattle or returning to her Amish roots in Montana, a handsome Amish man, Gideon Hooley, who spends his time whispering to wild horses might just be the thing that tames her wild roots after all and bring her home to stay.

In the latest novel from the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors Series, Tricia Goyer once more takes readers into the heart of the Amish community in Montana in The Promise Box. In this novel Lydia has to come to terms with both her past in the English and Amish life as well as deciding for herself just what God's purpose is for her in this world. It is a hard place for her to be, and deals with many conflicting emotions between two entirely different lifestyles, but as with all of Tricia Goyer's novels, she will capture you heart and soul.

I received The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer compliments of Zondervan Publishers and Litfuse Publicity Book Tours for my honest review. I love how Tricia wrote about Lydia's struggles in coming to terms with her Amish lifestyle and her English birth. She just didn't rush in and resolve whatever issues Lydia had in dealing with her adoption and the reasons behind it. I love Gideon Hooley, the Amish Horse Whisper, who lovingly chooses to interact with Lydia even though she has left the Amish community and has now returned. Every single time they were with one another, you could feel the chemistry and sparks flying but Tricia gave just enough turmoil to keep them from falling in love right away. They each has pasts to deal with before they could contemplate dealing with an unknown future with one another and that's why I'd rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. I can't wait to begin creating my own Promise Box. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review and can't wait for the next book in the series. Even though this novel is part of a larger series, you can pick this one up and read it as a stand alone. The first book in the series is The Memory Jar.

For more information about The Promise Box, Tricia Goyer or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:


You can also find Tricia Goyer on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here.

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party!


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One "promising" winner will receive:



  • Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels

  • Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc...)

  • Sherry Gore's Simply Delicious Amish Cooking

  • The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer 



  • Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the "The Promise Box" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun - book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.







    So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia on the evening of June 12th 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 todayTell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!


    Wednesday, May 29, 2013

    The Judgment Stone



    There are some amazing authors that are releasing some incredible novels and Robert Liparulo is definitely one of them. In his latest series, The Immortal Files, he began with his novel The 13th Tribe. You will need to read this one before attempting the sequel, Judgment Stone. You need the background that you discover in the first novel to make sense of where the action picks up in the second novel.

    The premise of this novel begins with the story of the Israelites that upon waiting for Moses to come down from his meeting with God on Mt. Sinai were found worshipping a golden calf thinking that Moses had abandoned them. Those who refused to destroy their idol worship of the golden calf were destroyed from the original 12 tribes. This is where the 13th tribe originated in the first novel. The 13th tribe of men, women and children, 40 of them, were cursed by God to wander the earth as immortals for their sin and never see the face of God. These would be the people who not only worshiped the golden calf but tasted the blood of the sacrifice.

    Now these immortals have split up and gone their separate ways. For some like Owen, he is trying to work out his salvation with God by doing all the good he can in the world. Others like the Clan are running with the darker side and are wrecking havoc on Earth becoming an enemy to God and everyone who is on His side. There are others like we met at the conclusion of the 13th Tribe, that want to give up their immortal life and find a way back into God's grace again but don't know how to get there. They believe that only one person can help them and that is Jagger Baird's wife, Beth. She shared the salvation story with one of the immortals before he died and he seemed a peace where he would end up in his eternity with God.

    Only now, The Clan has discovered a tool that may help them with their endeavor to rid the world of God and all who believe in Him, and usher in the enemy to destroy and rule the world in complete darkness. This is where the Judgment Stone is being sought after. The Judgment Stone is a piece of the Ten Commandments created by God. He who possesses the stone can see into the unseen world of angels and demons. Once you can do that, you can target your enemy in an entirely new way. You can see those who are believers and destroy them as well as their angelic warriors away from the world. Striking back at the monastery where the Judgment Stone has been hidden, the Clan will stop at nothing to make sure they possess this valuable artifact. This is where Jagger will realize that despite all his military training and high-tech gadgetry he is completely defenseless against those who hunts believers through their prayers and with Jagger's family being believers, they will strike where at the very heart of his life.

    I received The Judgment Stone by Robert Liparulo compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. The best thing I enjoy about Robert's series is his ability to tap into the latest in military gadgets like Unmanned Ground Combat Units and exoskeltons that offer the military an edge up on the enemy. I found myself toggling back and forth between this novel to see just how these devices worked and was surprised at just how in the dark I was at where we are at using high tech gadgets in our military. I am impressed by his research into this which greatly enhances this series. Not only do you have Immortals walking the earth that are almost impossible to kill but now some of them are using these high tech gadgets and weapons. Truly scary and unbelievable but make this an exciting page turner til the end. For those of you that love futuristic military combined with spiritual warfare, you will LOVE this entire series. I'd rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. Now I can't wait for next novel in this series to see how it will all play out in the end.

    For more information about The Judgement Stone, Robert Liparulo or where you can pick up a copy of this exciting series, please click on the links below:


    You can find Robert Liparulo on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

    To read my review on The 13th Tribe, you can click here. 

    To read more reviews on The Judgment Stone on the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour, please click here. 
    • Paperback: 400 pages
    • Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 14, 2013)
    • Language: English
    • ISBN-10: 1595541721
    • ISBN-13: 978-1595541727
    • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.3 inches 
    You can find The Judgment Stone at your favorite retailer in paperback, eBook and audio formats. 

    Tuesday, May 28, 2013

    Once Upon A Prince



    As a young girl I can remember all those fairy tale stories my mother used to read to me. A handsome prince would rescue his damsel in distress, whisk her away from her previous life, take her away to his castle, marry her and live happily ever after. Yet those were the fairy tales for little girls, but thankfully Rachel Hauck is introducing a new series of novels, The Royal Wedding Series and begins with the first book, Once Upon a Prince.

    We all know that fairy tales can really come true! Take for example Princess Diana, the average American girl who falls in love with Prince Charles. They get married and live in a castle where everyone falls in love with the idea that fairy tales really can come true. Now we can see evidence of the generational love story with Prince William, Diana and Charles oldest son, who falls in love with Kate Middleton, your average girl with no royal ties or upbringing and once again they marry and are spending their futures living the fairy tale dream.

    In Once Upon A Time, we meet Susanna Truitt who has spent the last twelve years waiting for the man she had hoped would marry her and they would begin their own fairy tale future, but that was not in the cards she would be dealt. After serving four tours in Afghanistan, Adam Peters had come home to realize that Susanna wasn't the right girl. He had fallen in love with someone else and now needed to convince Susanna that her future plans did not involve her. Could her life get any worse?

    After being dumped quite literally on the beach where she had hoped Adam was taking her to propose, she finds herself with a flat tire and dealing with a homeless man beginning for money. Armed with a tire iron and a strong will, no matter how much she pleads with the man to leave her alone, he won't take no for an answer. That is when Susanna's "prince" arrives to save the day. Armed with knowledge on how to change a tire, he simply instructs the homeless man to take the $20 he offers and leave them alone. She is relived and broken at the same point and breaks down in front of Nate. He listens with a kind ear and offers to help her change her tire. What he can't understand is why Adam would leave her to marry another?

    Susanna learns that Nate Kenneth is on holiday in St. Simons Island and is involved in politics back in Brighton. She finds herself being drawn to him in unremarkable ways when it seems like fate keeps intervening to enable Nate to come to her rescue again and again. When Susanna's father has a heart attack and is rushed to the hospital, Nate is there for her. Armed with running the family business, The Rib Shack while her father is recovering Nate offers to help out with whatever he can do to help the family out, even if it means cleaning toilets and taking out the trash. Never in her wildest dreams did Susanna believe that true love was waiting for her at the end of her darkest road and that a fairy tale was about to be unleashed on her life when she learns that Nate is the Prince of Brighton. Will she have a fairy tale ending after all?



    I received Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck compliments of Zondervan Publishing and Litfuse Publicity Book Tours for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. I inhaled this one and fell in love over and over again not only with Nate, but also with Susanna's fate in life. It seems like things go from bad to worse at every opportunity and you just hope with fingers crossed and baited breath that she and Nate will find that "happily ever after".  I think my favorite part in the book was when Susanna needed a ride at a fundraiser to go to the hospital as her dad was being rushed there for his heart. She knew that the fund raiser was hosting a special guest but had no idea who it was.

    As Nate was making arrangements for a ride, she looked at him and said, "You're from Brighton. Wouldn't it be funny if you were their special guest?"

    "Downright hilarious. Shall we get you to the hospital?"

    The saddest part of this novel was finishing it too soon. I even interrupted my husband several times to share parts of this book with him. "Oh babe, she finds out he's really a prince. I hope they fall in love and get married!" I look forward to many more in this series. Finally a big girls fairy tale series I can fall in love with time and time again. This wasn't my first Rachel Hauck novel and it won't be my last. This one rate a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and has found a permanent place on my personal library shelf. I highly recommend this one to your "Must Read List" for the summer.

    To find out more information about Once Upon A Prince, Rachel Hauck or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:


    You can also find Rachel Hauck on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

    To read more reviews on Once Upon A Prince from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here.

    Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of Once Upon a Prince with a fun "Royal Wedding" Giveaway and connecting with readers at her May 28th Facebook Party.




    PrinceHauck300


    One "royal" winner will receive:




    • A Kindle Fire

    • Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck


    Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 27th. Winner will be announced at the "Once Upon a Prince" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 28th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of book chat, wedding trivia, laughter, and more! Rachel will also be sharing a sneak peek at the next book in the series and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.






    So grab your copy of Once Upon a Prince and join Rachel on the evening of May 28th 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 todayTell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!


    Undeniably Yours



    "She laughed.

    Smile lines crinkled around his eyes, making his handsome face even more handsome.

    He was surprisingly easy to talk to, this man she'd tried and failed to fire. "It's strange to think that we grew up in the same town but that our experiences were so different, isn't it?"

    "It is." Bo gave the horse a pat on the side of its neck, and it ambled off.

    Of course, hardly anyone had grown up like she had. Still, it surprised Meg that she could have been raised in this country and have so little interaction with men like Bo. She was much more familiar with your average wealthy, private-school-educated Dallas man. That breed wore expensive designer clothes, drove Porsches, and could carry their end of a long conversation about wine.

    Bo's breed? Unapologetically masculine. Too practical for designer clothes. Drove American-made trucks. Drank beer.

    A breeze combed through the trees, lifting Meg's hair. As she glanced up to watch the clouds creep across the dusky blue sky, a faint sense that she'd misplaced something needled the back of her mind.

    She'd stashed her glasses in one of her sweater's deep pockets. That must be it. When she fished them out and put them on, her view of the horizon turned from slightly fuzzy to clear.

    Yet...no. That wasn't it. Something was definitely missing, thought. What? She could feel her car keys still in her pocket. She'd left her purse at the big house.

    And then it hit her. The thing that disappeared?" (pg 44).



    In the latest novel to completely captivate your heart and soul from best selling author Becky Wade, Undeniably Yours takes you into two very different worlds, the one of Meg Cole and Bo Porter. Meg Cole is the sole heir of her father's vast oil fortune which has been left entirely to her. Bo Porter who runs her father's Thoroughbred horse farm. At first she wanted to eliminate the entire horse farm, something she couldn't fathom trying to understand and manage, but when she attempted to fire Bo, he pleaded for her to give him six months to turn around the finances so that they could begin to show a profit. She had agreed to do just that but soon found herself giving Bo much more than she ever imagined was possible. Could this rich girl fall in love with a simple country boy? You'll want to pick this one up to find out.

    I received Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. This one is enchanting and the romantic tension Becky creates has you on the edge of your seat wondering just when these two will admit their true feelings for one another. Bo is that perfect knight in shining armor wrapped up in simple blue jeans, stetson hat and t-shirt that can not only whisper to horses but to Meg's heart as well. This novel has found a forever home in my library as well as my heart. Who hasn't dreamed of falling in love with a handsome cowboy? I rate this love story a 5 out of 5 stars and will read this one again and again.

    For more information about Undeniably Yours, Becky Wade or where to pick up a copy of this sensational novel today, please click on the links below:


    You can find Becky Wade on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

    To read more reviews on Undeniably Yours from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here. 

    Becky Wade is celebrating her latest swoon-worthy novel, Undeniably Yours (Bethany House), with a Kindle Fire giveaway and hosting an Author Chat party on Facebook {5/29}!

    UndeniablyYours

    One winner will receive:
    • A Kindle Fire
    • Undeniably Yours and My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade
    Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 28th. Winner will be announced at the "Undeniably Yours" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 29th. Connect with Becky for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Becky will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

    So grab your copy of Undeniably Yours and join Becky on the evening of May 29th 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 todayTell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

    Monday, May 27, 2013

    Merlin's Blade Review


    Before the Round Table...Before Arthur was crowned...There was MERLIN!

    Inspired by the renowned Arthurian Legends, MERLIN’S BLADE tells the story of Merlin’s battle to save his family, friends, and king from the druids’ treacherous plan to reclaim Britain by using a strange meteorite that has the power to ensnare anyone who looks at it.

    Only Merlin, who lost hi vision in a wolf attack, can steer his friends and family away from the object’s dreadful influence, and back onto the path of truth. His lack of sight is his secret weapon.

    While the villagers, including Merlin’s father and his best friend Garth are under the stone’s spell, Merlin takes on the evils that live beneath it’s surface. Facing off against despicable creatures and fearless villains that aim to turn Britons against each other.

    Surrounded by adversaries, and armed only with a sword, Merlin must rid his country of this deadly evil, even if it means losing his own life. He sets out on his mission with the help of the beautiful Natalenya, who gives him the confidence-and assistance-he needs.

    Will Merlin be able to save the people of Britain? (excerpt from rear cover).

    I find that Robert Treskilliard has researched Merlin’s history very well and has put together some of the missing past of how Merlin became such an icon to Historical Medieval time period where legends are forged through time and remain one of the strongest myth and legends of all time in his latest novel Merlin's Blade.

    The novel from the Prologue into the first Chapter seems a bit confusing and leads you almost into a separate story so you really have to focus on the first chapter and just read from there. Since I am only about halfway into the book the Prologue might come into play here in the next few chapters. I found Merlin’s character to be full of hardships with not only being attacked as a young child from wolves and losing most of his eyesight, to a pair of young bullies Dyslan and Rondroc who continue to torment him throughout most of the first part of the book. Merlin offers to take full punishment of being whipped for his friends lying and stealing of the horses and cart. Merlin is even attacked again by a wolf and suffers wounds on his arm.

    I can’t go into detail anymore than what I have read as you must pick up the book to continue on Merlin’s journey in the book to see if he is able to save Britain from this foul evil that lurks behind the strange meteorite. I find this book very accurate in the style of writing and character development is superb! It is a little hard to follow sometimes as the author goes into the English writing style of the time period so you really have to focus sometimes and even go back a bit to clarify the paragraph or sentence.

    Over all I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to not only this genre of reader, but to young and old readers alike! So far it’s been a great story and cant wait to finish the book! Thank you Robert Treskilliard for a fascinating story and journey into Merlin’s youth!

    I received Merlin's Blade by Robert Treskilliard compliments of Zondervan Publishers and Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Tours for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This novel is the first book in the Merlin's Spiral Series and is perfect for those young adult readers looking for a bit more spice and flavor in their historical fictional novels based on the tales of old legends with just the right balance of Christianity to keep the story engaging with a powerful message. The next novel in the series, Merlin's Shadow will be out in early fall of 2013.

    For more information about Merlin's Blade, Robert Treskilliard or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

     
    You can find Robert Treskilliard on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

    You can also visit Robert Treskilliards website to find more amazing information about this series. 

    • Paperback: 432 pages
    • Publisher: Zondervan (April 16, 2013)
    • Language: English
    • ISBN-10: 0310735076
    • ISBN-13: 978-0310735076
    • Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 8 inches 
    To purchase a copy of this novel from Amazon, please click here. 

    You can also find more reviews on Merlin's Blade on the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Tour by clicking the links below:

    Noah Arsenault
    Beckie Burnham
    Keanan Brand
    Jeff Chapman
    Laure Covert
    Pauline Creeden
    Emma or Audrey Engel
    April Erwin
    Victor Gentile
    Ryan Heart
    Timothy Hicks
    Jason Joyner
    Carol Keen
    Krystine Kercher
    Shannon McDermott
    Meagan @ Blooming with Books
    http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller

    Joan Nienhuis
    Nathan Reimer
    Chawna Schroeder
    Kathleen Smith
    Jojo Sutis
    Robert Treskillard
    Steve Trower
    Phyllis Wheeler
    Shane Werlinger
     Nicole White