Godless

"If there is no God, all things are permissible."

Imagine a world where society would rather claim their own self importance and desires, than to hold on to some outdated religious beliefs that God exists and that He has determined a standard of right and wrong. That may have worked many decades ago but in the future, things are much different that they were for our parents and grandparents.

The year is 2044 and due to the economic downturn hitting virtually every single country, something has to change. Healthcare for the elderly is at an all-time premium and now there is a sliding scale to determine which treatments are available for them. The new Youth Initiative provision requires the an audit of the elderly's treatment allocation to determine their net-value ratios. The deeper the financial crisis, the lower the birthday for mandatory review: age eighty in 2040, dropping to seventy-five by '42 and plummeting to seventy earlier this year.  Now seniors are being denied medical treatment simply based on their value to contribute to the younger generation. With there being fewer children being born, the needs of the finances possessed by the elderly are needed by the younger generation to keep the world going. Elderly people, the disabled and those not able to contribute to the economy are considered "debits."

Those people who support the family and traditional values of respect and caring for the sick and elderly are no considered bigots, intolerant and "breeders" "As religious zealots polluting the planet by spawning a bunch of crib-lizards who consume more than their share of resources and then have the audacity to keep their old and disabled loved ones around as pets when that money could have gone to the younger, healthier citizens." Now there is an all out push for more transitions to take place. Churches are actively promoting transitions as a way of passing along their wealth to further the growth of the church by making them the beneficiaries. "They simply see transitions like a Boy Scout helping little old ladies. Only instead of escorting them across the street, you help them cross the threshold."

Now as Congressman Kevin Tolbert and his team aggressively work to counter the Youth Initiative with the Bright Spots campaign, "young couples who consider children a blessing rather than a burden. People who love and honor their aging parents rather than trade them in for cash. And those who serve their disabled loved ones as fellow creatures who reflects the image of God rather than discard them as accidental genetic blunders." Studies now show that communities that promote this idea over the Youth Initiative provide pockets of vitality and growth amid the dark economic clouds.

But there are those who want nothing more than to silence the opposition at all costs. Willing to go as far as helping transitions occur in the home instead of the clinic and in some cases even assisting them when they are fearful or confused. Does this chilling look at the future have any bearing on what is happening slowly in the world today? Is this a premonition of the future of the world when are simply willing to forget God and allow anything to become permissible? Now that marriage isn't just between a man and women, but now partners? This entire series of novels from authors Dr. James Dobson and Kurt Bruner deserve a hard look at what is possible coming our way in the not so distant future.

I received Godless from Dr. James Dobson and Kurt Bruner compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are my own unless otherwise notated. This is the third book and hopefully not the concluding one in the Fatherless Series. The first book Fatherless and then Childless show a growing trend towards where the final novel winds up. In light of certain policies hitting the government desks of politicians lately with assisted suicides becoming more acceptable, traditional marriage being passed up in favor of same sex marriages, this novel shows a gradually decline into what could quite possibly be on the horizon for our future. We can only hope if it does, that Jesus will come back at the rapture before we see it come to fruition in the tribulation. I absolutely LOVED this series and highly recommend it to anyone. I truly worth 5 out of 5 stars.

"We either submit to the sanity of what's true or become ensnared by the madness of lies."(pg 223).

For more information about Godless, Dr. James Dobson, Kurt Bruner or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Godless by Dr. James Dobson and Kurt Bruner

You can find Dr. James Dobson on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

You can visit Kurt Bruner on his website to find out how you can become a bright spot!

You can read my previous reviews on Fatherless and Childless below:

Book 1: Fatherless
Book 2: Childless

A Season of Change

Hard to believe you might find a common ground with the life of a circus performer and an Amish family in the latest novel from author Lynette Sowell. Yet that is what you will find as the basic premise in A Season of Change in the first novel in the Seasons of Pinecraft series. Both of the main characters are going through their own "seasons of change" with being in Pinecraft, Florida, a place where the Amish generally come in the winter months from their towns up North.

Jacob Miller had only planned on being in Pinecraft for two weeks to celebrate Christmas with his grandparents and in hoping to distance himself from the painful memories of losing his wife Hannah. Now it seems as if everyone expects him to move on and find a new wife, hopefully a young Amish girl like Betsy Yoder who has expressed more than a passing interest in Jacob. But when an unexpected accident he didn't plan or see coming lands his daughter in the hospital, it looks as if his stay in Pinecraft is going to be extended for quite some time.

Miss Bubbles, the clown always loves to spend her free time visiting children that are stuck in the hospital during Christmas and this time is certainly no exception. What she doesn't plan on is finding an Amish family dealing with the miracle recovery of Rebecca Miller. She is confined to a hospital bed just grateful to be alive after being hit by a car she didn't see coming. Now it seems that happiness has found its way into her room, Natalie Bennett is utilizing her skills coming from the circus to dress up as a clown and bring smiles to the faces of children like Rebecca who are confined in the hospital. She is more than happy to make her smile and offers a small juggling lesson of oranges to both Rebecca and her brother Zeke who is beyond fascinated by Natalie. What she didn't plan on is falling head over heels for their father Jacob whose blue eyes can captivate and steal your heart.

I received A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I love how Natalie is provided with an outlet of finding out more about her family roots when her father mails her mother's belongings to her and she realizes she has an Amish history. It creates hope for both the characters of Natalie and Jacob that even though they are vastly different in respects to how they have grown up, there exists a possibility that they can make things work between them in time. I love the aspect of using a tie of with Natalie having a circus background which makes the story all the more interesting and not something I have encountered in Amish fiction before. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and look forward to the next book in the series due this fall. A Reading Discussion Guide is included in this novel.

For more information about A Season of Change, Lynette Sowell or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell

You can also find Lynette Sowell on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Season of Change, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.


In A Season of Change, book one of Lynette Sowell's new series, Seasons of Pinecraft, readers will discover a different side of the Amish community. A Season of Change follows Natalie and Amish widower Jacob Miller as they each discover the mysterious ways God works. Inspired by the image of a Plain woman sitting on a three-wheeled bicycle by the Pinecraft (an Amish community in Florida) post office, Sowell’s latest is a new take on the popular trend in fiction.

Lynette is celebrating with a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway and a Facebook author chat party on June 12th.

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 12th. Winner will be announced at the A Season of Change Facebook author chat party on June 12th. Connect with Lynette for an evening of fun book chat, Amish-themed trivia, and prizes. Lynette will also be answering audience questions and giving an exclusive look at the next book in the Seasons of Pinecraft series!

So grab your copy of A Season of Change and join Lynette 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 today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

Daisies are Forever

I love finding exceptional novels that are written with World War 2 as their backdrop. So often when we think about World War 2, it's something that can be easily glossed over from what we read in a couple of pages in a history book, but for those that lived among what was happening in countries like Germany and France, it's a whole different picture.

When I was invited to review Daisies Are Forever from author Liz Tolsma, I knew this would be something more than your typical love story of people who discover each other in the war. This was and is so much more than that. First of all, it is told from some aspects of historical fact as you will discover when you get to the end of the book and share the author's insight's into her creation of this compelling novel.  The first half is told from the story of Ruth Sabine Hildegard Lippert who at seventeen had to flee from the many bombings that were taking place from the Russian planes to get back home any way she could. The second half of the novel was told from the memories of Liz Tolsma's Aunt Lillian Tolsma who moved from the United States to Germany in the late 1930's just before the outbreak of the war. These two wonderful facets created such a powerful story, the reader can't help but be captivated to know who will make it home and who will pay the ultimate price.

Twenty-year-old Gisela Cramer has received warning that she must flee from her home leaving behind her ailing Grandfather who is simply too weak to travel along with her older sister Ella. She vows to take care of Ella's two younger daughters Annelies and Renate and get them to safety in Berlin. As much as she doesn't want to leave them behind, she knows if she stays they won't survive. They will all be sent away to camps or possibly killed before they make it that far. Even as her grandfather ensures her they will join her, she has to face the compelling journey with her neighbors and stay one step ahead of the Russian army.

She doesn't expect help to come from Mitch Edwards,  a British POW who is impersonating a German SS officer who has been wounded. But when his attempt at the German language is questioned, Gisela convinces those around them, he is her husband who was brought up in a German -American home and often gets confused with his attempts at communication. Without Gisela's help, he would be sent back to the POW camp or worse, hung as a traitor. Now they will have to face the odds of both his shortcomings being in disguise as they attempt to make their way amid being shot at by soldiers and bombed by Russian planes as they join hundreds of others trying to flee for safety. Will they make it to safety or will one of them pay the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their life for someone they love? You'll definitely want to pick this one up to find out.

I received Daisies Are Forever by Liz Tolsma compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. If you are a lover of historical romance or WWII fiction, than you will absolutely love the heart racing action and danger you will find behind the cover of this novel. A Reading Group Guide is included at the conclusion of this novel as well as author notes sharing the story of the two women whose stories breathed life into the pages of this novel. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and look forward to many more from this author in the future. If you love this novel, be sure to check out her previous novel Snow on the Tulips.

For more information about Daisies Are Forever, Liz Tolsma or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Daisies Are Forever by Liz Tolsma

You can also find Liz Tolsma on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Daisie Are Forever, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page. 


Liz Tolsma's latest WWII historical fiction novel, Daisies are Forever, is getting rave reviews. 

". . . compelling and fast-paced tale about the atrocities and tremendous losses. . . ." —Library Journal

"Excellent storytelling, accurate historical reporting and gritty, persevering characters make this WWII-era novel a must-read." —CBA Retailers + Resources

Liz celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX giveaway!
One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 31st. Winner will be announced June 2nd on Liz's website.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Liz's website on June 2nd to see if you won.

All My Belongings

Sometimes all we want is to escape from our pasts. Not necessarily because of something we have done that we are trying to forget but often times something our parents have done, allow that kind of connection to follow us based on the fact we are their children. When Jayne Dennagee turned her father in for killing her mother, she hoped she was doing the right thing. After her mother was diagnosed with ALS, her father believed he was helping her along by putting her out of her misery of suffering from the terminal effects of the disease, but it would be something that would haunt both of their lives for years to come. As her father was placed behind bars, Jayne had to find a place to begin again where no one would no her name or what her father had done. But it seems that no place is too far away.

The first thing she needed to do was lose her name and with the help of the internet and a couple hundred dollars she could at least gain a new identity for now. Good thing that her friend Geneva has the perfect job lined up for her. She offers her the opportunity to put her nursing skills to work, caring for her dying sister. She is residing in the home she shares with her son, Issac Hughes, a commercial real estate broker who simply doesn't have the time or patience to deal with the effects of Alzheimer's and continue to work. It pains him how one moment his mother will have a few lucid moments and remember him and other times, he is as much as a stranger as the temporary workers who care for his mother.

He is more than thrilled when his Aunt Geneva recommends Becca Morrow, Jayne's new identity, to help care for his ailing mother. Only Becca's personality does more than win over his mother, she imbeds herself in his heart no matter how much he tries to fight it. But it's his best friend Tony, a police detective that believes that Becca is hiding more than secrets about where she lives and her life before coming to care for Issac's mother. Is is possible to that just changing your name won't be enough? Will her past come back to haunt her in ways she never dreamed before and arrive right back where she started? Only time will tell.

I received All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Abingdon Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions found here are strictly my own. This is a novel about the effects of guilt that are not the fault of the characters in the story yet they impact their lives nonetheless. It shows how damaging those can be depending on their severity and how each of them cope. From Jayne dealing with her father's murderous past, while Issac struggles with wanting to care for his mother, but finding himself unable to deal with the effects of the diseases that trample over what feelings he has for his mother from the past to where he finds himself at presently. It is a novel to healing, finding forgiveness and coming to terms with pasts that we can't change but need to deal with before moving forward. I give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about All My Belongings, Cynthia Ruchti, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti

You can find Cynthia Ruchti on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on All My Belongings, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page. 


Cynthia Ruchti asks what it takes to overcome your past and become who you were meant to be in her latest novel, All My Belongings. Cynthia has woven a heart-wrenching tale of forgiveness, grace, and learning what it means to truly belong.

Cynthia is celebrating the release of her latest novel with a fun giveaway and a live webcast event!

 
One winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa cash card
• All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the All My Belongings LIVE webcast event on June 11th. Connect with Cynthia for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Cynthia will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books, fun prizes, and gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of All My Belongings and join Cynthia and friends on the evening of June 11th 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 by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 11th!

Until I Found You

It felt like deja vu when I picked up the latest novel Until I Found You, from author Victoria Bylin. When I first began writing in high school I had written a story that began much in the same aspect as this one did but that is all the similarities between the two. It took me back almost 35 years but with a fondness for great romance that Victoria shares in this one. Kate Derby is heading to help her grandmother who is recovering from a stroke in California. On a rain slicked highway, Kate loses control of her car when she steers clear of a giant condor on the road in front of her. Unfortunately this particular stretch of highway doesn't have guard rails in place to keep the drivers from going over the cliff. Kate is lucky when her car is stopping from a two hundred foot plunge by a set of trees but it doesn't seem like it will hold the weight much longer.

When Nick Sheridan it out for a drive on his Harley, he notices that a car has gone over the side on the road. Calling for help, Nick knows that the precarious situation with Kate will not last long enough for help to arrive. He proceeds to climb down the embankment and manages to free her from the car at just the moment the branches break lose and send the car plummeting below. Thinking she might have an opportunity to salvage the effects of her personal items from the car later, the car suddenly explodes. It shakes Kate up more than she realizes what her fate could have been had Nick not rescued her in time.

Nick has made a vow to God that for the next year, he will refrain from dating in order to keep his life in check and provide him a much needed break from bad decisions from his past. Only he didn't expect to fall for Kate. Now he will need more than prayers to God to help him keep his commitment. He needs time to ensure himself that Kate even follows the same standards he has set in his walk of faith. She is driven in her career in advertising but has taken a leave of absence to help care for her grandmother and run the local paper until she can figure out what to do. But it seems no matter what she believes is the right choice, she struggles with coming to terms with a faith she sees in Nick and her grandmother that has her longing for more than what this life has to offer.

I received Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I love how true to life Kate's struggle is. To wonder what she should do as opposed to what feels right on the inside, wanting to care for her ailing grandmother and resolving her feelings for Nick. It seems to Kate she must choose one or the other. She can't afford the care her grandmother needs running the local paper, and while her advertising job will pay the bills, it won't be close to her grandmother or Nick. The choice won't be easy but it will lead her to the home, God has always planned for her. I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for more from Victoria Bylin in the near future. She is on my must watch list!

For more information about Until I Found You, Victoria Bylin, or where you pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin

You can find Victoria Bylin on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Until I Found You, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's book tour page.

When Calls the Heart - A Telling Silence

Sometimes it's the things we don't say that have the most powerful impact in the lives of those we love. Such is the case in the latest DVD addition to the When Calls The Heart series that has been showcased on the Hallmark Channel from best selling author Janette Oke. In A Telling Silence, Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing) is called upon to investigate the destruction of the town's church that was destroyed by a fire. The church's pastor believes that it wasn't an accident and asks Jack to look into a possible cause by Cat Montgomery, one of the women in town that has taken it upon herself to continue church services among the trees until a new church is built. But did Cat really have anything to do with burning down the church? What evidence will Jack uncover that will point to one of the only people in town to have purchased whale oil, the cause of the fire?

While Jack continues to look for other sources of who purchased the whale oil, Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow), Coal Valley's school teacher notices that Rosaleen Sullivan fails to speak due to what her mother believes was caused by losing her father in the coal mine explosion. Yet as intelligent as Rosaleen appears, Elizabeth believes there is more to her story than anyone realizes. Especially when she seems more than terrified of a strange man that appears in town. Elizabeth believes that there is more to the story than anyone knows and convinces Jack to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child's fear. But will Elizabeth believe what Jack discovers or will she take matters into her own hands?

Fan's of Little House on the Prairie will love this timeless series that Janette Oke breathed life into and with the direction of Michael Landon Jr have brought it to reality through Hallmark Channel. Now available on DVD through Word Films, A Telling Silence is the third DVD to bring this series back into your home. The romantic tension between constable Jack Thornton and Elizabeth Thatcher is pure romantic chemistry and show cases the lives of the residents of Coal Valley, a town created by the Northwest Mining company. When an explosion claimed the lives of many of the town's men, the women remained to raise their children and took it upon themselves to hire Miss Thatcher as a school teacher. Believing there is more to life than coal mining, she reaches out to her students in extraordinary ways.

I received When Calls the Heart: A Telling Silence compliments of Word Films and Edify Media Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. Having grown up with Little House on the Prairie, I have been a faithful follower of this series on Hallmark and couldn't wait to review this on DVD and add it to my personal family DVD collection. This is perfect family entertainment for all ages and those of you looking for that wholesome family value in your movies, than this is simply perfect for you. Christian Historical and Western Romance fans will absolutely LOVE this series based on the novels from best selling author Janette Oke. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and look forward to even more in the future. Finally something my whole family can enjoy! This is the second in the series.

For more information about When Calls the Heart: A Telling Silence, Word Films or where you can pick up a copy of this DVD today, please click on the links below:

When Calls the Heart: A Telling Silence DVD

You can find When Calls The Heart on Facebook to stay up to date with all the latest episodes and more.

You can also find Word Films on Facebook to learn more about the Christian films for your family!

A Stitch and a Prayer

I find that in order for a novel to be a great one, you have to find a way to connect with the main character in order to have compassion for what they are involved with. With A Stitch and A Prayer, the latest novel to join the Quilts of Love Series, from author Eva Gibson, I was missing that connection point. I don't know where along the line I might have missed it, but it seemed as if the story was simply too broad for me to gain that connection to either of the characters in the novel.

It is set in the late 1800's in Oregon as a frontier family of Florence and Will Nickerson marry and attempt to create a home for the beginning of their new life together. Florence suffers from chronic joint pain and weakness which she fears will prevent her from becoming the perfect wife for Will. Knowing that her husband will need to provide an income for them, she worries about him being gone from home so long. Even though Will reassures Florence he will always return home, she struggles with finding security even in the scriptures of the Bible. When she learns that she is pregnant, her insecurities increase. Thankfully she isn't alone in the wilderness. She has her Aunt Amelia, Tilly and Faye to help her that are staying nearby, as well as the loyalty of a dog named Vaughn.

In her frail state, she is constantly finding herself falling and waking up back in bed, thanks to the kindness of family or strangers that find her and care for her. Even though she promises to not wander off alone from the cabin, she falls off the porch. Knowing that they are recently married and wanting that initial time alone I can understand why she doesn't have someone living with her at first. I do find it interesting that with so many of her family members knowing her of her illness, she wouldn't have someone living with them to take care of her while Will is working. They do happen by from time to time and I feel that is where I find the disconnect in the novel with wanting to care about Florence and Will. It's only after she wakes one morning and finds a note left behind from Will, telling her that he will be back soon, she has her Aunt Amelia move in to help her.

She passes the time working on a quilt of her own that with each stitch sown offers another prayer for Will's safe return before the birth of their child as well as her own health. It also helps with her health issues as she can stay safe in the cabin and create something that she can show him when he returns. Will has a secret he hadn't shared with Florence before they got married and his disappearance is the result of trying to clear up his past.

I received A Stitch and A Prayer by Eva Gibson compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. This is the 18th novel in the Quilts of Love Series and for me personally, I just couldn't connect with this one. The story was simply too broad and too fast that you couldn't connect with either Florence or Will. The author did use the account of her grandparent's lives as the background for this novel but I think it missed the intent she might have been trying to achieve. It simply toggles back and forth between daily tasks to quick and doesn't allow time enough for the reader to truly care about the characters. I am a huge fan of historical romances, but this one just didn't work for me. I would rate this one a 3 out of 5 stars.

For more information about A Stitch and A Prayer, Eva Gibson or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Stitch and a Prayer by Eva Gibson

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

You can read more reviews on A Stitch and A Prayer by visiting Christian Fiction Blog Alliances Book Tour page.

Sweet Dreams

"Some scars are written on the heart. You might not be able to see them but they're there."

After the death of her mother, Dusty Fairchild has always dreamed of going to college to study Geology, but her father, Flint Fairchild, self made owner of Fairchild Oil has other plans. He wants her to spend a year attending Miss Fontaine's Finishing School for Girls in East Texas. Dusty can't seem to understand how that will benefit her but she is willing to go as long as her childhood best friend and cousin, Paisley Finch is allowed to attend with her. Just how will young girls born and raised on a ranch fit in among the wealthy young women who will be their roommates for the year. Seems like things are about to get real interesting!

Amid learning about manners, etiquette, setting up social functions and parties, and learning French, Dusty and Paisley attempt to fit in as best as they can. But Paisley has spent her life living on a tour bus while her mother Edie has been searching for fame and fortune in the many nightclubs and bars they frequent. However, Paisley has been receiving far more attention from her mother's boyfriends than she could ever ask for and finds spending the year at Miss Fontaine's will be the break she is looking for. It provides stability and security she never had traveling on the road, never knowing where they would wake up next. She considers her life like that of a traveling gypsy.

As the year progresses and the girls begin making holiday plans, Dusty is anxious to get back to her father and the young banker, Jack she met before leaving. It is what every girl dreams of, falling in love with a handsome young man, who can provide stability for a future wife and family. She only hopes Jack feels the same way as she does after being away at school. Paisley on the other hand, has been invited by her roommate Alexandria to head to Houston in preparation for her engagement party and visiting the wealthy elite. It is a chance to see a side of life she has never seen before, if only she can find a way to fit in and not embarrass herself in the process. What she doesn't plan on is falling quite literally for Jack before she heads out for the winter break. How will she be able to manage her feelings for her cousin and her feelings for Jack?

I received Sweet Dreams by Carla Stewart compliments of Faith Words, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. This is a coming of age story of two young girls set in the 1960's in Texas. One from a life of influence and the other from a life of living on the road. While they can often times compliment one another, those very different qualities often create tension as Paisley attempts to fit in with the majority of the girls who come from affluent families. Paisley resists trying to be someone she isn't and it is something Dusty looks up to, her strength and determination to achieve what she wants in life. But for Paisley she isn't sure just what the future hold for her, where as Dusty struggles to gain the approval of her father to allow her the freedom to make her own choices regarding her future. I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and it does contain a Reader's Discussion Guide for Book Clubs at the end of the novel.

For more information about Sweet Dreams, Carla Stewart, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Sweet Dreams by Carla Stewart

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

To read more reviews on Sweet Dreams, please visit Faith Word's website. 

Love Finds You In Sugarcreek, Ohio

What happens when Criminal Minds falls into the land of the Amish living in Sugarcreek, Ohio? We have the makings of an exceptional novel in the Love Finds You Series, this time from best-selling author Serena B. Miller. Joe Matthews is tired of running and hiding with his young son, Bobby. Now that his truck has broken down in the small Amish community of Sugarcreek, Ohio, Joe just needs to find a way to make enough money to pay for the repairs to his truck and get back on the road. It would have not been an issue, had someone not stolen his wallet, along with all his credit cards and cash. There is no way he can call anyone right now to have those items replaced because then people would know where he is, and for now, that is not an option.

Police officer Rachel Troyer has always tried to maintain peace and order in their small Amish town, and now in the midst of the Swiss Festival, she knows tourists from all over will be descending on them for the next week and she can only hope nothing will go wrong this year. It's not the Amish she has to contend with or even the tourists but the Amish teens who are in their Rumspringa period of running around that has caused her concern. Not to mention her three aging aunts whom she has tried in vain to talk out of running their Inn and take some time to retire. She can't imagine if something were to happen to one of them in the midst of this time, where she will be putting all her efforts. She just never imagined a strange man and his young boy would be the next guests needing a place to stay.

Rachel can trust her instincts enough to know that Joe is hiding something, but she can't figure out what. Her aunts are only too willing to lend them a place to stay and food to eat in exchange for some work that needs to be done on the Inn and surrounding land. But Joe hopes this will only be long enough to pay for the repairs on his truck before he will be on his way. Something that pleases Rachel more than she is willing to admit, however Bobby has had enough of being on the road and just wants a place to call home now. Will Rachel be able to help or hurt them in the end?

I received Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio by Serena B. Miller compliments of Summerside Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. By far, some of my favorite Amish novels are the ones where they blend worlds of the English and Amish seamlessly into one compelling novel you don't want to put down until the end. Couple that with a great mystery as to what Joe and Bobby are running from and you truly have the best of three amazing genres woven together in a masterpiece. I especially love the ending I didn't see coming but LOVE the way Serena closed this one with an exclamation mark on my heart! The best part is this novel is being made into a movie slated to be out in June, so you can find out all the behind the scenes tidbits on Serena's Facebook page as well as a look at the trailer below!!! Hands down a truly deserving 5 out of 5 stars and one that holds a permanent place in my personal Love Find You collection.

For more information about Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio, Serena B. Miller or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio by Serena B. Miller

You can also find Serena B. Miller on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page. 

   

Guideposts Books is excited to announce the premiere of a new film based on the book Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio (Summerside Press) by Serena Miller. The movie, produced by Mission Pictures International and filmed last fall in the actual town of Sugarcreek, will premiere on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at 7:00 PM EDT on Up TV (formerly the Gospel Music Channel). Visit the movie website for more information.




Serena and Guideposts will be celebrating with a Facebook viewing party! 

Join Serena and readers on Facebook while you tune in to watch Love Finds You in Sugarcreek to share your thoughts about the movie, chat with other viewers, and win fun prizes. Just use hashtag #LFYSugarcreek to join the discussion on June 1st.

Check your local listing for UpTV (http://up.viewerlink.tv) to find out when it airs in your timezone.

Excited? Help me spread the word! Just share this link and information on your social media along with the hashtag #LFYSugarcreek! Plus, we'll be tracking the hashtag and giving away Amazon & Starbucks cards to people at random who help to promote all throughout the month of May. Winners announced at the Love Finds You in Sugarcreek viewing party on June 1st.

 

"This is so exciting for Serena Miller and Guideposts! We are thrilled that Up TV has chosen Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio to make into a movie,” said Lenore Lelah Person, vice president and editorial director of Guideposts Books and Inspirational Media. “With Serena’s wonderful story and a beautiful backdrop in Ohio Amish country, fans of the story and the series will enjoy seeing it on screen. For more information read the media release.

For those who are not familiar with the Love Finds You™ series, this will be a great opportunity to introduce them to these uplifting and engaging romances." Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio is one of more than 50 releases in the popular Love Finds You™ series uniquely titled after actual American towns with unusual but intriguing names and combines travel, romance and faith in one package. The series includes both historical and contemporary releases, and each fictional story draws on compelling history or the unique character of a real place. Stories center on romances kindled in small towns, old loves lost and found again on the high plains, and new loves discovered at exciting vacation getaways. Mission Pictures has purchased the movie rights to the entire series and plans to produce additional films based on the series in the future.

Thankful

I can honestly say that any book that I see that is written from Shelley Shepard Gray will be one that will find a permanent home in my growing collection of her books. In her latest novel from the Return to Sugarcreek Series, Thankful compromises a couple of stories with being thankful as their central theme. My favorite is that of Christina Kempf and Aden Reese, who experienced a tragedy one day when ice skating, as Christina fell through the ice. Aden successfully saved her but would be the one link that keeps them from moving forward in life. Aden joined the Kempf family when he lost his parents as a child and has spent the last ten years growing up feeling like part of the family. Only the one thing that hasn't changed is his feelings for Christina go deeper than brotherly affection. But how can he find a way to court her while still living under the same roof where her family views him as more of a brother to Christina than a suitor?

Christina spends her time working as a server at the Sugarcreek Inn ran by Jana Kent. It's the promotion she's been waiting for and Jana is hoping to make some changes in her own life. Running the restaurant since her husband's death has left her with virtually no time for anything else except wondering how she will make ends meet. She doesn't even have time to visit her now grown children, since there is no one else to help her manage it. Her friend Pippa suggests that she might be ready to find a partner to share the burden of running the restaurant as well as give her some extra time for a life outside of her job. It seems like the ideal suggestion especially when she notices the attention of Ross Capshaw, the newest officer to join the police force in Sugarcreek and it seems he is just as interested in her as well.

Judith Knox has been dreaming of being a mother since she married Ben but it seems as it God has other plans. When she finally comes to terms with not being able to conceive, Ben suggests that they consider adoption. Just when she thinks all the pieces are going to fall into place and their social worker, Bernie finds them a child, she learns that he is only available to foster. The baby's mother is serving time in prison and she needs to find someone to care for him as soon as possible. Just as soon as Judith and Ben agree they are in for another surprise, the baby Bernie has in mind for foster is an African American baby named James. Judith had hoped she wouldn't have to answer any questions about her decision to foster over adopt and now it's going to be quite apparent that the baby isn't Judith and Ben's. But a mother's love shows that love goes beyond the color of our skin!

I received Thankful from Shelley Shepard Gray compliments of Avon Inspired Books, a division of Harper Collins Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I absolutely love the theme of thankfulness appearing in uniquely different ways through these three situations with the characters in Sugarcreek. It reminds us that we need to take time in our busy lives to be truly grateful for all our blessings, even the not so perfect ones as Shelley reminds us. Life is simply too short to think we will be granted with the possibility of a tomorrow and God reminds us that thankfulness is something that we should practice more often throughout our day. Shelley also includes a recipe for Peanut Butter Pie and a Reader Discussion guide at the conclusion as well as a sneak peek into book three coming soon. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to go back to Sugarcreek again soon!

For more information about Thankful, Shelley Shepard Gray, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Thankful by Shelley Shepard Gray

You can also find Shelley Shepard Gray on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Thankful, please visit the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour page.


In Thankful, New York Times bestselling author, Shelley Shepard Gray captures the beauty, devotion, and warmth of Amish life in this engaging tale of family, commitment, trust, and love set in the beloved community of Sugarcreek.

Enter to win the first two books in Shelley's Return to Sugarcreek series, Hopeful & Thankful. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gathering Shadows

"Some people are willing to protect their secrets at all costs."

For investigative reporter Wynter Evans, she has never given up hope of finding her brother Ryan who was kidnapped when he was only seven from their neighborhood. That one even destroyed more than her faith in God, it quite literally destroyed the family as she knew it. Her father soon divorced her mother and moved on to start his life with another woman. For Wynter's mother, she feel into a dark depression believing that her husband was the reason for Ryan's kidnapping and can't find forgiveness in her heart. For Wynter, she is plagued by nightmares where Ryan is begging her to not give up the search to find him. So she won't.

Now if she can only convince the station manager to go out on a limb for a community interest story involving a small Mennonite town known as Sanctuary. She hopes his interest in finding remote locations that he can highlight on their news station to garner public interest will give her just the break she is looking for. She has more than one motive for gaining time away to head to Sanctuary. Besides the human interest story for her station, she has been sent a photo of a young Mennonite teen who bears the remarkable similarities of her missing brother. But before she can involve the police, she must find a way to meet with this young man to know for sure. She only hopes it is him and perhaps finding him will help restore the family she has lost.

What she didn't plan on was the town treating her arrival with less than heart warming intentions. It seems that the residents of Sanctuary would rather their town be kept remote and quite like the name suggests. It seems that people who live in Sanctuary have a reason for wanting to settle in a town that pretty much keeps to itself and protects their own at all costs. Still Wynter has to try and with the help of the town's unofficial mayor, Rueben King, she hopes he can connect the dots and find a way to meet the young man who now goes by the name of Elijah Fisher. Only it's not just the town of Sanctuary who holds secrets as Wynter's investigation into the disappearance of her brother, now leads to a threat on her life. Will she be able to uncover what she is looking for before she loses her own life?

I received Gathering Shadows from Nancy Mehl compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own opinion. This is the first novel in the Finding Sanctuary series from Nancy and for me, it was a hit. I can't imagine what it must be like for someone like Wynter who wonders if every person she sees is really her missing brother. As the search draws closer, soon she and Rueben are the targets of someone who wants their investigation to come to a halt and if they don't, they will stop at nothing to ensure secrets remain in the shadows. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and I can't wait for more in this series. If you love a great mystery coupled with romance, than you will love this one.

For more information about Gathering Shadows, Nancy Mehl or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Gathering Shadows by Nancy Mehl

You can also find Nancy Mehl on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Gathering Shadows, please visit the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour page. 

The Miting

The one thing I believe most people never consider when reading Amish fiction, is that it is based on the true facts regarding the Amish way of life. While it can certainly be different in the aspects of learning to deal without the modern conveniences like electricity, cars, and technology. However, even in Amish communities there are those drastic differences that separate the Old Amish Order from the New Amish Order, with the former being more strict in their rules governing the people who were born Amish. From the restrictions on color choices for Amish dresses for women, to the rigid obedience to their religious rules pertaining to who can read the Bible, what version and who can interpret the scriptures is often why so many Amish leave during their rumspringen, or running around period before they make a permanent choice to stay in the community and abide by all the Amish Ordnung, or rules for the church.

In the novel The Miting by author Dee Yoder, we get an inside look at just how rigid and non conforming some of the Old Order Amish can be. When seventeen-year-old Leah Raber begins to question the validity of her faith and the rules of the Old Order Amish, her parents harshly warn her against such thinking. Coupled with the recent troubles surrounding her best friend Martha, who left the Amish community along with her boyfriend Abe, the community believes Leah has been influenced to also follow in the same ways. However Martha has taken the path towards drinking, drugs and a life of promiscuity whereas Leah is just questioning the rules governing her faith and wonders if there is more to the Bible than what her church teaches.

She finds allies in Matthew and Naomi Schrock, who have also left the Old Order Amish faith behind and now live as Englishers running a home for those looking to make the transition to the English world as well as teach a Bible Study class. When Leah makes arrangements by lying to her parents to attend the Bible Study, she learns about Jesus and what the Bible really states. However, just making that choice will have grave consequences for Leah when she returns home and finds her family is taking drastic measures to bring her back into the Amish fold and break the evil influences they believe Leah has fallen under. While they claim it's for her own good, the "miting" is a form of shunning that is supposed to alienate the person to realize the mistakes they have made and promise to give up all their ways and conform once again to the church. But can Leah leave the new found faith she has discovered in Jesus in order to have the love of her family and possibly the love of the man she had hoped to marry to renounce her actions? You'll definitely want to pick this one up and see how it all turns out in the end.

I received The Miting from Dee Yoder compliments of Kregel Publications for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I can easily give this novel a full 5 out of 5 stars because the story is one I have often thought about. What would happen if an Amish person discovered Jesus Christ from the Bible, could they retain their faith and still live in the Amish community especially if it was the strict Old Order community or would they face horrible repercussions for their faith? Without a doubt an exceptional story of persecution, hope and redemption against the love of family and friends and one you won't want to miss.

For more information about The Miting, Dee Yoder, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Miting by Dee Yoder 

You can also find Dee Yoder on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.
 
To read more reviews on The Miting, stop by Kregel Publication's website. 

Silenced ~ Review and Giveaway

I love it when romance is at the heart of a novel and you can couple it with a bit of suspense that creates just the right amount of tension to keep the reader flipping pages and glued to the character's fate. It would be no surprise to see that is just what best-selling author Dani Pettrey has managed to successfully accomplish in her latest addition to her Alaskan Courage series in Silenced. This is the fourth book in the series and one I believe the reader can read in almost any order to gain an understanding of the characters although it is much easier to read them in order.

This novel picks up where the third book in the series, Stranded left off with the character of Jake Westin Cavanaugh, who has returned to Alaska and joined up with the McKenna clan. The McKenna's are a close knit family of adventurous brothers and sisters who have formed a business to capitalize on their love of the outdoors and a way to make ends meet after losing their parents. Kayden has always been a bit competitive and that is putting it mildly, so when challenged to climb a 700 foot sheer face rock with her sister Piper, she is more than willing and able. Jake and her older brother Gage will remain at the bottom to catch the action. The only thing any of them wasn't expecting was that Kayden would come face to face with a dead climber on the ledge just before she reached the top. Not only that it appears this was clearly no accident in her mind either.

As the clues begin to mount, someone in the climbing community clearly had a grudge against the dead climber and now the small town has a murder to investigate. While their local sheriff Landon Granger is a bit overwhelmed, he enlists Jake's help as a temporary deputy to help solve the case in a shorter amount of time. Jake's previous experience as a detective will enable them all to get to the bottom of just who wanted this climber dead and who would have the skills to make it look like an accident. But soon the pasts of both Kayden and Jake are resurfacing in ways neither of them expected and soon both of their lives will be put to the ultimate test. But will they have time to figure out their personal feelings towards one another before it's too late?

I received Silenced by Dani Pettrey compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Pulse Point Design for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I've loved reading these novels in this series! It combines a true love for the Alaskan outdoors and the thrill of suspense and solving crimes while coming to the heart of the characters involved. In this case both Kayden and Jake struggle to keep their personal feelings to themselves even though everyone else around them can see otherwise. Kayden also struggles with coming to terms with her mother's illness believing if she stays healthy enough she can beat the odds of her coming down with the same issue that robbed her mother of her life. Meanwhile there is a murderer on the loose and they have their sights set on both Kayden and Jake. It's truly an action-packed, adrenaline filled roller coaster ride all the way to the end. Hands down a well earned 5 out of 5 in my book. I am hoping there is still one more left in this series by Dani!

For more information about Silenced, Dani Pettrey, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Silenced by Dani Pettrey

You can also find Dani Pettrey on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

Now the best part, I am giving away a copy of Silenced to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here's all you need to do to enter to win and no purchase is necessary, but you must be at least 18 years of age or older:

1. "Like" Dani Pettrey's Facebook page. If you are already a fan, stop by and leave her a wonderful comment.

2. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes

3. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of Silenced. Don't forget to include your email address so I can notify you if you're the lucky winner. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols. You can enter as many times as you'd like and feel free to tell everyone else you know for additional entries!

The winner will be notified by email when the giveaway ends on May 26th. You will have 48 hours to respond to the email with your mailing information otherwise another winner will be chosen.

Pressed Pennies

For as long as I live and breathe, I will never grow old of sappy, happily ever after endings. I've been so blessed the last few years to have discovered a true diamond in the rough and his books will leave a lasting impression long after you finish the final page of each of his novels. That is Steven Manchester and in his latest novel, Pressed Pennies, if you're a romantic at heart or even if you're not, you will leave this one with a heart full of warmth and love inside.

Abby Soares and Richard Giles fell in love many years ago. As young children who would spend their idle hours with their group of friends, riding bikes, and playing games to pass the summer time away. Until the day when Richard announced to the group that his father was getting a promotion and he would be moving away. It wasn't until that realization that they would no longer wake up and spend time together that Abby knew she had fallen in love with Richard, but fate being as mean and cold as it was, meant that time would separate them forever. They spent that last day together at Lincoln Park, home to an amusement park that would capture their childhood memories forever and one where they all agreed to take pennies and place them on the railroad tracks to hold their last wishes instead forever as the train pressed them flat.

Years later as divorce found their way into each of their lives, both Richard and Abby would be given one more opportunity to find love again. At a neighborhood party given by their friends Danny and Carol, they were reintroduced without realizing that either of them would be there. The heart is a fine thing indeed in which it remembers the embers of a fire of love burning long ago within and as Abby and Rick get reacquainted, they realize it won't be as simple as they would like. Abby now has a nine year old daughter, Paige, who is struggling in her own way to deal with the recent loss of her father due to divorce and coupled with his need to drink, he forgets that he has scheduled time to spend with her. The last thing Abby needs is for Paige to grow connected with someone only to have them leave again. It's a promise that they have made to one another to always be there for each other. Only now, Richard comes along and Paige sees him more of a threat than someone who can make her mother truly happy. Will she make her mother choose between the two of them?

I received Pressed Pennies from Steven Manchester compliments of The Story Plant for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. As I finished this novel and began to write this review, I found a smile on my face and a powerful feeling of love within my heart. This is one of those great stories that you find yourself emotionally investing in, because you want true love to conquer all, even to break down the walls Paige has put up in her life. The struggle isn't an easy one and I think that is what makes it so believable. How difficult it is for all three of them to come to terms with what is happening. It gives us hope that no matter how old we get, love still finds a way as long as we are willing to remain open enough to receive it. Steven's written poetic words are guaranteed to hook the romantic at heart and keep hold of you until the beautiful finalè and well deserving of a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Steven Manchester, Pressed Pennies or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Pressed Pennies by Steven Manchester

You can also find Steven Manchester on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

You can also learn more about Pressed Pennies, by visiting The Story Plants website. 

Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-61188-135-6
E-book ISBN: 978-1-61188-137-0
Trade Paperback Price: $13.95

E-book Price: $9.99

Publication Date: May 13, 2014

355 pages

Hypocrisy

In a world where technology is evolving at an exponential rate, it will only be a matter of time before diseases like cancer finally find a cure and find that it is as treatable as polio. "Only in light of the fact cancer research, cancer treatment, cancer prevention is a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Do you have any idea how many people are employed just because there is no real cure for cancer? Do you have any idea how much the pharmaceutical industry makes treating cancer patients with chemotherapy drugs? Ca you even begin to imagine how many hundreds of research centers there are worldwide that are funded by the American Cancer Society, The National Cancer Institute, and other non-profit organizations, and private investors? How about radiology, oncology, surgery? What if Dr. Laura Crawford's clinical research validated her theories, if she had developed an effective treatment for cancer, the entire landscape of cancer research and treatment would dramatically change. So is murder the justification to keep things as they have always been or is there another motive for her death?" (pg 57).

Those are just a handful of the questions that New York City homicide detectives Amaris Dupree and T.J. Brown are trying to find answers for. Not only has the murder of Dr. Crawford cost her her own life but possibly the lives of millions who could have been saved by her research findings. She was on the cusp of announcing a discover that would change cancer once and for all and was about to get approval from the FDA to begin using it as treatment for cancer patients everywhere. Is is possible that there are companies willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that that doesn't happen, or even worse that greed has become the sole motivator for companies to take risks like murder to prevent them from losing the potential billions if this drug finding was approved?

As the two detectives interview countless suspects, they also deal with the fact after six months on the job neither of them knows much about the other, and that is what's possibly keeping them from working so well together. As partners, you need to understand the dynamics of what one works and thinks the way they do, and until these two have a true heart to heart, holding nothing back conversation, it may in fact hinder the amount of detective work that they can accomplish. However the closer they get to the truth, one of them will find their own life is at stake and thus upping the ante to find the answers out before there is another murder.

I received Hypocrisy by D.M. Annechino compliments of iRead Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are my own unless otherwise notated. This is the first time reading one of D.M. Annechino's novels and while the premise behind the novel is initially what drew me in, the constant description of how well endowed naturally Dupree's assets were in light of her working with her other male counterparts was something that I felt detracted me away from the novel. There is a toggling of parallel storylines, the one in which initially drew me to want to read this book, and the conflict in the relationships between the two detectives that had no real purpose in the novel for me. It almost felt like two books in one but with no apparent meaning in moving the story along. I'd have to say for me, this one rates a 3.5 out of 5 stars. There is a fair amount of profanity laced throughout the novel which for most of my readers they may find offensive but overall the storyline is enough to keep you moving through the novel to see how it turns out in the end.

For more information about Hypocrisy, D.M. Annechino, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Hypocrisy by D.M Annechino

You can also find D.M. Annechino on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Hypocrisy, please visit iRead Book Tours page.

Rise and Shine

I couldn't imagine waiting a lifetime to get married to the perfect man that I had fallen head over heels in love with even as he put his wealthy upbringing behind him to marry me. Spending a blissful honeymoon in Fiji, getting prepared for diving and then waking up 10 years later and not remembering a thing but fragmented bits and pieces of your life. That is just what has happened to Shannon Malone. For the last 10 years, she has been faithfully cared for by her husband Edmund in the Draper Long Term Care facility until cancer took over his life and left her a widow in her comatose state. Now as she tries to make sense of what happens she learns that her attending physician Dr. Daniel Petros has been waiting for just this moment to happen. Not every one wakes up, but Shannon is that exception and miracle that her entire family has been waiting for.

Now as she tries to understand the implications of what happened and how she can pick up and attempt to move forward in her life, Daniel attempts to fill in the blanks for her. Being Edmund's best friend until he passed away, he shows her just how much Edmund believed that Shannon would one day wake up. Being a huge lover of fairy tales, she is Sleeping Beauty in real life, only there was no kiss to wake her from her slumber. If there was, surely Edmond would have made sure to try that. But when everyone else seemed to lose faith and hope that one day she would wake, Edmond's dedication and Daniel's belief she would one day wake up, has proved to be 100% true.

But how do you simply wake up from one life and begin another? How do you stop loving the man you love now that that life is over and he isn't around? How do you stop the implications of Edmond's sister Millicent who believes their family is entitled to everything that belonged to Edmond including her home and wedding ring? Is is possible to find a happily ever after in the wake of a living nightmare?

I received Rise and Shine from author Sandra D. Bricker compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and River North Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. I love the introduction to a modern day fairy tale that introduces each new section of the novel that is a reference to Shannon's new life. She finds solace in being a different person that when she went into her coma when it comes to remembering her lost love in Edmond and how deeply he went to such great lengths to see to her care, even when he was facing his own death without her. Daniel's dedication to her medical care comes through when he realizes just how wonderful Shannon's life was with Edmond and how easily it can be to fall in love with her. This is such a wonderful novel that I can easily give a full 5 out of 5 stars to and love all the creativity that went into creating this modern day fairy tale! It reminded me of While You Were Sleeping with actress Sandra Bullock.

For more information about Rise and Shine, Sandra D. Bricker, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Rise and Shine by Sandra D. Bricker

You can also find Sandra D. Bricker on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Rise and Shine, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's book tour page. 

Simple Faith

If you have followed my book reviews for any length of time, then you know I am a huge WWII fan of both historical fiction and non fiction books. I am so thrilled I got the opportunity to review Anna Schmidt's novel, Simple Faith, the second novel in the Peacemakers Series. In this one she utilizes the true story of a group of German medical students who banded together in what came to be known as the White Rose to speak out against Hitler and the Nazis.

The journey of the characters of Anja and Josef and Beth take in this novel is set against the background of historical fact. Amazingly, during World War II there were several so-called escape lines managed by brave local citizens of countries occupied by the Nazis. Like those who worked on the Underground Railroad, these individuals - at considerable risk to their own lives and safety - provided false papers, safe houses, food, shelter, and clothing to move Allied airmen from the site of their downed planes behind enemy lines across much of Europe until they could reach Gibraltar - a British territory - and move from there back to England. They traveled hundreds, even thousands of miles by train, bicycle, or on foot, and perhaps the most amazing piece of this story is that the best known of these escape lines - the Comet Line - was created and manage by a young woman.

This is the story of Second Lieutenant Peter Trent who was shot down while attempting to escape a fire in his bomber that was activated by a photoflash bomb and thus requiring an immediate evacuation of the plane. This was not before being shot in the leg and as he tries to remember all his survival training tips as he parachutes into Belgium in November of 1943, he only hopes he can make it out alive along with the five other crewmen who jumped with him. But for now with being shot in the leg, he can only hope that a "friendly" comes to rescue him before the Nazi Gestapos do.

What Peter does discover is a band of people who are willing to risk their lives and those of their children to make sure that he finds his way back home instead of being shot or captured by the Nazi's. Peter and Anja are about to embark on a life changing journey that will do more than test their survival skills but also test their faith in God along the way.

I received Simple Faith by Anna Schmidt compliments of Shiloh Publishing and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. For me, this one was aspect of the war, I have never heard about until picking up Anna's novel. I can't imagine how difficult it would be the not only find an Allied airmen, but to risk their own personal safety against being arrested or killed while trying to get him home while the Nazis continually searched for these men. Knowing their plane was shot down, it only seems logical that they would search nearby farms, homes and businesses looking for people who were willing to hide them. Almost like what countries did during the Holocaust to hide the Jews who were being shipped off into concentration camps. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the research that went into the creation of this amazing novel and can easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. I look forward to picking up the first novel in this series, to see how Anja escaped the Nazi death camp in All God's Children.

For more information about Simple Faith, Anna Schmidt, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Simple Faith by Anna Schmidt

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Spirit Bridge

You know you've reached a great series, when you actually take part of the novel with you in your own dreams. This is just the case with James L. Rubart's latest novel in the Well Springs Series, Spirit Bridge. This concludes the journey of the group known as the Warrior's Riding, comprised of Dana Raine, Marcus Amber, Brandon Scott, Reese Roth. Each of them have had a role to play in venturing forth in the spiritual realm to do battle with the coming evil lead by a demon called Zennon. Through each of the subsequent novels these four have had to fulfill the ancient prophecy that foretold of this battle and how each of them would be instrumental in helping to achieve success. Until that time, they have been growing in strength and wisdom guided by the Spirit of God and practicing their skills in the spiritual realm. Often times they have been called to help find healing through visiting another's soul and discovering what deep dark secret lies buried beneath that is preventing them from being all they can be.

Now as they prepare for the final battle against Zennon and his demons who will hold nothing battle in their attempt to destroy the Warrior's Riding and their mission to help others know God through their ministry. This time, they feel they have the upper hand due in part to a secret weapon that will be unleashed in the midst without them knowing about it and will begin to destroy them from the inside out, much like the Trojan Horse did to Greece. Now all they have to do is be patient and wait for the signs that the warfare has been released and then they will take over the lives of the Warriors as well as those they had hoped to save.

I received Spirit Bridge by James L. Rubart compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I have loved this series from the beginning and think that James did an exceptional job not only at character development, but in the entire concept of spiritual realm travel and warfare. To have the ability to war within the spiritual realm and to further the cause of Jesus Christ is so mind blowing, you can't help but get lost in the true meaning behind it all. There is a freedom that comes from being released from the bondage that keeps us from truly seeing what God wants us to see and know as well as the softening of the human heart towards the things of God. That is why so many remain blinded even in our world today, despite what is apparent to us as believers. 2 Corinthians 4:4 makes this point perfectly clear and thus, I believe, defines the purpose of the Warriors Riding to set unbelievers free. " "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

I can easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and was my favorite novel in the entire Well Springs Novel Series. I love how James defines Simon, the street magician's role in this novel and shows just what connection he has had to the group. It also shows us how subtly the enemy can even work in the believers life to gain a foothold to cause chaos and temptation where we least expect it. I know I came away with this a whole lot stronger in my faith in Christ and the battle we all face every single day. This novel is the third and final book in the Well Springs Series and isn't designed to be read as a stand alone as James L. Rubarts previous novels have. To begin the journey, pick up Soul's Gate, then Memory's Door before concluding with Spirit Bridge. Definitely a must read for fans of spiritual warfare fiction.

For more information about Spirit Bridge, James L. Rubart or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Spirit Bridge by James L. Rubart

You can also find James L. Rubart on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Spirit Bridge, please visit Thomas Nelson Publisher's website. 

You can see my reviews on the first two Well Springs novels in the series below:

Soul's Gate by James L. Rubart (#1 in the Well Springs Novel Series)
Memory's Door by James L. Rubart (#2 in the Well Springs Novel Series)