Beyond All Dreams

Never in her wildest dreams did Anna O'Brien ever expect her life to be anything but ordinary. She achieved what she wanted for her career as a librarian working in the map department in the Library of Congress. It wasn't a job that was offered usually to women and as such her job as well as those of a handful of women working in the library were offered on a temporary basis to see how it might work out. For Anna, it was her dream job. As a lover of books, she adored simply being in the library, and working in the map department kept her close to her father, who died aboard a ship lost at sea, while working on mapping the ocean floor.

One of her many tasks was doing research for the congressmen who might need facts about the ocean currents, the location of various sea life found near the coastlines, as well as a handful of any other subjects dealing with the maps in which she took great pleasure in keeping in a meticulous manner. Her best friend was a boy she grew up with Neville, who was teased all through school for his nervous ticks and twitches. Anna could relate to him more than most when her father forced her to drink lye while he was drunk when he caught her swearing. It forever changed her voice and made her extraordinarily self conscience when anyone heard her voice.

She knew previous women had lost their position in the library when they were found flirting with the many attractive congressmen and members of the government that stopped into the library. Anna vowed that would never be an issue for her until she met Luke Callahan, a congressmen who needed her assistance in research to help win back the position he had lost when a rival childhood friend decided to make an example out of Luke's behavior and demoted him to working for the fisheries commission, but Luke wasn't prepared for the spitfire that Anna was either. Not used to the determination offered by Anna, she called Luke on his less than professional attitude whenever it seemed fitting and he found her a breath of fresh air in a world of politics and lies.

When Anna learns that her father's ship may not have sank where the Navy claims it did, she believes it is in her best interest to correct the facts. The more she digs, the more she ruffles a few feather in the U.S. Navy and they will stop at nothing to ensure that Anna gives up her research even if it means removing her from her position as librarian. Anna isn't willing to give up so easily just because a handful of Navy officials pressure her into giving up. She isn't about to let anyone bully her, and hopes to gain Luke's help in searching for the truth.

I received Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden compliments of Bethany House 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. The best part of this novel is the strong determination of Anna's character. She isn't willing to lay down her convictions that the truth may be discovered and believes her father may in fact still be alive. I love her convictions to follow the research wherever it leads and found myself relating to her quite a bit. She isn't willing to let a man rule her heart and tries to do all she can to assert herself despite all of Luke's attempts to win her heart. You are rooting for them both at so many times throughout the novel but it seems like something always gets in the way. I love that this one is based on the true story surrounding a ship that was apparently lost at sea in a way to keep the truth a secret during a time of difficult relations with Spain at the time that would have led to war. For me, once again Elizabeth Camden has capture my heart in this story and deserves 5 out of 5 stars! I can't wait for her to write another novel and she is one of my favorite historical romance authors!!!

For more information about Beyond All Dreams, Elizabeth Camden or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden

You can find Elizabeth Camden on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

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

Travel back in time to the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress in Elizabeth Camden's newest release, Beyond All Dreams. From the gilded halls of the Capitol where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation's finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for their futures?

Elizabeth is celebrating the release of Beyond All Dreams with a Kindle giveaway and Facebook party on February 17.
 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• One copy of Beyond All Dreams

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 2/17. Winner will be announced at Elizabeth's 2/17 Beyond All Dreams Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Elizabeth and historical fiction fans, as well as for the opportunity to win some great prizes!

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RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 17th!

Roadmap Genesis - Review and Giveaway

What do you think when you hear the word, "Genesis?"

It is sad when you ask random people on the streets and hear what they have to say. When was the last time you read the book of Genesis?

If you look around the world today you can see the change it is going through and it isn't a good one. We are seeing a decline in values and kindness.

But did you know that the book of Genesis from the Bible offers us guiding principles for how to create a healthy functioning society?

The book of Genesis shows us the keys for how to build a better economy, how to value relationships, how to build a family, how to speak to one another, how to combat racism, and how to plan for the future.

We, as human beings have lost that sense of caring for the earth in hopes we might share it with future generations. We've taken advantage of things and now we are forcing nature into our own standards.

Are we leaving this place, better than it was before us? Or are we hoping that someone else will come along and take care of it?

In this eye opening documentary Roadmap Genesis, Nolan Lebovitz, a well known movie maker, turns his talents into what he believes holds to key to making our world the place God had designed it to be. Relying not only on what he learned in seminary school but interviewing some of the worlds most profound educational minds and leaders in our country, he shows us just how simple things would be if we were willing to go back to our biblical roots and God offers us the road map to do just that in the book of Genesis.

Roadmap Genesis invites Americans of all faiths to engage in a dialogue about the relevance of the Bible in the modern age. Through interviews ranging from Gov. Mike Huckabee of Fox News Channel to Rabbi David Wolpe, from Alan Dershowitz to the Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George, from Erick Stakelbeck of the Christian Broadcasting Network to Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum, and many, many more, Nolan explores the rules that God has set forth to help us maintain a successful and working society.

I received Roadmap Genesis by Nolan Lebovitz compliments of Propeller/FlyBy Promotions for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. I had never considered the simplicity of the answers for everything that has been plaguing the world could be found by going back to basics, back to the beginning and seeing God's way outlined so beautifully before. It certainly changes your perspectives on everything and offers spiritual insight into the chaos our world is becoming along with the solution to fix it. However it forces us to see things outside our own world and to learn to get along so we can make the world a better place. Individualism is ruining things and the more we think about only our needs the more chaos we will continue to see. I absolutely LOVED this documentary and believe it is well worth all 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

Thanks to the generous folks at Propeller/FlyBy Promotions, they are offering a copy of Roadmap Genesis on DVD  to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines:

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

2. "Like" Roadmap Genesis Facebook page. 

3. Be a resident of the US or Canada or have a US or Canadian mailing address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave me a comment below in the comment box telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this documentary. Don't forget to include your email address as well otherwise I have no way to contact you if you are the winner. You can use the words (at) or (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will email the winner by email once the giveaway ends on February 12th.

For more information about Roadmap Genesis and where you can get a copy of this amazing documentary today, please click on the links below:

Roadmap Genesis: The Map to Mankind

You can find Roadmap Genesis on Facebook to learn more about how we can make this world a better place.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. 

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Heaven Help Heidi

Sometimes as a book reader/reviewer you come across a novel that is written so well, it doesn't feel like you're reading a story, it feels like you're a part of it. Sally John is one such writer. This is a first for me reading any of her books and now I know, I have quite a few to add to my to-be-read pile from her. In Heaven Help Heidi, we see life not only through the eyes of the main character Heidi Hathaway, but from the secondary characters as well that intersect her life in profound ways.

Heidi was living an ordinary life until the accident changed everything. Once strong willed, athletic, determined and successful, completely independent from anyone, she would now how to re-evaluate her life. This was a divine calling in her life, one she won't see played out in greater detail until more time passes, but now she will have to give up some of her independence and learn to rely on the family she has as well as the people God so graciously brings into her life. Knowing she can't live in her high rise condo any longer while she is recovering from a car accident that should have claimed her life, she meets Piper Keyes who takes her to Casa de Vida where a small 1927 cottage is available completely furnished just waiting for her. It's perfect and there seems to be an unexplained peace coming from just being inside the 12 foot high walls that keeps this sanctuary a secret from the outside world.

It is here that everything will change for Heidi. She will learn what is means to have friends that will go above and beyond for you. She'll experience that the childhood friends she once had are changing now that Heidi is living at Casa de Vida. The business she helped create is about to undergo a transformation that will change everyone who is part of it. Like a carefully orchestrated complex piece of music, by the time you get to the end of the novel, you can see how God masterfully created great things to come from the trials everyone had to face. It will show you that while you may not see what is going on, just knowing God is in control of it all is something worth being a part of. I love the relationships Heidi develops not only with Piper, but with her childhood friend Adam, her twin brother Hudson, and the motherly wise angel Olivia who dispenses love as freely as she does prayer to those who need it the most.

I received Heaven Help Heidi by Sally John compliments of Harvest House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is such a beautiful novel that illustrates the importance of faith, family and friends in our life and makes me wish I lived at Casa de Vida. This is such a wonderful and heartwarming novel about adversity, second chances and making the most of what you have in life and for that I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. This is second novel in the Family of the Heart Series and includes a Reader Discussion Guide at the conclusion of this novel.

For more information about Heaven Help Heidi, Sally John or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Heaven Help Heidi by Sally John

You can find Sally John on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Heaven Help Heidi, please visit Harvest House Publisher's website. 

23 Blast - DVD Review and Giveaway

Growing up Travis Freeman was your typical boy who loved playing football. In fact between Travis and his best friend Jerry Baker, they were a true all American pair who could read each other like no one else. It was no surprise when in their senior year, Travis and Jerry would find themselves playing for the RedHounds in a small Kentucky town. Knowing this could simply be an unforgettable year for the team Travis is ready for scholarship opportunities during this season. Yet when a sinus infection invades his body, antibiotics refuse to work and subsequently lead Travis to losing his sight. How does a young man who has all his hopes and dreams laid out in front of him respond to having it all taken away?

That is the true story behind 23 Blast, a new inspirational movie from Ocean Avenue Entertainment, Toy Gun Films and Touchdown Productions. Travis will need to learn to be dependent on not only his parents, his mobility coach, his best friend and his former team to help him through this dark storm. It will take not only his athletic ability, but the courage and perseverance to digger deeper than he ever dreamed possible to find a way to play football again against all the odds and people who oppose the coach wanting him to play again.

This is truly a must see for fans of movies like Rudy and Facing the Giants, and teaches us the value of not letting anything define who God created us to be. .There truly is nothing we can't achieve with the love and support of our faith, friends and family. This movie is rated PG-13 due to the brief drinking of alcohol on school property). It runs for 98 minutes and comes loaded with some amazing special features like The Travis Freeman Story, Whatever Happens to Jerry Baker?, Bloopers, Behind the Scenes Featurette and more.

I received 23 Blast compliments of Propeller Consulting, LLC, for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. The only flaw I found in the film was that it moved pretty fast in the beginning to get to Travis's blindness. At one point he has swelling in his eyelids and is diagnosed with a sinus infection and in the next scene he is being taken into surgery because the antibiotics aren't working. There is a scene in which the doctor comes out of surgery but the discussion he has is not heard in the movie. The parents are the ones to explain to Travis when he wakes from surgery what has happened. You learn through the Travis Freeman Story and subsequent information on the website that the infection destroyed his optic nerve which rendered him blind. That would have been helpful to understand in the movie. Overall a great film that teach how to move past obstacles and find the light at the end. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Thanks to the generosity of Propeller Consulting, LLC, they are offering a giveaway copy of this DVD to one lucky follower of my blog. Here are your guidelines.

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

2. "Like" 23 Blast's Facebook page.

3. Be a resident of the US or Canada or have a US or Canada mailing address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave a comment below, telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this DVD. Don't forget to include your email address otherwise I won't have any way to contact you if you're the lucky winner of this giveaway.

I will email the winner when the giveaway ends on February 6th.

For more information about 23 Blast and how you can get a copy, please click on the links below:

23 Blast - Based on An Incredible True Story

You can find 23 Blast on Facebook to stay up to date with all the latest from the movie.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. 

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

A Stitch in Crime

The latest novel in the Quilts of Love Series, introduces us to Cathy Elliot in A Stitch in Crime. For fans of crime and mystery this one will sure to be a hit for you. This is the 25th book in the series, and doesn't need to be read in any order to enjoy any of the books. Each talented author lends their talent to creating a story utilizing a quilt as their backdrop.

In A Stitch in Crime, Thea James has been named co-chair for the Larkindale's first quilt show. Hoping it will be a success, she is a bit stressed when things begin to unravel the night of the preview for some of the towns invited guests in Mary Alice Wentworth's garden. First, she is critiqued for her fashion style by Renee Fowler, newly married and co-owner of the Heritage Inn where all the guests have found lodging. Then she critiques her contribution to the dessert buffet saying that the crust is poorly constructed in her Blueberry Tartlets and she should have used another fruit instead if she wanted to impress those in attendance.

As Thea masters dodge those comments with holding her tongue and smiling, she ventures off in search of Dr. Cottle who is expected as a guest judge and well-known in his expertise in quilts. No matter where she looks he doesn't seem to be anywhere. When she goes in search of Mary Alice, she almost frightens the woman to death when she comes up behind Thea unannounced. Mary Alice is frustrated while looking for a letter she has misplaced and Thea offers to help. It's when Mary Alice goes upstairs to see if she misplaced it there while getting dressed that a scream is heard. When Thea arrives she finds that Mary Alice is unconscious on the floor and a strange women is standing over her. They will learn that Mary Alice's diamond brooch worth $25,000 is now missing. Is it really or has it simply been misplaced as well?

I received A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliot 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 contained here are strictly my own. This novel reminded me of an Angela Lansbury episode of Murder She Wrote. The elements are all there from the strange woman no one knows who found Mary Alice, to the overly anxious relative Louisa Wentworth Carver who seems to be more interested in the diamond brooch than Mary Alice's condition. The cast of characters is what you would expect in a crime novel to keep the reader from figuring out who did it too soon! While this wasn't one of my favorites, it is bound to appeal to mystery fans who love this genre. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion. There is a group discussion guide at the conclusion of this novel as well as a sneak peek into the next novel in the Quilts of Love Series Beyond the Storm.

For more information about A Stitch in Crime, Cathy Elliot or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliot 

You can find Cathy Elliot on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Stitch in Crime, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliott. Thea's first quilt show begins to fall apart at the seams. Will she be able to piece the mystery together and save the town’s investment in the quilt show before another attack happens . . . with far worse results.
Enter to win a Kindle HDX! 
 

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliott
• Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn
• Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven

Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. Winner will be announced on the Quilts of Love blog February 9th.

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Enter today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

An Honest Heart

Kaye Dacus is one of my favorite must watch authors since reading her first novel, Follow the Heart and she came back in a big way with An Honest Heart. Captivated in your traditional regency style, Kaye mixes this one up with a dramatic twist with the upcoming opening of the Great Exhibition just at the height of the Industrial Revolution.

In An Honest Heart combines two very distinctive love stories, the first being with Cadence "Caddy" Bainbridge, a seamstress who has made a life for herself opening her own dressmaking shop in the heart of Oxford, England in 1851. She uses her valuable skills not only to create the equivalent fashions of the higher end shops in London, but also incorporating those same skills to create attire for the lower class residents who also need clothing. She spends her free time teaching sewing skills to the women housed in the poor houses and prisons so that they can have a skill to fall back on much like she did. It's her way of simply giving back to the heart of the community. She was sent to a finishing school by her father who had connections with high end schools through his friendships with head masters as a way of hoping to raise her opportunities for marriage to a fine gentleman in the future.

She meets quite by fate and accident, Dr. Neal Stradbroke, the town's new doctor as he brings her mother home late one afternoon who has fainted on her daily walk. Dr. Neal Stradbroke advises Caddy that her mother has heart issues and needs to make sure she is taking better care of herself, but Caddy's mother sees a fine prospect for a husband in Neal instead and will stop at nothing to ensure that the two see what is right in front of their eyes.

The secondary story involves Edith Buchanan, a fine upstanding but often times cold-hearted wealthy women of a prominent family who is searching for a well deserved husband complete with a high end title. When her father arranges for Lord Thynne, a single viscount to arrive at their home in hopes of a possible connection for Edith, he instead has interests in her American cousin, Katharine Dearing, an heiress to a railway fortune instead of the Ice Queen. She plots to find a way for Katharine to do something that she can use to engineer her downfall and thus enable Lord Thynne to fall in love with her instead. She makes a bet with Oliver Carmicheal, Lady Carmichael's eldest son and future baron at Chawley Abbey that if neither of them secure a better match for themselves by the close of the Great Exhibition, they will agree to marry one another.

Yet Oliver Carmichael has his own sites set on Miss Bainbridge after making a bet with his close friends at a gentlemen's club when he is snubbed and dismissed by Miss Bainbridge. He believes he will have no problem in getting her to fall in love with him, since he has never been turned down by any female in his life and wagers 100 pounds that he can do it by the day the Great Exhibition opens on May 1st.

There are so many different twists and turns in this exceptional and wonderfully written novel, you truly feel like you're at the heart of something amazing as you watch things unfold between the different classes set in this novel. You are cheering that some will get what they truly deserve and you definitely have the good and evil characters in this one. I often found myself seeing the characters of Caddy Bainbridge played by the actress, Anne Hathaway and Dr. Neal Stradbroke by Hugh Jackman, while the opposing characters Mr. Oliver Carmichael portrayed by Billy Zane and Edith Buchanan played by Charlize Theron. I can't wait to see what Kaye Dacus comes up with next and this one easily rates a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus compliments of B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. This is the second novel in the Great Exhibition Series.  For more information about An Honest Heart, Kaye Dacus or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus

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

To read more reviews on An Honest Heart please visit B and H Publishing's website. 

• Series: A Great Exhibition Novel
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: B and H Books (October 15, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433677210
• ISBN-13: 978-1433677212
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches

In Plain Sight

Hard to believe when you think of sex trafficking, you would think it happens in countries like India, Africa, China, or Cambodia. But its not. Over 80% of the sex trafficking is occurring in the United States with 100,000 children and even thousands more women being sold into trafficking rings. The average age of children are between 12 and 14 years of age. It is appalling when you think that in hotels, motels, truck stops and spas this is happening all around us right where we live. You might think it is only happening in larger cities like New York, Los Angeles or Las Vegas but victims have been rescued in all 50 states in big cities and small ones. Do you really know what is going on in your own city?

By definition sex trafficking is a commercial sex act induced by fraud, force or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age. Any minor engaged in a commercial sexual act is considered a trafficking victim regardless of whether force, fraud or coercion is involved. In other words there is no such thing as a child prostitute, he or she is a trafficking victim. So how is this even happening in America?

Most of the time patterns emerge that shows most victims were neglected or sexually abused at a very young age. These patterns continue as the victims grow confused over what is normal in their lives. They soon find sex gives them attention they need as well as money to finance other needs like drugs or alcohol because they don't understand that this is not a normal life for a young man or woman. They always feel as if they never had a choice. It usually starts with abusive parents, sexual abuse with a friend or relative when they are very young, usually 4 or 5; they are in and out of foster care; once they are a victim they are likely to be victimized again. They are likely to put themselves in those situations again, not intentionally meaning to be the child's fault. They become runaways, They are usually from homes where domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, These applied to every single victim regardless of race, ethnicity or background. The differences is in third world country is it is out on the street, in the open, where in the United States we are really good at keeping it hidden and covering up that this is happening. The number one trait found in all victims is vulnerability, in which traffickers use this to meet the unmet needs in a women or child I was preying upon.  This is why 1 in 3 runaways are approached within 48 hours of being on the streets by a sex trafficker.

Most of us would look away due to complexity of the problem but still others rise up to take action, like the six female abolitionists highlighted in this documentary produced and narrated by Natalie Grant, In Plain Sight. Jeanne Allert, Founder and Executive Director of The Samaritan Women in Baltimore, Maryland; Jenny Williamson, Founder and CEO of Courage Worldwide in Sacramento, CA; Deanna Graves, Founder and Executive Director of Traffick 911 in Dallas, TX; Louise Allison, Founder and Director of P.A.T.H. Partners Against Trafficking Humans in Littlerock, Arkansas; Bobbie Mark, Co-Founder and Director of Redeemed in Houston, Texas; Stacia Freeman, US Director for Hope for Justice in Nashville, Tennessee. Learn how these women made a difference in their cities and how they are impact the lives of sex trafficking victims in a positive way.

I received In Plain Sight compliments of Word Films and Edify Media Inc for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is such a powerful documentary and one I think everyone adult needs to watch. There are warning signs we all need to pay attention to and be aware that this is happening all over the United States, quite possibly in the very city we are living in currently. It is designed not just to inform but to empower and motivate people to take action in their own community as a way of preventing this from continuing. This is a preventable crime but it takes the contribution of everyone to make it work and to put an issue to open our eyes to what's is happening in plain sight. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about In Plain Sight, Word Films or to pick up a copy of this documentary today, please click on the link below:

In Plain Sight: Stories of Hope and Freedom

You can find In Plain Sight on Facebook to stay up to date with all the latest information about sex trafficking and what you can do to help.

You can find Word Films on Facebook to stay up to date on all their latest movies and documentaries. 

Love Gently Falling

Just when Rita Jansen thinks she finally has the perfect life all figured out, tragedy strikes with one phone call from her dad. Her mother has had a stroke and they aren't sure if she will recover but it doesn't look good. Now she will leave her life as a hair stylist in Beverly Hills to face the cold winter of Chicago to help her mother for the next two weeks. Her passion for hair began working with her mother at her salon Hair and Now, and it was her mother who funded the money to send her to school to get her license even though it was in California. Her mother had always been there to support her, now it was Rita's turn to help in any way she could.

When she arrived at the airport intending on finding her own transportation to get to the hospital, she is more than surprised when an old friend from school, Johnny Hollister, is there to pick her up. This way her family can stay at the hospital and not have to worry about Rita. They share a great reunion in the drive there and she learns that Johnny has added her mother's salon to his growing number of clients for his janitorial company. She also learns that her childhood best friend has opened her own shop in the same mall as the salon.

When Rita arrives, she learns that her mother's recovery and stroke was worse than she imagined and it will take about six months to get her back on her feet again. Until then, it's long hours of physical therapy to get her speech and movement back. Rita vows to spend those two weeks renovating her mother's outdated salon to something she would be proud of. But how will she be able to manage it with only two weeks and a very limited budget. All she knows is she has to try because by the looks of things if she doesn't her mother may be out of business before she can return to the salon again.

I received Love Gently Falling by Melody Carlson compliments of Center Street Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is such a beautiful contemporary romance perfect for Valentine's Day! The love that abounds not only for Rita's family and friends but even for her own childhood skating rink comes full circle by the conclusion of this book and teaches us that it's never to let to find love in the places we might least expect it. This one is worthy of 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Love Gently Falling, Melody Carlson, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Love Gently Falling by Melody Carlson

You can find Melody Carlson on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To find more reviews on Love Gently Falling, please visit Center Street Publishers website. 

A Fine Summer's Day

For fans of novels like Sherlock Holmes, you might want to pick up Charles Todd's latest novel A Fine Summer's Day. It is part of the Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery Series in which Ian Rutledge is part of Scotland Yards finest detectives. He has been assigned a complicated murder case in which a man has been found hanged with no apparent motive or suspect. In addition to that, a vandal has been marring the tombstones of nearby churches with a tar like substance. Is it possible that the two may be related?

As Inspector Rutledge interviews countless witnesses and possible suspects he is no closer to solving either crime. In addition, he has proposed to a woman Jean Gordon who no one is his immediate family cares for. They believe that Ian might be blind to the woman's spoiled tendency's that may not exactly fit into the lifestyle of a Scotland Yard detective. As he continues to investigate further, he learns that the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria has been assassinated along with his pregnant wife. It could quite possibly launch the country in the beginnings of war depending on how Austria choose to react. If that is the case will Inspector Rutledge be called up to serve for his country if they do decide on war? He can only hope calmer heads will prevail.

As the entire country waits to see what the outcome will be regarding the assassination of the Archduke, Inspector Rutledge finds himself facing more dead ends than he can count. Not only that but his boss is none too happy with the amount of time Ian is spending attending to dinners and engagement parties when he should be working to find the killer or killers that are slowly adding more bodies to the count with a variety of methods to their demise. Time is running out for everything to be answered.

I received A Fine Summer's Day by Charles Todd compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I have not received any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I have absolutely love Charles Todd's series with Inspector Rutledge and to see a variety of things all culminating all at once. War is on the near horizon and knowing history, you know it will soon turn into World War 1. It's truly a race against time to see how it all turns out and I love the rich attention to detail Charles Todd pours into his novels. He painstakingly takes his time weaving the story so that you don't feel rushed to figure it all out at once. That is why I love this entire murder mystery series! For that reason I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about A Fine Summer's Day, Charles Todd or where you can get a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Fine Summer's Day by Charles Todd

You can find Charles Todd on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

For more reviews on A Fine Summer's Day, please visit William Morrow's website. 

Letters To Loretta From The Radio Shack

For me there is always something wonderful when two people are united by written words. Over time the letters penned to one another never knowing the outcome has led to a wonderful romance between a 15-year-old girl named Loretta and 19-year-old Sal who grew up in the same neighborhood in Chicago. Over the three years from 1943-1945 you can see how their friendship has turned into something much more as each letter reveals deeper feelings for one another. While Loretta deals with the effects of having the boys shipped out during the war and how she manages to fill her time with going to dances, working at the local coffee manufacturer and retail stores, and writing letters to Sal, whom she affectionately labels Slabby, Sal details what life is like working on a naval ship as he works to decipher code on a minesweeper in the Pacific while waiting on the hopes of making back home to see Loretta.

These letters reveal so much more as you read them in Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack by Laura Lynn Ashworth. You see a deeper connection between Sal and Loretta as she tries to keep him informed on what is happening in Chicago during WWII. They both agree to see others but not in the same aspect we would, they merely fill their time with the companionship of a dance whenever either of them has time, conveying that neither would ever go for anything permanent while waiting for Sal to come back home to Chicago. You can see that neither of them expects the war to last long, but as the months roll by, pictures from home and those letters are what keep them both going. Loretta keeps Sal up to date on how his family is doing while they both share their love through the songs each of them are listening to miles away from the other.

I received Letters To Loretta From The Radio Shack by Laura Lynn Ashworth compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and the author herself for an honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. 10% of the author proceeds goes to the USO (United Service Organization) and VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and for those that love true stories from the war, this one will definitely be one you want to pick up. You can see how difficult it was to wait weeks at a time for a letter only to have nothing show up. Holidays were difficult because they didn't know if they would be able to come home on leave or not. The only thing missing is how Loretta and Sal turned out in the end. The letters simply end. It's like finding a stack in a box hidden in the attic and as you read them you begin to understand and become familiar with Sal and Loretta and hope for a reunion someday, but then the letters end. I wish the author would have added how she came across the letters or in a short epilogue how it all turned out in the end. I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Letters To Loretta From The Radio Shack, Laura Lynn Ashworth or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Letters To Loretta From The Radio Shack by Laura Lynn Ashworth

You can find Laura Lynn Ashworth on Facebook to stay up to date on all the latest about this book.

Jump Start Your Leadership

I think it says a lot about the person you work for, if you can honestly say that they are a great leader, not just a great manager. In fact, those people are probably far and few inbetween. Some would argue that there is no difference between a leader or manager, they are one in the same. But that is not true as those who have worked for bad managers can attest. It's not a place that inspires you to want to come to work, much less willingly to go above and beyond when asked by that manager. In fact, most people don't quit their jobs, they quit their managers. So how do you know if you are a great leader or simply a manager?

You might want to check out John C. Maxwell's simple book Jump Start Your Leadership. In it, he provides you with 90-days to improve your leadership. It defines what makes a great leader, how others will perceive your leadership, along with great quotes from exceptional leaders of the day like Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, and more. Along with a simple short and concise paragraph or two, there is a section that implores you to see how you can incorporate that principle into your life or asks how would it benefit you if you did. It truly is something when you can look back and remember those exceptional managers and leaders you might have worked with. They made a mark on your life in some profound way.

They may have encouraged you, motivated you, inspired you, and most importantly role modeled what a great leader looks like, by willing to stand by your side and accomplish difficult tasks. One great quote is from Harold S. Green, "Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions." The page then details what this passage means. "Perhaps you are not naturally gifted at working with people. In fact, you may struggle with liking some people enough to commit the energy needed to make good connections with them. If you have difficulty with this, do the following: Make a choice to care about others. Liking people and caring about people is a choice within your control. If you haven't already, make that choice. Look for something likeable about every person you meet. It's there. Make it your job to find it and then express what you like about that person, especially your team members.

The section then finishes with a final though for you to consider. Make a list of all your team members and write down the qualities you admire in each of them. How do those qualities make each of them valuable to the team?" (pg 70). This is where you would jot down your thoughts and hopefully incorporate that particular lesson into making you one of those memorable leaders we would all love to work for. This isn't just a feel good book for leaders but helps those who might be struggling to know where they might be falling short. It highlights both the positive and negative aspects and helps you to become a better leader.

I received Jump Start Your Leadership by John C. Maxwell compliments of Center Street, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are my own unless otherwise notated. I think this is a must read for anyone in a management position or even a great resource for husbands who are called into a leadership role in their own homes, marriages and families! I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Jump Start Your Leadership, John. C. Maxwell or where you can pick up this book today, please click on the links below:

Jump Start Your Leadership by John C. Maxwell

You can find John C. Maxwell on Facebook for more exceptional leadership books and information.

You can read more reviews on Jump Start Your Leadership by visiting Center Street's website. 

Good Health, Good Life

2015 always earmarks those who are hoping this will be the year that they can lose weight, get healthy and make better choices in their life when it comes to their physical and spiritual well being. I am one of those people this year. Best selling author Joyce Meyers makes it simple to manage in her latest book, Good Health, Good Life: 12 Keys to Enjoying Physical and Spiritual Wellness. It is exactly what you would want in a book, concise suggestions you can make in your life now that will have long term benefits.

Each of these 12 Keys she explained can be used in any order depending on what you are hoping to work on in your own life. She incorporates the use of prayer in helping to stay on the healthy path, because if your anything like me, you have made far too make excuses and reasoned away everything but sitting down and making a serious commitment not to fail. In order to make sure you're starting on the right path with God in your corner, you need to make sure you're grounded in your church and find a support group who can help you achieve your goals. Better yet, they can keep you accountable should you fall.

My best piece of advice in all of this is if you fall, and more than likely you will, don't stay there, simply jump back up and begin again where you left off. Joyce uses her own examples of all kinds of dieting fads and why some work initially but don't stay that way. The only smart way is to do the things you know are healthy. Eating right, laying off the processed and fast food choices, drinking at least half your weight in ounces of water, exercising at least 30 minutes a day, getting a great night's sleep and keeping your stress manageable.

What makes this short, but simple book work is that not everyone is starting off in the same place. Some exercise but don't necessarily eat great, some manage stress well, but have a difficult time with managing their personal life, and each of these are addressed in just the right dose, to the core of what it means to be serious about getting that temple of God's He gave you in order. Imagine if God entrusted you to the care of His church and you simply let it go! Well that is what we are doing to our bodies. Is it any wonder we are unhealthy, prone to more health concerns than ever before and grab whatever food is available because we are short on time?  This is just the resource to make you stop finding excuses and start getting healthy again.

I received Good Health, Good Life by Joyce Meyer 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 contained here are strictly my own. I love getting this to review just as I have started my own journey back to health and spiritual wellness and love the straight-forward, no nonsense approach one can expect in this easy to understand and use resource. For me, this one is a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars. 

For more information about Good Health, Good Life, Joyce Meyer or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Good Health, Good Life by Joyce Meyer

You can find Joyce Meyer on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Good Health, Good Life, please visit Faith Word's website. 

Wonder

If you have never read Travis Thrasher's novels, he pretty much has a novel written to meet every interest but for me, nothing is more thrilling than to find Christian authors who know how to keep you glued to their novels, add the element of suspense and things that go bump in the dark, and you have me on their waiting list for the next one!

In the coming of age series geared more for the young adult or teen fans, The Books of Marvella have struck a cord in this book lover's heart! To say that there is something evil coming in the town of Appleton, earmarks what you will find when you enter the life of Brandon Jeffrey, a senior struggling to make his way in a difficult world marked by two unsolved murders involving teens that have happened in his town.

To say that the town is on edge is an understatement. Parents are concerned that their teens don't go out at night or alone until the person or persons responsible are caught. There is something brewing with an elderly man known as Otis who owns the quarry. Late at night he can be seen burying things in the back of his house but no one knows what is is. Now it seems he has formed a following when Brandon's best friend Devon, takes up watching his nightly activities believing he is behind the sinister evil building in town. Brandon doesn't want anything to do with stalking people at night especially when he is dealing with his own abusive alcoholic father who almost killed him in a car accident, watching over his younger brothers, keeping the secrets of the abuse from his mother, and trying to win the girl of his dreams.

Sounds like the typical life for a senior teen living in Appleton right? Now that school is back in session, all those summer escapades have not been forgotten. Brandon's intervention with the school's bullies, who also happen to be on the football team, have not gone unnoticed. Brandon's ex girlfriend, Taryn is stirring up trouble for Marvel on Social Media sites and Marvel still believes she will die doing something for God's glory and it will happen sooner than everyone believes. So just what is hiding in the shadows of Appleton? Only time will tell.

I received Wonder by Travis Thrasher compliments of NavPress, a division of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. The best part of this entire series, is the tension that Travis is building but not sharing what is really going on. He is keeping that just beyond what the reader can see, but the suspense element that keeps coming from each of this novels is growing. Evil is slowly showing itself in the unexplained and just who is the hippie older man, Phil who shows up just when Brandon seems to be willing to take unexpected risks? We know he works at the record store with Brandon, but is there a spiritual element here at work as well? All I can tell you is that I can't wait for the next novel and poor Travis Thrasher can't write fast enough for me. This one hits it out of the park again with a stellar 5 out of 5 stars! Suspense fans looking for a bit of the creep factor, pick this entire series and Solitary Tales as well. This is the second novel in The Books of Marvella series with Marvelous being the first. Start there before reading Wonder or it simply won't make sense.

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

Wonder by Travis Thrasher

You can find Travis Thrasher on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Wonder, please visit Tyndale House Publishers website. 

Marvelous

Ever since reading the Solitary Series from best-selling author Travis Thrasher, I knew I wanted more! Something that you find yourself going back to again and again in memory of a great series. He has done just that with the Books of Marvella Series and I couldn't be more excited. Not sure how I missed knowing these were coming out, but now, I know they will be just as good if not better than  the Solitary Series was.

Marvelous is the first novel in the Books of Marvella series and begins with the life of Brandon Jeffrey, the oldest of three boys in the Jeffrey household. He is on summer break before heading into his senior year, one he is looking forward to completing in more ways than one. For Brandon it's not just about graduating, its about freedom from his abusive father who spends all his free time, drinking instead of looking for work. It is all Brandon can do to find ways to stay out of the reach of his father's drunken outbursts, which he hides from his two younger brothers and his busy hard working mother, a lawyer who can only see the best in him.

Brandon is struggling to find jobs to pay back the loan his parents provided him to buy a car, which was totaled when he loaned it to a friend. His father intends to ensure that Brandon pays all the money off this year and seeks to remind him of it whenever he gets the chance. Through a seemingly random coincidence, Brandon runs into Marvella Garcia, who goes by the name Marvel at Fantastic Street, a record store where he offers her a job even though it's not his decision. He decides she is so worth knowing he will find a way to get his boss Harry to hire her just to keep her around.

In between dealing with his father, the town of Appleton learns that a young boy Artie Duncan has been brutally murdered. While the police struggle to find suspects, they ask that all teens stay inside after dark and stay in groups. Brandon is your typical high school boy with an unbeatable crush on Marvel who insists that she only wants a friendship with Brandon. He only hopes in time he can convince her to possibly go on a date, while trying to keep the local football bullies from beating up a timid nerd named Seth. Brandon wonders if these same bullies could be the ones responsible for the death of Artie seeing as they love intimidate anyone they can.

I received Marvelous by Travis Thrasher compliments of NavPress, a division of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are my own. This is such a realistic novel as told from the eyes of Brandon Jeffrey. He has his own issues to deal with coming to terms with how to handle his father, and being able to be truthful when he needs to. Trust is a big issue here, and it takes confiding in Marvel to help him come to terms with his own deep dark secrets. But the town of Appleton is hiding its own secrets while the murder investigation continues. I love the emotions that come through in each character that comes to life in this series, from the bullying of Seth and how he struggles to handle it each time he runs into the football team, to Marvel sharing her insight into what has happened in her past that has lead her on a path for God. I can't wait for the next novel Wonder which is the second book in this amazing series. Solitary Tales fans? You will definitely want this one!! I rate this a 5 out of 5 stars!!!

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

Marvelous by Travis Thrasher

You can find Travis Thrasher on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Marvelous, please visit NavPress' website. 

The Identical - DVD Review and Giveaway

There sometimes comes a movie that really impacts you in a powerful way, portraying just what sacrifice, unconditional love and forgiveness looks like. The Identical is just that movie. Starring Ashley Judd, Ray Liotta and Blake Rayne, that take viewers back in almost a parallel story of sorts you can't help buy compare at times to Elvis Presley. It begins in the mid 1930's in Tennessee, in the midst of the depression. For William and Helen Helmsley it means a whole lot more. As William struggles to find work in a depression laced town, Helen gives birth to twin sons. Knowing how difficult it is to make ends meet for just themselves, William arrives to a revival tent meeting being led by Reece Wade (Ray Liotta) who is telling those present of their own recent troubles of trying to conceive and now being told they will never be able to have children. He asks those in attendance to pray for God's favor to provide and in William's case, the solution to their financial problem.

He invites the Wade's over to announce that with heart-felt prayers by both of them, that he believes God is asking them to give one of their sons to the childless couple to raise. It's a tough decision for the Hemsley's but they believe giving one of their sons to a God-fearing couple is just the answer to the prayers. William begs Reece to never tells the boy as he grows older about his birth and subsequent adoption to the Wade family and they vow to raise him up in a good Christian home.

As the two boys grow their talents in music become apparent. Drexel Helmsley becomes the newest singing sensation while Reece tries to convince Ryan to follow what he believes is a calling in his own life, to follow in his father's footsteps and become a preacher. Soon it becomes too much for Ryan trying to live up to his father's expectations for him despite this overwhelming desire for music and they soon part ways. Along the way Ryan is constantly being asked if he realizes how much he looks like Drexel, to which he is genuinely humble. It never dawns on him that the two might be related no matter how much Ryan feels compelled to copy Drexel's music style. How it plays out in the end is beautiful, heart-warming and one that you will be sure to want to watch again and again.

I received The Identical by City of Peace Films compliments of Propeller LLC for my honest review in exchange for a complimentary copy of the DVD. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are my own personal opinion. The music in the movie is solid and one I found myself wishing I had the CD for, which is also available. It truly takes you back to those times when Elvis Presley's soulfull melodies filled the airwaves. The Identical DVD is about 107 minutes in length and contains bonus features which include, the making of The Identical, Behind the Scenes and my favorite, the music of The Identical. Perfect for all ages and is Dove Family approved for 12 and up. I think anyone can truly enjoy it and that is why I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

Now for the best part, thanks to the generosity of Propeller LLC, they are providing a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here's all you need to do to enter:

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

2. "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart. If you have already "Liked" it, leave a comment on the page.

3. Be a resident of the US or Canada. No P.O. Boxes please.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols. You can enter as many times as you wish, be sure to simply comment each time. 

I will notify the winner of the giveaway when it ends on January 15th, so please be sure to include your email address with your comment.


For more information about The Identical, City of Peace Films or where you can pick up a copy of this DVD today, please click on the links below:

The Identical

You can find The Identical on Facebook for more great movie information!

You can find out more about the films City of Peace is working on by visiting their website. 

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Snow Angel

For a women living in the late 1800's in a wealthy family the last thing anyone wanted was scandal. In order to prevent that Jane Greyson was forced against her wishes to give up her daughter out of wedlock as her father had instructed. He wasn't about to let Jane sacrifice her future plans of marriage to a affluent family in his world of politics and law. Despite all her begging, he sends Elizabeth away to an orphanage and keeps Jane locked up until she is unable to locate the child.

Now 18 years later, Elizabeth is struggling to find her way in a man's world in Alaska trying to find her own claim now that the gold rush is on. The last thing she had expected to find was an unexpected blizzard and her completely unprepared. With her last ounce of energy, she sees a fading light in the distance, if she can only make it a little further. She barely whispers a plead for help at what she believes might be the door to a cabin before she collapses into the snow.

Noah Wesley isn't sure what he hears while in his remote Alaskan cabin in the woods, but when he feels God's call on his heart to move to check it, he finds a women barely alive buried in the snow. As he attempts to save her against the elements, he wonders just who she is and why a woman would wander all alone in the wilderness so unprepared, but those questions will have to wait until Elizabeth is conscience. But will Noah be able to save her from not only the effects of the blizzard but from the past she is running from? Who is Elizabeth really?

I received Snow Angel by Jamie Carie compliments of B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are my own unless otherwise notated. This heart-warming novel takes a look at the Gold Rush in Alaska during the late 1800's as thousands moved west in hopes of seeking fortune and glory with the discovery of gold. For a woman to attempt to find her own claim during this time especially unmarried, but Elizabeth knows enough about gold mining to give men a run for their money. After the foster parents she lived with, she learned enough to help them find their own claim, but after discovering her father murdered the man whose claim he had stolen, she learned they were planning on pinning the murder on her. Now she has to fight harder to discover not only gold but who she really is in the process. For those that love historical romance, this one is definitely a 5 out of 5 star recommendation in my opinion.

For more information about Snow Angel, Jamie Carie or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Snow Angel by Jamie Carie

You can find Jamie Carie on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Snow Angel, please visit B and H Publishing Group's website.

Return to Exile

There are some disadvantages to reading series. I guess for me is that it is often so long between books, that you have to reread the first or hope that the author provides enough insight at the beginning of the second or third books to help you remember where you left off. Another is how they end. I personally hate cliff hanger endings, but as a writer myself, I know that is just how I would leave each book in the series. Kinda like the television or movie series we see. It makes you disappointed at first, but then hungry for more. You just have to come back to see how it all turns out.

If you love time travel, romance or historical fiction, or like me, a bit of all three, you will want to pick up The Carthage Chronicles from best-selling author Lynne Gentry. Her first novel in the series, Healer of Carthage is about a 21st century doctor whose father has a love for archaeology. Couple that with a bit of mysterious paintings in a cave in Egypt, known simply as the Cave of Swimmers. Dr. Lisbeth Hastings lost her mother in the Cave of Swimmers and never knew what happened to her until she herself fell into the watery cavern. Turns out it transports people back into the third century in Rome, not the place you'd want to be as a woman.

In Return to Exile, we pick the series back up after Lisbeth had returned back to the 21st century at the conclusion of the first novel, in love with a man she left behind as her husband. In order to protect her, she was thrown back into the cistern which took her back to present time, where she learned she was pregnant with Cyprian's child. Knowing her daughter is extremely claustrophobic, she knows taking her daughter Maggie back in time, won't be easy. Her father insists on accompanying her to see the wife he thought died so long ago. Turns out she has become infamous for her healing abilities and remains the slave/wife to a cruel dictator named Aspasius, whose goal is to control all the Christians still dwelling in the providence. He has successfully exiled Cyprian and during Lisbeth's escape, her mother managed to flee into the hills where she remains hidden trying to control the spread of measels which is becoming a pandemic of epic portions.

Just as Lisbeth realizes she can't take her daughter with her in time, Maggie jumps into her arms at the last moment, just as the watery portal takes them both back to Rome. Her father didn't have the chance to make it. This time when Lisbeth returns to Rome armed with medical supplies to help her mother control the diseases killing the poor, she learns the despite keeping her heart open to loving Cyprian again and sharing the joy of his first child with him, she learns he didn't believe she was coming back and has married her best friend Ruth. Does Lisbeth stay or will she take Maggie and head back to the life she left behind in Dallas? You'll have to pick this one up to find out.

I received Return to Exile by Lynne Gentry compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own personal opinion. I was so thrilled to see what the outcome would be for Lisbeth and Cyprian and was not prepared for what Lisbeth had to face heading back to Rome. I felt so sorry for her and completely understood how difficult things would be on both ends. I am super excited to see what the outcome will be when the next novel comes out Valley of Decision, and be warned this one does leave you with a bit of a cliff hanger ending but also a sneak peek into the next novel to help calm your nerves a bit. For me, I LOVE this series and this one rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. A Reader Discussion Guide is included as well as a Q and A with the author at the conclusion of this novel.

For more information about Return to Exile, Lynne Gentry or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Return to Exile by Lynne Gentry

You can find Lynne Gentry on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Return to Exile, please visit Howard Books website. 

Lynne is also hosting a Facebook Launch Party on January 8th from 7:00 to 8:00 PM CST where you can talk to Lynne and possibly win some incredible prizes. 

Letters to Loretta From the Radio Shack - Author Spotlight and Feature

Read the rare and recently discovered real time letters between Sal, age 19, and Loretta, age 15, during the final terrifying three years of World War II, 1943-1945. Both from the Douglas Park neighborhood in Chicago, the two adolescents discuss with humor and candor, the Navy, war, politics, hit music, life back home and their relationship.

Sal nicknamed Slabby for his movie star good looks, deciphers code out of the Navy’s radio shack on a minesweeper in the Pacific. Loretta monikered Duchess for her aloofness, lives with aunts and her widowed father, while holding day jobs and enjoying an active social life with friends. Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack lets you experience World War II, both in battle and on the home front, through the eyes of adolescents in a way that Hollywood has never portrayed.

You can purchase a copy of the novel by visiting these online retailers.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Laura Lynn Ashworth - Author Bio:

Laura Lynn Ashworth is an award-winning copywriter and political cartoonist. While helping an elderly family member with veterans administration paperwork, she ran across “the letters” and instantly knew of their rarity, freshness and historical significance. Although she received three publishing contracts within two months of sending the letters to major publishers, Ashworth decided to publish them herself on the advice of best-selling authors. She currently lives and works in a northwest suburb of Chicago. 

You can find out more information about Laura Lynn Ashworth or her latest novel by clicking on the links below: 

Website: http://www.lauralynnashworth.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007518694413

Twitter:https://twitter.com/lauralashworth

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9845683.Laura_Lynn_Ashworth?from_search=true

To see more reviews or author interviews on the Pump Up Your Book Tour, please click any of the links below: 

Tour Schedule:

January 5

Book reviewed at Rainy Day Reviews

January 6

Book featured at 3 Partners in Shopping

January 7

Book featured at Reviews From the Heart

January 8

Guest blogging at What is That Book About

January 9

Book featured at The Dark Phantom

January 12

Interviewed at Review From Here

January 14

Interviewed at The Writer’s Life

January 15

Interviewed and Guest blogging at Carpe Librum

January 19

Interviewed at Literal Exposure

January 20

Book featured at I’m Shelf-ish

January 22

Guest blogging at Bent Over Bookwords

January 23

Book featured at The Literary Nook

January 26

Book reviewed at Navy Wife, Navy Life

January 27

Interviewed at Niume

January 28

Book reviewed at Manners and Mayhem

January 29

Book featured at The Revolving Bookshelf

January 30

Interviewed at Becky on Books…and Quilts