The Sweetest Rain - Giveaway and Review

For me, historical novels don't have to be a perfect match to something that has happened in history. I am not one of those fact checkers who are more concerned with the accuracy of the novel that the story itself. For me, if I can get so lost in the novel that I forget about time or that I feel like I can really see this happening in my mind, for me, that is a successful author and novel. In this case, that honor goes to Myra Johnson in her novel The Sweetest Rain. I am so thrilled I got the opportunity to review this one because as I have read in my history books quite a bit about the Great Depression but also the Dust Bowl. Living in California and suffering under some of the effects of the drought, it made me really want to know what a family might endure in the 1930's dealing with the effects of both of these issues.

In The Sweetest Rain, the first in the Flowers of Eden Series, we meet Bryony Linwood, who is struggling to help her grandfather and two younger sisters, Rose and Larkspur, to bring in what remains of their cotton crop. Like most tenant farmers, they are responsible to pay for the right to farm the land with a portion or share of their crops to the plantation owners, in this case, the Heath family. After another horrible year with dealing with the drought in Eden, Arkansas, it looks as if they will have to find another source of income if they want to keep food on the table. Bryony insists in pleading her case before Mr. Heath in hopes that he might give them more time to pay their rent. But another opportunity presents itself, when the plantation has need for another maid and if Bryony is obliged to work for the Heath's, he will deduct her earnings from what her grandfather owes him.

She just didn't expect to find love within the confines of the Heath plantation. Michael Heath is still recovering from the effects of mustard gas he was exposed to while fighting in the war as well as PTSD, or shell shock as it was known then. He finds solace in the botanical sketches he has been doing in his sketchbook and shares them with his mother, who is suffering from the early onset of Alzheimer's. It's the caring concern that Bryony shows for his mother by reading to her from one of the many books in the home, to taking walks in the garden that helps ease some of her symptoms but one thing is certain, that the love that is developing between the two is one thing his father will not tolerate or stand for. He has already cast out his daughter when she fell in love with the hired help and wound up pregnant. There is nothing Mr. Heath will not let stand in his way, even if it means doing the same to Bryony and her family as well.

I received The Sweetest Rain by Myra Johnson compliments of Franciscan Media for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review, aside from a free copy of the book, the opinions contained here are strictly my own personal ones. I love how well this message of redemption and hope comes across in this novel. It highlights how some families would have to band together in tough times to make ends meet. It also shows what keeps families together and what drives them apart as well as what each of them has to do to survive during the most difficult of circumstances. I can't wait to read more about this amazing and resilient Linwood family in the very near future. For me, this one rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about The Sweetest Rain, Myra Johnson or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Sweetest Rain by Myra Johnson

You can find Myra Johnson on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Sweetest Rain, please visit Franciscan Media's website.

Now for the amazing part. Thanks to the generosity of Franciscan Media, they are offering a giveaway copy of this novel to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines for entering:

1.  "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart. 

2. Not a Facebook user, no problem, make sure you are a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

3. Be a resident of the U.S. No P. O. Boxes please.

4. Leave me a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this novel. Don't forget to include your email address so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. You can even use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner of the giveaway by email once it ends on October 16th, so be sure to enter. You can enter as many times as you want.

Sins of the Mothers

Sometimes we think that we know best, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Despite what her Texas Ranger father, Henry Buckmeyer had asked, Mary, his daughter waited until the entire family left for their trip to Europe, before she took her inheritance and hightailed it out west with the man she loved, Caleb Wheeler. Taking a 100 gold coins in some saddlebags and some paper currency, she believed it would be enough for a fresh start to a happy and wonderful life.

But as things always go, Mary was able to face insurmountable odds, when Caleb announces that his cousin Lanelle is joining them as well to watch over his stock of moonshine that he is hoping to sell for $1 a shot on the west coast among those who are searching for gold out in the hills of California. He has a vested interest along with his cousin John in opening a mercantile to sell everything a miner could need and make a killing. With Mary's knowledge and ability to barter, he knows he has exactly what he has planned in convincing her to marry him and head west.

But when they arrive, Mary doesn't realize that Lanelle and Caleb have a twisted love affair going on behind her back. When she realizes she is now pregnant with their first child, she is convinced it will be enough to settle down Caleb's wild ways, but unfortunately Lanelle also winds up pregnant but she is able to keep that a secret from Mary. Lanelle hopes that once Caleb learns she is pregnant, he will leave Mary behind and marry her instead. But she too soon realizes that she has been played by Caleb for his sole benefit alone and moves up into the hills where she marries Moses Jones, who offers to be a great husband and father to his baby and she realizes that love can come in all kinds of packages. It also provides her some distance between Mary and Caleb who are working on making a profit in the mercantile.

When Caleb winds up in the wrong place and the wrong time, Mary soon realizes how sagely her father and mother's advice was, to help her to avoid making the exact same mistakes they did. Now she realizes that just what the Bible says, that the sins of the fathers can visit the third and fourth generations of their children, Mary understands that is precisely what has happened to her and even though she wants more than anything to reconcile her relationship with her family, she knows she can never return home or face the humiliation her family must hold against her.

I received Sins of the Mothers by Caryl McAdoo compliments of Create Space Independent Publishing Platform for my honest review of this novel. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review aside for a free eBook copy and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. Oh how I love a great historical western and no one writes them as well as Caryl McAdoo does. I can't wait for the 5th novel in this series to be published before the end of this year. Sins of the Mothers is the 4th novel in the Texas Romance Series and in the heart of this book reviewer rates a wonderful 4.5 out of 5 stars. There are so many exceptional overlays of biblical stories that this one relates to that you can't help but enjoy it among all the excitement of the California gold rush!

For more information about Sins of the Mothers, Caryl McAdoo or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Sins of the Mothers by Caryl McAdoo

You can find Carol McAdoo on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To purchase a copy of this book from Amazon, please click here. 

A Heart's Promise

Sometimes the hardest choice is the one our heart wants to make but our mind convinces us that it simply isn't for us. Emmie Croftner, knows all about bad choices. It wasn't enough to be born into a family where her older brothers pretty much dictated the way life would be lived and that she would spend her time serving their needs. To call them ruthless would be an understatement, and that is why she probably fell so hard for Monroe. Not only did she need the kind of attention and perceived love he was offering, but in a way it was an escape from her brothers. Perhaps if she had listened to her head more than her heart, her life would be different.

Instead, she learns that her marriage to Monroe was real. He was previously married to another woman and he had a child with her. So when Monroe died, Emmie was left with nothing, except being a child thanks to Monroe. Her only hope would be heading to Fort Laramie and staying with her sister in law Sarah to escape the looks and rumors she was now at the center of.

She just never expected to meet a man just as sweet as Monroe had appeared, but this time instead of listening to her heart, she is listening to her common sense. One that reminds her that all men are alike, that no matter how smooth talking they might be, how kind, they only have one thing in mind, and as much as she would love to give in, she isn't about to take that chance with Isaac. She'd rather be alone for the right reasons, than with someone for all the wrong reasons.

I received A Heart's Promise by Colleen Coble compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. Aside from a free copy of this book, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is the 5th book in the Journey of the Heart Series, and I can't wait to see how it will all end up. Emmie is struggling to find her way among the women at the Fort and believes that she will find herself facing similar circumstances once the women find out about her past. One woman in particular will go to great lengths to ensure Emmie stays away from Isaac, a man she intends on marrying. Such a beautiful story of hope, renewal and forgiveness that has been the theme of this series from beginning to end. I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about A Heart's Promise, Colleen Coble or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Heart's Promise by Colleen Coble

You can find Colleen Coble on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on A Heart's Promise, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page. 


Will the promise Emmie makes to her friend mean the end to her dreams of a future with Isaac? Find out in book five, A Heart's Promise, of Colleen Coble's A Journey of the Heart series. Emmie Croftner let Isaac Liddle go to avoid telling him about her past. But Isaac remains determined to win Emmie’s heart and hand. Can she live happily without Isaac?

Take a day off and head to the beach with a new giveaway from Colleen: five books (books one–five in Colleen's A Journey of the Heart series) and a beach bag to tote your new books in!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of A Heart's Promise
• A Lands' End beach tote
• A copy of A Heart's Betrayal
• A copy of A Heart's Disguise
• A copy of A Heart's Obsession
• A copy of A Heart's Danger

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 31st. Winner will be announced August 3rd on Colleen's website.

Hearts Made Whole

In 1865, the right of women were still something that was waiting to be resolved. Most men would agree that a woman's place was caring for the home and family and work outside of the home was a man's right. When Caroline Taylor watched in horror as her father plunged beneath the waters of Lake St. Clair during a storm, she never imagined she would have to fight for what she had always known. Her ability to care for the light at Windmill Point as her father had shown her when climbing the stairs to do so caused him so much pain. But it was truly a labor of love and Caroline knew that besides keeping mariners safe, she was also providing a home and security for her younger sisters Tessa and Sarah as well as her two twin brothers. It was all she had ever known and to think about ever leaving was not something she would consider.

Yet that is precisely what Mr. Finick had in mind when he told Caroline that she had one week to find another place to live. No amount of begging would change his mind because he had already hired a war veteran to take her place. A man, who was more suited for the job than she would ever be despite how well she had managed the lighthouse in the months following her fathers death. How would she ever be able to find a place for all of them within a week and how would she care for Sarah who has been in failing health and unable to move?

Ryan Chambers had hurt enough people in his life. The last thing he had ever planned on doing was adding to that growing list. The war had taken more out of him than he could ever have imagined when he was able to convince the doctor to spare removing his arm in order to salvage what was left when a shell removed more than half of it. Feeling less than a man, he lost more jobs than he held and was about to give up hope when the lighthouse keeper job was offered to him. At least the solitude at the lighthouse would offer him solace from all those who stared at his injury whenever he couldn't hide it in time, and had to find the words once again to explain what happened. This was the perfect place for him to find healing.

I received Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Bethany House Publishers 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 the second novel in the Beacons of Hope Series, and not having read the first novel, I was hoping I wouldn't be missing much. I wasn't! Jody Hedlund has been creating this series, highlighting famous lighthouses in Michigan and this is just another one to add to the growing collection. I've always shared a love for the life of a lighthouse keeper and believe that lighthouse in general offer a sense of romantic mystery. The lighthouse itself could probably lend quite a few tales of the lives of those that lived and cared for them in the years that they remained in operation. While the characters are fictional, they are based on the lives of real characters that existed and love the way Jody has carefully crafted them into this novel. The chemistry between Caroline and Ryan truly works because each is looking for a way to get back what has been broken inside them. I won't share with you what happens but this is truly an exceptional store of restoration and hope in the midst of the darkest storms and well worth all 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Hearts Made Whole, Jody Hedlund or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund

You can find Jody Hedlund on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Hearts Made Whole, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page. 


Don't miss Jody Hedlund's new book, Hearts Made Whole, a story of loss, forgiveness, hope, and true love set in 1865 Michigan. When Ryan's failings endanger others, he and Caroline realize he’s in no shape to run the lighthouse, but he’s unwilling to let anyone close enough to help. Can Caroline forgive the hurting man who costs her the role she loves?

Celebrate the release of Hearts Made Whole by entering to win an Afternoon at the Beach prize pack and RSVPing to Jody's June 23rd author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Hearts Made Whole
• A picnic basket set
• A beach bag
• Flip flops
• A beach towel

One second-place winner will receive:

• A copy of Hearts Made Whole
• A lighthouse journal

One third-place winner will receive:

• A copy of Hearts Made Whole
• A lighthouse necklace

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 23rd.Winner will be announced June 23rd at Jody's Facebook party. RSVP here!

Dauntless

What would you do if the one woman you vowed to love, marry and spend the rest of your life with, apparently was murdered? What would you do, years later when you see that she is very much alive and may in fact be a wanted woman? What lengths would you go to to rectify the feelings you still have for her?

These are the very questions running through Timothy Grey's mind as he is placed in charge of Wyndeshire, by the local earl as he is called away by King John. Being the ninth child, Timothy has had to struggle to get to where he is right now, the chance to win a title and impress the Earl of Wyndeshire. In order to accomplish that, he has been tasked to hunt down a group of thieves known only as the Ghosts of Farthingale Forest. He knows the lands and forests better than any, but the last thing he expected to discover was Lady Merry Ellison among them.

Timothy isn't sure that she is part of the group and believes she must being held against her will. So Timothy vows to stage a rescue mission and hopefully win back the heart of the woman who has captivated his heart and soul. Merry knows that Timothy will do the right thing when it comes to arresting those responsible for stealing, but her group of misfits and children who have no parents have only taken just what they need in order to survive, and have never taken a life in all their raids. She knows that if their group is discovered, it will mean most of her group of children and young men will face the gallows including herself. If only there was a way to convince Timothy that her intentions are honorable despite the attempts by King John to have her murdered along with her family and the other children as well.

I received Dauntless by Dina L. Sleiman 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 contained here are strictly my own. This is a revised version along the lines of Robin Hood, where in this case, our expert with a bow and arrow is Merry Ellison. Perfect debut for fans of heroines like Katniss Everdeen. She coexists along the same time period as Robyn the Hood and even makes reference to their group being easily mistake as Robyn's band of merry men. This is the first novel in the Valiant Hearts series, and is definitely quite a bit different from most novels I've read where the woman is the lead character and heroine taking up the role of carrying for those under her, in this case, children who have no parents or homes. I guess much like the Lost Boys were in Peter Pan. Here however, the children range in age from very young to their teens. The law states that any as old as 7 can be hanged if they are discovered to have committed a crime against the king and that would mean most of Merry's group. Truly an unforgettable adventure into the life of a noble outlaw in the land of Medieval England. I would give this one a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Dauntless, Dina L. Sleiman, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Dauntless by Dina L. Sleiman

You can find Dina L. Sleiman on her blog Valient Hearts to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To see more reviews on Dauntless, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's book tour page.

Remember the Lilies

There is something so amazing when an author can utilize some historical facts to create not only an unbelievable novel but capture your heart in the process. I guess that is why I love historical fiction, because based on history, there are so many stories out there that can be captured in a book, stories that impact you in profound ways that you are never the same after reading them. Remember the Lilies by Liz Tolsma is one such novel.

Based on events that happened in the Philippines just as WWII was underway and days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, those in the Pacific Theater wondered how the war would impact them. When the Japanese took over the small islands, they created the Santo Tomas Internment camp and thus is where our novel takes place as American citizens find themselves prisoners of war with no little hope of making it out alive.

Rand Sterling was a night club owner with two successful clubs providing him with the lifestyle he loved and plenty of money to expand if only the war hadn't happened. Now he finds himself locked behind fences and planning an escape from the prison camp. He knows if he is unsuccessful, the torture and subsequent punishment at the hands of the Japanese will cost him his life in a slow and painful death. Rand knew he had to do something, because people around him including little children were slowly dying by the conditions they were all faced to live in.

Irene Reynolds, a previous missionary along with her aunt Anita, has a job censoring the communication being allowed to the prisoners in the camp. When she removes a couple of sentences from a letter to Rand Sterling, she doesn't realize the implications of how important they were. When she realizes he might be planning an escape, she suddenly understands that his source on the other side is telling him that tonight is not the time for the escape and to wait. She knows she must find Rand before he follows through on his plans and gets caught. If she doesn't reach him in time, it might just cost him his life and she will be forever responsible.

I received Remember the Lilies 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 found in this review are strictly my own. Liz Tolsma takes readers into the heart of what it was like for many Americans who found themselves as prisoners of war by the Japanese just at the beginning of WWII. I never considered the implications of how difficult it was to survive in camps where they were refusing to provide all the contents of the Red Cross kits to help them survive while the Japanese kept them barely on the brink of being alive. Disease and malnutrition were slowly killing them while they struggled to find hope in the midst of a different kind of victim of war. I easily give this wonderful novel a well deserved 5 out of 5 stars. There is a Reader's Discussion Guide included at the conclusion of this novel that is perfect for book clubs.

For more information about Remember the Lilies, Liz Tolsma, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Remember the Lilies by Liz Tolsma

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

To read more reviews on Remember the Lilies, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page. 

This gripping new tale from Liz Tolsma, Remember the Lilies, is a must-read for fans of WWII-era fiction. When Irene is attacked by a sinister Japanese guard and their secrets are exposed, she and Rand must learn the true meaning of forgiveness—if they can stave off starvation until the American troops bring freedom.

Help Liz celebrate the release of Remember the Lilies with a Kindle Fire giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• One copy of Remember the Lilies

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 2/19. Winner will be announced at Liz's Remember the Lilies Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Liz and WWII fiction fans, as well as for a chance 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 19th!

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!

Masterpiece Marriage

The Quilts of Love novels are written by a variety of authors that each center around a quilt. While they are all numbered, they can be read in any order, as hey are stand alone novels. I've almost read them all and each inspires a deep desire for me to resume quilting again after finishing one.

In Masterpiece Marriage, author Gina Welborn weaves a romance between a textile mill owner, Zenus Dane and Mary Varrs who is studying tomato seedlings in hopes of gaining a place in a university to further her studies in botany. Most universities are not as accommodating for women as they are for men. Each of them is faced with a need that can only be meet by Priscilla Dane Osbourne, a wealthy widow and Zenus' aunt. Lucky for Mary that she asked for her need first, because knowing how likely it would be for Priscilla to chose to help family over a stranger, she is more than relived. She receives an invitation for lunch in which Priscilla illustrated a beautiful plant and that is what Mary is missing in her research for submission. She must submit illustrations over photos. Priscilla agrees if Mary will agree to spend the next 10 days filling in for her on a quilting bee project with some of the local women.

Zenus Dane has garnered quite the reputation as a ladies man and all the women have fallen for his charms one way or another. The problem being is his inability to properly talk to them once he opens his mouth. Instead he fumbles his words so horribly, he ends up offending them more than swaying them to courtship. His textile mill has suffered a horrible flood and the only way he can think to profit from the deficit his insurance won't cover on the fabrics is to persuade his Aunt to create a quilt pattern he can sell along with the scraps of fabric he has left. She agrees only if he will be at her beck and call and do whatever errands she asks of him including being a host to the ladies at the quilting bee. But Priscilla has more than one set of plans up her sleeves for Mary and Zenus and will work at solving their problems of the heart through their repetitive working together, something that both of them despise.

I received Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. Aside from receiving a free copy of the novel, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. The opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. I absolutely LOVED this novel and easily read it in a few hours at just 240 pages. It does include a reader's discussion guide at the conclusion as well as a sneak peek into "A Stitch in Crime" by Cathy Elliot coming next in the Quilts of Love Series. This is the 24th novel to find its way into the Quilts of Love series and historical fiction are vast becoming my favorite genre! There is something to be said for the propriety that men and women had back in the 1800's and I believe Gina Welborn captured that perfectly with her interactions between Mary, Priscilla and Zenus. I love the idea of a gentlemen like Zenus being a bit more than tongue tied when he converses with women. It's that unique character flaw that makes him as appealing and Mary's strong will and determination to not be willing to succumb to societies standards that a woman's role was to be married and having children. This one easily gains a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Masterpiece Marriage, Gina Welborn, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn

You can find Gina Welborn on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Masterpiece Marriage, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn. December’s QOL release celebrates the ebb and flow of marriage. Enter to win a Kindle HDX!

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn
• Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven
• Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey

Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 18th. Winner will be announced on the Quilts of Love blog January 19th.

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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.

Dreaming on Daisies

Sometimes it's great when novels can reach deep inside us and reach the pain we often have hiding inside our hearts. When Miralee Ferrell decided on a theme for her latest novel in the Love Blossoms in Oregon Series, she knew she what she wanted to convey in Dreaming on Daisies. From the outside, people can appear happy but on the inside is another story. For Leah Carlson, she was still dealing with the pain of her mother's death six years ago. When that happened it seemed it took the life of the man she once knew as her father and dumped him inside a bottle of whiskey he was so found of getting lost in at the saloon in Baker City.

For years bitterness continued to grow not only in finding ways to keep from hating the man her father was becoming, but at the way she had worked so hard to make the ranch a success and now it seemed like all their money was tied up in her father's drinking binges. No matter what great ideas she had to try and turn it around, her father believed that Leah didn't possess the common sense to understand ranching was a man's business and part of his pride.

Leah had also lost her older brother Tom, when he decided to walk away from ranching and never left word where he was going or why he even left. So all Leah had to figure out the broken places of her life was pieces of what she could understand. She must try to convince the bank to provide her with a small loan to help get them back on track otherwise the only thing remaining that she has held onto all this time will be losing the ranch she has loved since she was a child. That would be the one thing that would ultimately break Leah.

Steven Harding wished he had better news for Leah when she came to him to inquire about obtaining a loan to help get them through the winter, but since the deed didn't have her name on it and her father wasn't the one inquiring about a loan, the only thing he could offer her was he would keep on trying to convince the bank to give her a chance. But without her father's signature on the loan documents, Leah would have to find another way to save the family ranch. She just wasn't hoping to rely on Steven Harding to do it. But when a mining accident leaves Steven without a place to stay, he believes he has the solution to both of their problems. If Lean agrees to let him stay on the ranch, he will help with the manual labor her father seems no longer interested in doing. But is the ranch the only thing Leah could lose?

I received Dreaming on Daisies by Miralee Ferrell compliments of David C. Cook 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. This is a powerful novel that portrays the effects of what alcoholism can have on not only the person who is addicted but the family who is struggling with dealing with it. This novel conveys a story of a young woman who's been emotionally damaged by a father who turned to alcohol and abandoned her emotionally, and a mother who abandoned her physically. It's no wonder that Leah has trust issues dealing with anyone in her life. They can leave scars even on the strongest Christian that can linger for a lifetime. The author's hope in writing this novel is that some aspect of the story would minister to their heart and that Jesus can heal every broken and wounded heart that's brought to Him as she writes in the Author Note at the conclusion of this novel. There is also a Reader's Discussion Guide in the novel as well. Well worth a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and hit home in my western romance lover's heart!

For more information about Dreaming on Daisies, Miralee Ferrell, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Dreaming on Daisies by Miralee Ferrell

You can find Miralee Ferrell on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Dreaming on Daisies, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's book tour page. 

Promise to Cherish

I had a rare moment to read an outstanding novel that shares the love of nursing in a state hospital alongside an Amish man who was sent to the Civilian Public Service Unit during World War II in Promise to Cherish by Elizabeth Byler Younts. There is so much realization poured out in the words you read that you can imagine what it felt like as nurse Christine Freeman tries to find a way to manage the healthcare of so many patients in Hudson River State Hospital. Since so many of the men and women have been called to active duty, there only last resort is to take in the conscientious objectors from the CPS unit. This one filled with Mennonite and Amish young men who are serving their time in the war in obligation to their religious faith.

While some might claim they are dodging their duty by not serving in the war, Eli Brenneman knows it is what he must do even if he is already experiencing his prejudice from the Amish in Sunrise as well. At least this way he is fulfilling his military obligation and not taking lives that go against the Amish faith. Now if he can only manage to convince others of this as well. But the life of aiding the mental patients at Hudson River is something he can do beside digging pointless ditches for the government. From helping them bath, custodial duties, and even keeping patients busy reading to them or playing games makes him feel like he is doing what God has called him to do.

What he isn't prepared for is the attraction he feels towards Christine. Yet he manages to keep his distance because in her eyes, he is one of the reasons her brothers Nathaniel and Peter died, so that men like Eli could avoid going to war in their place. All Christine wants is to find a way to help her struggling family financially since her father was left crippled from the war and unable to find work. She had hoped that one day she might find the perfect man and begin a family of her own, but for now her duties as a shift nurse fulfill that calling. But life is about to change abruptly for both Christine and Eli and ways that neither ever anticipated. For both of them, their lives would never be the same and the hopes and dreams they had will not work out as they had planned.

I received Promise to Cherish by Elizabeth Byler Younts 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. I absolutely love the blending of WWII and Christian Amish into this wonderful novel. It is the second in the Promise of Sunrise Series and I can't wait for the third book in the series. There is so much detail in the treatment of the patients at Hudson River that you literally feel like you are part of the staff as well. The author utilizes her own families history to breath life into this novel and the result you will find is pure perfection. For lovers of WWII, Christian Amish and of course romance, trust me, this is the novel for you. Even though this is part of a series, each can be read as a stand alone. But once you read this one, you will want to pick up Promise to Return. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and literally read it in one sitting, I simply couldn't put it down.

For more information about Promise to Cherish, Elizabeth Byler Younts or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Promise to Cherish by Elizabeth Byler Younts

You can also find Elizabeth Byler Younts on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Promise to Cherish, please visit Howard Book's website. 

Tried and True

I can't imagine how difficult it would have been being a woman living in the mid 1800's trying to homestead and find a way to make a living far away from anything resembling a city life. The life of wearing a dress, attending a party or just being cared for is not something that the Wilde sisters have time for living in Aspen Ridge, Idaho. The one thing they all agree on is that they need to keep up their disguises as men in order to make the years that they served in the Civil War count towards the five years needed to claim land out west. Against their better judgement when their older brother, Jimmy was killed, their father pressured the girls to join up as a way of paying respect for his service and to get revenge of the men who killed their brother, even if they didn't want to.

Now to keep up the charade and to honor their father's wishes, each of the girls, Bailey, Shannon and Kylie each utilized their service papers and applied for homesteads to increase the inheritance their father believed Jimmy would have wanted, not caring that the girls were still living a lie. It would have all worked out had Aaron Masterson, not come calling and find Kylie stuck on the roof of her cabin. He believed her lies that she was working alongside her brother on the land, but when he came back to meet, Kyle, he discovered not only her charade but Bailey's and Shannon's as well. He could not in good faith, honor the homestead papers applying their service time, to the length of time required to own the property, when they had lied about getting into the army in the first place. He would need to set things right or he could lose his job. The last thing he wanted to do was lock the Wilde girls up in jail for falsifying the paperwork, even if he didn't agree with the rules.

All Aaron knows is that he has grown quite fond of Kylie Wilde and it is apparent she lacks the skills she needs to continue to eek out a living here for the next five years. She is more than relieved she doesn't have to continue lying to anyone about being a woman, but no matter how much she tries to convince her Pa, he reminds her that she is a disgrace to Jimmy's memory, and she needs to fulfill her time in order to gain the land for the Wilde family. The only problem is that Gage Coulter, a wealthy cattle rancher and land owner has been trying to acquire all the land around his ranch to further expand his withholdings and the land the Kylie has is just what he needs right now. Now he just needs to convince her to sell or he just might need to marry her to get control of it. Life is about to get real interesting in Aspen Springs!

I received Tried and True by Mary Connealy 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. I absolutely LOVE anything that Mary Connealy writes and my personal library of her books is steadily growing. I am thrilled that she has launched a new series, Wild at Heart with Tried and True being the first book to debut. I LOVE that Kylie and her sisters attempted to do things that most women wouldn't have, serving in the army during the Civil War, trying to make a go of it living in the west, building their own cabins and living off the land while trying to earn time for the homesteading requirement. It took guts and gumption and all the Wilde sisters employ their talents to make it work, despite their Pa who seems stuck in his own personal grief.

Mary Connealy takes the readers right into the grit of living in the West. You can smell the pine from the woods, feeling the suddenly unexpected thunderstorm all the perfect backdrop to a wonderful heartwarming romance. By far one of my favorite genres to read but not everyone can pull it off so beautifully as Mary does. Her writing style is so rich, you don't want to put this book down for one minute, which I inhaled in a matter of hours. I can't wait to see how it plays out in the next book, even though I have feeling which sisters will wind up with who by the end of this amazing series. We'll have to wait and see. You even get a sneak peek at the next novel Now and Forever coming in June of 2015. To me, that's too long to wait, but what can I do. This one easily ropes a 5 out of 5 stars in my book.

For more information about Tried and True, Mary Connealy or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Tried and True by Mary Connealy

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

To read more reviews on Tried and True, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.

Don't miss the first book in Mary Connealy's Wild at Heart series. In Tried & True, Mary is back with her signature humor and heartfelt story-telling.

Mary's celebrating by connecting with readers during a live webcast event and giving away a Kindle HDX.

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• Tried & True by Mary Connealy

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 23rd. Winner will be announced at the Tried & True LIVE webcast event on September 23rd. Connect with Mary for an evening of swoon-worthy book chat, fun trivia, laughter, a sneak peek at the next book in the Wild at Heart series, and more! Mary 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 Tried & True and join Mary and friends on the evening of September 23rd 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 23rd!

The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen

"There is a tale that is told: A desert queen journeyed north with a caravan of riches to pay tribute to a king and his One God. The story of a queen conquered by a king before she returned to her own land laden with gifts.

That is the tale you are mean to believe.

Which means most of it is a lie.

The truth is far more than even storytellers could conjure. The riches more priceless. The secrets more corrosive. The love and betrayal more passionate and devastating, both.

Love...The very word is a husk shriveled beneath the sun of the desert waste, its essence long lost to the sands. So will my tale be to those who traveled her barren routes, my footprints as though they never were."
(excerpt from Prologue).

When I read these opening sentences in the latest novel, The Legend of Sheba: Rise of A Queen, from best-selling author Tosca Lee, I felt that I was reading a modern day tale from the Arabian Nights. Her word choice is conveying the story of Queen Sheba who is rarely mentioned in the Bible but for her one visit to Israel to King Solomon. But such is all of the latest novels from Tosca Lee. The uncanny ability to weave a story out of thin air so compelling, you are instantly drawn into the pages, void of all breath until you can breathe once again when you finish the final page.

In this novel, she has so thoughtfully and diligently researched all aspects of the rare Queen of Sheba who was never married and thus ruled her kingdom without the aid of a King. Although she is only mentioned in the Bible, the Quran and the Kebra Nagast: The Glory of the Kings - the 700-plus-year-old origin of the story of the Solomonic Kings of Ethiopia. From a simple mention of this famed Queen, Tosca Lee has breathed life into the Queen that was but a mist in the life of the royal blood lines from the Middle East.

You get a sense of how difficult it would have been to be one of the only woman to rule a kingdom without a man by her side as King. The uncertainty of  what would become of her, if there was no heir to her throne. During this time, kingdoms grew strong based on those alliances one would obtain through marriage, much like all of Solomon's conquests to advance the size of his growing kingdoms. In a time when romance was forbidden, the love that Tosca creates between Solomon and Sheba was one of unrequited love. You can see how both of them would be at odds to unite their respective kingdoms and dealing with all of Solomon's compromises in marrying so many wives despite his allegiance to his One True God. This is what makes this novel work.

It is almost as if you are reading a historical document of a rare romance between two royal kingdoms that would never come to pass almost like a version of Romeo and Juliet. I think once again you can help but wonder about the amount of time that went into the research behind writing this novel and I for one, love this beautiful story of power, worship and romance in a time long forgotten but still captured in fragments in time.

I received The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen by Tosca Lee 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 contained here are strictly my own unless otherwise notated. For those that love Ancient Egypt, Biblical History and a touch of romance, then you will definitely want to pick this one up! I love how Tosca captured the love and mystery surrounding what we know of Solomon, the romantic poet who would have seduced women through his words and songs, lavishing upon them untold delicacies and immeasurable wealth to have set foot in his palace. Well worth every word and once again, Tosca Lee has managed to score a true winner in a book lover's heart and thus 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen, Tosca Lee or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Legend of Sheba: Rise of A Queen by Tosca Lee

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

To read more reviews on The Legend of Sheba: Rise of A Queen, please visit Howard Book's website. 

The Healer's Touch

Combining the legend of the Ozark Spook lights along with a bit of western romance, best-selling author Lori Copeland takes us back in time in The Healer's Touch, her latest novel from Harvest House Publishers. The novel opens with the mystery of the lights seen on a deserted stretch of gravel road, known to the locals as the Spook lights. Some argue that the lights can be explained by headlights from the cars traveling along old Route 66, which would be fine, except that the lights began before the road was constructed and cars were invented. Whatever they are, they are a supporting character found in this novel set in the late 1800's in Missouri, where the majority of the people living just outside of Joplin, fear the Bolton family. They believe that the old woman who lives in the house that is just plain mad is responsible for those mysterious lights that no one can explain and the reason why no one ventures up to the Bolton home.

Good thing for Lyric and Lake, who care for their aging and ill mother, that the town has for the most part left them alone in Bolton Holler. Believing that she is moments from dying, Lyric is buying her time to save as much money as she can so they can leave this place and move to where people stop judging others based on what they think they know. .What she doesn't expect is to find her barn door destroyed late one night, and an injured man laying beneath the shattered remnants of her door. Believing he is one of the Younger brothers, a notorious gang of outlaws living in Missouri, she believes she is in for a reward if she can convince the sheriff to come and get him. She didn't count on the sheriff being so afraid that he refuses to venture up to her property to identify him. Now she will have to find a way to get the man to town in order to collect her reward and hopefully get out of town a whole lot sooner than she expected.

Now if she can figure out who this man is, but unfortunately not even he can help. Seems that running into her barn door that night has caused him to lose whatever memory he had and he isn't able to provide any identification, since he isn't carrying any. How can Lyric be sure that by turning over this man to the sheriff that she won't be sentencing an innocent man to hanging if he isn't guilty? How will they ever figure out just who this man really is? If he isn't wanted, then she will be living here a whole lot longer than she wanted since she doesn't have enough money for them to leave right now.

I received A Healer's Touch by Lori Copeland 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. I love the combination of the mysterious lights along with the western romantic flair. It's like Ghost Hunters meets Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. The beginning of this one was a bit slow and took me a bit to get into the story, but about 1/3 of the way through, I was engaged in the dilemma that Lyric faces in how to determine the outcome of a man's fate when she didn't know if he was a wanted man or not. In a time when information was slow coming and justice was doled out swiftly, it would be easy to wonder how many innocent men might have been hanged based on hearsay instead of known facts. For those that love a bit of western romance along with the mysterious spook lights, you will definitely want to pick this one up. I even found myself researching them on YouTube. You just might be surprised at what you will find! I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and it includes a discussion guide at the conclusion of this novel.

For more information about The Healer's Touch, Lori Copeland or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Healer's Touch by Lori Copeland

You can also find Lori Copeland on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Healer's Touch, please visit Harvest House Publisher's website. 

In Perfect Time

To be completely honest, Sarah Sundin is one of my favorite WWII romance authors. Her in depth research into the flight nurses of WWII and the types of duties they were called upon to fill, the dangers they faced when flying in C-47 cargo planes converted to flying hospitals to provide transportation for wounded soldiers until they could receive care at a military hospital. You are literally in the heat of things as you understand the dynamics of caring for wounded soldiers stacked three high inside an airplane. As a women you were faced with the challenges of ensuring medications were administered quickly and efficiently in mid air, as well as face the daunting task of maintaining professionalism while dealing with men who believed women shouldn't be involved in any aspect of the war.

In her series Wings of the Nightingale, In Perfect Time is the third addition I've had the honor to read and review. I've been a huge fan of anything WWII related especially when dealing with the roles women served in assisting with the war efforts. Army Air Force nurse, Lt Kay Johnson finds herself in an unusual predicament, she has a vacancy left in her weekly dating schedule. She has made it quite clear to all the men she is dating that she won't get serious with any of them, and a date is simply all they are going to get, nothing more. Yet some of her "dates" believe they can convince Kay to give up her single lifestyle and settle down, and yet others are trying to pressure her for more than just a casual date without the commitment strings attached.

But for once Kay want to be taken seriously as both a woman and a flight nurse, but with her ongoing reputation as being a flirt, she can't get anyone to notice her best efforts. If only one of her flights could run into danger like all the other flight nurses on her team have, then she could show them all, she is simply more than a pretty face. But the one man, Kay sets her heart on, wants nothing to do with her. Roger Cooper, one of her C-47 pilots on occasion has heard of Kay, from all his co-workers and has his own aspirations on making a success in the service, if he can only gain the respect of his superiors. But when he consistent shows up late, they believe they need to look somewhere else. Is is possible that God has a plan in mind when He pairs Kay and Roger together? You will simply need to pick this one up to find out and it's definitely going to be a bumpy ride.

I received In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin compliments of Revell Publishing and Litfuse Publicity which provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for a review and have not received any monetary compensation for a favorable review. If you're like me and love having WWII as the backdrop for your romance novels, then you will absolutely love this one. The thing that keeps this honest and real for me is that the characters have flaws, they aren't perfect and the struggles that they are each dealing with are ones we can relate to. Not feeling like we measure up to others standards and are our own worst enemy at times. Instead of asking for help dealing with our struggles we pull away out of fear of what others think about us, when in the end, we are all more alike than we think.

Sarah's writing style is superb with attention to detail that makes you feel like you can hear the roar of the C-47's engines and the pull of the plane as it attempts to take off from less than ideal runaways.She also utilizes the stories of the 802nd Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron for ideas to incorporate into this novel and ones can you read more about on her website. For the romance lover at heart, you are sure to fall in love with Sarah's novels. Even though this is part of the Wings of Nightingale Series, you can read it as a stand alone as each novel takes one of the characters you meet and provides you with an indepth look at how each of Kay's co-workers are dealing with the responsibilities and duties of a flight nurse. For me, a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and also includes discussion guide questions at the conclusion of this novel.

For more information about In Perfect Time, Sarah Sundin, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin

You can also find Sarah Sundin on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on In Perfect Time, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


Don't miss Sarah Sundin's hot-off-the-press novel, In Perfect Time. Publishers Weekly gives it an enthusiastic thumbs up: “Sundin excels at well-researched historical detail . . . with such accurate depictions of culture and setting that we are fully immersed in the times as well as in the story. The strength of relationships forged in war and the apprehension of God in times of trouble infuse this well-crafted novel with substance and light.”

Sarah is celebrating the release of her book with a fun giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• The Wings of the Nightingale Series (With Every Letter, On Distant Shores, and In Perfect Time)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 24th. Winner will be announced August 25th at Sarah's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Sarah's blog on the 25th to see if you won! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

Out of the Ruins

"God, I'll do anything. I'll be anything. Whatever You want - name it. Just make her better. And You'd better be listening God, because I'm going to make one last promise. If You dare take her away...I'll never speak to You again." (pg 16).

When Abby Fischer made that prayer to God as a promise to her sister Cecilia who was dying of leukemia, she believed God would send help. She never expected it would be in the arms of the man who would help her out of the tree she had crawled in to for her private prayer time. Dr. Robert King, is her cousin Gerald's assistant. Just when all hope is lost for a cure for Cecilia, Robert believes that the latest treatment involving X-rays may be the last option for helping to prolong her life. All of the previous treatments involving morphine and arsenic have failed to bring about the answer to prayer they have been searching for.

Now it seems as if God has indeed provided her with that answer. Armed with the latest textbooks that have shown that a researcher in Chicago discovered one of his cancer patients improved when he irradiated the tumors. Apparently, the radiation not only penetrates the body, it appears to target and kill cancerous cells specifically. Now they can only hope that Cecilia will be strong enough for the treatment to work. Ir could help her gain back some of vitality and provide more time for the treatment to eradicate the cancerous cells.

Yet what Robert and Gerald fear is that the family is making them into heroes and banking on the fact that the cure will work and Cecilia will be healed. But since this treatment is still only exploratory at best and still in the research phase they still don't know how much radiation or length of time she needs to be under the Xray machine. If they're not careful they could end up causing her more damage than healing. No matter how much they try and convey honest expectations to the family and Cecilia, Abby believes God is going to answer their prayer. Only time will tell and it may be that time will be their worst enemy as the great earthquake from 1906 prepares to rock the city.

I received Out of the Ruins from Karen Barnett 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 unless otherwise notated. This is such a great novel based on the two fold research that went into its creation. From the background on medical practices of the early 1900's to the unfolding of the tragic earthquake that devastated San Francisco in 1906. Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does. I found myself relating quite a bit to Abby. While she has such a profound love for her sister, she is still weak in her faith and believes prayer is simply a wish list for God to answer. She will have her faith tested in the direst of circumstances when she finds herself all alone in a city while her family remains lost in the multitude attempting to escape the ruins of San Francisco and find safety. She learns that God never leaves us in the midst of our circumstances but walks faithfully by our side from beginning to end. This is the first novel in the Golden Gate Chronicles and I can't wait to see what lies in store in the next novel. I loved this one and can easily give it a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Out of the Ruins, Karen Barnett, or where you can pick up a a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Out of the Ruins by Karen Barnett

You can also find Karen Barnett on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Out of the Ruins, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.


Don't miss the debut book, Out of the Ruins, in Karen Barnett's new series, The Golden Gate Chronicles. Set against the backdrop of early 20th century San Francisco, Out of the Ruins will remind readers that no matter who we are or what we’ve done, God is still as close to us as our next breath.

Karen is celebrating with a fun giveaway and Facebook author chat party.

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Out of the Ruins by Karen Barnett

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 19th. Winner will be announced at the Out of the Ruins Facebook author chat party on June 19th. Connect with Karen for an evening of fun book chat, games, and prizes. Karen will also be answering audience questions and giving an exclusive look at the next book in The Golden Gate Chronicles series!

So grab your copy of Out of the Ruins and join Karen on the evening of June 19th 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 19th!

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

To read more reviews on Simple Faith, please visit the Pump Up Your Book Tour page.

A Promise in Pieces

Often times we look back on our life by the time we are old and wonder if anything we have done has meant anything. Has our life created a legacy that shows where we have walked and left footprints on the hearts of those around us? Clara Kirkpatrick has always wondered if God was calling her to something more, something greater. She found it on the cusp of World War II when she ran away from home to become a nurse. Her parents didn't want her to go, and she lied to them about signing up. But in her heart, she felt God was pulling her in that direction. To give something more of herself than simply growing up as a preacher's daughter. She never dreamed she would break their hearts.

Yet she found her true calling. Something that would connect her life forever through the threads she would weave in the lives of the people she touched. That was the day she met Gareth, a wounded man she met as a nurse who showed her how you could combine a love for God and still serve in the war. Knowing there was little more she could do for him, than offer to hold his hand, since his injuries were life threatening and being without pain meds, she offered comfort in his final moments. His last request was a letter to his wife, and a promise that Clara would deliver his final declarations of love in person to Mattie. It was a promise she would keep.

It was one of the most difficult times in her life when the war was finally over, giving that letter to Mattie in person. She could understand it if she would refuse to talk to her, but Mattie had a true heart after God. After reading the letter, Mattie gave her a quilt she had made hoping that one day her and Gareth might begin a family. Now that he was dead, she knew in her heart she could never marry and with that the promise of children with Gareth would never be fulfilled. Since Clara was a nurse she asked Mattie if she might stitch the names of the children who had been lost in the war or as a result of childbirth into the quilt to remember them and to also pray for those children who would now grow up without a father.

It would be Clara's legacy and promise that she too, would never marry for fear that death would rob her of love. But God had other plans in store for Clara, one that would take her life farther than she would ever dream and create something that began with a promise and restore all those broken pieces in her life to something of beauty to be passed on to her family. This is Clara's story and one that will impact your life as well as it did hers .

I received A Promise in Pieces by Emily T. Wierenga 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 are strictly my own. This was such a beautiful story of a servant's life, Clara's life and how God can use the broken places in our own lives to restore us and create something true beautiful with them. We will be able to look back and see how God took those messes in our life and we make marks by moving forward in those dark times. We might not see it until we turn around and look back, but it's there. For those that love WWII as your backdrop coupled with a beautiful story of love and redemption than this is the perfect book for you. As an addition to the Quilts of Love series, this book doesn't have to be read in order but as a stand alone, but trust me, if you love quilts and the stories they hold, you'll want to pick up all of them.I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. It has found a permanent place in my bookshelf with the rest!

For more information about A Promise in Pieces, Emily T. Wierenga, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Promise in Pieces by Emily T. Wierenga

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The latest Quilts of Love release, A Promise in Pieces by Emily Wierenga is receiving glowing reviews.

Emily is celebrating the release of her debut novel with a "Women Helping Women" shopping spree giveaway.

  One winner will receive:

• $200 to spend at Emily's favorite shops, Noonday Collection & Vibella (Click through to learn more about how these companies exist to make a difference in the lives of women!)
• A Promise in Pieces by Emily Wierenga
• A Stitch and a Prayer by Eva Gibson
• Rival Hearts by Tara Randel

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 10th. Winner will be announced on the Quilts of Love blog on May 12th. Then be sure to stop by the Quilts of Love Facebook page on May 29th for the "Quilting Bee" Facebook party with Emily and other Quilts of Love authors. RSVP for an evening of book chat, quilting tips & tricks, prizes, and more!

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