Family Tree

I don't think there hasn't been a time or two in anyone's life where they didn't second guess the "What if's in their life." What if I had taken a different job, dated a different person, had kids, not had kids, moved away, followed a dream to the end. Life can sometimes be that paradox for some, as it is in the case of Family Tree by Susan Wiggs.

Annie Rush had a life some would envy but deep down inside, I believe she wishes it was different on many levels. Sure she had her dream of taking a cooking show centered around one "key ingredient" and making it a hit of the same name. Married to an incredibly handsome man, Martin who is also the star of the show, and you'd think you have the definition of success. Just when she thinks she has achieved the proverbial "cherry on top" when she discovers she is pregnant, she rushes off to tell her husband the great news only to discover he has been sleeping with his co-host.

Now that her dreams are coming undone, she also finds herself the victim of an industrial accident only to wake up after being in a coma for a year to have everything over in a nutshell. Her husband has divorced her and moved on taking the cooking show with him, and she has landed up back with her family in Vermont with a fresh start ahead of her. Perhaps this is where she will get to take the road less traveled and get an opportunity at a second chance for happiness in life when she runs into her high-school sweetheart Fletcher. Now it is time to see what the road ahead looks like as she has to begin all over again, despite all the short-comings of her past life.

I received Family Tree by Susan Wiggs compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of the novel in exchange for my honest review. While this will appeal to some contemporary romance fans, most of my reader base will not like the moral dilemmas facing Annie with her lifestyle choices between Martin and Fletcher's romantic interludes. For this reason, I have given this one a 3 out of 5 stars. Not that situations like this don't happen every day, but for a majority of my readers will not like the sexual content that is covered between the pages of this novel. When reading the premise for this novel I had expected something quite different than what this one delivered for me. This novel does spend quite a bit of time toggling between past and present day for those who might not enjoy that in a novel.

For more information about Family Tree, Susan Wiggs or where you can pick up a copy of this novel due out in August 2016, please click on the links below:

Family Tree by Susan Wiggs

You can find Susan Wiggs on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Family Tree, please visit William Morrow's website.

Love At First Note

They always say that opposites attract, but when a classic violist is coupled with a love interest who is a famous pianist who blends contemporary mash ups together, can they find a way to make beautiful music together?

Jenny Proctor takes her readers for a romantic journey into the hearts of two very different music lovers, Emma Hill who has been playing the violin since she was able to properly hold it and Elliot Hart, a rising star famous for his recent wins on Talent Hunt and viral sensation on YouTube for his amazing ability to play the piano in a unique way that draws audiences to him like a moth to a flame. Not only that he isn't too bad to look at either. But Emma firmly believes she must remain committed to her violin if she has any hope in making it her future and that is why she has sworn off of love and any remote resemblance of it in her life. It doesn't help when her roommate, Lilly tries all she can to convince Emma to at least be friendly to their new neighbor who happens to live right next door in their duplex. They are literally separated only by a wall and that doesn't keep their music from being heard in their respective homes.

Jenny commit social suicide the first time she meets Elliot and becomes more than tongue tied. In fact, everything she thinks of saying, manages to find their way out of her mouth and she confesses she loves him during their first conversation. Oh how can she manage to fix this and remain unseen whenever he is around? Is it possible that God has another plan in mind for this two music lovers?

I received Love at First Note by Jenny Proctor compliments of Covenant Communications for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions contained here are my own honest and personal evaluations of the novel. This is a cute and quirky romance that people will adore because as we all know, love isn't something people fall into comfortably, it takes work and often times we are our worst enemy in getting in the way. You will love the chemistry that develops between the two and even their music dueling between their homes becomes something you will absolutely love. This one rates a 4 out of 5 in my opinion and will be a hit for classic music lovers as well as fans of contemporary romance!

For more information about Love at First Note, Jenny Proctor or where you can pick up a copy of this novel, please click on the links below:

Love at First Note by Jenny Proctor

You can find Jenny Proctor on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Love at First Note, please visit Covenant Communication's website or visit any of these reviewers listed below:

*March 14th:
http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://emileeschristmasjoy.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/

*March 15th:  http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/

*March 16th:
http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/

*March 17th:
http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://empowermoms.net/

*March 18th:
 http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/index.html, https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://thethingsilovemost.com/

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Goodbye, Magnolia

I am such a huge sucker for Hallmark Romance Movies and most weekends, you will find me watching the latest one just before my day comes to an end. Partly because I believe in happily ever after and love at first sight. Such is the case in my own life, and I've often said my fairytale came true when I met my husband. That is why I love a great romance novel. Guess what I found another amazingly talented author who knows just how to write a great romance too, Krista Noorman. In her latest novel, Goodbye, Magnolia, she takes readers into a college life between Maggie James and Simon Walker where they met at a Christian college in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in a photography class of all places. It is where she was given the nickname Canon by Simon, and they would have made quite the pair except that Simon was more of what most girls would have called a player. With good lucks, a knockout smile and more charm than a girls bracelet, Simon had more than enough girls interested in him throughout college, and it was enough to keep Maggie far away from the likes of one like Simon.

Years later, as she is beginning her own wedding photography business in Hastings, she runs into Simon once again. It seems that his Uncle Pete, wants to give it a go at the photography business but unlike Maggie's photography style of capturing those once in a lifetime moments, Simon's is more your formal sittings. In fact, he is so sure, that they are at opposite sides of the wedding photography spectrum, he invites Maggie to help co-promote one another's business based on what each of their clients wants. It will garner them more publicity than if they go it alone, but Maggie believes she's wise to Simon's ways to put her out of business. That fact is even more solidified when her two friends, agree to hire Simon as their photographer as well as Maggie to get the best of both photography worlds.

Maggie is so sure of everything she believes about just who Simon is, that she purposely goes out of her way to make sure they don't work together any more than they need to, but lately it seems like every photo shoot she has scheduled, Simon is right there with her. Coincidence or merely healthy competition? All Maggie knows is based on her past love life and heart break, she can NEVER trust another man especially one like Simon to ever get involved in her life. Will Maggie be resolved to always be the photographer at someone else's wedding or is there hope for love in her future where she doesn't expect it? Time will tell!

I received Goodbye, Magnolia by Krista Noorman compliments of the author herself for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and aside from the free copy of the book, the opinions contained here are strictly my own honest and personal ones. This definitely needs to be picked up by Hallmark Movie Channel because it has all the right elements to make a successful movie. There are those moments of comedy when things don't exactly go off as planned, especially when it comes to capturing the perfect moment on film, to those tender heart felt moments where you are hoping against hope that they two will finally fall head over heels in love, and I applaud Krista's efforts to making this well worth the wait. Along the way, you meet some amazing characters such as Sarah, Maggie's assistant, DeDe, the wedding planner with all the right contacts, and even a guest appearance from Michael Bublè! Well worth every single one of the 5 out of 5 stars and I hope, we might see a sequel out of Krista before too long!

For more information about Goodbye, Magnolia, Krista Noorman or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Goodbye, Magnolia by Krista Noorman

You can find Krista Noorman on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

Once Upon a Summertime

I am so blessed to be able to read Melody Carlson's latest novel Once Upon a Summertime, before the closure of summer for me. What an incredible series this is going to be and I can't wait for the next novel in this series! For those looking for an exceptional romance, pick this one up! You won't be disappointed.

Anna Gordon has always had a heart for hospitality, and thus the reason for getting her degree in hotel management. Having lived a rough childhood, living on the streets at times, she relished those moments when they would find a place to stay in a motel. She tried her best at those times, to make it the best it good be, despite what her parents did, and the very reason why she had such a desire for those guests that would come to a place to stay, wanting to ensure that it was truly a great experience.

Yet she never dreamed after all those years of attending school, that she would wind up working at the Value Lodge and living on her grandmother's couch. While all her other friends, were busy living it up at exotic locations managing exceptional hotels, she was questioning if this is as good as her life would get. Was this what her degree would be used for? Not to mention that the Value Lodge was beyond run down and the employees lazy and without the same desire for seeing the potential of what could be. So when an offer to move to New York and help manage one of the high end newly renovated hotels becomes available, Anna believes God might just have a plan in mind if she is willing to place her faith in Him.

She meets a long time friend from home, Sean O'Neil, who most girls had crushes on in high school has now been appointed as the day manager. The two eventually realize that they need a friend while trying to make their way in an unfamiliar city, but if sparks begin to fly, they both could be out of a job when the hotel mandates a no romance or dating policy among it's employees or guests. But all Anna needs is a chance to prove herself worthy so she can move on to bigger and better goals and New York right now offers her the best chance at a new life, she had only dreamed of before.

I received Once Upon A Summertime by Melody Carlson compliments of Revell Publishing and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of the book for my honest and personal review. This was such a great novel, that I read it in one sitting. I was completely lost in the world of what it is like to manage a hotel, and being a huge dreamer of one day opening a Bed and Breakfast, this one will appealed to me. Readers even get a sneak peek at the second novel in this series, even though it is unnamed at this time, I can't wait to add this one to my personal collection at home. For me, this one well deserves all 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Once Upon A Summertime, Melody Carlson or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Once Upon A Summertime by Melody Carlson

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

To read more reviews on Once Upon A Summertime, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliances, book tour page. 

Betting on Hope

The man smelled like leather and sunshine and something spicy that drew her like a hummingbird to sugar water. She had to fight the urge to lean in and inhale. - Love it when you find great lines like these in a novel. (Betting on Hope, Debra Clopton). This had to be my favorite line in the latest novel from Debra Clopton. Here she introduces her readers to a new series, Four of Hearts Ranch Romance and Betting on Hope is the first novel to lead off this amazing series. If you love a great romance with a gentlemen-like cowboy, you will definitely want to make plans to rope this one up at your local retailer.

The series takes place in Wishing Springs, a small "Mayberry-like" community. The residents mean well but often find themselves in the middle of something that should have been better left alone. Tru Monahan is their local boy who has made a name for himself with his "Hollywood" good looks and manners that can smooth talk just about anyone he applies his warm words to. For Maggie Hope, she is the latest victim who falls hook, line and sinker, for Tru's cowboy like good looks and gentlemanly manners that quite literally keep sweeping her off her feet and into his arms. Maggie is known for being a bit clumsy and she wasn't at all prepared for this last minute interview with Tru Monahan for the local morning news show. Prepared with only a handful of questions, from her boss Amanda, Maggie steps in to interview Tru when Amanda falls ill. Just as the interview is about to spiral out of control, Tru does what he does best, sweet talking Maggie into staying calm and relaxing. That just puts more pressure on her to stick to being professional and stop falling for his dreamy eyes.

Soon the comments between the two being flying as Maggie tries to convey to Tru she wouldn't be caught dead on a horse. Tru responds that he can teach anyone to ride and soon an on the air bet challenges them both to a contest. Tru will have two month so teach Maggie not only to get over her fear of horses and riding but to also compete in a cutting contest. Maggie doesn't feel like this is something she can manage, but when Amanda threatens to pull her advice column, Gotta Have Hope, Maggie knows she will have to put all that advice she's been handing out to everyone on her column and learn to find her own sense of hope in this situation. But will she be able to maintain a professional distance or will she fall in love with the man who seems to be all wrong for her?

I received Betting on Hope by Debra Clopton 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 expressed here are strictly my own unless otherwise notated. This novel central theme is all about sacrifice and how each person will be required to give up something for the sake of someone else. For some it will be a life changing one, while others will simply have to learn to let go of their pasts and see that they're not accountable for those mistakes that were made by others in their lives. This is a great series that I can't wait to get my hands on the next novel "Counting on A Cowboy." I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and it even includes a Reader's Discussion Guide at the conclusion of this novel that is perfect for book clubs.

For more information about Betting on Hope, Debra Clopton, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Betting on Hope by Debra Clopton

You can find Debra Clopton on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

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

Saddle up for a new romance from novelist Debra Clopton, Betting on Hope! In Wishing Springs, Maggie finds what she has always been looking for: a community and a home. But when her past catches up to her, it threatens everything, even the tender hope that this town holds all of her heart’s desires.

Enter to win a Kindle Fire HD 6 to celebrate the release of Betting on Hope! 

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A copy of Betting on Hope

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 8th. Winner will be announced March 9th on Debra's blog.

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Gooseberry Island

If you have never read any of Steven Manchester's novels, you really need to pick them up. For fans of romance or simply wanting something that honestly puts you in the driver's seat when it comes to your novels, Steven's novels do just that and more. I am honored to review his latest novel Gooseberry Island and literally read it in one sitting. Not too fast to finish it before I wanted, because once I finish, it will be quite some time before another one comes out. Great novels are like that. You get excited when you see your favorite author has come out with a new book. You don't even have to read the premise because everything you have read by them has been amazing, so you will instantly pick it up and buy it. But it is also bittersweet because you know the writing will so intense and exceptional, you are flipping your final page without realizing it and then it's over. No more until the next novel is written. Kinda like exceptional movie trilogy's. Once the final one hits the big screen, it is bittersweet.

In Gooseberry Island, we meet David McClain, an Army Ranger back for his second tour in Afghanistan and is hoping at some point in his life to find someone just like him, who is ready to settle down and start a family. But lately all he keeps finding is shallow women who are interested in the one thing most men are and don't want any strings attached. He had hoped he might find a special someone he could write to while he was serving overseas but perhaps it is for the best. Who knows if he will make it home this time, and would hate to have started something only to leave their heart broken if the inevitable should happen.

Lindsey Wood knows first hand the horrors of PTSD. Caring for her father who is dealing with the implications of war and PTSD, if he isn't checked in at the veteran's hospital for her own well being, he is struggling to make sense of the nightmares he has when he is home. It isn't the first time that Lindsey has been on the receiving end of her fathers fists unable to awaken from the horrors he faced during the war. She knows it's not her father's fault but hopes that there is something that can be done, without having him committed to the hospital for both their benefits.

Lindsey and David fall for one another quite literally on the beach one afternoon, when Lindsey's dog trips David while running. The two of them immediately hit it off in more ways than one, but it is bittersweet because it is on the very same day that David has left before he ships out. It is hard to put their finger on it, but Lindsey and David know there is something more to their connection that they realize and vow to get to know each other more while David is away for the next year. But we all know war changes a person, but will David be the same person he was when he left Gooseberry Island or will the war take yet another casualty when he arrives home?

I received Gooseberry Island by Steven Manchester compliments of the author himself and Story Plant Publishers for my honest review. Besides the complimentary copy of the book, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I absolutely LOVED this novel. The storyline was compelling enough to keep me engaged in both the characters and I didn't realize that more returning soldiers and veteran's die of suicide than the war claims! It is heart breaking, believable and pulls at your emotional heart strings because you are rooting for David and Lindsey the whole time. You are biting your nails wondering if David will make it home during his tour, and makes you realize how strong the ties are between soldiers who return from the war with their teammates. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

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

Gooseberry Island by Steven Manchester

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

You can learn more about Gooseberry Island by visiting The Story Plants website.

Proof of Angels

"Life is not just a bunch of disconnected events and people. It's not just a random stream of coincidences. There are reasons, and we may not know them or recognize them and we may not understand them, but we have to trust that there are reasons beyond us, because I've seen it work out enough. It doesn't mean we will all live forever. It doesn't mean bad things won't happen or we won't feel sad sometimes, but it does mean that we can't discount the miraculous in the mundane." (209).

Firefight Sean Magee never believed in angels before even as he watched his nephew Colm die after numerous attempts to try and save him from his heart defect. As Colm slowly passed from this world to the next, Sean knew that despite all the claims Colm had that heaven was real, he still doubted. He doubted until he saw what he believed was an angel at Colm's side that night. He wouldn't remember it was the very same until Sean found himself trapped in a burning building. Unable to locate his way out in the black smoke, Sean uttered a prayer to God that if he saved him, he would spend the rest of his life being a better man, and just like that the angel appeared to lead him to the third floor window. Sean's only issue was jump from this height or risk being burned further from the flames following him out.

So he jumped, not knowing if he would die in the process or be forever crippled and unable to walk. When he woke up, he was neither. Against all the odds, Sean lived even though it would take months of rehabilitation to restore his shattered legs and back and recover from the burns. Now as he spends time thinking about how he can make good on his promises, he can't help but wonder if angels are real or if he was just imagining that had happened. He would eventually discover that" the secret to happiness is not wanting. It's not getting what you've always hoped for or imagined. It's managing your expectations." (275). Perhaps, just perhaps, there are angels after all in the unlikeliest of places, just when we need them the most.

I received Proof of Angels by Mary Curran Hackett compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins 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. I loved this novel, especially after being familiar with Sean Magee where readers were introduced to him in Proof of Heaven. This is his story, "about finding second chances, about failure and forgiveness, about doubt and faith, and about all the angels who touch us along the way. The ones who might just bump into us long enough to nudge us on our way and the ones who stay in our lives forever and guide us indefatigably toward the light."(24). I give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and truly believe that there are angels around us, and some happen to be the people we need in our lives who are inspired and encouraged to help make us all better people. There is also Reading Group Discussion Questions at the conclusion of this novel.

For more information about Proof of Angels, Mary Curran Hackett, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Proof of Angels by Mary Curran Hackett

You can find Mary Curran Hackett on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

For more reviews on Proof of Angels, please visit William Morrow's website. 

The Mason Jar

While some have compared James Russell Lingerfelt's novel, The Mason Jar to Nicholas Sparks, I would beg to differ. While the story does deal with a love between college students Clayton Fincannon and Eden Valmont, I was missing something in the story that connected me to the plight that these two faced. Like all great love stories, Clayton, known as Finn, falls in love through a series of dates at Pepperdine College with Eden Valmont. They learn they share the same desire to work with underprivileged children in third world countries and both vow that their futures will be in the mission field.

The Mason Jar begins as Eden learns that Finn has written a book about their love story as she has made her way back to Pepperdine for a homecoming of sorts for alumni's and wonders if Finn still hold hard feelings towards her for abrupting ending their relationship in the form of a "Dear Finn" letter, never fully explaining the reason for leaving. The novel showcases that story as Eden spends time reading about his interpretation of their college romance and how he struggled to cope with the loss without really knowing why.

You learn that Finn tried to resolve some of those feelings by leaving for a mission trip to Africa to begin a microlending program there in hopes of truly helping the people. It turned out to be one of the most successful programs to date with a 98% success rate. But through it all, he could never resolve the feelings of love he still had in his heart for Eden. Something he tries hard to figure out in a series of letters he writes to his grandfather. When he was growing up they shared questions and answers by leaving a series of notes for one another in a glass mason jar. Those sagely letters are ones that Finn keeps with him as he tries to find a coping mechanism that will work to get Eden out of his head and heart. But like all great advice his grandfather dispense out, that isn't the case. He learns a lot from his grandfather in the process and finds himself coming home when his grandfather grows ill and subsequently passes away. It isn't until he is going through his grandfather's office that he finds the final letter that may allow him to finally move forward without simply forgetting the past.

I received The Mason Jar by James Russell Lingerfelt compliments of William and Keats Publishing and Litfuse Publicity as a complimentary copy 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. I wish the novel were a bit longer to allow for further character development between Finn's grandfather, and between Finn and Eden. I am also confused by the issue that one back cover of the book it refers to Eden as Savannah when that name isn't mentioned in the book. A bit confusing for me as I began my journey into this novel at first.

There is some great advice I love that Finn's grandfather dispenses in his letters to Finn, my favorite being, "Remember we become what our minds dwell on. It's proven in cognitive psychology that if we dwell on negative thoughts, we become negative people. 'A man reaps what he sows." If we live in the past, in a world that we cannot change, we only grow estranged from the present. We stop growing and decay. If he past brings good memories, let them brighten your present day, but do not long for their return or dwell on them. For it is the present day that must be taken care of if we are to expect to live fruitfully tomorrow. "(pg 202).

With that being said, I rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars and plan on keeping it on my permanent shelf not so much for the story content but for the advice I found in Finn's grandfather's letters. For more information about The Mason Jar, James Russell Lingerfelt, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Mason Jar by James Russell Lingerfelt

You can find James Russell Lingerfelt on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Mason Jar, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.


James Russell Lingerfelt's debut novel, The Mason Jar, is hot-off-the-press and causing quite the buzz. It's even been optioned for a feature film and is in pre-production.

Catch the spark by entering James' Kindle Fire giveaway!

 
One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• The Mason Jar by James Russell Lingerfelt

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 19th. Winner will be announced October 20th at James Russell's blog, Love Story from the Male Perspective. 

Making Marion

I love it when you find a great novel that is written from an English author, because there are terms that are used that are quite different from the same words we would use here in the US. I've been delighted to partake of Beth Moran's latest novel, Making Marion: Where's Robin Hood When You Need Him? While it does utilize the elements from the story of Robin Hood, it is simply a whole lot more. There is simply something tucked away beneath the covers of this novel for everyone.

While I would classify this one as a contemporary romance, it adds some comedy to keep things a bit lively. Our main character, Marion Miller is searching for more information about her father, who has recently passed away. But more than that, it's about discovering who Marion really is in the process since dealing with some horrible things as a child, the first of which is losing her father, which she adored. Her mother, unable to deal with such a heavy loss, places all the blame on a young Marion at the time, for disturbing her father, instead of letting him rest. Her words are so harsh to Marion, telling her that she literally talked her father to death, that Marion refuses to speak another word in fear of killing her mother as well. It makes the reader really think about the things we may say to our own children and family members while caught up in deep emotion, and how that may impact them for the rest of their lives.

Marion's mother abandons her in a sense spending her days, locked away in her room, leaving a young child to essentially raise herself. Something that Marion will  have to work out by the conclusion of the novel. Meanwhile now that Marion is grown, she sets out to discover more about her father, since her mother refuses to speak with her. So she heads to the location of the annual Sherwood Festival, which takes place at the Peace and Pigs campsite. All Marion has to go off of is a picture of her father,dressed like Robin Hood and believes this is just the place to learn more about him. But like all family secrets, it will take a miracle to uncover the back story on her father. Along the way, she will be befriended by the owner of the Peaces and Pigs, Scarlett who immediately becomes a bit of a mentor and mother figure to Marion. She is one you truly LOVE by the end.

I received Making Marion by Beth Moran compliments of Kregel Publications and Lion Hudon Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own. This is a wonderful story of how something tragic like Marion's childhood is able to be restored by the love of others who simply let her mature under their watchful eyes and help her to heal all those scars from their past. It is a reminder as well that the things that have devastated us from the past, don't have to hold us back from the futures that lie in front of us and the harm that can come from the unwillingness to let go of the bitterness and anger taking root inside. I absolutely LOVED how it all turned out in the end, not all tied up with a pretty bow, but with some great reflection, a love for those mentors and angels who come along when we need them the most, and for restoration of our hearts. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Making Marion, Beth Moran or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Making Marion: Where's Robin Hood When You Need Him by Beth Moran

You can find Beth Moran on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Making Marion, please visit Kregel Publication's website.

Pressed Pennies

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

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

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

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

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

Pressed Pennies by Steven Manchester

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

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

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

E-book Price: $9.99

Publication Date: May 13, 2014

355 pages

Unwritten

"I wanted to get out of there before someone found us. Accused us. Steady sat unfazed. Unmoving. She curled into a fetal position in his lap while he whispered in the air above her.

The circular burn around her neck was not going away any time soon. A tattoo sans ink. As were the burns on my hands. I made my way to the kitchen sink, ran cold water over the raw meat in my palms, and then handed a wet towel to Steady. He dabbed her neck. Soothing her skin.

She lay there, sobbing. Shaking uncontrollably. What I saw was not the women who lit the silver screen, walked the red carpet, graced the cover of Vogue, People, or name your tabloid, but a broken human being at the bottom. I slid down the wall, and sat quietly, deciding something I'd long since suspected but never known for sure. Man, or woman, is not made to be worshipped. We are not physically cut out for it. Life in the spotlight, on the pedestal, at the top of the world was a lonely, singular, desolate, soul-killing place." (pg 42).

To say that Katie Quinn was on top of the world, would be an understatement. She could have anything she ever dreamed and nothing was out of her reach. Being the highest paid female in Hollywood, she could command an 8 figure salary on anything she signed her name to and others got paid to make sure that happened. But money doesn't buy you happiness no matter how much you have and that is something Katie has discovered as she realizes this isn't the life she ever dreamed it would be. Most don't, until they live it and after awhile, desperately wish things were different.

Thankfully for her, Steady, her priest, realized that she was going to attempt suicide that afternoon when she went to confession leaving all her worldly possessions and power of attorney of her estate to him. Now he just needed to find a way to reach the person she was outside of Hollywood's leading roles and find a way to heal the pain so deep inside her that the only way to relieve that pain would be to take a gracefully bow off her penthouse in Miami. But God has other plans in store for Katie and it will begin by first choosing one of three doors set before her. Once she chooses, she can never go back. He just hopes she will choose the right one.

I received Unwritten by Charles Martin 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 expressed in this review are strictly my own, except where otherwise noted. Charles Martin is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. In fact, just seeing his name on any book will guarantee I will read it. There are that great! Think Nicholas Sparks, Dan Walsh, Andy Andrews and you have an idea of the type of novel that will completely captivate you and transport you to a time and place of the characters you will discover there. This is the story of how broken people can find healing again, if, they are willing to search for it. It lies within us all and I think there is a part of us that can relate to Katie or Sunday, the man who offers to walk by her side for the journey. What you will discover in the end, is something so remarkable you have to pick up a copy of Unwritten and read it for yourself. There are second chances and fresh starts waiting just inside! I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars! Unforgettable!!!

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

Unwritten by Charles Martin

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

To read more reviews on Unwritten, please visit Center Street Publishing's website. 

For the Love of Pete

Ever since Bethany Hanahan moved back to Bloomfield after her husband Charlie passed away two and a half years ago, people have been after her to get rid of the clutter - first her mother Naomi and then a few other garden club members who meant well. But until recently, she didn't see it as clutter. To Bethany, it was all about the memories. Charlie had been a wonderful husband and father before he found out he had advanced stage prostate cancer. After he passed away, her mother had tried to talk her into returning to Bloomfield, but she decided to wait until Ashley finished high school before moving into the modest house Charlie's parents had left them.

Charlie and Pete both worked for their families' businesses part-time during high school, with the understanding they'd eventually go full-time until their parent retired. Bethany and Charlie hung around for a couple of years, but he grew tired of Bloomfield and the small-town quirkiness. Leaving her family and friends, she moved away with him as soon as he could find a job. She compensated for her homesickness by finding joy in Charlie's happiness.

Bethany once thought they might eventually move back to Bloomfield, but after Ashley was born, that changed. Bethany and Charlie didn't want to pull their daughter away from the church-based social life that kept her busy with so many activities. But now all of that changed with Charlie's death. If only she could find a way to part with the many knick knacks that now filled her small home literally to overflowing leaving no room for movement or cleaning. If only she knew a way to do that, she just might more than light at the end of the tunnel in moving on.

In the novel For the Love of Pete by Debby Mayne, Bethany Hanahan remains at the center of what her mother Naomi believes is best for her and trying to find a happy medium to keep her sanity in tack. She just isn't ready to part with the overflowing keepsakes from Charlie's mother, the gifts that Charlie and Ashley have helped her collect over the years they had with one another, but now it seems that everyone knows what's best for Bethany without taking her feelings into consideration. All except Pete, who has always carried a torch for Bethany since he and Charlie vied for her heart so many years ago. But Pete isn't sure when will be the right time to tell her how he felt even though everyone else in town can see it as plain as day. Is there hope for Pete to find a way into Bethany's already cluttered and overflowing life? Only time will tell!

I received For the Love of Pete by Debby Mayne compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. I can understand the conflicts that Bethany is facing with each object that has filled her home. It carries with it the time and place of someone close to her, the day she got it and most importantly the love she feels by touching it and remembering. Her mother only wants to see her moving on with her life instead of remaining locked away in her home with only things from the past keeping her company. Pete is the perfect hero to come along at a time when she really needs a true friend! I rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars and love how well Debby Mayne put all the elements together to create a truly remarkable series readers will love.

For more information For the Love of Pete, Debby Mayne, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

For the Love of Pete by Debby Mayne

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

To read more reviews on For the Love of Pete from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour, click here. 

• Series: A Bloomfield Novel
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (January 15, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 143367730X
• ISBN-13: 978-1433677304
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches

Whispers on the Dock

The mystery of what happened to Hannah Montague is still in the minds of Sam Carter, Caroline Marris and Gracie Gold, three sisters who are all co-owners of the Misty Harbor Inn. They are still no closer to finding out any more clues than they had hoped and lately everything has been coming to a dead end. With the issue that this happened in the late 1800's before most records were being stored, their only clues have been trying to trace handwritten post cards that Hannah left with encrypted codes. Rumor has it that Hannah went missing and may have stolen money from a church at the time. However the three sisters have a feeling that there is more to the story than what they have heard. When an elderly resident comes to stay at the Inn could she be the one to put all the missing pieces to rest once and for all?

Secret passages and rooms are still being discovered along with boxes and crates of items that belonged to each of the Inn's former owners. Will they be able to uncover the one thing that will link all the missing pieces together or will they find out that poor Hannah Montague met with a fate she wasn't expecting?

In the latest and final novel in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn by Evangeline Kelley, Whispers in the Dock ties up all the lingering answers in this heartwarming romance/mystery novel. Evangeline Kelley is the pen name for the writing team of Patti Berg, Pam Hanson, Barbara Andrews and Camy Tang and was one I was waiting for the put an perfect end to my summer reading series of novels. I got this one just in time to head to the beach for a perfect blend of sun, ocean waves and the romance that the ocean always brings.

While the three sisters continue searching for the solution to the mystery of Hannah Montague, each of them also has their own personal issues to deal with. For Caroline Marris is in the midst of making plans for her upcoming wedding to George and is finding things a bit challenging since she isn't feeling like your typical bride should be in looking forward to her wedding as well as searching for a home that they both will share once they are married. She's beginning to wonder if marriage is the right path for her after all.

Sam Carter, the Inn's resident baker extraordinaire is being challenged to enter her latest dessert creation in the town's baking contest, her blackberry cobbler using her mother's recipe with a little tweaking added. However she learns that the contest may be rigged when it seems that Betsy Carlisle has been the winner in the previous four years and then her mother five years before that. Will Sam be able to put the winning streak for Betsy Carlisle to an end or will her dessert wind up on the losing side?

Gracie Gold is still trying to find a buyer for her home since putting in all her inheritance money into the purchase of the Inn. It seems that her thirty five year old home needs more money in renovations than she is willing to spend and she struggles with making a decision to sell the only home that's been in her family for ages or cut her loss and sell it for whatever she can. Will she make the right decision that she can live with?

I received Whispers on the Dock by Evangeline Kelley compliments of Guideposts Publishing and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. I will be missing the three sisters that I've gotten to know this summer during my journey and stay at Misty Harbor Inn. It is bittersweet knowing that at least for now, this is where it all ends. I think the authors did an exceptional job at keeping the cliff hanger mystery going throughout all three of these charming novels and love all the little personal stories that have come along with them and in renovating a childhood Inn that their own mother used to talk about owning one day. I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and will be adding this one to the rest of the novels in this series to my summer beach bag to read again next year to spark those old familiar feelings of romance and intrigue once again.

For more information about Whispers on the Dock, Evangeline Kelley or where you can purchase a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Whispers on the Dock by Evangeline Kelley

You can also find more reviews for Whispers on the Dock on the Litfuse Book Tours by clicking here. 


Book three in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series, Whispers on the Dock(Guideposts Books) is now available. Come back to Nantucket and be enthralled by the final installment of the cozy intrigue of Misty Harbor Inn.

Enter to win the entire set of Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn.

Three winners will receive:

• Seaside Summer, Sunflower Summer and Whispers on the Dock by Evangeline Kelley

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 31st. All winners will be announced September 2nd at the Litfuse blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 2nd to see if you won one set! (Or better yet, subscribe to our blog (via the box in the top right sidebar) and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

The Path to Piney Meadows

What does a city boy from Minneapolis and an Mennonite girl have in common with two chickens?

The premise behind the incredible novel, The Path to Piney Meadows by author Gail Sattler. Chad Allen is tired of being used at his job while his friend Gary took all the credit. He had the big office and Chad's was a mere closet. Still being at work on Christmas Eve while everyone else had left for the day makes him realize this is not how he wants to spend his life. After working hard to gain his degree it's time he tries something new and tonight is that breaking point. He has been the one making this company a success and one that Gary isn't willing to appreciate by making him partner. So with a post it note that say's simply, "I quit!" and thumb tacked to the monitor of his computer, Chad gets in his car headed north. Not sure where he will wind up all he knows is he has to find a new life. The only problem with that theory is he forgot to check his gas and soon finds himself in the middle of nowhere and in desperate need of gas.

Chad stumbles upon a small town called Piney Meadows and locates the only gas station in town. One that is closed on Christmas Eve. Not exactly being prepared for this last minute trip is truly an understatement as Chad ventures out into the cold night walking to a busy lighted church. He is hoping to locate someone who can give him some gas or at least tell him when the gas station opens. He does run into Ted Wiebe who is the owner of the local furniture store in town. He tells Chad that the gas station won't open for the next two days and he is welcome to stay at his home, providing he is willing to leave the keys to his car and driver's license with Ted, since he is taking his fiancè to the airport and Ted doesn't know Chad. Ted learns that Chad has a college degree and offers him a chance to help manage the furniture company as he was just looking to find someone. Seems like God has plans for this city boy to wind up just where he did tonight.

Chad's surprised to learn that he has wound up in the Mennonite community and there are no such luxuries like television to keep him occupied while he stays at Ted's house. He is pleased when he receives a phone call from Anna Janzen, Ted's secretary, offering him a dinner invitation at her house next door. Seems Ted wants to make sure that Chad is well taken care of til he returns. However when Ted asks Chad to stay a couple of days to give him an opportunity to fly to Seattle with his fiancè, Chad realizes that he finds peace and a sense of calm being in Piney Meadows away from the stress of being in the big city of Minneapolis. Anna on the other hand can't wait to leave the town of Piney Meadows and hopes to gain some knowledge of what lies just outside the city she has been born and raised in. She hopes that she and Chad might work together so that he can find a home in Piney Meadows and she can find a life for herself in Minneapolis. But will a city boy be able to fit in this small town country life or will the call of the city be simply to great for him to leave behind for good?

You'll have to pick up a copy of The Path to Piney Meadows to find out! I received a copy of The Path to Piney Meadows by Gail Sattler compliments of Abingdon Press for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is my first novel by author Gail Sattler and I can't wait to read The Narrow Path which tells the story of Ted and Miranda who we meet at the onset of this one. I love how Gail blends the differences between Old Order Mennonites meet the world of the English in her novels and love how they try and work things out. For example, a man who cooks is met with confusion since men aren't supposed to set foot in the kitchens of the Mennonites except to eat and chickens were never intended to be more than a food source but to Chad they are never gone end up as anything but old and gray, if chickens can get gray. This was such a delightful and charming summer read for me and I have to give this one a 5 out of 5 stars for all the fun and laughs I gained by reading this one.

For more information about The Path to Piney Meadows, Gail Sattler or where you can preorder a copy of this one due out in August, please click on the links below:

The Path to Piney Meadows by Gail Sattler

You can also follow Gail Sattler on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

You can also find more information out on Gail Sattler's website.

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (August 20, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426733550
• ISBN-13: 978-1426733550

Beach Colors

Margaux Sullivan is at the end of her rope. Once at the top of her game in the fashion world, creating breath-taking designs and clothes, her husband Louis, emptied the house, their bank account and her world when he left without saying anything. Now that she has her car and a little money left, she heads back to her childhood home, a beach front house in Crescent Cove, Connecticut. Just before she finally makes it to her retreat, red and blue flashing lights appear in her rearview mirror. This is part of her past she didn't see coming, literally.

Nick Prescott is the Chief-of-Police and when a speeding blue convertible heads into his down just before the height of summer, he knows his days will be longer than he ever thought. Pulling her over, Nick learns that the driver of the car, is the girl from his childhood, the one who captured his heart then and now it seems has snagged it once more. As he hands her a speeding ticket, he realizes that even though so many years have separated them, she will always have a place in his life, even though she doesn't know it.

Nick is beyond overwhelmed with not only his job, but taking care of his nephew Connor, who was abandoned by his mother one day when she decided to drop him off at a neighbors and never returned. She simply couldn't deal with the loss of her husband and the burden of raising a child on her own. Now however, Connor has been dealing with tragedy by isolating himself and has come to lock himself inside his own little world, no longer the little boy that he should be. Nick knows between himself and his mother, they will try everything to help him recover, if Nick can only find a way to reach him.

In the beautiful novel, Beach Colors by Shelley Noble, Nick and Margaux have to learn to deal with challenges that are often outside of their control and learn to accept help from others. It doesn't label them as weak or failures, it simply shows us that with the love of friends and family, we can weather through any of life's storms. This is a beautiful summer read, that captivated it so richly, I could feel the warm summer breezes and see the details landscapes and colors that Shelley Noble so eloquently describes. She places the reader in her book so well, you are disappointed when you realize you aren't really there. The characters are vibrant and personable, the setting breath-taking and above all, the storyline is magical, just the perfect recipe for success in my opinion.

I received Beach Colors compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and I absolutely love Shelley Noble's writing style. It conveys a warmth and love for her characters that appeals to the reader and keeps the story engaging so you simply can't put it down. While this is my first book from her, it most certainly won't be my last. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and a must read for anyone looking for a bit of romance along a small beach side town and filled with starry nights, hopes and dreams just waiting to be fulfilled.

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

Beach Colors by Shelley Noble

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Q: A Novel - Giveaway and Review

What would happen if somewhere in the future, the ability to travel through time became a reality? What if you could travel back in time to talk to your earlier version of yourself and stop events before they could ruin your life and make you miserable? Would you do it?

In the novel, Q by Evan Mandery, this is the premise for the story. A man in the story is never mentioned by his name, which is odd when you consider it but it doesn't interrupt the story. He meets the girl of his dreams. She is cute, funny, and they have many of the same qualities in common from favorite game show hosts to frozen TV dinners. She comes from a family whose father, John Deveril, owns one of the top 10 construction companies and is always looking for the next big business project. He on the other hand, is a professor and a writer working on his second novel. His first, Time's Broken Arrow is published but is struggling to find readers who can enjoy the book without falling sleep or using it for a doorstop.

He can completely imagine a life with Q, whose real name is Quentina Elizabeth Deveril, and is set on making plans for a wedding with her when his future self shows up, he is confused. Not sure just what is going on, he arranges for a series of meetings to find out what is going on and what does it mean for him. Ultimately the message is the same, do not marry Q! To find out why, well, you're going to have to pick this one up!

I received this book compliments of TLC Book Tours for my honest review and LOVED it! Never imagined this type of scenario for a story but could empathize both with the present day and future versions of the man in Q's life. I would highly recommend this one for any reader looking for a twist on your traditional romance stories! I would rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information on this book, the author and even where to purchase a copy of this book, click on the links below:

Q: A Novel by Evan Mandery

You can find out more about Evan Mandery by visiting his website here.

Thanks to the generous folks at TLC Book Tours and Harper Collins Publishers, they are offering a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog. Here are your guidelines:

1. You must be a follower of Reviews From The Heart, so you don't miss out on some great books to add to your reading library and wish list.

2. You must live in the US or Canada or have a US or Canada shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

3. If you are the lucky winner of this giveaway, I will need a way to contact you, so please be sure to include your email address along with your comment. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

4. Leave me a comment and let me know why you would LOVE to win a copy of this book.

The giveaway will end on September 2nd and I will notify the winner by email at that time. This is such a great book, I know you will want to make sure you enter to win!