The Return of Cassandra Todd

When Turner Caldwell left high school behind, he had hoped all the memories of being bullied went right along with them. Being the focus of many high school pranks, he couldn't wait to graduate and leave those times long behind him. Yet little did he know that those old memories would resurface in unexpected ways and literally right under his nose. When Cassandra Todd and her three-year-old son, Justin arrive in town, all those old feelings of his high school crush come rushing back. She was the ever popular cheer leader and it seemed like even then she didn't acknowledge him so why should today be any different.

Working as a handy man at the Mountain View Motel in Lakewood, Colorado and attending college pretty much occupied all his hours in a day. He had hoped one day to reap the benefits of working for Camp Kopawanee and helping troubled teens in a survival camp. Now supplementing his college classes in outdoor education and Psychology, he had hoped to one day make a difference unlike his former life in high school. Taking his ever present to do list from Harvey Jones, the owner of the motel, he found himself face to face with Cassandra in Room 21 to replace the door chain. What he doesn't expect to to find himself involved in helping Cassandra and Justin hide from her abusive husband, and one time high school bully, Brad Duncan.

When Cassandra leaves him in the middle of the night hoping to find a safe haven, she didn't think she'd run into Turner Caldwell, but she truly believes in the power of prayer and knows Turner is sent to her from God to help. But no matter how many times they try and avoid detection from Brad Duncan and his two thugs, they seem to be one step behind. Now that Turner's involved, Brad's out to make sure this time, Turner stays put even if it means killing him in the process. Will Turner be able to help Cassandra and Justin find peace or will Brad follow through with his threats and kill Cassandra and Turner and take back his son?

I received The Return of Cassandra Toddy by Darrel Nelson compliments of Realms Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. This is the second book written by Darrel that I have had the pleasure and true honor to review and I am so thrilled I did. His writing style immediately engages you from the prologue and even though you know how it might turn out, just being along for the action thrill ride is guaranteed to give you white knuckles turning pages and holding on to the book! I love how the survival training Turner has experienced in growing up, he is able to utilize when things go wrong and the threesome find themselves in a true survival situation in the mountains and no phone service. I absolutely LOVED how Darrel incorporates all this into this novel and kept me engaged until I turned the final page leaving me truly breathless. Well done, once again Darrel Nelson and I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!! Can't wait for Following Rain coming soon!

For more information about The Return of Cassandra Todd, Darrel Nelson or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Return of Cassandra Todd by Darrel Nelson

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

For more reviews from Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour for The Return of Cassandra Todd, please click here. 

The Anniversary Waltz

Woo Hoo! The best part of finding new authors is like finding a real treasure, especially when the story is so good you want to share it with every single person you can find. That's just what I discovered when I opened the pages of The Anniversary Waltz by Darrel Nelson in his debut novel.

This is such a heartwarming story for lovers of history, World War II, the underdogs of the world and just pure romance told in a way only a seasoned writer would know how and that's what makes this one so splendid. Because it's Darrel's first, but it seems as though he has honed the talents of what makes Nicholas Sparks and Andy Andrews novels work so well in the hearts of women everywhere. A great story!

This one encapsulates two different time periods, 2006 and 1946. In the opening chapter, we are immediately drawn into the Anniversary party for Elizabeth and Adam Carlson, celebrating sixty years of happiness and love among family and friends. Then the story takes us back to where it all began for them as most timeless love stories will.

Here we see Adam Carlson as a returning war hero coming home from World War 2. It's hard coming back because you are sure how you will be received. His mother is waiting to hug him and tell him how much he's been missed, but his father isn't there. He is still carrying a grudge and anger from when Adam announced his intentions of joining the war efforts and leaving his mother and father to manage the family farm until he's returned four years later. You'd think his father would be happy to see him home alive instead of the sixteen others from his home town in Reunion, Montana that died while serving their country.

Adam has to work to heal that rift between him and his father and he begins by immediately setting to work repairing the farm that has fallen into disrepair. Only he soon learns that the farm has fallen into foreclosure and it will be sold in a matter of weeks at an auction. Adam tries everything he can to work with the officer at the bank, Nathan Roberts, an old friend from school. But it seems time has changed their relationship as well. Nathan has been climbing the corporate ladder and making himself rich in the process when a heart murmur kept him home from the war. He is unwilling to work with Adam at all.

Adam soon learns that Nathan's competitiveness runs further along than just business matters when Elizabeth Baxter, his girlfriend, seems to have an eye for Adam and his easy going ways over Nathan's demands. Adam takes the advice from Elizabeth to see her uncle, the mayor, to see if they can find a loophole to save the family farm. This is where the story takes an interesting turn and the book really engages the reader.

Darrel Nelson transports the reader back to a difficult time as soldiers were returning home from the war and towns were trying to find ways to recover from depression as well. It takes you back to simple times when friends and neighbors remember how to come together and find workable solutions. For me, this book was like a mix of It's A Wonderful Life when George and Mary were much older and trying to find a way to make it in their world despite all the difficulties happening in their day. This creates such loveable and real characters you can't help but all in love with and root for the entire way through the book.

In doing so, Darrel created so many moments, I had to stop reading and share them with my husband. These are those "Ah" moments that show how relationships are truly meant to be, with lots of hard work, dedication and laughs along the journey. This one I know will completely capture your heart. If you are a lover of historical romance books, or just a hopeful romantic at heart. I know you will LOVE this one!

I received this book compliments of Glass Roads Public Relations for my honest review and HIGHLY recommend this one. This book for me was a mix of The Notebook and It's A Wonderful Life magically blended together to form an outstanding and timeless classic love story! This is one, I know, I will read again and again and share with anyone who is looking for those incredible books that completely leave your breathless but with a smile on your heart. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to add Darrel's novels to my permanent library. Look for his next book, The Return of Cassandra Todd due out in 2013 and one that will be on my MUST read list!

For more information on The Anniversary Waltz, Darrel Nelson, and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the link below:

The Anniversary Waltz by Darrel Nelson

The Anniversary Waltz

Woo Hoo! The best part of finding new authors is like finding a real treasure, especially when the story is so good you want to share it with every single person you can find. That's just what I discovered when I opened the pages of The Anniversary Waltz by Darrel Nelson in his debut novel.

This is such a heartwarming story for lovers of history, World War II, the underdogs of the world and just pure romance told in a way only a seasoned writer would know how and that's what makes this one so splendid. Because it's Darrel's first, but it seems as though he has honed the talents of what makes Nicholas Sparks and Andy Andrews novels work so well in the hearts of women everywhere. A great story!

This one encapsulates two different time periods, 2006 and 1946. In the opening chapter, we are immediately drawn into the Anniversary party for Elizabeth and Adam Carlson, celebrating sixty years of happiness and love among family and friends. Then the story takes us back to where it all began for them as most timeless love stories will.

Here we see Adam Carlson as a returning war hero coming home from World War 2. It's hard coming back because you are sure how you will be received. His mother is waiting to hug him and tell him how much he's been missed, but his father isn't there. He is still carrying a grudge and anger from when Adam announced his intentions of joining the war efforts and leaving his mother and father to manage the family farm until he's returned four years later. You'd think his father would be happy to see him home alive instead of the sixteen others from his home town in Reunion, Montana that died while serving their country.

Adam has to work to heal that rift between him and his father and he begins by immediately setting to work repairing the farm that has fallen into disrepair. Only he soon learns that the farm has fallen into foreclosure and it will be sold in a matter of weeks at an auction. Adam tries everything he can to work with the officer at the bank, Nathan Roberts, an old friend from school. But it seems time has changed their relationship as well. Nathan has been climbing the corporate ladder and making himself rich in the process when a heart murmur kept him home from the war. He is unwilling to work with Adam at all.

Adam soon learns that Nathan's competitiveness runs further along than just business matters when Elizabeth Baxter, his girlfriend, seems to have an eye for Adam and his easy going ways over Nathan's demands. Adam takes the advice from Elizabeth to see her uncle, the mayor, to see if they can find a loophole to save the family farm. This is where the story takes an interesting turn and the book really engages the reader.

Darrel Nelson transports the reader back to a difficult time as soldiers were returning home from the war and towns were trying to find ways to recover from depression as well. It takes you back to simple times when friends and neighbors remember how to come together and find workable solutions. For me, this book was like a mix of It's A Wonderful Life when George and Mary were much older and trying to find a way to make it in their world despite all the difficulties happening in their day. This creates such loveable and real characters you can't help but all in love with and root for the entire way through the book.

In doing so, Darrel created so many moments, I had to stop reading and share them with my husband. These are those "Ah" moments that show how relationships are truly meant to be, with lots of hard work, dedication and laughs along the journey. This one I know will completely capture your heart. If you are a lover of historical romance books, or just a hopeful romantic at heart. I know you will LOVE this one!

I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and HIGHLY recommend this one. This book for me was a mix of The Notebook and It's A Wonderful Life magically blended together to form an outstanding and timeless classic love story! This is one, I know, I will read again and again and share with anyone who is looking for those incredible books that completely leave your breathless but with a smile on your heart. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to add Darrel's novels to my permanent library. Look for his next book, The Return of Cassandra Todd due out in 2013 and one that will be on my MUST read list!

For more information on The Anniversary Waltz, Darrel Nelson, and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Anniversary Waltz by Darrel Nelson

You can also follow more of this book tour and get a first chapter glimpse into this wonderful novel by clicking here.