Love Finds You In Sugarcreek, Ohio

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   

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




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

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

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

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

 

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

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

The Journey of Josephine Cain

The latest novel from Nancy Moser in the American Tapestry Series, The Journey of Josephine Cain begins when Josephine Cain accompanies her father, General Cain and her mother to the Ford Theater as he has returned from the war. Only for Josephine, this day will become memorable in a way she never expected when she sees President Lincoln shot in the balcony. This will be a lasting reminder that the war will never truly be over in the hearts of some men.

As General Cain now transitions from being a General in the war to heading up the efforts to join the building of the Transcontinental Railroad  in a competition to see if the East can build their connection faster than the west can. Josephine is tired of spending the last year with her mother and Aunt Beatrice mourning the loss of her brother, Thomas and her cousin in the war. She only wishes she can convince her father to allow her to accompany him while he works on the construction of the railroad, but with the development of unsavory types springing up wherever the railroad stops, her father isn't about to put her welfare at risk.

When Lewis Simmons joins her father before he leaves to begin his work, she suddenly sees her prospects in staying at home becoming a bit more appealing since most the single men have died in the war. However Lewis has other motives in his plans to marry Josephine and gain the approval of her parents in doing so. What he doesn't expect is to head west in his efforts to sway Josephine to fall in love with him, nor does he expect another man to turn her eye, one that does not have the influence of a suitable background and instead is merely an Irish worker on the railroad. Will Josephine learn the true intentions of the man she is slowly falling in love with or is she merely falling in love with the idea of being married?

I received The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Summerside Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. This is the sixth book in the American Tapestry Series and a truly MUST READ for those of you that love a bit of real life history as the backdrop for your romance novels. In this one the Transcontinental Railroad makes its debut and the author includes a reference for readers of what really happened along the way at the end of the novel along with a great discussion guide that book clubs will LOVE! Once again the strong determined female character is what really keep me glued to this one. Josephine is willing to take the needed risks to do the right thing even if it means stepping on a few toes to get there. I love where Nancy Moser took this story amid the turmoil surrounding the disgruntled Lewis and the chivalrous actions of Hudson Maguire. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and once again another Nancy Moser novel has found its way into my permanent personal library.

For more information about The Journey of Josephine Cain, Nancy Moser or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser

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

To read more reviews on The Journey of Josephine Cain from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here. 

• Series: An American Tapestry
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Summerside Press, an imprint of Guideposts (September 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082493427X
• ISBN-13: 978-0824934279
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1 inches

The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser follows the adventures of a D.C. socialite as she gets involved with the building of the Transcontinental Railroad right after the Civil War. Be sure to check out Nancy's fun Pinterest board for the book!

Enter to win 1 of 5 copies of the book!

  Five winners will receive:

• The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 26th. All winners will be announced October 28th at the Litfuse blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 28th to see if you won one of the books!

Duchess

 Lights. Camera. Action.  All she ever wanted was to make it big in Hollywood as an actress. In fact she even married the right man that she believe would help make it come true. Dashielle Parks had offered her the sun, the moon and the stars. When she met him in Paris, she feel head over heels in love with the possibility she might truly forget her first love and when he proposed marriage and a steady, seven-year contract with Palace Studios, she felt that she hit the jackpot. It wasn't a marriage based on love, but on business and something that was never disclosed to anyone but Rosie Worth somehow felt cheated yet she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was and soon hoped that one day, Dash might have true feelings for her like any husband would.

But as time went on, and other women turned Dash's head, she soon resolved to pour all her efforts and energy into her films. It was the golden age of film making in Hollywood and Palace Studios was working hard to keep up with the big players in the film industry, MGM and Warner Bros. Now going by the name of Roxy Price, Dash is doing everything he can to keep his head above water and hope that some day soon, they might just make a film to generate enough money to keep their business from going under. Soon Roxy learns that Dash has sold her out to another production company in order to keep Palace Studios from going under and it's there she meets a man she could truly fall head over heels in love with, if only she weren't married. But what harm would it do since no one knows about her marriage and Dash seems busy with other beautiful women and isn't committed to their marriage at all. She soon learns that the man she didn't want anything to do with so many years ago, is the same man she is falling in love with after all.

However like all good dreams, soon what goes up, must eventually come down, and so the Palace Studios does during the great stock market crash. It seems the entire facade that Dash put on display for the world to see, wasn't the true picture after all. He believed if he could invest in all the right places, soon the dividends would come through and save the struggling studio business. Since most of Rosie's movies were drawing just enough to cover expenses, he hoped that by mortgaging off their home and business might prove to be just the thing to keep them going along with the big studios. But fate can be cruel sometimes and that is just what happens when Fate shows its head in the lives of Dash and Rosie.

In the conclusion to the Daughter's of Fortune series by Susan May Warren, Duchess takes us back to the golden age of Hollywood, when actors and actresses were making movies and giving their fans a chance to escape their every day boring routines and live vicariously through the eyes of the big movie screen idols. We get to see Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Lionel Barrymore, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks through the eyes of a struggling starlet, Roxy Price or otherwise known as Rosie Worth, granddaughter to August Price, a wealthy newspaper magnate. Now that Rosie has opted to forgo her inheritance and is trying to make a go of it in Hollywood, I find it interesting the twists and turns she has to undergo to try and make it to the big screen. Susan May Warren chose to use the back story of United Artists, a movie studio formerly owned in by Hollywood icons D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, and Douglas Fairbanks as her bases for Palace Studios and I think she did an exceptional job at transporting the reader back to that golden age as movies were just beginning to evolve from silent films into talking pictures or "talkies."

I received Duchess by Susan May Warren compliments of Summerside Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. I LOVED this conclusion to the Daughter's of Fortune series. Being a huge fan now of classic movies, it was wonderful to see this through Rosie's eyes and get the opportunity to see this time in history with new perspective. Susan May Warren had such more direction she could have taken this final novel in the series but I love the path she so eloquently chose. I feel in love and struggled like Rosie did through her choices and got to see that for an up and coming actress the path to the big screen wasn't as easy as most dreamed it could be. If you love historical fiction dealing with the late 20's and 30's from old Hollywood, then you will LOVE this one. Even though it's written as a series, you can pick this one up and enjoy it, but you'll want to know a bit about the history Rosie had prior to her trip to Hollywood and the difficult relationship she shares with her mother, Jinx. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. I only wish there were more to this series to look forward to with this being the conclusion.

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

Duchess by Susan May Warren

You can also follow Susan May Warren on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

You can read more great reviews on Duchess from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour by clicking here.

You can find the Daughter's of Fortune Series at your favorite book retailer:

# 1- Heiress
# 2 - Baroness
# 3 - Duchess


Susan May Warren is celebrating the release of Duchess with a Kindle Fire HD Giveaway.

One "glam" winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire HD
• Signed copies of Duchess, Baroness and Heiress

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 4th. Winner will be announced on 5/7/13 at Susan's blog.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Love Finds You in Glacier Bay Alaska

"I suppose sometimes it takes getting lost to enjoy the joy of being found." Ginny Marshall should know. She's had more than a lifetime's share of being hurt and having put her in hopes into people only to have them completely come up short. Now it seems that the best solution to ever being hurt is to keep from becoming too attached to anyone. Especially those that would affect her ability to love again.

Ginny always felt abandoned. After becoming a child in the foster care system when her mother dropped her off and never looked back it seems trust is something that will remain elusive to her. When she does find parents who want her and will love her, they are snatched away just as quickly, reminding her that the lessons learned are often painful. When Ginny has the opportunity to finally fall in love with Brett Miller and spend their lives helping in the missions fields, she remembers all the times in the past that people she has loved have left her, and leave Brett before he can break her heart.

Now that she has pursued her goal of becoming a singing sensation and finally get the contract of her dreams, more money than she can ever spend and the most eligible man to love, she turns and runs once more. She heads back to Glacier Bay, Alaska to the only man who truly knows her inside and out. Yet will she be able to find Brett once again and hope that he can provide the advice she desperately needs? Brett however is out exploring the Alaskan wilderness when Ginny arrives and she is faced with staying with his grandmother until he hopefully returns home as promised. Ginny is given a box full of old letters from Ethel, his grandmother, to pass her time since Brett is in charge of restoring the historical museum in town. Will the letters she reads from another time, provide her with the answers she desperately seeks to make her life whole again?

I received Love Finds You in Glacier Bay Alaska by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Summerside Press for my honest review. I LOVE every single, Love Finds You book I've read and getting the opportunity to see how love is found in the Alaskan wilderness sounded perfect for the setting for a great romance story. Couple that with reading about another historical time set in the early 1800's through the letters Grandmother Ethel provides her sheds light into all the wounded places in all our lives. I love her character and how strong her faith is truly is unforgettable. Brett's ability to see all sides of Ginny's past and even what motivates her, makes him truly a remarkable man to fall in love with. Just the description of the small town of Gustavus makes me want to add this not only to my bucket list of places to visit but also places to live. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and love how it all ended!

For more information about Love Finds You in Glacier Bay Alaska, Tricia Goyer, Ocieanna Fleiss or where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Love Finds You in Glacier Bay Alaska by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss 

You can also find Tricia Goyer on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

You can also find Ocieanna Fleiss on her website to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Love Finds You in Glacier Bay Alaska from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here. 

You can also find out more information on the author's tour and insight into the story behind this book on Pinterest by clicking here. 

A Merry Little Christmas

The Martin farm, Oklahoma, 1961

Franny's mother always said that if humans ever landed on the moon, the first thing they'd need was music. It was the one essential that made a place inhabitable - you know, to get through all those dark and lonely - not to mention unmarried and dateless - nights.

Franny sighed and turned up the dial on her transistor radio. Frank Sinatra's version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" wooed its way over the airwaves like a slow kiss under the mistletoe. She swayed and sange along as she dumped the last of the slop into the troughs of her forty rambunctious hogs. Then she climbed up on the fence for a little swine soiree.

"You know, I can't wait to see who Dick Clark features next on American Bandstand, but now that I'm thirty-three, I guess I should be watching The Lawrence Welk Show. Right?" The hogs grunted their replies, but it wasn't anything worth repeating. "Honestly, you guys can be such boars." She chuckled to herself at her bad pun.

As the last musical ribbons of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" tied up like a bow, Franny hopped down on the other side of the pig fence, picked up her radio and slop bucket, and heaved a sigh. Christmas was coming, and it looked like she was going to spend the holidays alone. Again.

With that piteous little thought bobby-pinned to her mind, she turned around and came face-to-face with a man. A stranger! She let out a yelp loud enough to startle the man and arouse the poor hogs into a frothing frenzy. The bucket and radio went flying as Franny went slip-sliding onto the muddy ground." (pg 9-10).

In the latest Christmas novel from Anita Higman, A Merry Little Christmas takes us back to the 1960's, on Franny's farm where she runs into quite literally a man who wishes to purchase the family farm she has had up for sale for the last 12 years. Funny how things like that just fall into place. Now that Charlie Landau and her have meet quite informally, she can finally find time to pursue the life long dream of a career in music in the big city. All she needed was a way out and Charlie fell right on in. It seems as if Charlie has been looking for a way to prove himself worthy to take part in his father's business, but after many unsuccessful attempts thus far, Charlie is hoping that taking over a farm and making a profit might be just the thing his father needs to see he is more than capable.

Set in the midst of the civil unrest with racial tensions running high, the book overlaps between a transition of ownership and jobs between Fanny and Charlie and thrusts them both into dealing with the unfair treatment of Noma Jefferson, an eldery women with the face as richly hued coffee who had shown Franny the kindness worthy of the Good Samaritan, when she finds herself having one of the worst days ever. Will Franny and Charlie be able to see past their own difference of money and be able to see the simpler side of life that money can never buy, perhaps Noma Jefferson really is an angel in disguise set upon the world to restore the hearts of the good people in Charlie and Franny, but of course, you'll never know unless you read this Christmas novel yourself.

I received A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Summerside Press for my honest review and love a great story like this one. It brings to light so many different emotions and how each of the characters interacts with one another makes this one memorable long after you finish reading it. It's almost like you witnessed these events yourself. Anita does an exceptional job at transporting the reader right back into the heart of Oklahoma in the 1960's through the music and references to items like record players, transistor radios, and even the old time diner experience is rich and vividly described. It's things like these that truly enhance the experience for the reader and make them all the more real. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and think it's a must read for your Christmas season.

For more information about A Merry Little Christmas, Anita Higman and where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman

You can also find Anita Higman on Facebook. 

To read more reviews from the Litfuse Book Tour, please click here. 

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Summerside (October 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1609366883
• ISBN-13: 978-1609366889
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches

Queens of the Waves

"A wave of fear washed over Jacquie afresh as she tried to absorb the news.

Father dangled the cigar between his fingers. "I'm delighted about Roland's offer, as you can imagine. I do hope you will be as well. This has been a thoughtful undertaking."

"B-but..." She couldn't seem to manage anything else. The lump in her throat wouldn't allow it.

"He's a good man, and a kind one. I can't deny that the arrangement is advantageous for us all, but I do believe you will settle happily.  He will treat you well and give you a good life. And you will never want for anything. Of this, we can be quite sure." Another puff of the cigar followed on her father's end and then a nod. "Roland has a large home in New York and has just purchased the Willingham estate here in Richmond near the Thames."

"Well, that sounds lovely." Jacquie's mother folded her hands in her lap and sat up a bit straighter.

"Yes." Father grinned. "And what a stroke of luck, marrying a man in the automobile industry. Not only will you have an enviable home, but you will also own the best vehicles in the country."

Jacquie swallowed hard as she thought about how to respond. Of course her father found this news to be delightful. He would. But she could not - would not - marry a man she had no feelings for, especially when her heart remained affixed to another. She forced a smile and fought to quiet her racing heart, fearing it might somehow give her away.

As Jacquie's mother quickly whisked her away to her room to begin making wedding plans as her mother's voice lowered to a whisper as she opened the hatbox and pressed several newspaper clippings into Jacquie's hands. " A new ocean liner is leaving Southhampton in five weeks, headed for New York. Arrangements can be made for you to be onboard when she sails, but we must hurry." She pressed the now empty hatbox onto the shelf.

"W-what? You're sending me to America?" Jacquie shook her head as she started down at the newspaper clippings. A photograph of the RMS Titanic stared back at her. "What are you saying, Mother? Have you and Father planned this as some sort of honeymoon gift?"

Mama shook her head. "I've known for weeks that your father was, well...working on a plan with Mr. Palmer, but I'm not talking about sending you two off on a honeymoon. Not at all. Listen to me. I know the pain of a forced union firsthand. My own father, God rest his soul, made sure I was advantageously matched as well." Her expression hardened. "My daughter will not be painted into that same corner. I would soon die that allow it, trust me." (pg 21).

Her mother learned that Jacquie had fallen in love with their gardener, Peter Bowen, but felt she must leave England on the Titanic and stay in New York with her grandmother. Perhaps there she could find the love she was truly searching for. But how could she leave behind the only man she had ever loved? One thing for sure, she knew she could not go through with her father's plans to marry Roland Palmer.

In the latest novel from Janice Thompson in the American Tapestries series, Queen of the Waves, takes the readers back into a historical fictional romance of 1912 as Jacquie Abingdon attempts to runaway aboard the Titanic to escape the arranged marriage to Roland Palmer without her father's knowledge. When she tells Peter of her plan to include taking him on the trip, he turns down the offer telling her that his family depends on his income to support them. He can't leave them. He does offer Jacquie another option, to send his sister Tessa, who is the same age as Jacquie in her place to escape the abuse from their drunken father. Jacquie agrees and they spend the next two weeks preparing Tessa to take her place onboard the Titanic and provide a way for her to escape as well. How can Tessa Bowen attempt to act like a lady of society when all she has ever known is the life of being a pig farmer's daughter?

The two women make arrangements to meet on the dock to make the switch in boarding passes and tickets and Tessa will go by the name of Jacquie Abingdon and head to New York. Jacquie will send a letter to her grandmother in New York explaining that she could not leave because she wanted to marry Peter, someone her parents would never allow her to marry due to his social status. She knew her grandmother would take Tessa in and would send along her lady's maid, Iris to help Tessa as needed. Little did Jacquie know what would later happen and how all their lives would change forever in ways none of them could ever prepare for.

I received Queen of the Waves compliments of Summerside Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I've been a huge fan of the Titanic when it first came to the big screen and it really interested me to know more about the lives of so many who boarded the fateful ship that day in hopes of a new life in America only to have so many never make it. When the opportunity came up to review this novel, I knew I would instantly want to read it and in the process LOVE the characters that Janice Thompson breathed to life in the pages of her novel. You feel the emotional anguish between Tessa and Jacquie's choices to make their lives their own through choices neither of them felt they could make. In a twist of fate, one would find love and the other pain beyond belief but in the end, healing would come to them all. I rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars. For those of you that love romantic novels about the Titanic, then this one is a MUST READ for you!

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

Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson

You can find Janice Thompson on Facebook, by clicking here. 

To read more reviews on Queen of the Waves from the Litfuse Book Tour, please click here. 


Celebrate with Janice by entering to win a Kindle Fire!

 

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson
• Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 17th. Winner will be announced at the American Tapestries Author Chat Facebook Party on 10/18. Connect with authors Janice Thompson and Melanie Dobson for an evening of book chat, trivia and fun! There will also be gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of Queen of the Waves and Where the Trail Ends and join Janice Thompson and Melanie Dobson on the evening of the October 18th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the books – 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 18th!

+ Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson + The Trouble with Cowboys, Denise Hunter + Women Redeemed Live Webcast 2.0 Event (Kregel Publications)

Where the Trail Ends

I remember reading about the Oregon Trail in my history classes in high school, but I never really gave them much thought outside of knowing what it was, how they arrived and why most people came west along with some relevant dates, but until I read, Melanie Dobson's fictional novel, Where the Trail Ends it really shined a whole new meaning to what life was like to those who made the journey west.

This historical fictional novel introduces us to Samantha Waldron and her family, her father and brother Micah who have become one of many families who are moving west along the Oregon Trail before winter settles in. They had hoped to take her mother as well but she died shortly before the trip. All of the duties of cooking, cleaning and taking care of her younger brother, fall on Samantha's shoulders as they make their way west. They have to endure nights without water when no streams or rivers can be found. If they don't make sure their water barrels are full before leaving, they might not have enough to get them from campsite to campsite. The family has to endure a stampede caused when a families dog spooks the oxen killing several members of the wagon train, damaging several wagon and results in the decision of the leader of group, Captain Lowe to kill the remaining dogs to prevent that from occurring again. This means Samantha's beloved dog Boaz is at risk and she will stand up to anyone who wants to kill her dog. Even if that means it puts her at odds with Jack Doyle, a man she has grown quite fond of along the journey and hopes will marry her when they arrive in the Willamette Valley.

Samatha is a strong female who has to face the odds when her father grows ill and she is left behind as she seeks help for him while the others move ahead in their journey. She faces Indians, wild grizzly bears and extreme weather conditions just to make sure her brother is well cared for. When she has to face off against a fierce Wolverine, she is forced into the icy rivers of the Columbia River as they flees for safety in a canoe. Yet when it overturns, will Samantha be able to save her family just as they are about to make the final leg of the journey?

I received Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson compliments of Summerside Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. Being a huge fan of American History I could really relate to the struggles Samantha had to endure just to bring her family through the Oregon trail. She longs for someone to care for her and hopes that love awaits her on the other end. It is through those struggles with hardship that character is defined and truly makes us stronger than we might have ever thought we could be. Samantha has to grow up faster than she would have liked and she is often reminded that she still has a lot to learn about trust along the way. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for more in the American Tapestries series!!!

For more information about Where the Trail Ends, Melanie Dobson, and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson

You can find Melanie Dobson on Facebook by clicking here. 

To read more great reviews from this book tour on Litfuse, please click here. 

Celebrate with Melanie by entering to win a Kindle Fire!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire


• Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson


• Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 17th. Winner will be announced at the American Tapestries Author Chat Facebook Party on 10/18. Connect with authors Melanie Dobson and Janice Thompson for an evening of book chat, trivia and fun! There will also be gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!






So grab your copy of Where the Trail Ends and  Queen of the Waves and join Melanie Dobson and Janice Thompson on the evening of the October 18th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the books - 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 18th!

Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma

Sometimes you feel like God is pulling at you, calling you to greater things than you ever felt possible. Seeing a vase of daisies it seemed like something had been missing from Rena Jewel's life, something more than just the emptiness she felt from the loss of her parents when she was 14. It was more than just her Aunt and Uncle who came immediately and offered her a home filled with love. Despite all her charitable work for the Mission Society, Rena felt God calling her. She knew she found her answer in a letter advertising for help running an orphanage in Daisy, Oklahoma from the local sheriff.

Could daisies be the sign that confirmed her next path in life? All Rena knew is that she had such a passion and fire for loving children that she immediately sent her reply to Sheriff Gene Wyatt, informing him that she would arrive in October and was looking forward to helping out in any way she could. If only the letter truly explained what awaited her in Daisy, Oklahoma.

Perhaps Gene should have been a little more truthful when sending his request for help running the orphanage, but when Mrs. Wabash, the former director ran out on him, he didn't have much choice. He would let Ms. Jewel decide for herself whether she would be able to handle running the orphanage for 17 children, most of them boys, if he could only convince her to stay for a day without running away herself.

I received the novel, Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma by Janice Hanna compliments of Summerside Press for my honest review, and literally finished this one in a half a day because I could not put it down. It was funny, heartwarming, sad and filled with the promise of hope and the never ending power of what love can truly do.

This reminded me of the old Disney movies, like the Apple Dumpling Gang where you have a band of orphans that are so used to being left they have no choice but to push their boundaries on the town's residents who more than want the orphanage closed. I kinda saw the interactions with the children a bit like the movie Nanny McPhee only based in 1912, in a small western town. The characters are enjoyable and truly believable and Janice Hanna did an exceptional job at giving each of the 17 children beautiful and unique personalities. In the end, I don't think I could have left any of them because they won me over and I fell in love with all of them. I rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and again have found a forever home for this lovely novel on my permanent book shelf.

For more information on Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma, Janice Hanna or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma by Janice Hanna

You can also stay up on the latest from Janice Hanna (Thompson) by joining her Facebook page by clicking here.

You can also find out more by visiting her website by clicking here.

Love Finds You in Sunflower, Kansas

There will be no clicking your heels three times to get you home from this whimsical romance, nor will you want this one to ever end. I just finished a great summer novel, Love Finds You in Sunflower, Kansas by Pamela Tracy and it left me with such "ah" moments! This feeling alone is one of the reasons I am so addicted to reading and trust me, you'll want to pick this one up for a great summer book to add to your list.

An unexpected encounter in a cornfield when a car runs out of gas will change the lives of the residents of Bonner Springs, Kansas starting off with Joe Kelly. He's the local town's veterinarian who happens upon a rental car left on the side of the road. What he doesn't expect to find inside is the girl of his dreams and his Christmas wish list all rolled into one, asleep on the back seat.

Seems her GPS got her a bit sidetracked trying to find Sunflower, Kansas which he explains to Annie Jamison is pretty much an abandoned and deserted town. Most of the residents now live in Bonner Springs just outside the town limits of Sunflower. Offering her a lift into town, he learns the reason she is here is to bring her crazy mother back home to Tucson, Arizona. It seems her 53-year-old mother has taken up the notion that she is a private detective after completing some courses at a local community college and is there working on her first case.

However when Joe learns that her mother, Willa is the one his father, Max has hired, he believes that the two women are conspiring to steal from them. Will this be the beginning of a love story or the case of the century to find what is missing from all their lives?

I received Love Finds You in Sunflower, Kansas compliments of Summerside Press for my honest review and I LOVED this one so well, I was sad when I turned the final page. I honestly felt like Pamela Tracy created such believable characters, I didn't want their story to end. From all the lovable encounters they all wind up in, to the search for the lost items, Willa was hired to find, you'll love each and every moment because the story is an unforgettable one. This one rates in my opinion a true 5 out of 5 stars and will be welcomed in my personal library forever. I could see having a series of sequels that come from the characters you'll find in this one!

For more information on Love Finds You in Sunflower, Kansas, Pamela Tracy or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Love Finds You in Sunflower, Kansas by Pamela Tracy

You can also stay up with the latest from Pamela Tracy by joining her Facebook page by clicking here.

Love Letters in the Sand

They met in secret for a walk on the beach at night with a lover's promise between them. Julia Hilton and Stefan Zimmer agreed that two years from today, August second, they would meet back here at seven o'clock in the evening. If one of them needed to change their plan, they would send word through her brother somehow. The love in his eyes, the gentle touch of his arms...the moment burned in her heart, branding her to him forever. Why couldn't the world leave them alone, let them be happy?

Once their song finished, Stefan picked up a nearby twig, bent down, and drew a heart in the sand. Then he wrote their initials inside the heart. Above the heart, he wrote the one word. Forever. Then he stood, intertwined his fingers with hers, and looked into her eyes.

"I love you Julia Hilton."

"I love you too."

They would spend the time apart, staying in touch by writing letters as often as they could.
She would wait. No matter how long it took, Julia would wait for Stefan. Nothing could separate them for long. Not her age. Not the war.

Definitely not her mother.

That was in the summer of 1940, just as Stefan Zimmer was called to serve in World War II. Now 17 years later, Julia's heart still remembers that love. The love of a man who never wrote her one single letter. Why couldn't she ever forget her past and find a new love, what kept her heart bound to the love of a man, she never heard from? Only time would tell, and perhaps God would reveal to her what happened to the man she once loved. Had he remarried, moved on in his life, was he even alive?

Now that summer is here, her parents have asked her to house sit while their lakeside home is undergoing a room addition and for Julia, spending a month at the lake sounds perfect. Perhaps here she can find the answers she so desperately needs if only she can escape her mothers relenting control issues in her daily calls to check on the progress of the construction from Europe. Besides having her best friend Becky nearby will help her sort through her feelings hopefully.

Lukas Gable is fighting his own bad memories of a painful past and he hopes that by coming to Lake Michigan, he can find a way to pay off his mothers mounting healthcare bills, sell her house once the remodeling plans have been finished, and find a way to move forward in his own life. When he learns he might have a way to save some money on the renovations on his mothers house, he decides to work for George Hammer, a local construction man who desperately needs help to finish a room addition. If Lukas agrees to help, he will discount out his mother's renovations for him. Can't argue with that! Now if he can only find a way to avoid dealing with Julia Hilton, everything will work out perfectly. Yet little does he know, that is the construction project, George needs his help on!

In Diann Hunt's latest summer novel, Love Letters in the Sand joins the "When I Fall In Love" Series of books. In working with a song, the novel weaves a beautiful story around Love Letters In The Sand by Pat Boone. This one is such a wonderful story that I relate it to parts of the Notebook. Both of the characters, Lukas and Julia have pasts that are keeping them from moving forward and until they can work through it, they will be forever bound to the pain in their hearts.

I received this novel compliments of Summerside Press for my honest review and have to rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. I actually pick this one up to read at my trip to the beach and LOVED every single page. It has found a forever home in my personal library and highly recommend this one if you're looking for a perfect summer novel to fall in love with.

For more information on Love Letters in the Sand, Diann Hunt, or where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Love Letters in the Sand by Diann Hunt

You can also stay on top of the latest from Diann Hunt by becoming a follower of hers on Facebook or visit her website.

Oil: A Novel

Just what do you think would happen if all the countries that supply us with oil, suddenly found their supplies at risk? There has been talk lately of the recent natural gas find in Israel and some believe that oil may lie within that country as well. If it were in fact true, Israel would move to the top of the super power list for supplying not only natural gas but oil as well.

However, if that were to happen then the countries that have become Israel's biggest enemies would really find ways to destroy and wipe her off the face of the map as so many countries have already stated their threats.

Now in the latest novel by Jeff Nesbit, Oil: A Novel, set this up as the underlying premise of this story. Iran, Iraq, Russia, Saudi Arabia, North Korea and China have a vital stake in trying to vie for the top position as an oil supplier to the world. The main problem with finding oil has been its difficult extraction for the shale in which it is located. Environmentalists want to make sure that the land and resources are not harmed and when a process is discovered that will allow that to happen, everyone wants a piece of the shale.

Now power begins to shift by those that want it the most and using the legends from the Middle East of the prophecy regarding the Twelfth Imam and the Mahdi, they will make sure that all signs point to the rise of these figures and shift the balance of power in the Middle East forever. Now whatever peace has been achieved up to this point will now be placed on the table and what role will Israel have in it all?

I received this book compliments of Summerside Press and Guideposts for my honest review. Even though the story takes awhile to develop you eventually understand why it's necessary when you see how detailed the process is by the climax of the book. There are many players involved in making this storyline happen and I think Jeff Nesbit does a wonderful job at building up his characters. It appears that a sequel is forthcoming as the book does leave the reader at a bit of a cliff hanger ending and things are not quite resolved. I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and look forward to any future books that Jeff will breath life into. For those that love a bit of mystery and suspense with potential current world events then this one is perfect for you.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book as soon as it releases, please click on the link below:

Oil: A Novel by Jeff Nesbit

Growing Up Ziglar

If you were the child of Zig Ziglar, the world's biggest and most notable motivational speaker, wouldn't you think that you'd grow up feeling great and positive almost every single day? Well that is what Julie Ziglar Norman thought most people would think about her, if they knew who her infamous dad was, so she tried to keep it hidden as much as she could. However, when she could no longer hide it, she did the next best thing, she pasted on her best smile and kept all her negative feelings and emotions buried deep inside.

That is until the day God placed a call on her life that would change how people saw how she had grown up and what that would mean for those that would hear her story. In the book, Growing Up Ziglar, A Daughter's Broken Journey From Heartache to Hope, Julie candidly shares how difficult it was growing up trying to be the poster child of what she perceived to be perfect. She never once blames her father or anything he did or didn't do. In fact he set the bar quite reasonable, but Julie just never really understood the why's of why she shouldn't do things.

Her father understood that if drinking made you feel too good, that he should simply stop doing that, or if carrying on led people to believe that he was acting a different way than he should, he simply changed how that perception appeared. For example he never was alone with a woman who wasn't his wife or daughter for any reason. He didn't want rumors or gossip to spread even when there wasn't an ounce of truth in them so he didn't place himself in situations where people might get the wrong idea. While Zig set the examples by leading, Julie went in the complete opposite direction.

She lays bare all the things she did wrong growing up and hiding things from her parents, her self destructive behavior, drinking and getting caught staying out late, when the police had to bring her home. She tells from her point of view why she did these things despite her struggle to understand a relationship with God. She saw herself as a disappointment to Him, one that she couldn't measure up to when she failed and thus would end up spiraling right back into bad habits again. She shows readers how despite their lifestyle choices there is still hope and redemption in coming to God no matter how bad you think you might be. This is the story of her heartache and redemption back to God.

I received Growing Up Ziglar by Julie Ziglar Norman compliments of Summerside Press and Guideposts for my honest review. I think her honest and open story will really touch readers at the core of where they may find themselves and hopefully bring them back to God in the process. They will understand how deep and wide God's grace and forgiveness truly is and for that reason, I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

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

Growing Up Ziglar by Julie Ziglar Norman

Shakespeare's Lady

For centuries, readers have debated the identity of the mysterious Dark Lady in William Shakespeare's sonnets. Emilia Bassano - lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth and one of the first women poets in England could be the answer.

In Shakespeare's Lady by Alexa Schnee, Emilia is one of the most dazzling ladies at court when she meets the little-known playwright William Shakespeare. Shakespeare sees the world like no one ever has before, and despite all odds, they fall in love. But the course of true love never did run smooth, and these star-crossed lovers must fight for their love - and eventually their lives. Shakespeare's Lady explores grace, forgiveness, and the forbidden love between the greatest poet the world has ever known and the woman who may have inspired him.

I received Shakespeare's Lady compliments of Summerside Press/Guideposts for my honest review and found myself whisked back to the 16th century and residing in Greenwich Court through the enchanting words of debut author Alexa Schnee. Always knowing that women back in that time period were treated as little more than property to be shared while looking for heirs to the throne, I find it interesting how Schnee gets Shakespeare involved in her story.

While Emilia is struggling to find her way through a series of encounters with men in the Queen's court. She can't help but have such a love for writing and creating stories which she pens alone in her room and keeps hidden beneath her covers. Her relationship with Henry Carey, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, finds her appearance to be just like that of his mother, Anne Boylin. Now she finds herself a mistress to a man forty-five years her senior and wanting desperately to be free of the relationship, however since the Queen has approved it, her only way out will be if Henry dies or if she could conceive a child. This makes for an interesting tangled storyline and one that the reader will connect with through Emilia's eyes.

I rate this novel a 4.5 out of 5 stars for the authenticity the author creates through her debut writing and enchanting to see how romance plays out in the heart of her characters she has so eloquently created. This book does show how life was like in the Elizabethan time period and it was condone for men to have mistresses. That being said, the book does not go into great detail about the act of adultery with Henry Carey and other men, but is simply stated it occurred. I applaud the author for keeping the book more about the storyline and skipping details that didn't need to be elaborated on which is why I rated the book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

Shakespeare's Lady by Alexa Schnee