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.

Home for Christmas

If you simply don't have time for a full length novel but instead are looking for something you can read a little bit at a time, you might want to pick up Home for Christmas: Stories for the Young and Old which is a collaboration by a variety of authors like Pearl Buck, Rebecca Caudill, Ruth Sawyer, Elizabeth Goudge, Henry van Dyke and others. Each centers around the joyous blessing of Christmas and contains the true message of hope and goodwill towards men in each of these heartwarming stories. There is truly something for everyone tucked away inside. I would find this such a blessing to read one during each day as the Christmas Day approaches to truly get into the Spirit of the Season.

There are twenty short stories tucked away like beautiful presents each awaiting to be read, savored and enjoyed by you or your entire family. "Several are by world-famous children's authors; others are little-known European tales not available in English anywhere else. Selected for their literary quality and their spiritual integrity, they will resonate with readers of all ages, year after year." (excerpt from back cover). This would make a wonderful gift to any book lover or for those looking for another addition to add to their Christmas Advent celebrations.

My favorite was Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck and what it means to one young boy who wants to really give his father something he'll remember for Christmas. Life on the family farm is hard and work begins well before first light, but in this case what this one boy offers as his unconditional gift of love affects his father not only this Christmas but for many more to follow. It is a simple reminder that money doesn't need to be something we have to have to give someone a wonderful Christmas present. I received this wonderful collection of Christmas stories compliments of Plough Publishing House and Handlebar Central in exchange 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 one has found a permanent place in my personal library and is worthy of all 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Home for Christmas:Stories for Young and Old, or where to pick up a copy of this book for your family, please click on the links below:

Home for Christmas: Stories for Young and Old

Masterpiece Marriage

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

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

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

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

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

Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn

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

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


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

One winner will receive:

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

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

{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

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

Wisdomatics ~ Giveaway and Review

Are you a fan of games like Scene It but are looking for something with biblical flair? Then look no further than Wisdomantics. A games designed for 2-4 players, ages 12 and up. Wisdomantics tests your families knowledge of the wisdom of Solomon's Proverbs using DVD's to hold up to 400 questions. As your family races to see who can complete their temple first, they are faced with "Blessing" and "Advancement Cards" instead of rolling dice.

Even if you aren't a Bible scholar, you can still use common sense to fill in the blanks of multiple choice questions. If you fail to answer the question correctly, it defaults to the next player. If they answer it correctly they are rewarded a gold tile to be used to build their temple. Then it is their turn to answer the question. If they answer correctly, they pick an Advancement Card and follow the instructions on the card as well as pick up the appropriate color tile from the space they land on.

The first person to build their temple wins. Blessing cards can be used to gain any tile color of their choice once the player has accumulated at least 4. Even my 15-year old daughter and husband loved competing to see who would build our temple to God first as is evident by the picture below:

Wisdomantics is an NKJV (New King James Version) interactive DVD game that blends chance, knowledge and strategy to create a fun experience while you learn! The games intent is to bring individuals together to learn how to cope with numerous situations in a fun and relaxed environment. Inside the box, you'll find 2 interactive DVDs with 400 questions, score cards, blessing cards and more! This is a great way to enjoy family time together.

I received Wisdomantics compliments of Kingdom Games Enterprises and FlyBy Promotions for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is such a great way for families to spend quality time together and gain a bit of biblical insight while having fun! I'd rate this game a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Wisdomantics, Kingdom Games Enterprises or where to pick up a copy of this game, please click on the links below:

Wisdomantics by Kingdom Games Enterprises

You can find Wisdomantics on Facebook to learn more great ways to enjoy this game!

Now for the exciting part, thanks to the generosity of FlyBy Promotions, they are offering a giveaway of this amazing game to one lucky follower of my blog Reviews From The Heart. Here's all you need to do to enter: 

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

2. Be a resident of the US or Canada or have a US or Canadian address. No P.O. Boxes please. 

3. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy. Don't forget to include your email address or I have no way of contacting you if you're the lucky winner. 

I will notify the winner of the giveaway by email when it ends on December 26th. 

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

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

Vernon House

It is so hard at times to know a good book from a great book simply based on the cover, but I am immediately drawn to pick this one up because I am a huge fan of creepy suspenseful books. In fact before I became a Christian, I was drawn to that genre. Doesn't this one look amazing? It's a powerful story tucked into a small amount of time, but trust me, by the time you get to the end, you will be sad that it is over. To me, a sign of an exceptional novel, compelling storyline and fantastic writing. Sandra Russel Farris, you have me sold on this one.

Vernon House is part historical and past ghost story. Fans of Stephen King, James Rupart, Ted Dekker and Greg Mitchell with LOVE this short story. Jennifer Hayes is what you would call a restoration specialist and bonafide house flipper. She's been buying homes, fixing them up and selling them for a tidy profit, but in the case of Vernon House, a Queen Anne Victorian, this is a definite keeper. Despite the rumors that the house is believed to be haunted, she doesn't believe in ghosts and hopes to eventually live here once the renovations are complete. Undeterred by the noises she can't explain she uncovers a set of stairs to the attic that have been boarded up behind an old closet.

As she ventures upstairs, she finds what one would expect to find in an old attic, boxes and trunks of stuff belonging to the former owners of the home, Herbert and Rosalyn Vernon. When she opens an old domed hinged travel trunk, she finds an old wedding dress wrapped in tissue paper along with a letter. It is addressed to Mrs. Vernon and provides details that the person she wanted taken care of will no longer pose a problem and is expecting the promised payment along with vague initials R. M. It is a definite mystery to solve and soon becomes very apparent as Jennifer uncovers the murder plot of the former owner Herbert Vernon that some spirits want to ensure that secret stays dead and buried. But there are no such things as ghosts, or are there?

I received Vernon House by Sandra Farris compliments of the author herself without any monetary compensation for a favorable review. The opinions contained here are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and read it in just under an hour. The suspense is amazing in such a short story and really drives the momentum of the story to its cliff hanger ending of sorts, leaving the option open to continue to saga, which this reader hopes she will do in the very near future. The characters are definitely believable and my favorite hands down is Herbert Vernon. I can't wait to read many more like this in the future if Sandra Farris is expecting to expand her literary genres and easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. This book is currently available as an eBook for your favorite electronic reader at this time.

For more information about Vernon House, Sandra Farris or where you can pick up a copy of this eBook today, please click on the links below:

Vernon House by Sandra Farris

You can find Sandra Farris on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

You can pick up this eBook at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. 

After the War is Over

Ever since being captivated by Jennifer Robson's novel Somewhere in France, I couldn't wait for the sequel to follow. I savored every world and nuance of After the War is Over and found myself transported to in time to the early 1900's both just before World War 1 and afterwards. The novel parallels the relationship between military nurse Charlotte Brown and Edward Neville-Ashford who is still recovering from his war wounds. In the first novel we knew that they were acquainted but never really understood the story aside from the fact that Charlotte was his sister Lilly's governess before the war. Now the reader has a chance as it toggles back and forth through chapters to get a past and future look at the relationship they both have. I didn't understand it at first because I wasn't paying attention to the dates that appeared in certain chapters. Once I did, it was much easier to enjoy the story.

It tells how Charlotte came to become Lilly's governess despite all her education at a university. Not what one might expect for a woman who has gone to school. You would expect her to work using her educational skills she has acquired but jobs were far and few and to keep food on the table, she accepted an advertisement for governess. We also see where the animosity stems from in regards to Edward's mother and his two older sisters towards Charlotte.

But as the nation of England emerges from the impact and effects left behind during the war, Charlotte is now working for helping those who are in need working for Miss Eleanor Rathbone as a city councilor at Granby Ward. Miss Rathbone's work as a ward councilor was only one of the many hats she wore, she was a committed suffragist and defender of women's rights beyond the voting booth and where Charlotte is able to share her viewpoints in helping women achieve what she hopes to someday, the equal treatment of people everywhere especially after the war. She sees families everywhere that are struggle to make ends meet despite the governments claims that they are helping. She soon becomes the voice of the people she works with every day when the articles she writes for the Herald are published.

After his father dies suddenly, Edward finds himself the newest Earl of Cumberland and with it all the responsibilities that come with managing the family estate. He soon realizes how much death taxes are due and how his father has managed to leave him with more debts that he knows what to deal with all while still suffering from his war injuries which are driving him to drink to eliminate the pain. Edward realizes that the only way he might be able to get out from under the financial problems would be to marry a wealthy American heiress but he can't seem to forget Charlotte and how much he cares for her. But that is not an option that either of them can entertain.

I received After the War is Over by Jennifer Robson compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. Aside from receiving a complimentary copy of the novel, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. For fans of Downton Abbey will absolutely LOVE this one. But if you haven't read Somewhere in France, pick that one up first. You will definitely love Jennifer's attention to detail especially in contrasting the very different lifestyles of Edward and Charlotte both pre and post WWI. I easily rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and now I can't wait to read the next novel to follow soon. This novel does contain one sexual scene that might not be suitable for younger readers but overall I LOVED it! This novel is slated for release in January of 2015.

For more information about After the War is Over, Jennifer Robson or where you can preorder a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

After the War is Over by Jennifer Robson

You can find Jennifer Robson on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on After the War is Over please visit William Morrow's website. 

The World of Post Secret

When Frank Warren solicited an idea to have people send in post cards with secrets on them, he thought he would only receive around 365, and was more than surprised when he received more than 1 million of them in 2004. He asked people to anonymously send their secrets on the back of a postcard and was more than surprised by the results he received. He has shared them in a hardcover book simply called The World of Post Secret. This is the sixth  post secret book and it might be the last. It even has a website called postsecret.com and has raised more than a million dollars to aid in suicide prevention.

Some of the responses are truly candid, some explicit in their content while others speak of wishes hoped for but never fulfilled. The post cards that are captured in the book are exactly like he had received them, and in the book Frank Warren attempts to respond to some of his readers questions about the project including the PostSecret app. He includes his most controversial secrets he has received as well as his own secrets, including his harrowing call he took as a volunteer on the suicide prevention hotline. He has included the introduction of the new app called PostSecret Universe that is a companion to this book. It is loaded with additional postcards, secrets from the original PostSecret app, private pictures, recordings and a few surprises.

He still gets excited whenever he takes a walk out to his mailbox because he truly never knows what he will get or what secrets lie waiting to be discovered and revealed. He is even looking for someone to take over the task, perhaps like he recalls, "like Willy Wonka, he could hand over the keys and allow PostSecret a second life." Who knows if one of the postcards featured in this book may be from someone who is waiting to share a long lost kept secret with you.

I received The World of Post Secret by Frank Warren compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. Aside from receiving a complimentary copy of this book I have not received any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own unless otherwise notated. This is not the book for everyone and contains some explicit messages on some of the postcards that should be viewed by mature readers only. I love the sage wisdom found on some of the post cards like, "I thought life would make more sense when I got older," from a military service person, "I should have died instead of you, I'm sorry," from a firefighter, "I'm one of 'the bravest', my secret? I'm just as afraid of dying as the people I save." There are even screen shots people shared through the Post Secret app that are included. It is bittersweet to see how some people have kept so many things hidden in their life. Makes me wonder how different life would be if people knew and perhaps that is the point of this book. For me, I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars simply based on some of the sexual content that is included that would not be suitable for all readers.

For more information about The World of Post Secrets, Frank Warren or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The World of Post Secret by Frank Warren

You can find Post Secret on Facebook to learn more about the secrets behind this project.

To read more reviews on The World of Post Secret, please visit William Morrow's website.