Painting the Moon

If you are looking for a charming series, set in the idyllic countryside of Cotswold's, filled to the brim with delightful and charming characters, you can't help but love, then look no further than Tracy Borum's Chilton Crosse series. In Painting the Moon, the first novel in the series, we are introduced to the small town of Chilton Crosse, buried in a quaint English village. Noelle Cooke has made the journey to the town after hearing of her late aunt Joy's death. She has 3 days leave from her employer in San Diego to settle the affairs and get back to work.

Among those details are not only getting her Aunt's cottage ready for sale, but sorting through the years of belongings to decide which must stay and what she can donate or ship home. What she doesn't expect to find is a locked door upstairs and no apparent key. Thinking she will tackle that one later, she heads to the gallery her Aunt also owned and finds that it is bordering on bankruptcy unless she can raise enough money to salvage it. It's been quite some time since Noelle has been back and is looking forward to connecting with her childhood friend Jill while she is in town. She just never expected Jill to invite her former crush Adam Spencer who is working nearby on a renovation project in the town nearby.

However she tries to fight her emotions, she knows that Adam is the one man she wishes she could have fallen for many many years ago. Even though for Noelle, the relationships she has attempted to have, have all fallen flat. As the time draws to a close, Noelle realizes that 3 days isn't enough time to settle what she needs to accomplish in England, however when her boss gives her an ultimatum, she immediately considers the implications of staying. Would it be possible to find a job if she stayed? Would there be a future with Adam? Did her Aunt Joy have more in store for her than just what her eyes can see? Only time will tell!

I received Painting the Moon by Traci Borum compliments of Red Adept Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. This is such a heartwarming series and I can't wait to pick up the next one, Finding the Rainbow! The characters you meet in this village are as real as the pages in the books from Mac MacDonald, the local handyman with a strong Scottish accent that always dispenses wisdom along with a sharing a cup of tea to the 90 year old gentlemen outside the bakery passing out samples of his daughters blueberry scones. You might just want to brew a pot of tea, pick up some biscuits or scones and settle down for a evening by the fire for this one. Well worth all 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Painting the Moon, Traci Borum or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Painting the Moon by Traci Borum 

You can find Traci Borum on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

If Only In My Dreams

Sometimes our best laid plans can often times come up too short. To say that Quinn Hollister and Caleb McKenzie were high school sweethearts would be an understatement. Sometimes you just know you are meant to be with someone despite how others around you may think they know what is best. So it came as quite a surprise when both Quinn and Caleb announced that they wanted to get married just after high school. It was the answer of Quinn's parents that cause them off guard. They felt she was simply too young and immature to understand the complexities of what she was getting into and they felt that she would give up on college simply to be Caleb's new wife. They asked her to wait two years at least before making that decision.

But Caleb and Quinn had other plans. They knew what true love knows deep down inside, that they were truly meant to be. Caleb wanted everything perfect for Quinn, to be able to keep her close to her family, to support her dreams and be able to provide for her as a husband should. He had it all laid out perfectly and they agreed to meet together at the cabin without anyone knowing and simply elope before anyone could change their minds. However, heartbreak, tears and more came from that plan and soon they went their own separate ways, knowing that someone in their heart, they were never quite complete again.

Christmas has come again to Montana and with it the expectations for the family to gather around and be together. Quinn just didn't expect that Caleb would also be returning home to spend the holiday with his sister Valerie at the McKenzie cabin now that it has been renovated, along with his twin boys. Will a ghost from Christmas past, find a way to unite the two hearts once again and give them the possibility of having their dreams come true?

I received If Only In My Dreams by Mariah Stewart compliments of Pocket Star, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of the book, in exchange for my honest review. At just under 98 pages, this is the perfect short story that feels like so much more. I only wish it was longer because I have been a huge fan of Mariah Stewarts novels. What a true classic story of love that endures, never dies and always hopes and for that reason I give this one a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about If Only In My Dreams, Mariah Stewart or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

If Only In My Dreams by Mariah Stewart

You can find Mariah Stewart on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

For more reviews on If Only In My Dreams, please visit Simon and Schuster's website. 

Guarded - Giveaway and Review

Sometimes the best kept secrets lay buried where no one can hopefully find them. However this is not the case. When a fire burns through one room of the stone home in Kentucky, Annie Taylor along with her grandmother Beulah discovered a metal box containing letters from Beulah's parents as they received word from her brother Ephraim who was serving overseas during WWII. It isn't so much what is discovered in the stack of letters her parents kept, but why would they keep them buried beneath the floorboards of the bedroom?

Annie struggles with trying to find a job as she helps her grandmother decide if the family home is worth salvaging from the fire or whether she should just accept the paltry insurance check they they have offered along with a local estimate to salvage from the home what is left. It would mean the possibility to rebuilding a new home, but is it possible this old stone home is worth more than what the insurance company and others believe it is? Is there a possibility it might just be a historical landmark of some sort and thus gain some money to restore it rather than level it and begin again?

As Annie tries to find ways through research on the old family home she uncovers a bit about herself in the process. Just as her boyfriend Jake moves home, they are beginning to slowly learn more about one another. Why is it so easy for Jake to fit into this small town and find a job whereas everywhere Annie looks no one seems to be hiring, or it is that no one simply wants to hire her? Will she be able to come to terms with her own past before she can begin to discover a potential future with Jake or are some secrets simply better off not being known at all? 

I received Guarded by Angela Correll compliments of Koehler Books for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review of the book. This is the sequel to Grounded, Angela's previous novel even though it's not formerly in a series per say and you gain quite a bit more of Annie and Jake's background as well as Beulah's if you start there first before reading Guarded. I love the tie in with WWII because I am a huge fan of history and love the elements that she incorporated to learn what happened to Beulah's brother during the war through real letters that the author read from people who had written home. It just keeps that element more believable as you read through them and understood how they might have wanted to keep those at home from worry while gaining a bit of home in the process by asking questions about what was going on at home. A wonderful story that is sure to resound in the hearts of romance fans everywhere and for me, once again another splendid edition to my home library, for that reason it garners a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

Now for an exciting treat for one lucky person, thanks to the generosity of Angela Correll, not only is she giving away a copy of Guarded for someone but she is also extending that to include the winner's choice of a Plainview Basket, which includes a goat's milk luxury bar, goat milk cream, goat milk hand soap and sugar scrub from her store. Here is all you need to do to enter:

1. "Like" Angela Correll's Facebook page.

2. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. 

3. Be a resident of the US or have a US mailing address. No P.O. Boxes please.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win this giveaway package. Don't forget to include your email address so I can have a way of notifying you if you are the lucky winner of this giveaway package.

The giveaway will end on December 4, 2015 so be sure to make sure you are entered to win. You can enter as many times as you like.

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

Guarded by Angela Correll

You can find Angela Correll on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books and products.

Chris Tomlin: Adore CD Review and Giveaway

Who doesn't love Christmas music at this time of the year? I know it is something I truly never get tired of. Chris Tomlin released this new Christmas album and features such classic Christmas songs with a mix of original Christmas songs. There are special guest performances from Laura Daigle, All Sons and Daughters, Crowder and more on this album.

If you haven't heard of Chris Tomlin before you might not realize that he is an American contemporary Christian music artist, worship leader, and songwriter who has sold nearly 30 million records. Some fo his most well-known songs are "How Great is Our God", "Jesus Messiah", "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)", "Our God", and "Whom Shall I Fear". His 2013 album Burning Lights debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, only the fourth Christian album ever to open at number 1. Throughout his career, Chris has been nominated for 32 Dove Awards (6 of them collaborative efforts) and he has won 19 of them.

The songs on this album include:
 

1. He Shall Reign Forevermore

2. Adore

3. Midnight Clear (Love Song)

4. Noel featuring Lauren Daigle 

5. Hymn Of Joy 

6. Silent Night featuring Kristyn Getty 

7. What Child Is This? featuring Sons & Daughters 

8. It's Christmas

9. A King Like This

10. Bethlehem

11. A Christmas Alleluia featuring Lauren Daigle & Leslie Jordan of All Sons & Daughters 

By far my favorites are He Shall Reign Forevermore, Noel, Bethlehem, and Silent Night! I know that you will truly love the music that is on this album. It gives everyone something that they are sure to enjoy. You truly get the best of both world in getting Christmas music coupled with some truly great worship as well to help keep Christ in the Christmas season!

I received Chris Tomlin's Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship compliments of Capital Christian Distribution and Propeller LLC for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this CD, in exchange for my honest review. I've been a huge fan of Chris' since hearing Whom Shall I Fear and was surprised when I researched more of his music just how many songs of worship, praise and contemporary Christian music he had written or I was familiar with just didn't know they were his. This is such a beautiful CD that truly honors Jesus in every single song and one I know will bless your Christmas season. For me this one rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

Now for the part you have been waiting for, thanks to the generosity of Capital Christian Distribution and Propeller LLC, they are offering a giveaway of this amazing CDto one lucky reader. Here's all you need to do to enter.

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart or "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart. 

2. Leave a comment on either place and tell me why you'd love to win a copy of the Chris Tomlin's Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship. If you are leaving a comment below, don't forget to include your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols. If you are leaving a comment on Facebook, no worries, I can message you if you are the lucky winner for you to get in touch with me.

3. This giveaway is open to US and Canada only.

4. I will email or message the winner of the giveaway once it ends on December 4th. You will need to respond within 72 hours or another winner will be selected.

5. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor, Propeller/FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are NOT eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are NOT eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

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 ae 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. 

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

Chris Tomlin Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship

 
You can find Chris Tomlin on Facebook to stay up to date on all his music and projects.

If you want to digitally download a copy of this CD on Itunes, please click here. 

The Spy House

4 men from various military forces from the around the world, are found brutally killed behind a locked and sealed door underground. Sounds a bit like some math or science puzzle but that is precisely behind the premise behind Matthew Dunn's latest novel The Spy House, the fifth book in the Spycatcher series. I have truly loved this entire series that takes readers into the life of William Cochrane, (think of Jason Bourne or Ethan Hunt) who has at this point been asked to leave the MI6 and CIA after serving so many years for both organizations. He has become a bit of a liability that they can't control.

But just what can a man do now after this has become who he is? He contracts out his work now so he doesn't have to answer to anyone but that also means that he isn't provided with the creature comforts he was used to in order to accomplish his goal. This mission takes on a bit of a personal nature when Will learns that the man they are accusing of being guilty is his mentor and best friend. There is no possibility that the blame that they are placing on him is true and besides taking on this contract, he is also taking on the personal responsibility to oversee the investigation.

This has all come to a culmination when an Israeli Ambassador to France is killed in cold blood by what some believe is a Hamas sniper in a Paris square. Israel wants to retaliate, but they lack the facts to connect these crimes to Hamas with 100% certainty. They have given the U.S. two weeks to provide the hard cold facts in this matter, before they launch their own mission against those they believe responsible and if they do so, it will put the U.S. in a position to choose what side they will support. A matter that could potentially led the entire world into a third world war. Now it's a race against time for Will to provide the answers but likely all could espionage thrillers, there are those that wish to prevent that from happening and soon the body count not only begins to rise, but becomes personal in nature to Will as well.

I received The Spy House by Matthew Dunn 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 this book, in exchange for my honest review. This truly falls into the lines of such notable authors as Ian Fleming and John LeCarrè, so fans of their literary works will love this entire series. Some readers might take offense to the profanity used in this novel, so with that being said, I wanted to disclose that about the novel. It strikes me as odd how this novel came out just before the terrorists strikes in Paris and helps you understand the dark undercover work that our nations leaders use to help prevent things like this from happening, but they can't always prevent. I love that Matthew Dunn writes from the experience as a former MI6 officer and thus brings that sense of realism to his series. For me this one rates a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Spy House, Matthew Dunn or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Spy House by Matthew Dunn

You can find Matthew Dunn on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Spy House, please visit William Morrow's website. 

• Series: Spycatcher (Book 5)
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; First Edition edition (October 20, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062309498
• ISBN-13: 978-0062309495
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches

An Endless Christmas

Once you finish reading An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti, you will undoubtedly want a family like the Binders. As the family gathers at the cottage of Dodie and Wilson Binder in the woods just north of Stillwater, something of a family tradition, Micah and Katie prepare for her first visit on meeting the family and of course the parents. They have been dating for almost 10 months and while things have been going great, Katie knows no matter how perfect Micah is, he won't want anything to do with her once she reveals what she has been hiding. What she didn't expect was for him to propose just moments after they arrived at the cottage.

They just didn't expect her answer to the question. Of course, she said, "No." She expected reactions she didn't get and while the woman rallied around her, the men attempted to figure out why she had said no and to hopefully figure out a plan to keep things going between the two. Perhaps she simply needed more time. Perhaps being under the pressure of being in a home filled to the brim with family members she was just seeing and meeting at the same time. No one wanted to think it wasn't because she didn't love Micah. The truth was she truly did, but now all Katie wanted to do was make plans to escape this place before Christmas arrived.

Yet no matter how much she tried to pull away, the families closeness, genuine love and peace kept her from making any immediate plans. She found herself trying to come up with legitimate excuses of why she shouldn't just rush on out the door. Being a nurse practitioner gave her much needed insight that most people missed and one thing was certain, despite all appearances, Micah's grandfather didn't look well at all. What it was she wasn't certain, but perhaps she might be needed after all and it wasn't for finding time to explain things with Micah even though she needed to do that. What she would find in the course of the time she spent with the Binders is that they truly were a family that wasn't afraid of honesty or for showing one another how they truly felt. She might just get more than a miracle this Christmas.

I received An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti compliments of Worthy Inspired and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion. This is truly a beautifully inspired Christmas book that will not only get you in the mood for Christmas but quite likely change how you view the Christmas season. Life is filled with fleeting moments and no tomorrow is ever a guarantee. This story helps you to appreciate each day as if it were an endless Christmas. For me, this one rates a 5 out of 5 stars and has found a permanent home in my personal library!

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

An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti

You can find Cynthia Ruchti on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

For more reviews on An Endless Christmas, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page. 

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Worthy Inspired (October 13, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1617955876
• ISBN-13: 978-1617955877
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.9 x 1 inches

Christmas on Candy Cane Lane

I don't know about you, but in our city we have places where it has become a bit of a Christmas tradition in that particular neighborhood to really go all out in decorating for Christmas. You know those places, where people will drive miles just to share the Christmas displays with their friends and family. This is just what Candy Cane Lane is famous for and each year, the entire neighborhood gets into the Spirit of not only going all out on the decorating, but even dressing up and passing out candy canes to those who drive through the neighborhood. In fact Maddy Donaldson is considered by her neighbors and even family as being the Queen of Candy Cane Lane's Christmas festivities. She ensures that everyone is up to par on making sure they are participating, having their light displays up and if there are any lights out, she is the one to let them know. However, she has been neglecting her husband Alan and her daughter Jordan in the process and they are trying hard to convince her to let some of that responsibility go.

Tilda Morrison, has just bought the run down house on Candy Cane Lane with plans of fixing it up, but her lack of home economic skills are lacking severely. Between her job at the Icicle Falls Police Force, and trying to figure out her own love life, she isn't quite sure she is ready to battle Maddy's spirited insistence that she participate in the Christmas light display. But when someone begins to vandalize the lighted candy canes, Tilda will have to get involved. Unfortunately as well, her family is insisting that they all celebrate the holiday at her new home with the dinner being cooked by Tilda. The only thing she knows how to do when it comes to planning a meal is stopping at the local Safeway deli and picking up something to go.

Ivy Bohn is struggling to find a way to hold down her busy family business as well as raising her two young children after her husband Rob decided that he wanted to go it alone. Not dealing with the implications of running into him during his time of visitation, she can't help but seem quite a bit grinchy towards him. The last thing she wants to do is rely on him to help do things like fix her broken washing machine, help catch her ever escaping dog, Gizmo or figure out a way to put up her Christmas lights on the house while dealing with her fear of heights. To top it off, her new neighbor Tilda, is a friend from school that she didn't not get along with at all. How can she find a way to get into the true Christmas spirit? Oh if only things didn't turn out the way they did.

I received Christmas on Candy Cane Lane by Shelia Roberts compliments of Mira Books and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. This is a great contemporary Christmas fiction, that you can find yourself relating to at least one of the many characters in the book. While this novel is clean to some degree, some implied ideas such as the thoughts Tilda considered when thinking of possible men she'd like to do more than simply date, might not be the subject matter some might wish to see in a book. However, that is about as far as it goes. In my opinion, I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and loved the laughter and friendship that is formed in a wonderful neighborhood like Icicle Falls! This is the 8th book in the Life in Icicle Falls Series!

For more information about Christmas on Candy Cane Lane, Shelia Roberts, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Christmas on Candy Cane Lane by Shelia Roberts

You can find Shelia Robert's on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Christmas on Candy Cane Lane, please visit Pump Up Your Books Tour Page.