In Golden Splendor

I just got the most wonderful opportunity to review an incredible new series, The Heirs of Ireland by Michael K. Reynolds. I haven't read the first book in the series, but picked up In Golden Splendor which is the second novel he just completed and it's simply a compelling historical story that you can't put down. This takes you into the heart of the Gold Rush days where people were literally coming from all over the world to get their stack at a claim in California in hopes of striking it rich.

We are introduced to Irish immigrant Seamus Hanley who finds himself trying to survive as a mountain man in the harsh winter but is failing miserably at trying to hunt game and also sell the furs for money. He happens upon a wagon accident that claims the life of the driver but leaves one horse alive. Seamus sees that the horse and contents belong to the U.S. Army and it's a mail delivery wagon. Taking the horse would automatically be grounds for hanging taking military property, but he knows if he leaves the horse behind, it won't survive. Thinking God's providence is upon him, he takes the horse and a letter on which Open Immediately is scrawled across the front. Inside Seamus finds a heartfelt letter and a photograph of a woman named Ashlyn who is pleading for help in finding her father.

Seamus believes it is he duty to aid this beautiful woman even though the letter was not addressed to him. It seems that the recipient of the letter has not be faithful in returning his response even though it appears that there is a relationship between them. Ashlyn needs to locate her father who has gone off searching for gold in hopes of providing an income to support her while she waits behind in San Francisco. But in order for Seamus to find Ashlyn he must find a way to get through the brutal mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains as winter is approaching. With little to go on in the ways of supplies, he believes God is calling him to answer Ashlyn's pleas for help and will trust God for a way to make that happen.

I received In Golden Splendor by Michael K. Reynolds compliments of B and H Publishing Group and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is my first novel by Michael K. Reynolds and the reviews from other authors inspired me to pick this one up. I am always a fan of historical fiction and think Mr. Reynolds did an exceptional job at transporting the reader in the heart and soul of Seamus Hanley who found himself a U.S. Army deserter and has been branded physically for such action. It's the ultimate game of hide and seek for Seamus to make his way through circumstances that quite literally have you holding your breath. I would have never made it as far as he did. Along the way we learn that both Seamus and Ashlyn have deep secrets that need to be resolved for past mistakes that they feel are holding them back believing the lot in life they have found is a good as it will get. However God has bigger plans that we see slow unveil during this novel. I am now a huge fan of Michael's and will be picking up the next book, Song's of the Shenandoah due out in January 2014. If you want to begin this series, you'll want to pick up Flight of the Earls first before reading this one to make the journey even more unforgettable. For me, this one rates a 5 out of 5 stars and I look forward to pick up the first novel in the series to see just how the Irish family came to America.

For more information about In Golden Splendor, Michael K. Reynolds or where to pick up a copy of this wonderful novel today, please click on the links below:

In Golden Splendor by Michael K. Reynolds

You can also find Michael K. Reynolds on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on In Golden Splendor from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour, please click here. 

Carolina Reckoning

How would you feel if those suspicions you had of your husband were confirmed by finding a photo of them together in the pocket of his raincoat? Well for Alison Monaghan it is the proverbial straw that brings her to a breaking point. With her husband Frank being a bit of a control freak, she's finally going to summon the courage to confront him now that she finally has the proof she's been looking for. The only thing that causes her to reconsider is how it will affect their children, Clare and Justin now that they are in high school. Will it mean a messy divorce? How will she be able to provide for herself and her children since Frank has been their financial safety net all these years as a commercial pilot? All she knows is she has to deal with all the emotions she's been keeping bottled up all these years and tonight when Frank gets home, she's gonna let him have it.

Only Frank never arrives home. Alison receives that fateful knock at the door all wives dread. And the news is just what she never hoped to hear. Frank has been found murdered just seven miles from their home and of course, like most detectives, Alison is their key suspect. Deep in her heart she wanted him to pay, but not like this. She never wanted him dead. But how can she deal with the fact she's not as upset as a wife should be? That is just the thing, Raleigh homicide detective Mike Barefoot is wondering as well. He's been working enough of these cases to know just how convincing wives can be after murdering their husbands. However the more time he spends investigating the case and getting to know the man Frank really was, the more he convinces himself that Alison had nothing to do with his murder. Now if he can only keep his focus on finding the killer instead of finding himself drawn to Alison's heart.

In the latest novel from Lisa Carter, Carolina Recknoning takes the reader inside the murder of Frank Monaghan and the lifestyle he keep secretly from his wife and family. Alison doesn't believe she can move forward until she finds out more about the life Frank kept hidden from her including leaving them penniless and in more debt than she ever could imagine. Her children have their own problems to deal with living in wealthy neighborhood and being part of the affluent class of people in their city. Now all their friends suddenly turn on them they've known forever and the only thing any of them have is one another to survive in high school among the horrible things their friends say about their family. Is it possible to find hope in the midst of this crisis? Will their lives ever go back to normal again? But as the family is drawn into discovering who the murderer is, they suddenly find themselves with targets on their backs as well.

I received Carolina Reckoning by Lisa Carter compliments of Abingdon Press for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This novel really draws out the emotions to make you consider what you would do in this situation. How would you move forward? How can you bring yourself to forgive someone when they have hurt you beyond what you think you can bear? How can you forgive someone now that they are gone? This is truly a story about solving a crime but even greater than that is finding redemption for yourself. The family ultimately finds that a relationship with God is the only way they can salvage what is going on and it doesn't happen overnight. In fact, its a realistic portrayal of what happens in the life of a believer. Things don't get easy for them because they start going to church, in fact, it gets worse. They struggle with things just like we all do but there is a peace found when you know you hope is in God instead of what the world has to offer. I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Carolina Reckoning, Lisa Carter or where you can preorder a copy of this novel due out in August of this year, please click on the links below:

Carolina Reckoning by Lisa Carter

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

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Abingdon Press (August 6, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1426757972

ISBN-13: 978-1426757976

The Path to Piney Meadows

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Path to Piney Meadows by Gail Sattler

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

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

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

Lighthouse Island

Imagine a world in the future. A world that has become so densely populated that green spaces no longer exist. They are now the product of advertisements to work towards using the credits you earn in hopes of visiting a place that only exists far from where you live now. Cities have developed so much due to the over population of people that any space is used to build on. Animals have all died out due to disease or simply being hunted to extinction. Now only the wealthy and rich have a handful of animals. Water is the most precious of commodities. All the rivers have dried up because global warming and creation of cities have left the atmosphere and the ecosystem completely out of balance. It no longer rains. Since water is so precious, every single human has been allocated just one quart a day and most of the time, it's cloudy and yellow but still drinkable.

There are no longer a need for maps, data or numbers so calendars are now rendered obsolete. No one cares what year it is because the days have all begun to blur together as one anyways. The only technology that remains in virtually every location imaginable are televisions. They are the way in which communication between the agencies and the population exist. Depending on your skill set you might be able to climb your way up the corporate ladder and be able to move where water rationing isn't a concern and food is more readily available. Every night on the radio from an abandoned satellite a voice reads over and over the great classical books of the world. It is known simply as Big Radio.

The only hope that Nadia Stepan has growing up as an orphan is finding a way to escape to a place known simply as Lighthouse Island. A place where trees, oceans, and food is plentiful. It is only gifted to those that can afford it, but Nadia believes she can find a way to get there on her own. Not knowing how she will make the journey, she finds all her knowledge in the forms of books that most people have disregarded in leiu of television. She consumes them instead of watching the government run programming, mostly in part by her inability to see due to defect in her vision caused from a lack of Vitamin A. Now all she can do is simply read about places that used to exist. History books and technology books have been rendered obsolete since it doesn't matter what the current state of things are now. Resources can't be replicated to fix the things that were once used like ebooks and cell phones. Now most people resort to scavenging, work in the agencies or demolition. Now that water is so hard to come by and the pipes no longer have the pressure or electricity to run them, buildings larger than 4 stories are demolished. The people that live there are forced to find suitable housing some place else or are turned over to the prisons to work in labor camps.

I received Lighthouse Island by Paulette Jiles compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. I love books like this one because it takes us into the possibility of where our own future may in fact be headed. If population increases so exponentially will the earth be able to substain itself or will the possibilities like what are featured in this book become a reality? I thoroughly enjoyed this one and can't wait to read more novel from Paulette Jiles. This was a first for me. She literally took me into a future world where I was living alongside Nadia and one I which I truly felt was real. I could relate to Nadia character being a huge book lover myself. It was such an incredible journey and one I couldn't put down until I finished the last page. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and this book is now available for preorder since it is due out in October of this year. This is one you won't want to miss! This was so much better than what I was expecting and hope to see this one come to the big screen someday soon!

For more information about Lighthouse Island, Paulette Jiles or where to preorder a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Lighthouse Island by Paulette Jiles

You can also find Paulette Jiles on her website to stay up to date with all her latest novels. 
 

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (October 8, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062232509
• ISBN-13: 978-0062232502
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches

Grounded

Grace Meredith has been touring the country sharing her message of purity and that her fans are worth the wait as part of her contemporary Christian music tour entitled New Year, New You. She feels the passion of God speaking to her heart and finds literally after every concert at her Meet and Greet sessions that talking with young people about their decision to remain pure until marriage is something God's called her to do. She's even telling them that she is waiting in her own engagement to Roger for them to be married first because it's worth the wait. It's a message that has made her a role model for her young fans.

Only thing is, Roger calls Grace during her tour to drop the ultimate bombshell on her, that he can no longer wait for her. He can't deal with her busy concert tours and not being home. He's hoping to find someone a bit more rooted in town that he can begin a family and marriage with and hopes that they can still remain friends. Now how can Grace appear before the many fans sharing a message of being worth the wait when her own finacè won't wait for her?

As Grace struggles with coming to terms with her upcoming tours, she finds herself at a loss for words quite literally. Seems she has picked up more than a sore throat that threatens her upcoming concert dates. When she tries to contact her agent, she's informed that she has been assigned a new one, Jeff Newman. Jeff wants to meet with Grace as soon as possible to see what the direction might be for her concert series and if she wants to remain with the New Year, New You theme.

Just when Grace finds herself home alone in Chicago with nothing more than her cat, Oreo as her companion, she wonders about the neighbors who live on her street. After all the time shes spent living her, she hasn't had the time to meet a single one. But all that is about to change with a snow storm is destined for Chicago and with it a chance to see things she had never noticed before until she finds herself Grounded!

I received Grounded by authors Neta and Dave Jackson compliments of Worthy Publishing and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable one and literally fell in love the message of redemption and grace that permeates throughout this entire novel. I can so relate to Grace's character because I have found myself in the same shoes almost as Grace and the message is one that readers can relate to. That no matter what has happened in your life, you can be forgiven. Don't let the enemy try to wear you down telling you that you will never be worthy enough for heaven and that no matter how hard you try it will never be enough. This is a great novel that defines God's grace for what it really is meant to be. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to read the next one in the Windy City Neighborhood series in the Fall of this year. My favorite character next to Grace would definitely be Estelle! Oh how I would LOVE to have a neighbor like her.

For more information about Grounded, Neta and Dave Jackson or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Grounded by Neta and Dave Jackson

You can find Neta and Dave Jackson on Facebook to stay up to date with all their latest novels.

To read more reviews on Grounded from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour, please click here.

Defending the Faith

How would you answer the following questions about your faith:

Why do you believe in God?

What are your reasons for thinking God is real and that the Bible is a reliable text inspired by God?

"In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul says that if it is not absolutely true that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, then our faith in God is useless and we are giving false testimony (1 Corinthians 15:14-15). This is why we must be brutally honest with ourselves about what we believe and why: so that we can grow in our own faith in God and move toward maturity in Christ.

You, as a person who professes God as the giver of all truth, should be asking yourself these questions before anyone else asks them of you. It is a matter of being responsible with your beliefs. However, let me be careful to say that you can have doubts and believe in God. Just because people have doubts about their faith doesn't mean they have to abandon ship. Doubts are not confirmation that a ship is sinking, but if you question the sturdiness of your vessel, would it not be wiser to examine its soundness before you simply leap into the sea? Even if you still do not have 100 percent confidence that the ship will stay afloat, you also do not have 100 percent confidence that it won't! Do you really need 100 percent confidence that the ship is secure to stay aboard? Would 10 percent, 20 percent, or 40 percent doubt in one's ship be reason enough to jump overboard? No, of course not! You only abandon ship once you are certain the ship is sinking, and as the gales and tempests of this life come, I contend that the more you study, the more you will find that no other ship but the mighty ark of our Christian faith will bear us safely through every challenge and storm. And if we have this confidence in our own faith, the more persuasive we will be as we thoughtfully interact with the ideas and questions of people from other belief systems."

In the book, Defending the Faith by author Mary Jo Sharp, she takes a look at what is often times lacking within the church, a need for women to be taught how to defend their faith in a way that works for women. It is an honest look into what we need, as women, to help us not only be prepared to answer the questions above with honesty and confidence but how to grow and remain strong in our faith. If left to our own devices, we will simply limb along taking scripted responses from others as a simple way of providing the answers we hope are true to ourselves.

This is a wonderful book that I would see could dramatically impact the ministry opportunities in the church, home and community because of the compassionate needs women have to help others in need. If we continue to work together to really provide a hard line study into growing our faith, studying what God's Word has to stay about things, we can not only answer questions asked of us but also coach those we interact with every day in those same areas. We are instructed as a church to provide that type of teaching within our body and community and I think Mary Jo does an exceptional job at not only showing us why it's necessary but also how to go about beginning the process. She definitely has inspired a fire in this reader's soul to provide my own answers to these questions above and many more.

I received Defending the Faith by Mary Jo Sharp compliments of Kregel Publications for my honest review. I have not received any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is a must needed subject for the churches, more so now than ever before and I would encourage church leaders and women in the ministry to pick up a copy to encourage this type of growth within the women of the church through small group and personal Bible Studies. I can only imagine how powerful this would be for any woman to have the upmost confidence in being able to defend her own faith in Jesus Christ to anyone who asks. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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

Defending the Faith by Mary Jo Sharp

The Quarryman's Bride

Life was perfect. Two families soon about to become part of each other. Tavin MacLachlan and Emmalyne Knox had just a couple weeks left before their much anticipated wedding. Until tragedy struck and now instead of a wedding, Emmalyne is attending a funeral. With the death of her two younger sisters in the tornado that came to St. Cloud, the tradition of remaining single and caring for her parents now falls on her shoulders. With that comes the end of all the dreams that Emmalyne and Tavin had for their future. There will be no changing her father's opinion.

Now eleven years later, fate is about to intervene. Emmalyne's father returns the family to St. Cloud to being work at the quarry owned now by the MacLachlan family. He is offered a job and a home in exchange for moving back to St. Cloud, something Emmalyne never expected would happen. She wonders if Tavin has married and started a family of her own. She realizes that her future is now sealed with her family's long standing tradition of the third daughter carrying for the parents until they die and she knows there is nothing outside of a faithful prayer to God that anything might ever change. She has had her hands full in caring for her mother who seems lost in sadness after the loss of her daughters so many years ago. Is there a way to help her her mother or will she sit back and watch her fall deeper into depression?

The last thing Tavin expected upon his return to St. Cloud was to be offered a job by his father upon his help completing their contract to fulfill a large quarry order. It will give him the independence he desires and enable him to be close to his family now that his sister Fenella is but a shell of her former self since losing her husband in a quarry accident. She must now remain locked in her room for fear of her hurting herself or her two young boys. Tavin's strength will be tested in ways he never imagined now that he has returned home. His greatest test will be how he will react when coming face to face with Emmalyne again.

I received The Quarryman's Bride by Tracie Peterson compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity  for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is truly a story about forgiveness, honor and restoration, not only for Tavin and Emmalyne who have both put their faith aside believing a truly loving God isn't capable of hurting those who love Him. It really does tell the story of why it seems that God allows bad things to happen to good people. There is hope and a restoration of faith through the diligence of prayer beginning with Emmalyne who feels that somehow God is still in the midst of everything she is going through and only through relying on Him will anything change in her family. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and look forward in anticipation of the next novel in the Land Of Shining Waters Series. The Quarryman's Bride is Book 2, with The Icecutter's Daughter being the first.

For more information about The Quarryman's Bride, Tracie Peterson, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Quarryman's Bride by Tracie Peterson

You can follow Tracie Peterson on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Quarryman's Daughter from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here. 

Welcome to the campaign page for Tracie Peterson's newest book in the Land of the Shining Water series, The Quarryman's Bride.
Tracie is celebrating with a "True Love" $200 Anthropologie giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party.

One winner will receive:


• A $200 Anthropologie gift card


• The Quarryman's Bride and The Icecutter's Daughter by Tracie Peterson
  

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 8th. Winner will be announced at the "The Quarryman's Bride" Facebook Author Chat Party on July 9th. Connect with Tracie for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tracie will also share an exclusive look at the next book in the Land of Shining Water series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.


So grab your copy of The Quarryman's Bride and join Tracie on the evening of July 9th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Hope to see you on the 9th!