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Friday, February 7, 2014

The Traitor's Wife - Giveaway and Review



I remember reading about Benedict Arnold in high school and all I can remember even now was that he was a traitor to this country. I had forgotten the circumstances surrounding the details of his betrayal to this country during the American Revolution as we were fighting the British to declare our freedom from King George. What's even more remarkable is the novel from author Allison Pataki that takes all her research into the events surrounding Benedict Arnold and George Washington and filling in the rest with some amazing insight as told from the lady's maid perspective to Margaret Stippen-Arnold, Benedict's wife.

In this novel, we meet Clara Bell who is arriving at the Shippen household to serve as a lady's maid for the two daughters of Judge Stippen, Margaret, the youngest, and Betsy who is engaged to be married. Only Margaret, also known as Peggy believes that since Betsy is already engaged, she doesn't need the help to prepare for social outings as much as she does and commands that Clara work exclusively for her needs. Betsy doesn't seem to mind much and soon Peggy is the belle of the ball. Only her rival Meg Chew is vying for the attention of the same man she is interested in John Andrè, who likes playing them both against each other.

But Peggy believes she has the advantage on her side as long as she is willing to comprise some of her lady-like standards to keep Johnny interested in her much to the dismay of Clara and her parents. But when the war begins to move closer to home, and requires that John Andrè leave for the North, Peggy is heartbroken until she gains the attention of Major General Benedict Arnold who is completely captivated by this eighteen-year-old beauty. Peggy believes that in order to escape the confines of her restrictive household she will stop at nothing including attracting the attention of a man who is twice her age to get what she wants, money, power and a place above everyone else. With Benedict Arnold having closed all the stores in Philadelphia to prevent the goods that were shipped from London from being sold and the money going back to aid the King, he begins to smuggle the merchandise up North to make a tidy profit for himself.

Soon Clara finds herself in the middle of what could be considered treason but has no one to tell. She is just a servant in the household and who would believe her story over that of a decorated General and his soon to be wife. What's worse is the more Peggy tries to manipulate the situation with Arnold to gain what she believes she is due in the world, when things don't go her way, she takes her frustration out on Clara. But with no where to go if she leaves the household as a maid, she knows she must bide her time until she can find a way to help her country before she is found guilty of aiding in their treason attempts with what she knows.



I received The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers 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. Being a fan of Downton Abbey, I love how Allison chose to use the maid's perspective of the historical facts to bring this story to life in her debut novel. Interwoven beautifully into this story are the real facts about the betrayal of Arnold's service to this country as well as the role Margaret Shippen-Arnold truly played in this event. I applaud her diligence to the research it took to bring this into a masterful novel that keeps the reader both entertained and captivated by the events. There is even a discussion guide included in the back that is perfect for book clubs as well as the details and research it took in creating this novel. I easily give this novel at 5 out of 5 stars and will definitely be looking for more of Allison Pataki's novels in the future.

For more information about The Traitor's Wife, Allison Pataki, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:


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

To read more reviews on The Traitor's Wife, please visit Howard Book's website. 

  • Paperback: 496 pages
  • Publisher: Howard Books (February 11, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1476738602
  • ISBN-13: 978-1476738604
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches 
Now for the best part, thanks to the generosity of Howard Books, they are providing a giveaway to one lucky follower of my blog Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines to enter:

1. "Like" Howard Book's Facebook page. It will allow you to not miss out on their latest novels coming out along with great giveaway opportunities.

2. If you're a Twitter follower, be sure to "Follow" Howard Books on Twitter. 

3. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you would love to win a copy of The Traitor's Wife. Don't forget to leave your email address along with your comment. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner of the giveaway by email when it ends on February 17th!



Thursday, February 6, 2014

Beyond Justice - Review and eBook Giveaway



I have heard that the words of Matthew West's song Forgiveness was inspired by a woman's story to forgive the drunk driver who took the life of her child. The same conclusion can be reached by the conclusion of Beyond Justice by Joshua Graham who is rapidly earning his way to the top of my Most Wanted Author list. Beyond Justice is his debut novel written back in 2010 and I don't know how I missed it up until now. The message is as relevant and powerful as it was when it was written and it is definitely for those who are finding it more than challenging to forgive someone for something they did to them. This is a highly recommended novel for that very reason.

Beyond Justice takes us in the heart of what all of us would dread, to come home after a long day of work, anticipating spending time with our spouse and kids. Expecting nothing out of the ordinary, Sam Hudson is a bit puzzled by the fact his security system isn't armed when he arrives home, but doesn't think too much about it. His wife Jenn has been having issues with arming it, and since she is home it doesn't seem at all out of the ordinary. Sensing a romantic night awaits him as he enters his home, he finds Jenn has lilac candles waiting in their bedroom hoping to surprise him. That is exactly what he gets when he opens the door to the bedroom to find her laying in bed, stabbed multiple times. Grabbing his cell phone, he frantically dials 911 and she whispers to him to find the children. Not wanting to leave her side, he rushes to his daughter Bethie's room and discovers the same thing. She is laying in bed with multiple stab wounds and a slight pulse. Rushing to his son's room he finds a bloody baseball bat on the floor and his son barely breathing under the covers.

It is more than any man could ever hope to handle, but it's just getting started for Sam as one by one his house of cards begins to fall as he watches his family carted off in an ambulance while the detectives begin to suspect that Sam is more than innocent in his claims. All the evidence seems to point compellingly back to Sam and no matter how much he sticks to his pleas that he is innocent, the evidence keeps stacking up against him. Will he be able to prove his innocence or will he find time to wrestle with the reasoning facing the death penalty behind bars? Only time will tell.

I received Beyond Justice by Joshua Graham compliments of Partners in Crime Book Tours and Dawn Treader Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is a true suspense novel in that you literally can't see what's coming from that blind corner. I LOVE that! Too many times, the authors give it away too soon and thus the need to finish the book is lost, but not this time. Joshua maintains that same level of intensity from the beginning until the ending you never saw coming. It is the basis for grace and forgiveness coupled with a spiritual element that can only be God inspired! Well done Joshua Graham. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. For those of you that love a great murder crime mystery novel, trust me and pick this one up. You'll definitely be wanting more!!!

For more information about Beyond Justice, Joshua Graham, or where you can pick up this novel today, please click on the links below:


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

To read more reviews on Beyond Justice from the Partners in Crime Book Tour, click here. 

Now for the best part, thanks to Partners in Crime they are providing an Ebook Copy of Beyond Justice to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines:

1. "Like: Joshua Graham's Facebook page. While you're there tell him why you'd love to win a copy of this book.

2. "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart. If you have already "Liked" my page, find this review there and click the Like button.

3. Leave a comment below telling me why you would love to win an Ebook copy of Beyond Justice along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner by email once the giveaway ends on February 13th.


Shadowed By Grace



"YOU HAVE ONCE CHANCE to make this fly." Bobby Hamilton leaned across his broad desk and stared her down." I had to pull more strings than I knew I had to get the brass to bite on sending a woman to Italy. Who sends a woman to a worn-torn country? Getting credentials? What a mess." The man waved his beefy hands down in a dismissive gesture. "Then getting you on the Queen Mary?" He chomped hard on his cigar.

Rachel perched on the chair in his crowded office as the Andrew Sisters belted out "Bogie Woogie Bugle Boy" on the small Kadette radio sitting atop a stack of papers on Bobby's overloaded credenza. She kept her back so straight her men's-style tailored blazer pulled her shoulders back.

She didn't blink, couldn't give a single sign of weakness. Her editor may have taken all those steps, but she'd had to convince him first, all while watching her mother waste away day by day.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Justice."

"I do." she put as much force behind the word as she could without shouting.

He leaned back in his chair, unlit cigar poised to punctuate a thought. "You've got talent. A way with that camera."

She stroked the case, feeling as if it naturally extended from her.

"Don't let me down. Send back photos that will wow readers." He didn't have to mention his bosses.

"Yes, sir." Rachel lurched to her feet and straightened her skirt's front pleat as she hurried from the room before he could call her back.

:There was so much to do. Too much before she could join the mass of soldiers and handful of civilians who would cross the Atlantic aboard the HMS Queen Mary. If she hurried, she could finish cleaning the apartment and still make it to the hospital before visiting hours ended. It was a stop Rachel had to make, yet dreaded. How could she explain to her mother what she was doing while hiding her secondary purpose?"(Excerpt.)

In the latest novel from best selling author Cara C Putman, Shadowed by Grace takes readers into the heart of Italy in 1944 following United Press photography Rachel Justice as she attempts to locate her father whom she believes can help provide the money to help her mother battle tuberculosis and get well. The only clue she has is her mother's journal and a sketchbook from an artist with the initials RMA.

Her only ally in the process is Lieutenant Scott Lindstorm who is assigned as an officer with the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Division to escort Rachel along the way to shot photographs for the division in need of good press. He was there to help shore up classic buildings that had stood since the Roman Empire that aerial bombings destroyed. Or locate priceless pieces of art created by the masters of the thirteenth century to ensure the fighting hadn't destroyed them. Or plan for the restoration of those that had been touched by the war. The tales that art disappeared behind the lines made it more important than ever that he leave the city for the locations where the sculpture, paintings and altarpieces were housed. He wasn't looking for a tagalong.

What ensues will cause them both to question their true purpose for being in Italy during WWII and in the process find a much deeper meaning into why their paths crossed after all!

I received Shadowed by Grace by Cara C. Putman compliments of Litfuse Publicity and B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. This took me into a side of the war I never knew existed as a division of men know as the Monument Men, protected the culture of the country by guarding and locating precious works of art. This is based on true life events that transpired during the war along with a touch of romance to keep the story interesting. Being a huge fan of WWII history I absolutely LOVED this and wanted to know how it would all play out with WWII Italy being the backdrop. I was not disappointed and easily give this novel a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Shadowed by Grace, Cara C Putman or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:


You can find Cara C. Putman on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Shadowed by Grace please visit the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour page. 

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: B&H Books (January 1, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1433681781
  • ISBN-13: 978-1433681783
  • Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches 

Cara Putman is celebrating her latest historical suspense novel, Shadowed by Grace with a fun "Past & Present" giveaway! 

shadowed-400

One winner will receive:
  • A Polaroid Instant Camera
  • A beautiful antique AFGRA camera (learn more here)
  • Movie passes to see The Monuments Men movie (with George Clooney and Matt Damon)
  • Shadowed By Grace by Cara Putman
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. Winner will be announced February 10th on Cara's blog.


Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Cara's blog on the 10th to see if you won.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

At River's Edge - Giveaway and Review



Just in time for Valentine's Day, Mariah Stewart launches her latest novel in the Chesapeake Diaries series, At River's Edge! If you love romance stories set in a small seaside village, much like Debbie Macomber's Cedar Creek series, you will definitely want to grab these. This is her seventh novel in the series and like most readers who become addicted to their favorite author's series, I am thrilled that Mariah didn't stop at the standard three novels in a series. And before you ask, yes there is going to be an eighth novel which you get a sneak peek at when you get to the end of this one. You can read these as stand alones, but in order to understand who all the characters are that are referenced in these novels, you will want to start at the beginning. I have listed them in order at the conclusion of this review for your reference and buying list.

In At River's Edge, we are introduced to Sophie Enright who is a hard working and successful prosecutor for the DA's office who literally had the world at her fingertips. Great job, Chris, a man who she had fallen in love with, and was in the beginning stages of taking that next step when she found him with someone else in the backseat of his car in the parking ground of the law firm they both work at. Now thrown for a tailspin and having to face him and her every day at the office, she is looking for a change of pace. Perhaps even a change in career and place to live, so she takes some time off of work and heads to visit her brother, Jessie who lives in St. Dennis to spend some time getting a different perspective on what to do next and to spend time with him before his wedding to Brooke.

Jesse tries to convince Sophie to join the family law firm Enright and Enright who have been practicing law in St. Dennis as far back as any of them can remember. With her uncle and grandfather having retired, Jesse has more than enough cases for her to join the firm.Only she's not sure if she wants to continue in law or try something else, like running a diner, if she can find a building she can rent that is affordable, something she has always LOVED doing since she spent her summers working as a short order cook, but Jesse thinks she's crazy to try anything like that.  However when an abandoned piece of property that used to be a former restaurant comes on the market, perhaps Sophie's dreams are just beginning to fall in place after all.

I received At River's Edge by Mariah Stewart compliments of TLC Book Tours and Ballantine Books for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. It's hard not to rush through this book because you just want redemption of some sort for Sophie after everything she has gone through with Chris, that you are turning pages as fast as you can. Yet at the same time, the story is so good you don't want it to end. Ah power struggle until the next book comes out in the Spring of 2014. There are such a host of secondary characters like the mysterious ghost of Rose, Sophie's grandmother that died twenty years ago that still frequents the house her grandfather lives in alone. Her fragrance of gardenia's is always present when she is near even though no gardenias are present in the house or in the garden, and it provides a sense of lasting romance that carries over from Sophie's grandparents and hoping that she, too can find love that transcends the passage of time like they have. A poignant love story of what all romance is about and just in time for Valentine's Day. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. I can't wait for On Sunset Beach in the Spring! A must read for romantics at heart.

For more information about At River's Edge, Mariah Stewart or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:


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

To read more reviews on At River's Edge, please visit TLC Book Tour's website. 

Now for the best part, thanks to TLC Book Tours, they are providing a giveaway copy of At River's Edge to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines to enter:

1. "Like" my Facebook page Reviews From The Heart.

2. Be a resident of the US or have a US Shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

3. Leave a comment below telling me why you would love to win a copy of At River's Edge. Don't forget to include your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner by email when the giveaway ends on February 14th. 

For those of you that want to pick up the novels in the Chesapeake Diaries Series, here they are in order:

#1 - Coming Home
#2 - Home Again
#3 - Almost Home
#4 - Hometown Girl
#5 - Home for the Summer
#6 - Long Way Home
#7 - At River's Edge




Monday, February 3, 2014

Gabriel's Bride



Choices, choices? But which is the right path to take? If only she had a definitive answer. Will God answer her prayers? Rachel Yoder is still dealing with the death of her only family member, her Aunt Katherine, she is now faced with finding a new place to live. Unlike most Amish families, her Aunt Katherine took out a reverse mortgage on her home and land. Now that she has passed away, the bank now owns the property and despite all of Rachel's pleas to make the payments, she has no other choice but to find somewhere else to move.

It seems her only option is moving to Ohio where her Katherine had some cousins that could definitely use her help raising eleven children. His wife has been ill lately and could use the help around the house if she is willing to come. But what other choice does she have? She can only pray that they might be willing to take her goats as well since she has been making a living with their milk and cheese. But Ohio? So far away.

"There is no one here that would take her in. No one who would help without needing something in return. For her to care for their children or cook their meals. No one who would understand how important it was for her to keep her goats and make her cheese. To understand how important it was for her to make her own way. Once again she was adrift. Alone in the world. Except this time she was twenty-six, not ten. This time she was an adult, though she still felt like a frightened child who had come here all the way from Florida to live with a maiden aunt after her parents had died in that awful accident.

"The district will have to choose a new deacon, and I'm putting your name in."

A dozen conflicting emotions swamped Gabriel. He wasn't worthy. He was a widower. He didn't need the responsibility while he was alone now and struggling to raise his children.

"I'll say that I'd rather you didn't." Being a deacon, or any of the chosen leaders, was no easy job. Aside from feeling like he wasn't worthy, he simply wasn't up for it.

""It'll do you good son."

Gabriel took a deep breath, slowing the mad thump of his heart. Just because his name went into the lot wouldn't mean he would be chosen. Only God knew the outcome.

"Course'n it'd be better if you were married."

He had no intention of getting married again. He'd been so blessed before, marrying a woman he loved with all his heart. Then the Lord had seen fit to take her home at the same time He gave them Samuel. Gabriel would never love like that again. Having experienced it once before, it wasn't fair to ask another to enter into a relationship that was not was wondrous. Oh, he knew that he'd had something so special with Rebecca, he couldn't settle for less. He's make do in his life, knowing that once he had held the world in his arms.

But the little voice whispered in his head. He no longer had a woman partner, someone - anyone - to help with chores and teaching the boys the ways of women. Katie Rose was getting ready to get married and Mary Elizabeth was gone, her love of animals and desire for an education pushing her into the Englisch world. His mother was doing well after her cancer treatments a couple of years back, but she was not as strong as she used to be. Gideon's Annie was going to deliver their first child soon. No, all the women in his life were busy living their own lives. Oh, they would help if he asked, but he didnt' feel that was fair, nor was getting married again. He'd just have to manage.

"I don't think - "

Esh shushed him with a wave of one hand. "You just be open to whatever God has in store for you."

There was no way to argue with that. "Jah, Deacon. I will at that." (Excerpt pg 13-14).

Welcome to Gabriel's Bride, the third book by Amy Lillard in her Clover Ridge series that has completed captivated my heart and soul! Both Rachel and Gabriel have pressing matters in which a marriage of convenience would work well for, but even though it seems like the perfect arrangement, neither of them are prepared for what lies in store for them. For Rachel she has to contend with trying to find a way to cook and clean when she appears to not be able to manage anything without burning or scorching something in the process. Gabriel has to battle the feelings that he finds stirring in his heart now that Rachel is living under his roof even though they have agreed to keep things platonic between them. It's the perfect recipe for romance and a whole lot of laughs along the way.

I received Gabriel's Bride by Amy Lillard compliments of B and H Publishing Group and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. I have been completely charmed by this series because Amy creates a delightful cast of characters that keeps you coming back for more just to know what is happening in their lives. It's hard to believe that your simply reading a great novel and these characters only exist on the pages of this book and not in real life. They aren't perfect but have their own set of flaws much like we all do. I believe that is what makes readers sit up and take notice.  Congratulations Amy Lillard, you've hooked me and created such a craving for this series, I am officially addicted. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and it even includes a discussion guide that is great for book clubs!

For more information about Gabriel's Bride, Amy Lillard or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:


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

To read more reviews on Gabriel's Bride, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tours. 


Sunday, February 2, 2014

Unstoppable - DVD Giveaway and Review



Have you ever stopped and wondered just why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Is He capable of preventing it? Does He care? Does He even hear your prayers? Why is  this one question the reason so many Christians give up their faith when adversity falls into their own lives and death claims yet another great person, a believer in Christ? When cancer claims another victim and despite all the prayers, healing doesn't come?

Actor Kirk Cameron takes a hard look at just why this happens and finds the answers by going back through the Bible in hopes of providing some clarification as he examines the death of 15-year-old Matthew Sandgren, a close friend of his that losses his 10-year battle with cancer. Kirk takes viewers into the beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, the fall in the garden of Eden, the flood of Noah, and the coming of Jesus Christ.

In the end, I think Kirk stimulates us to consider all the facts of why bad things continue to happen to good people and offers us hope that when this life is over, we will have everlasting life. It helped me accept things on a much broader scale and realized just how much God cares for all of us despite the circumstances in our lives that hit home when we least expect them. As believers in Jesus Christ, we all know that our life is limited and we will face death, but it doesn't end for us there. It still affects us when we lose someone we love, because of that loss of their presence in this life, here on Earth. We miss them and want to be with them again. That loss is what grieves us the most, not that death claimed them, and now they are restored in heaven. We know we will see them again and then nothing will separate us thanks to what Jesus did through the sacrifice of His death on the cross. Does it answer the why? Not entirely but then again only God knows the reasons why He does what He does and for us, in time, it will be enough for now.

In theaters for only two weeknights (Sept 24th and Oct 3th, 2013), UNSTOPPABLE: A Live Event with Kirk Cameron sold a staggering 260,000 tickets and reached a theatrical gross of over $3.2 million dollars. In just two nights this independent project sent a loud message – audiences want thought-provoking and meaningful entertainment.   



I received Unstoppable by Provident Films compliments of FlyBy Promotions for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. This was an interesting DVD to watch and it's hard to define what it is, It's not really a documentary or a movie but more of a heart to heart look at sitting down with Kirk Cameron taking a hard look at why bad things happen to good people. I wanted to see this movie when it came out in theaters but missed the chance since it only had a single air date. Now I was thrilled to review this DVD and be able to share it with you. It really makes you consider things from the creation of the world to where we are at today and hopefully it offers a glimmer of hope in the midst of tragedy. I easily rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

About Kirk Cameron: 
Kirk Cameron is best known for his memorable role as “Mike Seaver,” a cultural icon of the 80's, with his mullet hairstyle, cool glasses, and wisecracking comebacks. More recently he enjoyed much success with the No. 1 grossing inspirational film of 2008, Fireproof, and his recent documentary, Monumental. Kirk and his wife, Chelsea, were on-screen sweethearts during their Growing Pains years and are the founders of Camp Firefly, where terminally and seriously ill children and their families are provided an all-expense paid retreat (www.CampFirefly.com). Together, Kirk and Chelsea live in California with their six children.

About Provident Films: 
Provident Films, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, produces, markets, and distributes faith-based films. The company is part of Nashville-based Provident Music Group, which has been one of the world’s leading Christian entertainment companies for more than three decades.  Films from the company have included Courageous, October Baby, Fireproof, and Facing the Giants. More info is available at ProvidentFilms.org.

For more information about Unstoppable, Provident Films or where you can pick up a copy of this DVD today, please click on the links below:


Now for the good part, thanks to Provident Films and FlyBy Promotions, they are offering a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your details 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 Canada shipping address. No P.O. Boxes please.

3. "Like" Unstoppable's Facebook page.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this DVD along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

The giveaway will end on February 10th and the winner will be notified by email. Remember if you have already won this DVD in a giveaway, you are not eligible to win again. This giveaway will be subject to verification to prevent multiple winners of the same giveaway.

"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.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

The Calling



Sometimes when you read such a great story about a fictional place, you find yourself wishing that the places, people and settings are real so you could visit. Much is the same for the Inn at Eagle Hill. Suzanne Woods Fisher created just the place in her series, The Inn at Eagle Hill. It's a B & B located on the Amish farm of Rose Schrock and she is trying to find a way to earn a living after the recent death of her husband which also left her under scrutiny of the SEC for Schrock Investments. A company that was owned and ran by her former husband and his business partner Jake Hertzler. Only Jake has disappeared along with her son Tobe and now they are being investigated. Only Rose doesn't know where either of them have run off to, and she is doing everything she can to keep going in spite of all the debt that Schrock Investments now has to pay for their investors.

Bethany is trying hard to forget Jake and the idea that she ever saw anything in him to begin with. Now they they had broken up and Jake has left town, she is trying to find someone to keep her thoughts off of her past and focused on her future. It seems that she can't seem to make any good decisions lately. In fact even though she is tempted by Jimmy Fisher, her neighbor, who is more than interested in her, Bethany feels that she is just one of many girls that Jimmy is interested in. And based on her most recent relationship with Jake, she doesn't believe she is meant to be with anyone at all right now.

While she spends her time trying to help her mother with the guests that are staying at their Inn, she also has a part time job assisting a group of five Amish sisters who are in desperate need of organizing their home. They are what you would call Amish horders and since the Amish are supposed to rotate house for Sunday services, the Bishop has told the Sisters that they have to host as soon as they can get their home ready. That is the reason they have hired Bethany. She isn't attached to anything the Sisters want to hold on to and she could use the money to help her mother. Everything is going along fine until Bethany finds a chest of bones located in the basement and believes the Sisters are murderers. Will she ever be able to go back?

In the novel The Calling, the second book in the Inn at Eagle Hill series from Suzanne Woods Fisher, we are once more taken back into further detail with the Schrock family. In the first novel The Letters, we got an inside look into Rose's life and the establishment of the Inn. Now in The Calling, her daughter Bethany is the focus and we get a chance to see how her past relationship with Jake is complicating matters with helping her family dealing with the investments issues with the SEC. While the novel focuses on the lives of Bethany and Jimmy, we are also introduced to Naomi King, Galen's sister who is married to Rose. Naomi has had a crush on Tobe Schrock since she was a child and now that he has come home to face the music of his dealings with Schrock Investments and Jake Hertzler, Naomi finds her crush has turned into true love. But what will happen when Tobe meets with the SEC investigator. It may mean a life altering choice for Bethany and Naomi.

I received The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Revell Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I can't wait to see how this all plays out and I will have to wait until The Revealing is released to know. However I loved so many of the Amish proverbs that are woven through this story that my poor novel has been ear marked to death. Couple that with an amazing recipe for Rose's Blueberry Buckle that is already calling my name and a Book Discussion Guide that is perfect for book clubs you have it all in one amazing novel. This one is well worth all 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about The Calling, Suzanne Woods Fisher, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:


You can find Suzanne Woods Fisher on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Calling from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here.



Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher is celebrating her newest book, The Calling, by giving away TWO iPads, TWO Kindles, and TWO Nooks!
 
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Two grand prize winners will receive:
  • An iPad
  • The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Four second place winners will receive:
  • A Kindle Fire HDX or a Nook HD—winner's choice!
  • The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. All winners will be announced February 10th at Suzanne's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 10th to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)