A Heart's Disguise

In the re-release of Colleen Coble's Journey of the Heart Series, she opens the first book, A Heart's Disguise with a letter to the reader. It conveys that this was the first series of novels she ever wrote and they remain special to her because writing was how she dealt with her brother Randy's death. She tells readers that they will see a piece of her dear brother in Rand's character throughout the series. The books have not been available for print in nearly ten years, so it is a true pleasure that these are making their way into the hands of readers to fall in love with all over again.

Colleen Coble is definitely no stranger now to book readers who have fallen in love with her uncanny ability to draw the reader into her novels as though they are part of the story. For fans of western romance genre's, you will definitely want to pick this entire series up. Just under a hundred pages, A Heart's Disguise sets the precedent for the remaining novels that follow.

In Wabash, Indiana at the conclusion of the Civil War, we find Sara Montgomery dealing with the recent news that the man she was waiting to return home from the war, has been killed. Knowing her heart can never be whole again, she faces the challenges of dealing with her dying father whose only wish is to see her married and well cared for before he dies, instead of living with her older brother Wade. Despite how she feels, she wonders if settling for Ben Croftner as her future husband will offer her at least the security of not wanting for anything and he at least says he loves her. Knowing there isn't much change of Rand rising from the grave, she consents to his proposal of marriage.

On the eve of the day before she is supposed to get married, she is about to learn that sometimes love offers second chances she didn't see coming and sometimes some people don't truly have your best intentions in mind and you are just a pawn in helping them accomplish what they want in life.

I received A Heart's Disguise by Colleen Coble compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. This novel has definitely given me a craving for more from Colleen and I can't wait to pick up the remaining books in this series. I am a huge lover of western romances, reading Louis L'Amour books back in high school. This one is fit right into that wheelhouse for me and I love how much Sara is willing to sacrifice her own personal happiness for her father and family even though she knows she will never be truly happy without Rand. It is believable because with choices being so limited for women back then, they really didn't have much of a say so in what their futures would be aside from a wife and mother. This one for me rates a 5 out of 5 stars and offers a sneak peek into A Heart's Obsession at the conclusion of this book.

For more information about A Heart's Disguise, Colleen Coble or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Heart's Disguise by Colleen Coble

You can find Colleen Coble on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Heart's Disguise, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page. 


In the midst of end-of-war celebrations, Sarah discovers her betrothed was keeping a devastating secret in Colleen Coble's A Heart's Disguise. Will Sarah leave her dying father’s side for the only man she’s ever loved? And what plans are forming in the jealous heart of Ben Croftner?

Celebrate book one in Colleen's A Journey of the Heart series by entering to win a Kindle Fire and RSVPing to her May 5th author chat party!


One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A copy of A Heart's Disguise
• A copy of A Heart's Obsession (blog tour coming in April)
• A copy of The Inn at Ocean's Edge (blog tour coming in April)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced May 8th on Colleen's website. Plus be sure to clear your calendar on the evening of May 5th because Colleen is hosting an author chat party on Facebook to celebrate her A Journey of the Heart series and the release of The Inn at Ocean's Edge! RSVP here!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on May 5th!

How To Catch A Prince

"I pledge to you my love and fidelity, my honor and trust, to cherish you until death part us.

The heiress and the prince. They were meant to be. In love. Forever. They were going to make it, defeat the odds of wealth and power pulling a modern couple apart." (pg. 51).

I don't know of one woman who hasn't dreamed of some day even if it's only in her dreams of capturing the attention of a handsome prince. I guess we get that notion from all those fairy tales our parents read to us as a child, but best selling author Rachel Hauck has managed to captivate on that notion in a way that garners those fantasy dreams once again as an adult in her Royal Wedding Series of novels.

I mean who hasn't watched Princess Diana marry Prince Charles or even lately the marriage of Kate and William and hasn't in the back of her mind longed for that same dream. In her latest novel How to Catch a Prince, the third novel in the series, American heiress Corina Del Rey had managed to do just that, win the heart of Prince Stephen of Brighton. While they knew the implications of such a secret love and how it might impact their futures, love still prevailed and their wedding took place in secret just before Stephen was slated for deployment to Afghanistan.

When he returned however the secrets persisted and he told Corina that their wedding was a mistake. One that could very well cost him the future throne. It seemed there was more there than what he was willing to tell Corina so they parted and went their separate ways for the next five and a half years. When Stephen is confronted with a marriage certificate he believed was destroyed, he is told he is still legally married by his brother Nathaniel. He has to find Corina and manage to convince he to sign annulment papers to legally end the marriage they both believed was over. But Corina isn't about to give up that easily especially when she knows that Stephen can provide the answers to her brother Carlos' death when he served with Stephen during his deployment, something the government wants to keep covered up. Is all fair in love and war? You're about to find out!

I received How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck compliments of Zondervan Publishers and Litfuse Publicity 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 the fairy tale series for women who love the idea that a happily ever after does in fact exist in real life. I have read this entire series from beginning to end and my hope is that it doesn't end with this novel. These have been too good to be true and one that I will be reading again and again. They are a permanent addition to my book collection and personal library. A Reader's Discussion Guide is included at the conclusion of this novel that is perfect for book clubs that would love to host this novel. In my opinion, this one is another home run and well deserving of all 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about How to Catch a Prince, Rachel Hauck or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck

You can find Rachel Hauck on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on How to Catch a Prince, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.

An American heiress and a crown prince seem destined to be together. Will the devastation of war keep them apart forever? Find out in Rachel Hauck's new book, How to Catch a Prince. True love has a destiny all its own. With a little heavenly help, Prince Stephen and Corina embark on a journey of truth. But when the secrets are revealed, can they overcome, move forward, and find love again?

Enter to win a "royal" prize pack! 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A royal-themed Brighton charm bracelet
• 2 tickets to see the new Cinderella movie
• The Royal Wedding series (Once Upon a Prince, Princess Ever After, and How to Catch a Prince)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 23rd. Winner will be announced March 24th on Rachel's blog.


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If You Find This Letter

"Dear you,

You and I have never met so we should probably just start here. Before any other words get placed on this page, you should know that our time together is limited. We probably won't ever meet beyond this one encounter. You won't know me apart from the creases in this paper and swooping of my cursive. We won't ever sit down over coffee or laugh like we're plucking old jokes from our memory. We may never have this kind of thing and I want to learn to be okay with that...

I'm struggling. Struggling in a way that I don't know how to admit to anyone around me. I moved to New York City just two months ago and still haven't found myself at home among the clamor. I feel like I should have sunk more easily into this role as a New Yorker, as Somebody who doesn't speak and doesn't smile and sits in coffee shops alone and is just fine with the solitude. But I'm not. It's driving me crazy. I'm falling apart. I see a girl and a guy meet up in the center of Grand Central, after they've both said good-bye to the longer part of their day, and something inside me starts to ache. Because I want that familiar face. I want someone, anyone, to tell me I am not alone in all of this.

I don't know your story and I guess that doesn't really matter now; at least it doesn't stop me from wanting the very best for you. You deserve that, don't you know it?

It's a little funny. That's the thing we never say to one another - that we all deserve goodness. That we deserve the best stories. That our lives are something to be in awe of and we are just so lucky to be alive and breathing today. It is the first thing I forget. It will probably be the first truth I discard when I fold up this love letter and walk away. I will continue bustling around like crazy, thinking I might find another moment to tell someone how much they truly matter to me. And then I will forget to look up. And the day will suddenly be over. 

I don't want you to slip through my fingers like that so do me a favor and know the truth; You're worth it. You are absolutely, unbelievably worth it and you were made for mighty things. Keep pushing on. Keep pressing. Don't let anyone in this wide, wide world every try to snuff out the light you bring. Yo have to know that it matters. The world is going to try to convince you otherwise but don't listen. Please. Don't. Listen. You are a marvel. It matters that you are here. If ever you forget these things, come find me.

Sending light and love,

A girl just trying to find her way." (86-87).

In the book, If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher, you will uncover something pretty amazing about her and what she did with her life when she moved to New York City in search of meaning to her life. She found that by leaving random letters to people in a variety of places, she was touching a place that most people had in common with her, a need to feel worthy, a need to belong. This is a personal memoir of how writing love letters to people created its own powerful force in the world when The World Needs More Love Letters was launched to address the need for people to be encouraged and acknowledged in this world. From letters she received from her own mother and grandmother to the letters she would write to people in need, this is a truly unforgettable journey into how the actions of just one person can truly change lives forever.

I received If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher 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 contained here are strictly my own unless otherwise notated. This book made me realize that we can all make a difference if we are only willing to step out in faith and try. For me it will be using my blog to reach out and offer encouragement to those who truly need it and to pray for people who ask. For those who are wondering what their purpose is in life, I would encourage you to read this book, you might just be surprised by the answers you find when you finish and thus the reason for a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about If You Find This Letter, Hannah Brencher or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher

You can find Hannah Brencher on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on If You Find This Letter, please visit Howard Books's website. 

You can also visit The World Needs More Love Letters to request your own love letter. 

Mist of Midnight

As long as we have someplace to call home, we have a sense of security no matter what happens in life. When Rebecca Ravenshaw left England years ago to work with her family as missionaries in India, she found a second home among the lower castes of people. People who appreciated what she did to improve their lives and it was those very same people who saved her life when the uprisings began. Her parents did not survive. All she had hoped was to head home and try to salvage something of the life she had known from her families home in Hampshire, England.

What she wasn't looking for was out right suspicion on who she claimed to be. Apparently for several months, Rebecca Ravenshaw had returned to Headbourne House along with her Indian maid and only recently died leaving the estate to the only heir left, Captain Luke Whitfield. With very little to prove she is who she claims, she visits Headbourne House and confronts Captain Whitfield. He agrees to give her time at the estate for her claims to be proven that she is who she claims without being left on the street with nothing and no one to care for her. He agrees to move to the guest home for the time being until their solicitor can iron out who gets the estate and all it's withholdings.

The more Rebecca digs into the mysterious death surrounding the women impersonating her, the most suspicious she becomes that the one did not commit suicide and may have been murder. But if that is the case, is she now running the same risk? Why would someone want Rebecca murdered? Who had the most to gain if she were dead? Does the charming and handsome Captain Whitfield have anything to do with the apparent ease at which he acquired the estate after the imposters death? What will happen if Rebecca can't prove who she is?

I received Mist of Midnight by Sandra Bryd 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 contained here are my own. This is such a wonderful novel because it combines the aspects of a traditional regency alongside a bit of suspense and mystery. It keeps you guessing who is responsible until almost the very end and now I can't wait for more novels in this series. Rebecca Ravenshaw is the epitome of a strong women who isn't about to let her dire financial situation and what people think of her, keep her from taking back what is rightfully hers even if it means stepping on a few politically correct toes to do it. Hands down a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. This is the first novel in the Daughters of Hampshire series!

For more information about Mist of Midnight, Sandra Bryd or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Mist of Midnight by Sandra Bryd

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

To read more reviews on Mist of Midnight, please visit Howard Book's website. 

By Your Side

I used to be a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy but since some of the story lines have changed that don't fall into things I agree with, I have given it up. I am thankful for authors like Candace Calvert who write incredible medical fictions like her Crisis Team Series, and By Your Side is just the latest that I've had the pleasure to read.

ER nurse, Macy Wynn and Deputy Fletcher Holt find themselves meeting in unremarkable ways, the first being that they happened to be on the scene of an active freeway shooter who was taking shots at vehicles and caused what a traffic accident that thankfully didn't claim any lives. Macy was tending to a child who was thrown from a van and Fletcher just happened to be on the freeway heading home when the situation developed. Seeing themselves at odds, even though neither is there on official duty, they bump heads in dealing with their respective situations.

Macy won't leave her victim even though she wasn't dispatched, and Fletcher needs to ensure the safety of everyone while the shooter is located even if it means stepping on Macy's toes. He makes matters worse when the man Macy arrived with appears to have been drinking and he want's to perform a DUI field test on a man well connected with politics. Macy knows things are going to get out of hand and heated if she can't find a way between them. Fletcher eventually ends up letting Macy drive them both home. But it doesn't end there.

As the shooter remains at large, his targets grow increasingly larger, from a police dog at a school to victims at a local bank. The one common factor besides the area of his aggression is Macy. Fletcher isn't sure just what the connection is, but when Macy is one again at the scene of another shooting, both her employer and Fletcher wonder just what is going on even though Macy assures them she is completely innocent on all accounts. Aside from all this both Macy and Fletcher are dealing with their own personal crisis while trying to keep their growing attractions for one another at bay.

I received By Your Side by Candace Calvert compliments of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. The opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. I absolutely was engaged in this storyline from the first page and Candace does an exceptional job at keeping the action moving forward and the reader interested until the final page. For me, this marks the sign of a great novel, one in which the reader takes a personal interest in the characters and one that they don't lose interest in the storyline along the way. For me, that makes this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. I love that things are nicely tied up with a bow as these two interact and life complicates their romance at times because that is believable. I can't wait for more from this author in the very near future. This is the first novel in the Crisis Team Series!!!

For more information about By Your Side, Candace Calvert or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

By Your Side by Candace Calvert

You can find Candace Calvert on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on By Your Side, please visit Tyndale House Publishers website. 

Happy, Calm and Focused - Product Review

Being a huge health nut and believer in natural supplements and food to inspire and provide just what we need to stay healthy, I took the opportunity to review a product known as H.C.F. or as the acronym conveys, Happy, Calm and Focused from the manufacturers of the product. It promised enhanced benefits to those who are looking for a natural alternative to help maintain brain focus and retention. As I have gotten older, I noticed immediately that I am lagging in that area being over 50. I've tried other supplements you can obtain from your local health store or vitamin shop and was really anxious to see if these would work as promised. Here is what the company has to say about their product:

The advantage HCF® Happy, Calm & Focused® has over other brain supplements is simple. Typical brain supplements and memory nutrients rely on high-dose “50-ingredients-in-one” glorified multi-vitamins or just herbs to artificially give your brain a lift. HCF supports feeding your brain’s own neurotransmitters with what it is supposed to have—F and Q Amino Acids. So you can stay at your best longer without fear of crashing. In other words, you can get the happiness, calmness, and focus you need to turn possibility into reality, whether you’re shooting for a championship or just trying to make it through your long work day.

I was really hoping after much research into the product that it would work as promised. For me unfortunately I noticed no changes in my mood, my ability to stay focused on tasks or any noticeable improvement at all. The product does state that time is required before you notice anything, but after 30 days of taking it still nothing. My research into the product shows it does work for some customers and I was hopeful it would work for me as well. Unfortunately this one didn't deliver.

I do love the fact that the company provides a product that isn't filled with chemical and unknowns and the list of ingredients on the bottle you get is strictly vitamins, amino acids and minerals that you can find naturally not filled with things you don't know what they are. The product can be taken with up to 6 pills per dose which I would find is a bit much for anyone who is buying this product for the reason it was intended. They do give up a full bottle right up to the lid which is unlike some supplements. Since I agreed to provide an honest review of the product, I can say for me it didn't work but it might for someone else.

I received H.C.F. compliments of the HCF Company for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review other than a complimentary bottle of the HCF product. In being honest, I can say it didn't work for me, but it might be worth a try for someone else looking for a natural health supplement. I'd have to rate this product a 2 out of 5 stars because it does use natural vitamins and amino acids in the product. For me, I have had better results with other products in the past and will not be purchasing this product in the future.

For more information about HCF or Happy, Calm and Focused, please click on the links below:

HCF or Happy Calm and Focused 

To purchase this product, you can visit Amazon. com . 

Then Sings My Soul

One of the best reasons for loving books is that often times as you read them you get insight into a part of history you never knew before as the author uses a particular setting or real life story as the inspiration of their novel. Amy K. Sorrells does just that in Then Sings My Soul, her latest Christian Historical novel.

The story intersects throughout the novel between life in 1904 to present day as Eleanor "Nel" Stewart returns home after learning her mother has passed away. She has wanted to come home before this but simply never had the time and now as she prepares for her mother's funeral, she also comes full term to the realization that her father, Jakob is dealing with dementia. Their families past is rich in historical detail as Jakob remembers fleeing the Ukraine as a Jewish boy to come to America for a better life. It's those long pain ridden memories that Jakob shares in subsequent chapters that shows the horror he and his older brother Peter shared as the genocide took place eliminating anyone of Jewish origin and Jakob's survival was based on his ability to hide when his family was killed.

It is a horror no one with dementia would ever want to revisit as they find themselves locked into a past they only wish to forget. For Nel, she witnesses the man she adored and looked up to become a fragile shell of who he once was as she learns more about the families past while working to resolve her families estate and help her father with his illness. Her experience as a lapidarist is evident as she spent her childhood with her father watching him cut gems into beautiful jewelry, something she treasures as something they both loved to do to help support them. She learns about how much her father refuses to accept that God was in control despite all the horrors he had to witness in his life despite the faith of those around him.

I received Then Sings My Soul by Amy K. Sorrells compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and David C. Cook Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are my own.  This is such a beautiful story of hope because you can relate to what Jakob has had to endure his whole life. People telling him about God's faithfulness but despite their faith terrible things still happened to his family. It would definitely cause one to be hardened to those things as his life wore on and that comes across through Amy's novel. It's about getting to the end of your life and taking a hard look back and realizing that God was there all along even though He didn't do the things you would have wanted him to do. I'd rate this one, a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion. At the end of the novel you'll find the personal story behind the novel as well as some reader discussion questions just perfect for a book club group.

For more information about Then Sings My Soul, Amy K. Sorrells or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Then Sings My Soul by Amy K. Sorrells

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

To read more reviews on Then Sings My Soul, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour page.