There Will Be Stars

"In the world it is called Tolerance, but in hell it is called Despair...the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes will nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die. ~ Dorothy Sayers"

I sat here for quite some time, wondering how I can put into words what Billy Coffey's newest novel, There Will Be Stars is, without giving it away. I'm probably sure of one thing, after I write this review and publish it, think on it some more, will probably wish I had written something else. I always do when it comes to Billy's novels and that my friend, is what makes his novels so unique! I guess, I'm still wondering what genre it might fit into, because for some it will be one thing, and for others something else. I think people will all take something very different away from this novel, and that is what makes Billy Coffey's writing style so unique and almost ethereal in a sense. It takes you someplace, you're not sure you want to go, kinda of like hearing that strange noise at night, and you don't really want to know what it is, but you have to see for yourself if it is something or simply nothing at all.

There Will Be Stars in a novel from the Mattingly Series of novels Billy began writing about and as he places a disclosure at the beginning, these can be read in any order, but this one takes place a few years after  In the Heart of the Dark Wood. I love to read them in the order he has written them, and then I make in fact go back and read them in a different order. This is the story not only of Bobby Barnes, the main character in this novel but those who he is interconnected with. Not only those who play a role in this novel, but those who he speaks with in getting from the beginning to the end of this story.

Bobby Barnes is the town's drunk. He runs a automotive repair shop in the small town of Mattingly, Virginia, one in which everyone knows your business, often without your permission, because it is that small and everyone is connected in some unique way that can only be explained by the mind of the writer of the novel. People have been saying for some time, that Bobby will one day drink himself to death, either by consuming so much or by getting behind the wheel. Bobby might have a different opinion on that one. He works better when he has had a few even though he rarely gets much done. Perhaps he drinks to forget, perhaps he drinks simply because that is all he has known, and to do something different, might just throw him for a spin he isn't willing to take. Whatever the issue, this is the story of how Bobby defines those very moments in something I have a hard time describing. All I know is that you have to experience it to understand it and that my friend, is why you need to read this novel.

I received There Will Be Stars by Billy Coffey compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review and I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and personal opinion. How to describe what this novel is about is like mixing Groundhog Day with the Twilight Zone. There are six people who are about to find out what heaven or hell is like based on their own perceptions of where they are in life and how they see the events that are coming to them all. In fact, all I know is that Billy Coffey can spin a tale that will have you second guessing yourself all the way to the very end and make you want to reread it to see if you might have missed something along the way. For me, this is a definite sign of a truly talented writer, and for me, this one rates up there with something Stephen King might have written! Well worth again another 5 out of 5 stars! Keep em coming Billy Coffey, keep em coming! A reader's discussion guide is included at the conclusion and would make for one great novel for book clubs to take a poke at!

For more information about There Will Be Stars, Billy Coffey or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

There Will Be Stars by Billy Coffey

You can find Billy Coffey on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To see more reviews on There Will Be Stars, please visit Thomas Nelson Publisher's website. 

Mattingly Series Novels by Billy Coffey 

When Mockingbirds Sing

The Devil Walks in Mattingly

In the Heart of the Dark Wood

The Curse of Crow Hollow

There Will Be Stars

The Secrets of Flight

Funny how the older we get, the more we tend to love history. I can honestly say, I hated it in school but truly appreciate it now, especially the role women played in the war efforts that sad to say were missing from my history books growing up. Maybe that is why I appreciate it so much now and to know that few of our WWII veterans remain living, so their stories are just waiting to be told if we simply sit down with them while they are still here to listen to.

In the novel The Secrets of Flight by Maggie Leffler, I was drawn to the story of Mary Browning, a 87-year-old woman who used to be a WASP pilot during WWII but is now wishing she had the time to write down her memoir. She can't write because she suffers from tremors and using a computer now is beyond her knowledge of technology. She resolves to spend her time, meeting with a group of fellow seniors, sharing their love of writing once a week at the library and collaborating and editing them although many will never be published. Perhaps it just keeps them young at heart.

However when 15-year-old Elyse Strickler arrives at the library one day to answer an add one of the members places in the local paper seeking new writing talent, things are about to get interesting. Mary now realizes that she can get Elyse to write her story as a part time job, but it will mean divulging all those secrets of a life she left behind in WWII that no one including her writing group is aware she holds. Elyse on the other hand is suffering her own issues at home, dealing with the potential divorce of her family and gaining the attention of a young boy at school, while she is less than popular at school This is where her and Mary becoming peer and mentor of sorts and an unlikely friendship is born of the secrets they keep.

I received The Secrets of Flight by Maggie Leffler compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of the novel in exchange for my honest and personal evaluation. While I was initially drawn to this story because of the WWII side of it, I was left a bit disappointed first, by the amount of profanity used in the novel, but the disconnection I felt for the characters. For me, that is what makes a great novel, is that you can connect with them on some level, but this one for me fell short of my own expectations, but others might feel differently. Mary's secrets in this novel are many and for those close to her, she felt the need to lie to them about virtually everything in her life, from going to flight school at the University to enrolling in the WASP program and it affects those relationships throughout her life. For me this one rates a 3 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Secrets of Flight, Maggie Leffler or where you can pre-order a copy of this novel that is available in May of 2016, please click on the links below:

The Secrets of Flight by Maggie Leffler 

You can find Maggie Leffler on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Secrets of Flight, please visit William Morrow's website. 

 

Song of Silence

"There are moments in life, seasons in life, when it seems that God goes silent. We wait. We listen. Nothing. No movement. No stirring. No signs of hope or relief. In the silence, it's tempting to believe nothing is happening. Good musicians understand the crucial role silence plays in music. The pause creates tension. They give weight to what is about to come or what has just passes. These silences are not empty, dead space. They're the crucial, fertile silences that make a song what it is. Musically speaking, in the silence, something is happening.

"In your season of waiting on God to speak, don't be fooled into thinking that just because nothing's happening, nothing's happening. In the silence, a song is brewing. Even now, in the quiet pause, in the desperate waiting between what was and what is to come, a song is being composed. You are becoming, and this becoming is not empty and passive. It's active, fertile and alive no matter how hidden it may seem to your ears. Wherever you find yourself waiting...keep composing. Keep becoming. Keep hoping and listening. Somewhere beneath the silence that is your life, a faint chord is striking, a song is brewing. - Brad Nelson, Restoration Living" (pg 201-201).

Such profound advice for retired music teacher Lucy Tuttle who finds herself afloat in her life without a sure way to figure out what is next. Being forced into early retirement when the school board votes to eliminate the music program, she feels like she has no voice. No song left to sing. Her husband Charlie, who has been retired is looking forward to this chapter of their life where he has hopes of spending it with Lucy. Lucy realizes how much this early retirement will cut into their finances and can't seem to get her head above water long enough to figure out what she is going to do.

Her daughter Olivia, needs to move home temporarily while she finishes up school and at the same time, her son just announces that he is getting married to someone who he has barely known at all. Along with that relationship comes the fact of dealing with Sasha who is deaf and her son Evan who has Asperger's. Just how much more can one woman be expected to deal with at this stage in her life when age seems to play an imminent role in her finding another teaching position. The last thing she wants to do is hang out with her husband Charlie who is considering going into the worm farm business and Lucy would make the perfect partner.

I received Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This is such a great novel as I find myself considering entering the work force at the same age as Lucy is and wondering how I will be received. I couldn't imagine dealing with all that she is faced with all at the same time. Love her HHATT group, her doctor has her meet with and can only hope I can form my own such group to share my inner most woman feelings with to those who can truly understand. For me, this one easily goes down as a 5 out of 5 stars and a Reader's Discussion Guide is included for those real book clubs to enjoy! I hope Cynthia decides to expand this into a series of the women we meet in Lucy's HHATT group! Would love to know their stories!

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

Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti

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

For more reviews on Song of Silence, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


As the music fades and a chasm separates her from the passion of her heart, will Lucy's faith song go silent, too? Find out in Cynthia Ruchti's new book, Song of Silence. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes. When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees—and hears—everything.

Celebrate the release of Song of Silence with a blog tour and giveaway. Two winners will be chosen!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Song of Silence
• A $150 Visa cash card

One second place winner will receive:

• A copy of Song of Silence
• A music-themed prize pack filled with goodies hand-picked by Cynthia

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on May 9th. The winners will be announced May 10th on Cynthia's blog.

Close To You

Some novels when you turn the last page, you give a collective sigh! Not because you're glad you finished it but because it was simply that good, you don't want it to end. Kara Isaac is about to become one of my must have authors, because in her debut novel Close To You, she takes a wonderful idea for fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and spins a contemporary romance that is guaranteed to make you laugh, cry and hopefully have that wonderful sigh when you finish it as well.

Close to You involves Allison Shire, who is spending her time as a tour guide working for Southern Luxury Tours, a high end tour company that spares no expense when it comes to taking Tolkien fans of both movies to all the locations in New Zealand where they filmed the movies. She even manages to don Hobbit attire right down to the feet in an effort to make her clients feel like they have gotten their monies worth on the tour. She is dealing with a 2 year long court battle with her supposed husband Derek to have their marriage annulled, not because they don't love each other, but because Derek married her knowing he was already married to someone else in an effort to gain a passport to New Zealand and escape his gambling debt with ones who break legs over demanding payment. She just hopes the answer comes soon so her financial assets can be unfrozen and she can move forward in her life. The last thing she would expect is to fall in love with someone else.

Jackson Gregory is at the end of his proverbial rope. Without his Uncle Louis' financial support, he won't be able to pay back his investors some 5 million dollars for an investment that went bad, when his girlfriend Nicole, decided to sell all his investment secrets to his competitor and leave him with nothing. The only reason he has been invited on this tour to New Zealand is because his Uncle is a long-time Tolkien fan and he is filling in for the assistant that quit on him last minute. Even though he knows nothing about Tolkien, he will do whatever it takes to convince his Uncle to take a financial risk on him even if it means dressing up in Lord of the Rings attire. I mean how hard can it really be?

I received Close to You by Kara Isaac compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest personal evaluation. This blends comedy when the two meet and it's not the right kind of sparks that begin to fly. It is a hate-hate relationship that begins as Allie realizes that Jackson is a Tolkien fraud and attempts to expose him to his employer the first change she gets, but when she winds up to her neck in mud, she will have to make a desperate call to the one person who can free her from her unpredictable situation. This novel will have you wanting to re-watch all of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films and who knows perhaps book your own tour of New Zealand to find a love that lasts! This one easily garners a 5 out of 5 rings/or stars in my book and I can't wait for more from this talented and amazing author.

For more information about Close to You, Kara Isaac or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Close to You by Kara Isaac

You can find Kara Isaac on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Close to You, please visit Howard Book's website. 

A Dream of Miracles

I can't imagine dealing with the loss of a spouse, especially when you have children and the idea of single parenting becomes a reality. However if you take the idea of having a small child with a lot of health problems and amplify that with a doctor who believes these numerous doctor's visits may be a masquerade for child abuse, you pretty much have the premise behind A Dream of Miracles, the third book in the Amish Wonders series from Ruth Reid.

It takes a typical Amish story line and adds a bit of "House" to the mix. While the signs are all pointing to the fact that Mattie Diener might in fact be more than neglectful in trying to raise two small children just 18 months after losing her young husband in his sleep. When her established family doctor takes a long sabbatical, his replacement is less likely to see things from an Amish perspective and when Mattie fails to notice simple things in her child's illness, she reports her for child abuse.

Now enter Bo Lambright, who has worked for the office of Child and Protective Services for quite some time and experience has taught him that no matter how simple things might look, there is always more than meets the eye, especially in his line of work, where parents will face imprisonment if found guilty, so lying is something he has come to expect from parents. When he is called in to investigate the claims on Mattie, he wonders if perhaps there might just be more than what everyone would expects. He knows that the Amish are very protective of their families and communities, but it doesn't mean they aren't capable of child abuse as well. When his past comes back to him in dreams, God might just be pointing out the truth that is hidden in the dark. It may in fact cost one mother everything in the end if the facts don't come to the light.

I received A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest and personal evaluation. I really LOVED the premise in this novel and it felt like an Amish episode of the television series, House. It was that great! Just when you think Mattie will be cleared, another issue comes up and she is faced with making the decision to take her child in to the doctors and face losing him, or does she try and find a cure herself and spare having her children taken from her. Well worth every single 5 out of 5 stars. Now I want to go back and read the first two novels in the series, A Miracle of Hope and A Woodland Miracle. There is also a Reader's Discussion Guide included at the end that makes this perfect for book clubs.

For more information about A Dream of Miracle, Ruth Reid or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid

You can find Ruth Reid on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Dream of Miracles, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


When a suspicious outsider with a shadowy past comes crashing into Amish widow Mattie’s fragile world, can she learn to love again? Find out in Ruth Reid's new book, A Dream of Miracles. When Mattie and Bo cross paths, all signs point to disaster. Yet as they face a crucible of trials and tragedies together, longings begin to stir that seem destined only to end in more heartbreak. Is a miracle possible—not only of healing but of forbidden love? What secrets lie in Bo’s dreams? And will Mattie find the courage to face her uncertain future . . . or will she simply run away?

Ruth is celebrating the release of A Dream of Miracles with a Kindle Fire HD 6 giveaway (details below) and an author chat party on May 3!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• One copy of A Dream of Miracles
• A Kindle Fire HD 6

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 5/3. The winner will be announced at A Dream of Miracles Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Ruth and other fans of Amish fiction, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 3rd!

AWE

"I wonder what they will say about me when I'm gone. When they've all gathered like we are today in this church, dressed in our best, saying good-bye. I wonder how old I'll be, and if I've lived a good life, and if I'm known for anything.

"I think about this in passing; mostly I'm just wondering if I'll see Marvel here. If maybe I'll have an opportunity to say more to her than I have in a long, long time. We haven't spoken much. Not since Halloween and the misery it brought.

"November passed, ending with a no-so-thankful Thanksgiving. Today is the second day in December and it's still warm enough to rain but cold enough to make you shiver.

"I'm sad, of course. Nobody wants to be at a funeral. But I guess I could've seen this coming. In fact, in a way I did.

We did.

In another life we connected, and he helped us to do so." (pg 1).

Travis Thrasher once more takes readers into a compelling look at the lives of two very remarkable, strong and yet unsual characters in his latest novel Awe. This is the third book in the Books of Marvella series and one I am confident if you love something different in your suspense series, you are guaranteed to find it. Brandon Jeffery's is finishing up his senior year in high school and has been more than infatuated with Marvella since she came to town. Most unusual and one to keep to herself, Brandon seems to find a key to unlock the wall she keeps around her. She would say it was there for your protection, not hers.

But at the opening of this novel, Marvel and Brandon's relationship is at a stand still. Marvel has put a barrier in place because she believes God has called her to this small town in order to save it from the evil that has begun to permeate it by taking the life of the students one by one in accidents the police remain clueless to solve. There are a bunch of creepy characters they have to contend with such as Marvel's Uncle Carlos who has threatened Brandon with killing him if he doesn't stop seeing Marvel. There is the random encounters Carlos has in the bad places in town with a man name Otis Sykes, again someone they are warned to stay far away from.

But with the recent disappearance of Brandon's best friend Devon, he believes he might still be alive. He feels it in his gut. Devon believed that he might be able to get close enough to figure out who has been murdering the students, until he disappeared. Just who is to blame. All Brandon knows is that he received a text on Devon's phone warning him if he didn't stop being so nosy, his girlfriend would be next. He hasn't shown the message to anyone including the police. Because the last thing he knows is he will do anything to protect Marvel, but it may take an act of God to put Brandon's true faith to the test.

I received Awe by Travis Thrasher compliments of Lucas Lane Productions for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions found here are my personal and honest ones. There is something dark and silent about Travis's series, one I can't quite put my finger on. It's like knowing that there is something in the dark, you can't see, but know its there. It's the waiting. Travis does such an amazing job at giving the reader just enough to keep him going but not enough to completely give it away. I am still left wondering how this will all turn out in the end, with only one more novel in the series, Glory left before it is all unveiled. For this reader, it has been well-worth the ride and one I can't wait to finish. For me this rates a 5 out of 5 stars but requires readers to pick up the first books in the series to understand what has been happening from the beginning.

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

Awe by Travis Thrasher

You can find Travis Thrasher on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

The novels in the series are: Marvelous (1), Wonder (2) and (3) Awe. Coming Soon...Glory (4). 

Simple Pleasures

"Amish novels, Amish tourist sites, and television shows offer second and third hand accounts of Amish, Mennonite, and Hutterite life. Some of these messages are sensitive and accurate. Some are not. Most are flat-out wrong.

Now readers can listen directly to the voices of these Anabaptists through Plainspoken. In the book in this series, readers get to hear Amish, Mennonite and Hutterite writers talk about the texture of their daily lives: how they spend their time, what they value, what makes them laugh, and how they summon strength from their Christian faith and community." (Introduction, Author's Note)

In Simple Pleasures by Marianne Jantzi, readers get to read from the journal writings of a family of four Amish to gain an inside and true-life memories of what one woman captured and began a column in the Collection, an Amish-Mennonite newspaper. If you are looking for well-writing fiction, you will not find it in this book. These are moment by moment memories of what one woman captures in her life as a Canadian Amish woman working in her own business and home with her family and community. From how she deals with being stuck inside on very cold days and wishing it was warm out, to having an appreciation for where you're at in life. How they occupy their time, and how their house isn't as organized as they would like when company comes calling. To dealing with their children who want pets, to sometimes dealing with the hardships when death comes to early.

Here is a sample of what you'll find inside.

I was reading an article about baking bread; the writer mentioned that her husband carved her a bread spoon. I read on, intrigued. A bread spoon? Who ever heard of such a thing, and what could its purpose be? The husband had carved it from a piece of soft maple a little over twelve inches long. It gently curved outward to an almost-flat bowl a little more than three inches wide, somewhat like a paddle. Its shape worked very well in beating together bread ingredients. So that's what it was! That 'odd-shaped wooden spoon we received as a wedding gift." It's always what I grab to mix buns, rolls and the occasional donuts. A bread paddle, no less! No wonder it works so well. Then again, maybe it's not. Maybe I'm guessing wrong. I've done that before."  (pg. 75).

I received Simple Pleasures by Marianne Jantzi compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Herald Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved the simplicity of what you'll find inside. Just like opening an Amish journal and who would have ever guessed that there are Amish in Canada? I love getting an honest look at how wonderful these communities are and how they aren't as put together as some fiction books might have you believe. They are just as real as you and I without all the modern conveniences. For me this one rated a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion. There are even some great recipes tucked inside I can't wait to try! This is the fourth book in the Plainspoken Series of books.

For more information about Simple Pleasures or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Simple Pleasures by Marianne Jantzi

You can find MennoMedia on Facebook to learn more about the Amish and Mennonite products.

To read more reviews on Simple Pleasures, please visit Litfuse Publicity Book Tour Page.