Thursday, October 31, 2013

Monthly Reflections #5

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My goal for October was to read 10 books, I didn't quite reach that goal but I came really close. I read 9 books! :-)

The books I read were:

1. Dark Justice by Brandilyn Collins

2. An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus

3. A Bride For Keeps by Melissa Jagears

4. Ring Of Secrets by Roseanna M. White

5. Greetings From The Flipside by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay

6. Trapped by Irene Hannon

7. Fairchild's Lady by Roseanna M. White

8. Traces Of Mercy by Michael Landon JR and Cindy Kelley

9. A Light In The Window by Julie Lessman

Favorite read of the month:
I enjoyed all of the books I read this month, so I can't choose just one favorite. My three favorites of this month are, in no particular order are: Ring Of Secrets, Fairchild's Lady, and Trapped! They were all SO good!!! :D

In November I hope to read 10 books!
Thanks so much for checking out my reading month! :-)

Monday, October 21, 2013

Greetings From The Flipside by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay




This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


Greetings from the Flipside


B&H Books (October 15, 2013)


by


Rene Gutteridge





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:






Rene is the author of seventeen novels. She also has extensive experience writing comedy sketches, and worked for five years as the director of drama for a church. She has a degree specializing in Screenwriting, for which she earned the Excellence in Mass Communication Award, and graduated magna cum laude.




She is married to Sean, a musician and worship leader, and has two children. They reside in Oklahoma, where Rene writes full time and enjoys instructing in college classrooms and writers conferences.




ABOUT THE BOOK





Hope Landon has been rewriting other people's greeting cards since she was six years old -- there's always a funnier caption. She's all set to chase those creative dreams with her musician fiance in New York City until he leaves Hope at the altar, deciding he must not really love this girl if he can't write a song for her. That may give her something to write about . . .




Hope disappears alone on what was supposed to be the couple's month long honeymoon. Upon returning she learns of her funeral -- everyone in her life concluded Hope must have killed herself after being jilted. Needing a fresh start more than ever, she heads for the Big Apple only to discover it's not that easy to rent a place when you've been declared dead.




Taking shelter at the YWCA, Hope soon lands a job at a Christian inspirational greeting card company as an assistant to Jake, a guy who shut down his organization's humor department. She has lost her faith in love; he needs to find something or someone that will make him laugh.




Is there anything in the cards for these two? Find out in the truly original Greetings from the Flipside by authors Rene Gutteridge (Boo) and Cheryl McKay (screenplay for The Ultimate Gift).



If you would like to read the first chapter of >Greetings from the Flipside, go HERE.






My Thoughts:

5 Stars!!!

If you thought the synopsis of this book was unique and interesting, I'm here to tell you the story is even more unique than it appears!

I first heard about this book a few months ago, it really intrigued me. So when I was given the opportunity to review it, I jumped at the chance!

I pleased to say that I loved this book! I was drawn into the story from the first page! I hated to put the book down, I read one hundred pages in a single sitting and finished it the next day!

There really isn't anything I didn't like about this book! There are some key plot points that aren't mentioned in the synopsis (But I understand why they weren't!) which some people may view as weird or bizarre, although I personally loved it and thought it was perfect! Sorry to be so vague but I don't want to risk giving away any spoilers! I know this review is kinda short but I honestly don't know what else to say, besides I loved, loved, LOVED this book! This book would make an awesome movie!

To sum up, Greetings From The Flipside is a fun, unputdownable read which I highly recommend. I know I'll definitely be reading it again many times in the future!




I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via CFBA in exchange for an honest review. The above is my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Review: A Bride For Keeps by Melissa Jagears

My Review:

5 Stars!!!


First let me say that the words mail-order bride usually make me NOT want to read a book, simply because I'm not a huge fan of these story lines! However, something about the description of A Bride For Keeps reached out to me and made me really want to read it! And I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed the characters. Julia was really cool, I really felt bad for her, all the emotional baggage she carried was awful but very realistic. Everett was such a great hero, I loved him, one of the things that I love the most was that through him the author showed that even after we give our lives and hearts to Christ and begin a relationship with Him, there will still be times when we struggle with our thoughts and emotions, and will have to learn to turn them over to God!

The setting was really cool, I'm not sure that I've read a historical set on the Kansas prairie, before!

I hate it when the awkwardness and misunderstandings between characters feel unrealistic, I am happy to report that such was not the case in this book. The awkwardness in this book all felt very real, and resulted in some hilarious scenes at which I literally laughed out loud while reading!

I can't really think of anything else to say except that I really enjoyed this book, I will even go so far as to say that I loved it. And I definitely anticipate re-reading at least my favorite parts, if not the whole book, in the future!
I highly recommend this one to mature teens and adults.



I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via CFBA in exchange for an honest review. The above is my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.





This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


A Bride for Keeps


Bethany House Publishers (October 1, 2013)


by


Melissa Jagears





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:




A Word From The Author:





I am a stay at home mother on a tiny little farm with a fixer-upper house. As much as I love writing and reading about homesteaders, I am so glad I’m a homesteader during an era with modern grocery stores to take up for my slack. I am an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher by trade, and I still work occasionally in that field along with being my church’s financial secretary and writing novels.



My husband and I have been married since 2001 and have a daughter and two little boys. My husband shares my fascination with traditional living except for being more hands on. He loves blacksmithing, knife smithing, traditional archery, hunting, etc. Generally whatever a mountain man does, he does it or has or wants to attempt it. He comes in handy for research! And of course, the rest of the family gets involved. I have my own blackpowder rifle, named Calvin, that my husband made for me. And I’m pretty sure my daughter is probably one of very few her age who can instruct adults how to shoot a longbow properly. The boy digs random holes in my yard to make “cement” with dirt and water making our yard a tripping hazard. The baby does what babies do.




ABOUT THE BOOK





A Tender Tale of Love on the Prairie Perfect for CBA Readers!




Although Everett Cline can hardly keep up with the demands of his homestead, he won't humiliate himself by looking for a helpmate ever again--not after being jilted by three mail-order brides. When a well-meaning neighbor goes behind his back to bring yet another mail-order bride to town, he has good reason to doubt it will work, especially after getting a glimpse at the woman in question. She's the prettiest woman he's ever seen, and it's just not possible she's there to marry a simple homesteader like him.




Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiance. Having finally worked up the courage to leave her life in Massachusetts, she's determined to find a place where people will value her for more than her looks. Having run out of all other options, Julia resorts to a mail-order marriage in far-away Kansas.




Everett is skeptical a cultured woman like Julia could be happy in a life on the plains, while Julia, deeply wounded by a past relationship, is skittish at the idea of marriage at all. When, despite their hesitations, they agree to a marriage in name only, neither one is prepared for the feelings that soon arise to complicate their arrangement. Can two people accustomed to keeping their distance let the barricades around their hearts down long enough to fall in love?




If you would like to read the first chapter of A Bride for Keeps, go HERE.



Thursday, October 10, 2013

An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus

My review:

After reading and enjoying the first book in this series earlier this year, I was eagerly anticipating Caddy's story! I am thrilled to say that I loved this book even more than the first one! I loved Caddy and Neal was an amazing hero! It was really interesting that this book took place at the same time as book one, just from different characters perspectives!!! Many times in this book I was convinced that I had everything figured out and every time I was surprised by yet another twist in the story!!! This was a great read and the only things I didn't like about it were, 1. There were a couple of questions that didn't seem like they were answered-but they were just minor details so it wasn't a big deal. And 2. I felt like the ending was just a tiny bit abrupt, I actually wouldn't have minded seeing this book be a little longer- but this wasn't really a big deal either and probably the only reason I felt this way was because I didn't want the book to end!

Overall, I loved this book! It didn't disappoint. I definitely anticipate re-reading it in the future! I highly recommend An Honest Heart but I think you may want to read Follow The Heart first!


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via CFBA in exchange for an honest review. The above is my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.






This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


Honest Heart


B&H Books (October 15, 2013)


by


Kaye Dacus





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:






Humor, Hope, and Happily Ever Afters! Kaye Dacus is the author of humorous, hope-filled contemporary and historical romances with Barbour Publishing, Harvest House Publishers, and B&H Publishing. She holds a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University.




Kaye Dacus (KAY DAY-cuss) is an author and educator who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. A former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, Kaye enjoys being an active ACFW member and the fellowship and community of hundreds of other writers from across the country and around the world that she finds there. She currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, which she co-founded in 2003 with three other writers. Each month, she teaches a two-hour workshop on an aspect of the craft of writing at the MTCW monthly meeting. Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is an academic advisor and English Composition instructor for Bethel University.




ABOUT THE BOOK





Set during the Industrial Revolution and the Great Exhibition of 1851, An Honest Heart is a “sitting-room romance” with the feel of a Regency-era novel but the fashions and technological advances of the mid-Victorian age.




Featuring dual romance stories, the main plot involves seamstress Caddy Bainbridge and the choice she must make between two men: one from the aristocracy, the other from the working class. Award-nominated author Kaye Dacus pinpoints the theme of honesty—both men in this love triangle have deep secrets to hide, and Caddy’s choice will be based on which of them can be honest with her.




Courtship . . . cunning . . . candor. Who possesses an honest heart?



If you would like to read the first chapter of Honest Heart, go HERE



Monday, October 7, 2013

Cover Reveal~ Silenced by Dani Pettrey

This cover was officially released today! I absolutely love it, SO gorgeous! Silenced doesn't release until May but I cannot wait to read it!!! :-)

BTW the author has also revealed that Silenced will be Kayden and Jake's story!
*Smiles from ear to ear*
Here is the link to Pre-order Silenced from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0764211951/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?qid=1381180503&sr=8-13&pi=AA75

I am so crazy about this cover, I just had to do a cover reveal!!!

So without further ado, I present the cover for Silenced

Dark Justice by Brandilyn Collins (CFBA TOUR)




This week, the


Christian Fiction Blog Alliance


is introducing


Dark Justice


B&H Books (October 1, 2013)


by


Brandilyn Collins





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:






Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e . . ."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn's awards for her novels include the ACFW Carol Award (three times), Inspirational Readers' Choice, and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice.




Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). The Writer magazine named Getting into Character one of the best books on writing published in 2002.




When she's not writing, Brandilyn can be found teaching the craft of fiction at writers' conferences.




ABOUT THE BOOK





If I’d had any idea what those words would mean to me, to my mother and daughter, I’d have fled California without looking back.




While driving a rural road, Hannah Shire and her aging mother, who suffers from dementia, stop to help a man at the scene of a car accident. The man whispers mysterious words in Hannah’s ear. Soon people want to kill Hannah and her mother for what they “know.” Even law enforcement may be involved.




The two women must flee for their lives. But how does Hannah hide her confused mother? Carol just wants to listen to her pop music, wear her favorite purple hat, and go home. And if they turn to Hannah’s twentyseven- year-old daughter, Emily, for help, will she fall into danger as well?




Pressed on all sides, Hannah must keep all three generations of women in her family alive. Only then does she learn the threat is not just to her loved ones, but the entire country . . .



If you'd like to read the first chapter of Dark Justice, HERE.





My review:

Brandilyn Collins is a new to me author, but I have heard lots of amazing things about her books. So when I was given the chance to review her latest release, I jumped at it! I really liked the characters, I especially loved Hannah's mom Carol it was so cool how she kept quoting scripture verses even though she could no longer remember what book of The Bible they were from. I liked Hannah, and even though there were times that I got a little annoyed with some of the things she did that seemed to me like kind of stupid things to do when there people after you, but I also understood that the author did it because real people sometimes do dumb things without thinking, so that did give the story a very realistic feel. I liked the way this story was told, mainly from Hannah's perspective in first person but also from her daughter Emily's and the villains perspectives which were told in third person, this was a really neat way to write the story!

The suspense was very good, many things in this book surprised me, including who was working with the villains! And I loved the ending!!!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I found myself hating to put it down!
I very much look forward to reading more of this author's books in the future! I highly recommend Dark Justice if you enjoy Christian suspense stories in which not everything is as it appears!!!




I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via CFBA in exchange for an honest review. The above is my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Monthly Reflections #4

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I actually exceeded my goal for September by one book, my goal was to read ten books and I managed to finish an eleventh one last night! So I am really pleased with my month of reading! :-)

The books I read:

1. The Nurse's Secret Suitor by Cheryl Wyatt

2. Bees In The Butterfly Garden by Maureen Lang

3. Calculated Revenge by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

4. Divergent by Veronica Roth

5. Hide and Seek by Lynette Eason

6. Deep Trouble by Mary Connealy

7. Playing With Poison by Cindy Blackburn

8. Winter Shadows by Casey Bond

9. Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund

10. Through The Fire by Shawn Grady

11. Love By The Letter by Melissa Jagears

I really enjoyed all but one of these books but I think my favorite would have to be Divergent, such a great read!!!

In October my goal is to read at least 10 books!!!

Here is a partial sampling of the books I will be reading in October.

A Bride For Keeps by Melissa Jagears
Dark Justice by Brandilyn Collins
Trapped by Irene Hannon
Ring Of Secrets by Roseanna M. White
The Pawn by Steven James

So excited for all of these!!! :-)