"safe in his arms" by colleen coble

About the book (from Litfuse): Sometimes it takes a stranger to see you as you really are.

Born and raised on sprawling Texas land, Margaret O'Brien prides herself on her competence as a rancher. But her father believes she's made for more than just dawn-to-dusk work. He wants her to have the love of a good man, to raise children, to build a life. But Margaret gave up such dreams years ago. She's convinced no man would have her, that the ranch is her life now.

So when Margaret's father hires Daniel Cutler as a new foreman, she's frustrated and suspicious. Then an overheard conversation links him with a gang of bank robbers, and she's downright worried. Daniel swears he's not involved, but Margaret's not convinced. She knows the man still has secrets. But would a criminal be so kind and talk so convincingly of his faith? As a series of tragic "accidents" threatens all she holds dear, Margaret must decide what to trust: her own ears, her best judgment ... or what her heart keeps telling her.

My take: Safe in His Arms is book two in Coble's "Under Texas Stars" series. I read book one nearly a year ago, and I didn't remember much of anything going into this book—except that I didn't really care for Margaret in book one! Fortunately, the Margaret that I remember is not the Margaret of Safe in His Arms. (I'm thinking she underwent a major transformation in Blue Moon Promise, and I just forgot about it!) Anyone who did not read Blue Moon Promise would have no difficulty jumping right in with Safe in His Arms.

Two aspects are present in most of Coble's writing, whether historical or contemporary: romance and suspense. Safe in His Arms is no different, though in this book, one element works much better than the other. The romance in Safe in His Arms is fantastic! I adored Daniel & Margaret's love story, and I loved how Daniel saw something in Margaret that no other man had before. Had this book simply been a romance, it would unquestionably be a 5-star read. However, the book's weakness is the suspense thread. Fairly early on, I guessed the identity of one of the men who was out to get control of the ranch. But when the reveal of his accomplice came about, I was left scratching my head as his involvement and the reason for it seemed so unlikely. That this person couldn't seem to decide if he was good or bad just further confused me.

The romance and the story of Daniel and the bank robbers was plenty for one book, and the threat to the ranch just seemed like something extra tacked on. I will still eagerly read anything Coble writes; I just didn't enjoy this book as much as some of her others. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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Buy the book.
Read my review of Blue Moon Promise, book one in the Under Texas Stars series.

About the author: Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA's RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

Find out more about Colleen at http://www.colleencoble.com/.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

think! (philippians 4:8)

When I transferred to Grace twelve years ago (how is that even possible?), the theme verse for the year was Philippians 4:8. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (ESV). Honestly, there are many times when I've tried not to think of this verse ... because it can be horribly convicting.

I woke up this morning with a yearning to reconnect with the Lord. In the chaos of speech season (which consumes nearly every evening and seven Saturdays in a row), work, and book reviewing, I haven't taken much time at all to read the Bible, pray, or spend time with God. And it's showing in my life. It shows in my attitude, in my thoughts, and in what I choose to do in my free time.

So I didn't go to church this morning. Instead, I made some coffee, pulled out my prayer journal, and opened my Bible. I went to Romans (my favorite book) and started reading. Romans 2:16 gave me pause: "And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life" (NLT). I know that I am forgiven and will not face eternal judgement ... but this verse served to remind me that God knows everything I do, say, and think—even the things that I would be horribly ashamed of if they came to light. And that's what caused me to remember the "think" verse.

My biggest area of weakness is media—books, movies, and TV shows. Recently, there have been several things I've watched and read that I know wouldn't pass through the Philippians 4:8 filter; it's not even debatable. So I've set up some guidelines for myself that I will only be able to stick to with the Lord's help. It will be difficult. But in the light of eternity, does it really matter if I know what happens on Scandal?

I've also asked someone I trust if she will help me be accountable about my media consumption and encourage me to spend time with God. It's far too easy for me to rationalize things when I know no one else needs to know about it.

So that's what I've been thinking about today. I'm so thankful that God never gives up on me!

"secretly smitten" by colleen coble, kristin billerbeck, diann hunt & denise hunter

About the book (provided by Litfuse): Summer, fall, winter, spring—Smitten, Vermont, is the place for love . . . and mystery!

There's a secret in Grandma Rose's attic—a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?

The mystery intrigues Rose's three granddaughters—Tess, Clare, and Zoe—and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?

My take: I enjoyed Smitten when I read it about a year ago, so I was eager to read Secretly Smitten—not truly a sequel, but set in the same town with a few overlapping characters.

Secretly Smitten is pure fun. There's nothing too serious about it, and sometimes that's exactly what you want in a book! Because it's four novellas written by different authors, sometimes I felt like I didn't get to know the characters well enough before one novella would end and the next would begin. I would have enjoyed glimpsing the romances from the preceding novellas again, rather than just hearing that the couples were happy. But I greatly enjoyed the thread that ran through all of them—the story of Grandma Rose and the dog tags—even though I accurately predicted the outcome at some point back in the second novella.

If I had to pick a favorite, I'd say it was Tess's story (written by Coble), closely followed by Anna's (written by Hunt). Tess's story did strike me as a bit too convenient (I guess that's the cynic in me rearing her ugly head), but Tess was also the character I most closely identified with, and the romance tugged at my heart more than the others. And Anna's story, of finding love again after divorce, was very sweet. I love reading about second chances at love!

Overall, I enjoyed Secretly Smitten very much. If you're looking for a light, quick read, check out this book! 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Also, I have to note: I've been hard on Kristin Billerbeck before, so I should tell you that I really did enjoy her entry in this collection. Zoe and William were cute, and I enjoyed their chemistry. In fact, their story is the one that kept me reading past my bedtime!

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Smitten.

About the authors: RITA-finalist Colleen Coble is the author of several best-selling romantic suspense novels, including Tidewater Inn, and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series. * Christy Award finalist and two-time winner of the ACFW Book of the Year award, Kristin Billerbeck has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times. Her books include A Billion Reasons Why and What a Girl Wants. * Denise Hunter is the award-winning and best-selling author of several novels, including A Cowboy's Touch and Sweetwater Gap. She and her husband are raising three boys in Indiana. * Diann Hunt has lived in Indiana forever, been happily married forever, loves her family, chocolate, her friends, her dog, and, well, chocolate.

Find out more about Coble, Billerbeck, Hunter, and Hunt here.

About the giveaway:  The "gals" are celebrating the release of Secretly Smitten with a fun Live Webcast on February 5th. They'll be debuting the *NEW* animated Smitten trailer, giving away tons of prizes, dishing on the book and their friendship. They'll also be wrapping up the Secretly Smitten blog tour, answering audience questions and testing your trivia skills. Don't miss the fun and bring your friends. Click here to RSVP and set up a reminder.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the tainted coin" by mel starr

About the book (from the publisher): It is the autumn of 1367. Master Hugh is enjoying the peaceful life of Bampton when a badly beaten man is found under the porch of St. Andrew's Chapel. The dying man is a chapman—a traveling merchant. Before he is buried in the chapel grounds, an ancient, corroded coin is found in the man's mouth.

Master Hugh's quest for the chapman's assailants, and his search for the origin of the coin, begins to make progress—but there are men of wealth and power in league with his old nemesis, Sir Simon Trillowe, who wish to end his search . . . permanently.

But Master Hugh and his assistant, the groom Arthur, are determined to uncover the thieves and murderers, and the source of the chapman's coin. They do, but not before they become involved with a kidnapped maiden, a tyrannical abbot, and a suffering monk—who needs Master Hugh's surgical skills and in return provides clues that assist Hugh in solving the mystery of the tainted coin.

My take: I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Mel Starr's Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton are a joy to read! The Tainted Coin picks up approximately a year after the events in Unhallowed Ground. Hugh, his wife Kate, and their daughter are enjoying a peaceful existence until murder and mayhem once again cross Hugh's path.

I love the way Starr writes these chronicles—as though Hugh is writing in his journal. This allows him to throw in humorous asides and foreshadowing as one would tend to do in a real journal. One of my favorite lines in the whole book is from the first page, and it gives a glimpse into the dry humor present throughout the book: "Children are a blessing from God, but not when they awaken before dawn and demand to be fed."

As I read, I was especially delighted to find that Sir Simon Trillowe would once again be involved in the plot. Sir Simon is a loathsome man, and each time he is mentioned, Hugh can't help but reference Simon's sadly misshapen ear, adding a welcome bit of levity to the story.

And it wouldn't be a Hugh de Singleton novel without a gruesome description of a medieval surgical procedure ... something I look forward to and yet cringe at when I'm reading about it! (In this case, it involved a facial fistula. A Google image search will quickly fill you in if you don't know what that is.)

While The Tainted Coin is the fifth book in this series, you could easily pick it up without having read any of the previous novels. It provides an informative glimpse into the 14th century while entertaining the reader with a thoroughly enjoyable mystery. 4-1/2 out of 5 stars.

Read an excerpt.
See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of books three and four: A Trail of Ink and Unhallowed Ground.

About the author: Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating with a MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and seven grandchildren.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"the tutor's daughter" by julie klassen

About the book (from the back cover): Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father when his boarding school fails, accompanies him to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But soon after they arrive and begin teaching the two younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte at night, only to find the music room empty? And who begins sneaking into her bedchamber, leaving behind strange mementos?

The baronet’s older sons, Phillip and Henry Weston, wrestle with problems–and secrets–of their own. They both remember the studious Miss Smallwood from their days at her father’s academy. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her…

When suspicious acts escalate, can Emma figure out which brother to blame and which to trust with her heart?

My take: The Tutor's Daughter was a complete pleasure to read. From my previous experience with Klassen's writing, I knew I'd probably enjoy The Tutor's Daughter ... but I had no idea how much I'd love it!

As I read, I couldn't help but feel that I was reading a Jane Austen novel. Or, more accurately, that I was watching a film adaptation of a Jane Austen novel, as Klassen has a way with words that put a very clear picture into my head as I read. The plot evokes memories of Northanger Abbey, Emma, Pride & Prejudice, and even Jane Eyre while still remaining unique.

Throughout the story, there were twists and turns that I sort-of, but never fully, anticipated. And the romance between Emma and the man she ended up with (no spoilers here!) was so sweet and seemed perfectly natural. Finally, a subplot involving Emma's aunt Jane nearly made me cry with happiness.

The Tutor's Daughter is simply fantastic, and I can't recommend it highly enough! 5 stars!

(In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I caught more than a few typos—definitely more than I normally notice in a book put out by a major publisher. But I don't believe it's a reflection on Klassen's writing, and the errors were probably far more annoying to me than they would be to most people.)

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book. 
See my reviews of Klassen's The Maid of Fairbourne Hall and The Apothecary's Daughter.

About the author: Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She has won the Christy Award: Historical Romance for The Silent Governess (2010) and The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) which also won the 2010 Midwest Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Find out more about Julie at http://www.julieklassen.com/.

About the giveaway: Julie is celebrating by giving away one of the new Paperwhite Kindles, Downton Abbey (season 3) and hosting a fun Author Chat Party on Facebook. (January 31st)

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Paperwhite
• Downton Abbey, Season 3
• A Julie Klassen library (The Tutor’s Daughter, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Silent Governess)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 30th. Winner will be announced at "The Tutor's Daughter Author Chat Party on January 31st. Connect with Julie, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be great giveaways - gift certificates, books and season 3 of Downton Abbey!

So grab your copy of The Tutor's Daughter and join Julie on the evening of the January 31st for a chance to connect with Julie and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 31st!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

and the winner is ...

Thanks to everyone who entered my Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska giveaway! This was by far the most successful giveaway I've hosted, and I hope to do more in the future.

It appears that many of you would like to visit Alaska and/or Hawaii—me, too! But my top two dream destinations are England and Switzerland ... and someday I'll make it there!

Anyway, here's the information you came for:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations, Wendy! Your book will be on its way soon!

"the lesson" by suzanne woods fisher

About the book (from the back cover): Nineteen-year-old Mary Kate Lapp yearns for adventure, but all she seems to find is trouble. her dreams of travel have taken a backseat to her assignment to teach school this year. And nothing ever seems to happen in her sleepy Amish community.

But when a sudden and unexplained death conveniently coincides with the arrival of a mysterious young man, M.K. is frustrated that no one takes it seriously. She's determined to take matters into her own hands and get to the bottom of it. Will she find more than she bargained for?

Centered on one of bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher's most loved characters, this is the Stoney Ridge story you have been waiting for. With a surprise at every turn, a gentle romance, and a shocking answer to an old family mystery, The Lesson is the dramatic conclusion to the Stoney Ridge Seasons series.

My take: M.K. is by far my favorite of all of Fisher's Stoney Ridge characters, so I couldn't wait to read her story. It did not disappoint!

M.K. is such a fun protagonist—her thought processes are so unusual, and Woods does a fantastic job of putting the reader inside M.K.'s head! I also appreciated how M.K. grew throughout the novel, and the lesson she learned about contentment is one I need to learn, as well.

The story is filled with love, heartache, misunderstandings, forgiveness, unexpected twists, and a healthy dose of humor. And the supporting characters—especially M.K.'s stepmother Fern, her pupil Jenny, and her UNCLE HANK (you'll understand when you read the book)—are so fun to read about.

The Lesson is the third book in Fisher's Stoney Ridge Seasons series, but you don't need to read the first two books to enjoy this one. Of course, some things from the first two books are wrapped up in The Lesson, and to get the full M.K. experience you need to read all three, but you can quite easily jump in and enjoy The Lesson without any prior knowledge of the series.

The Lesson is a fitting conclusion to a great series, and I highly recommend it! 4-1/2 out of 5 stars.

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
See my review of "The Haven," Book 2 in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series.

About the author: Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Lancaster County Secrets series and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is the host of internet radio show Amish Wisdom and a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. For more information, please visit www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher. Get Amish proverbs delivered right to your iphone or ipad! Download the Free App!

About the giveaway: Celebrate the release of The Lesson with Suzanne Woods Fisher by entering to win one of TWO iPads!

Two winners will receive:

• A brand new iPad
• A $15 gift certificate to iTunes

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 20th. Winner will be announced on 1/22/13 at Suzanne's Blog.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

giveaway hop: "love finds you in glacier bay, alaska"

Last week, Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss was released. I absolutely loved the book (you can read my review here and see where it ranked on my Top 10 books of 2012 list here), so I'm thrilled to be able to give away a copy of the book!

This week each blogger listed in the linky below is giving you a chance to win the book (and a few have even more prizes), so after you are done entering my giveaway please hop on to the next blog. This giveaway will start on January 8th, 2013 at 12am EST and run until January 14th, 2013 at 11:59pm EST.

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best books of 2012: top 10

Last year (okay, it was really last February), I picked my favorite books of 2011 in several genres. These were books that I read in 2011, but they weren't necessarily published in 2011. This year, rather than pick my favorite books of 2012 in particular genres, I've assembled a Top 10 list. Some of these books are in the same genre, because—let's be honest—nearly everything I read is a historical or contemporary romance. These books didn't all earn 5-star reviews—but they are the 10 books that, at the end of the year, I remembered most fondly. I nearly decided to skip ranking the books and merely list 10 of my favorites, but that would be the easy way out. So here they are, my 10 favorite books of 2012.

10. Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska by Tricia Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss (my review)

This is one of the last books I read in 2012, and it was definitely one of the best! I love how the two stories—one from the present and one from the past—are intertwined. Plus, both romances are really heartwarming. Definitely a winner!

9. Beyond Molasses Creek by Nicole Seitz (my review)

I read Beyond Molasses Creek on a train, in an airport, and on a plane. When I finished, I just had to sit there and absorb it—it was that good. It's definitely not fluff (though you know I enjoy the fluff, too!)—it's a novel to be savored.

8. Dreamspell by Tamara Leigh (my review)

It's a time travel story with humor and an excellent romance, capped off by a touching epilogue. Do I need to say more?

7. The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen (my review)

I stayed up far too late reading this book about an heiress who goes undercover as a maid. Though it's set a full century before Downton Abbey, if you're a Downton fan, you'll enjoy this book.

6. The Choice by Robert Whitlow (my review)

This is absolutely the best pro-life book I have ever read. Here's part of my review: "This book shows the abortion debate in a different light as it goes beyond the choice itself and shows the aftermath of the decision. While I have always considered myself pro-life, The Choice helped me see past the politicized pro-life/pro-choice debate and consider the women who face the pain of unplanned pregnancy while also strengthening my belief in the importance of choosing life."

You need to read this book!

5. Dark Star: Confessions of a Rock Idol by Creston Mapes (my review)

Honestly, I didn't expect to enjoy Dark Star very much ... so I never would have guessed it would end up on my Top 10 list!

From my review: "Rarely do I read a book that captivates me as much as Dark Star did. I felt like I was really reading a rock star's autobiography—it was like an E! True Hollywood Story in book form. I literally could not stop reading—I had to know what would happen next!"

4. With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin (my review)

With Every Letter is a wonderful World War II romance that takes its cue from The Shop Around the Corner (the precursor to You've Got Mail). Sarah Sundin is one of my favorite historical fiction writers because of the wonderful characters she creates. Her books are can't miss for historical fiction lovers!

3. The Stars Shine Bright by Sibella Giorello (my review)

Giorello's Raleigh Harmon series is my favorite in-progress series. Raleigh is an FBI agent, and each book details one of her cases ... as well as her relationship (which can't really be described as a romance—yet!) with fellow agent Jack Stephanson. The Stars Shine Bright is my favorite Raleigh book to date, and I eagerly await the next installment.

2. Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore (my review)

Angel Eyes was my favorite book of the year in two categories: Young Adult (YA) fiction and sci-fi/fantasy. This is a fabulous book that is at turns witty, thought provoking, intense, and sweet. I can't wait to read the sequel, which releases next month!

1. My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade (my review)
I read My Stubborn Heart at the end of April. After that, every time someone asked me for book recommendations, this was at the top of the list. This is a fantastic book with wonderful characters, and it has a great message about following God instead of your heart.

If you pick just one book from this list to read, read My Stubborn Heart. Not only is it my favorite book of 2012, but it would easily make my list of the Top 10 books I've ever read!

Have you read any of the books on this list? What did you think of them?

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”