"snow on the tulips" by liz tolsma

About the book (from Litfuse):

A stranger's life hangs in the balance. But to save him is to risk everything.

The war is drawing to a close, but the Nazis still occupy part of the Netherlands. After the losses she's endured, war widow Cornelia is only a shadow of the woman she once was. She fights now to protect her younger brother, Johan, who lives in hiding.

When Johan brings Gerrit Laninga, a wounded Dutch Resistance member, to Cornelia's doorstep, their lives are forever altered. Although scared of the consequences of harboring a wanted man, Cornelia's faith won't let her turn him out.

As she nurses Gerrit back to health, she is drawn to his fierce passion and ideals, and notices a shift within herself. Gerrit's intensity challenges her, making her want to live fully, despite the fear that constrains her. When the opportunity to join him in the Resistance presents itself, Cornelia must summon every ounce of courage imaginable.

She is as terrified of loving Gerrit as she is of losing him. But as the winter landscape thaws, so too does her heart. Will she get a second chance at true love? She fears their story will end before it even begins.

My take: Snow on the Tulips is an intriguing story of bravery and survival set at the end of World War II. Earlier this year, I reread The Hiding Place, and while Snow on the Tulips is a completely different story, it does present some of the same dilemmas Christians faced. Gerrit believed that he was serving God by helping the Resistance—he even went so far as stealing ration cards and lying to German officers. Piet, Cornelia's brother-in-law, also believed he was serving God when he left his pregnant wife to work for the Germans—because the government ordered him to go, he must obey. Were they both right? It's hard to say, but those types of dilemmas are ones we may be facing here in America all too soon. I appreciate it when books make me think about morality and question what I would do in a similar situation. I appreciate it, but it also makes me a tad uncomfortable!

I love reading books about World War II, so I had high expectations for Snow on the Tulips. Perhaps those expectations were just too high. I can't quite put my finger on what it was, but I never really lost myself in the book. I even began skimming parts of it. Don't get me wrong: it's a good book, and I enjoyed the plot, but I didn't connect with it in the way I'd hoped.

My rating: 4 stars

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About the author: Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. Add a dog and a cat to that mix and there's always something going on at their house. She's spent time teaching second grade, writing advertising for a real estate company, and working as a church secretary, but she always dreamed of becoming an author.

She'd love to have you visit her at www.liztolsma.com.

About the giveaway: Liz Tolsma is celebrating the release of her novel, Snow on the Tulips, by giving away an Amazon Reading Pack to one lucky winner. Find out what readers are saying about the book here.

  One winner will receive:

• A $50 Amazon gift card
• Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 16th. Winner will be announced November 18th at Liz's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Liz's blog on the 18th to see if you won. (Or, better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox! Just enter your email address on the left sidebar of her blog.)

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."

"torn blood" by david j. bain: promo post

About the book: One man pursues a question left unanswered for four thousand years. His search takes him to the gates of Hell.
—Will it bring him back?

Three weeks before officially reporting for duty at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Addison Deverell arrives in Israel to unearth an enigma.

Bound to an escort by the embassy, and unable to begin his search, time is running out. With mere days before he must report for duty Addison is freed from his escort’s bondage. Racing to find answers that promise to establish a career—and facing danger from those he seeks to understand—he finds himself in a fight to the death for a nation’s life.

Nearly seven thousand miles away, Dr. Janelle Henning confronts a peril that threatens to destroy her deepest soul. A search for understanding thrusts her into a world long buried to confront a heritage abandoned by the passage of time.

Brought together by events, Janelle and Addison discover identities hidden from them both in a relationship they have shared for a lifetime.

My take: I haven't had a chance to read all of this book yet, so look for a review of it in the coming weeks. What I've read so far has been fascinating, and I'm looking forward to finishing it.

Author Q & A:
How did you first come up with the idea for Torn Blood? 

I knew that Jews in Israel had been attacked multiple times before and after its founding in 1948, but I didn’t know the story behind the attacks. Warfare doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Torn Blood began as research for the story behind the story of those attacks and ended as a journey that challenged my faith and broadened my perspective about the world.

What have you learned personally about your own faith as you researched and wrote Torn Blood?

As a Christian I thought monolithically. There is the God of the Bible and there I am in relationship to the God of the Bible. While true, it’s too limiting because God works through all of mankind which includes through the Jewish people even when they, for the most part, reject that Yeshua/Jesus is God. God’s original covenant was with Adam. When Adam broke that covenant we then see God’s covenant with Abraham and that covenant is still in effect in spite of choices the Jewish nation and people have made over the millennia. Through the process of research and writing this story I came to find my faith centered more in God and less in what He could do for me which is both challenging and liberating.

My picture on reality was too small to include many important events occurring outside the frame of my singular life. I am now discovering a faith I only thought I had before this eight year journey to research and write Torn Blood began, and I understand this journey has just begun.

What impact do you hope Torn Blood has on readers?

When readers come to the end of Torn Blood, my hope is that they will have apprehended the heart of an Israel not seen before. It is this Israel, covenanted by God and not created by man, which can start a discussion, a dialogue, that may challenge our world.

About the author: David J. Bain is the author of Torn Blood, an adventure novel which celebrates the triumph of the Jewish spirit, their love of Eretz Yisra’el, the land of Israel, and how close the world’s ties are to the Jewish people.

He is one of the founders of Bo Iti Press, a niche publisher focused on stories
about the Jewish experience as well as the rights of Israel as a sovereign nation.

After attending the University of Oregon and University of Nevada Las Vegas, Bain worked in the business world for more than 30 years before turning his hand to writing. It was his collaboration on two screenplays that were made into movies, End of the Harvest and Time Changer, which revived his interest in Israel. After finishing the screenplays, Bain began to notice patterns that surfaced in country after country over the millennia. Familiar with Israel’s history, politics, military, and the habit modern Israel had for coming out on top in any conflict with neighboring countries, he determined to understand why the Jewish race consistently seemed to land in the middle of world events. He worked with research assistants from the United States and Israel for seven years to understand the truth behind what the world learns about Israel.

His desire is that Torn Blood will help readers discover the reason Jewish people around the globe are committed to their tiny nation floating in a sea of enemies—and it’s not what one is often led to believe.

David lives with his wife, Doris, in Oregon.

More information on David can be found at www.tornblood.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for review from Side Door Communications.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

"carolina reckoning" by lisa carter

About the book (from the publisher): Alison wanted her cheating husband gone, not dead...

When 30-something housewife Alison Monaghan discovers proof of her husband's infidelity in a photograph with a mysterious woman, she must decide how to confront Frank when he returns home from work. Despite the influence of her best friend Valerie, a strong Christian, Alison remains aloof from God and is determined to handle this crisis her own way. But Alison may not get that chance.

Frank never makes it home. Soon his body is found on a lonely back-country road in antebellum Weathersby Historic Park where Frank served on the board of directors and where Alison, with a degree in landscape design, was a volunteer garden docent. Homicide detective Mike Barefoot, a Cherokee native from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, immediately puts Alison at the top of his suspect list. He finds himself drawn to her—and not just because she had motive for the crime. As an army veteran, Mike usually keeps his emotional walls high. And as a detective, he knows not to get involved with murder suspects. So why he is so attracted to Alison? Can he fight his feelings for her—and the stirrings in his heart toward God?

My take: Carolina Reckoning is the kind of suspense novel I enjoy—one with enough mystery to keep my inner suspense-lover intrigued and enough romance to satisfy the romantic in me. It also isn't remotely gory or supernatural—something I don't enjoy in a suspense novel.

I especially appreciated the way Christianity is portrayed in the novel. At the beginning, neither Alison nor Mike has any relationship with God. But the Christians around them model Christ in such a way that they both long to know Him. Author Lisa Carter weaves faith into the novel in an organic way—never does she come off as preachy.

I did have a little trouble following the twists and turns that ultimately led to Frank's killer, and I think that's because I couldn't remember all of the characters. While the main characters (and even those in fairly large supporting roles) were distinct and fleshed out, those on the periphery seemed to blend together. So when the truth began coming to light, I found myself going, "OK, who was that again?" If I'd had a better handle on those characters, I think I would have enjoyed the payoff more.

That said, I did greatly enjoy Carolina Reckoning. It's suspenseful and romantic and points the reader to Christ, three things that make reading Carolina Reckoning a positive experience.

My rating: 4 stars

Read the first chapter.
Buy the book.

About the author: Lisa Carter is the author of Carolina Reckoning and Aloha Rose, and a writer and teacher whose articles have appeared in FamilyFun, Thriving Family, MomSense, and Christian Parenting Today. She is a frequent speaker and vocalist at women’s ministry events and has taught at the collegiate, high school, and middle school levels. Lisa is a member of ACFW, RWA and Sisters in Crime. When she isn't writing, Lisa enjoys traveling, quilting, and researching her next romantic adventure. She and her husband have two daughters and make their home in Raleigh, North Carolina. Visit her online at LisaCarterAuthor.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for review from Abingdon Press.  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.”

"severed trust" by margaret daly

About the book (from the publisher): Is it suicide—or murder?

The day Sadie Thompson finds her high school student, Lexie, asleep in class and can't wake her is the day she realizes how entrenched a prescription drug ring is in her school. As Sadie is pulled into doing something about the growing problem, she becomes involved with Ethan Stone—a Texas Ranger who suspects the drug ring reaches far beyond the high school. Helping Lexie recover from the overdose, Sadie feels she is making a difference—until the 16-year-old's best friend dies. Lexie doesn't think her friend took her own life, but her relationship with her Uncle Ethan is precarious, and she doesn’t know if either he or Sadie will help her discover the truth.

My take: Severed Trust is one of those novels that's scary not because it is spooky or supernatural but because the events portrayed could happen in your town. In that way, it reminded me of a Lifetime movie—those always take place in a small town or the suburbs, and evil lurks where you least expect it.

I'd like to believe that the events in this novel could never happen in my small Nebraska town, but I'm not so sure. And that realism drew me completely into this novel.

At first, I had trouble keeping track of all the characters—there are many. And I do think that limiting the novel to two or three points of view (say Ethan, Lexie, and Sadie) would have made the novel easier to follow. But overall, I really enjoyed Severed Trust. The author put in a few twist I didn't anticipate, and though I did finally discover the killer's identity, it wasn't until pages before the author revealed it.

For a romantic thriller that really could happen in your backyard, check out Severed Trust. It's book four in Daly's Men of the Texas Rangers series, but it functions as a complete stand-alone novel.

My rating: 4 stars

Buy the book.
Read an excerpt.

About the author: Margaret Daley, an award-winning author of eighty-five books, has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread, and corralling her three cats that think they rule her Tulsa, Oklahoma, household. To find out more about Margaret visit her website at www.margaretdaley.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an advance reading copy of this book for review from Abingdon Press through its early reader program.  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.”

"moon over edisto" by beth webb hart

About the book (from Amazon): Edisto Island was where it all came apart. Can the Bennett girls ever be whole again?

Once, they were the happiest family under the sun, crabbing and fishing and painting on beautiful Edisto Island in South Carolina’s lowcountry.

Then everything went wrong, and twenty years later the Bennett family is still in pieces. Mary Ellen still struggles to understand why her picture-perfect marriage came apart. Daughter Meg keeps a death grip on her own family, controlling her relationships at a distance. And eldest daughter, Julia, left it all behind years ago, forging a whole new life as an artist and academic in Manhattan. She’s engaged to an art dealer and has no intentions of returning to Edisto. Ever.

Then an emergency forces Julia back to Edisto to care for her three young half-siblings. She grudgingly agrees to stay a week. But there’s something about Edisto that changes people. Can Julia and her fractured family somehow manage to come together again under that low-hanging Edisto moon?

My take: Every so often, a book comes along that is beautiful, uplifting, and heartbreaking. Moon Over Edisto is one such book. Told from multiple viewpoints, Moon Over Edisto is the story of the Bennett women—women whose lives were irrevocably changed by the betrayal of the most important man in their lives, women who still bear the scars 20 years later. Their grief, their bitterness, their joy, and their anger are palpable as they navigate circumstances they never asked for. And in the end, they come out stronger than they ever imagined they could be.

For being a novel by a Christian publisher, the faith thread in this book is pretty light. But I wasn't bothered by that—I'm not of the opinion that every "Christian" book has to be overtly Christian. Sometimes, you can just read a good story ... and Moon Over Edisto certainly is a good story!

This is easily one of the best books I've read this year. I highly recommend it!

My rating: 5 stars

Buy the book.

About the author: Beth Webb Hart, a South Carolina native, is the best-selling author of Grace at Low Tide and The Wedding Machine. She serves as a speaker and creative writing instructor at schools, libraries, and churches throughout the region, and she has received two national teaching awards from Scholastic, Inc. Hart lives with her husband and their family in Charleston.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through it's Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions 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 cutting edge" by ace collins

About the book (from the publisher): Leslie Rhoads may have grown up in a small town, but is on the verge of becoming a supermodel in the Big Apple, when the 24-year-old is chosen to grace the cover of Style magazine and star in the controversial Passion Nights’ perfume ads. But before she can step into the spotlight, Leslie is assaulted by a drug gang and disfigured with a broken scotch bottle. Without her perfect face, she is lost and no amount of surgery can ever make her what she once was. Now trying to hide her face from the world, Leslie encounters more trouble as she seeks to rebuild her life: unrequited love, thoughts of suicide, and her assailant out to finish the job. Little does she know that a young girl named Angel will turn it all around, showing Leslie the joy and potential in life and the fact that love truly is blind.

My take: The Cutting Edge is a story about a woman who learns that true beauty comes from within. Following a horrible attack, Leslie, a model who relied on her looks for everything, is left with a disfigured face and a life she never expected. As she struggles through her new reality, she begins to realize that inner beauty is far more important than outer beauty.

I really enjoyed parts of The Cutting Edge. The suspense thread was great; while I spent most of the book thinking I had it all figured out, as I approached the end of the novel, I learned that I didn't. The twists in The Cutting Edge definitely kept me on my toes! I also appreciated the impact Leslie had on Angel, and vice versa.

What I didn't enjoy so much was the Leslie character. I understand that she was a self-absorbed model, making her transformation as she learned the truth about beauty much more marked than if she had been an average girl ... but I just didn't care for her. She did grow on me by the end, but I spent so much time not caring about her that it was hard to be truly invested when her life was at stake.

I also had trouble getting into the story in the first chapter. After that, though, I flew through the pages. The Cutting Edge is a quick and enjoyable read, and I think romantic suspense fans will enjoy it.

I also have to mention the cover. Isn't it gorgeous? Abingdon Press always does such a great job with its covers. I knew I wanted to read this book the instant I saw the cover!

My rating: 3.5 stars

Buy the book.

About the author: Ace Collins is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than 60 titles, including The Stories Behind The Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, Darkness Before Dawn, and Lassie: A Dog's Life. Ace frequently speaks across the country and on radio and has appeared on national television shows, including Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, Fox and Friends, Entertainment Tonight, The Early Show and more. When not writing, he works as a magazine editor and graphic designer, as well as host for a charity organization radio and television broadcast. Ace and his wife, Kathy, are based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an advance reading copy of this book for review from Abingdon Press through its early reader program.  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.”

no surprises here

These are my Amazon Quick Picks over the last two days. I think they've got a pretty good read on me, don't you?

Also, these movies remind me that the Christmas movie season is just around the corner. Yippee! The Hallmark Channel will begin showing Christmas movies on November 1. Two months of Christmas movies ... I can't wait!

celebrate my drive--help my school win $25,000 or $100,000

Much of my life has revolved around Nebraska Christian Schools. First, I was an NC student (grades K-12!). I even lived on campus for six years during elementary school, as my parents were the boys' dorm parents. Then, after graduating from college, I got a job at NC as the superintendent's secretary. Nine years later, I'm still at Nebraska Christian, though my role has changed many times! Nebraska Christian is a special place to me, and I hope that if God blesses me with children, they will be able to attend NC, as well.

As a small Christian school in a farming community, Nebraska Christian's finances are often tight. One area where we seem to be perpetually "behind" is technology. Sure, things are better than they were when I was in high school, but if you saw our computer lab, you'd probably laugh. Or cry.

That's where State Farm's Celebrate My Drive comes in. This program, which promotes safe driving, is also a competition between schools. We are competing with schools with student bodies of 750 or fewer, and the schools with the most safe driving commitments from October 18-26 will win a $25,000 or $100,000 grant. If we're the top school in our division, we would also win a concert with Kelly Clarkson! If we get one of the grants, most of the money will go to updating the technology on campus ... which we desperately need!

Here's how you can help: Each day from today through October 26, go to http://celebratemydrive.com/RegisterStudent.aspx and commit to safe driving. You'll enter your email address and birth date first. When it asks you for the state, select Nebraska, then select Community Member, and enter Central City for the city. Then it will pull up a box where you can click Nebraska Christian Schools. You'll take a two question quiz and then check a box to commit to safe driving. That's it! All it takes is one minute of your time. (Well, I'm actually asking for nine minutes of your time, as I'd like you to vote each day!) Please vote!

Update: I just learned you can vote through Facebook, and it's a lot easier to find Nebraska Christian that way! Just click here and enter the requested information, typing "Nebraska Christian" in the school name blank.

"the reichenbach problem" by martin allison booth

About the book (from the publisher): Arthur Conan Doyle is on the run from his own fame. Taking a much-needed holiday, Doyle escapes to a picturesque village in Switzerland nestled beneath the imposing Reichenbach Falls. There he hopes to find anonymity, but even in this beautiful rural setting, peace eludes him when he finds himself immediately recognized and involved in the investigation of a mysterious death of a fellow traveler.

All too soon, Doyle's somewhat unwilling, gentle probing into the case causes the finger of suspicion to turn towards him. But can the creator of the famous detective actually do the sleuthing himself? As Doyle learns more and more about the famous character he penned, he finds he is less like Sherlock and more like his sidekick, Watson. Can the "sidekick" see enough of the picture to solve the case for once?

Sherlock Holmes has fascinated readers since he first burst into fiction, over one hundred years ago. In this novel, the first in a trilogy, we meet his author and discover the difficult relationship between them.

My take: As a casual fan of Sherlock Holmes (as in I enjoyed the recent films and love Sherlock, but I never read any of the actual novels), I was quite interested in this novel, which is a story centered around Holmes' creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

As the book began, it seemed quite promising. Soon, however, I found it difficult to keep reading, as I just didn't connect with the characters or the plot. I often questioned why Conan Doyle, writer of the intricate Holmes mysteries, would make such stupid decisions and let others basically control him. About 2/3 of the way through the book, the action picked up immensely, and I did find myself interested. But then the resolution seemed too out-of-the-blue, and I lost interest again. As I read the final pages, I did so with great enthusiasm simply because I knew I was nearing the end. The last chapters did hold a bit of a gem, however, as Conan Doyle came to the decision to kill off Holmes (at least temporarily)—an event that even casual fans like myself will recognize.

At one point, I did wonder if this might make a great Masterpiece or BBC production—the idea is quite intriguing, and I think I'd have enjoyed it more had I been watching it unfold, rather than reading about it. This would make sense, as the author is a former script writer.

Diehard Holmes fans may enjoy this book, but it certainly wasn't the book for me.

My rating: 2 stars

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About the author: Martin Allison Booth, a Conan Doyle fan for as long as he can remember, had a long and successful career in broadcasting, working as a script writer, editor, producer, and commissioning executive for both the BBC and ITV. He is now a parish priest.

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 on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a 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.”

girls' weekend!

My mom and I just got back from a weekend in Omaha with Blendy. It was unexpected and fantastic! I thought I'd tell our story through pictures ...

We're excited to see Blendy!!!

As soon as we got to Omaha, we headed to Chick-fil-A. It had been way too long since I'd had their delicious chicken!

Then we headed off to the Omaha Symphony. We were given free tickets to see Play!, a video game symphony (the unexpected reason for our trip). I'm not a gamer, so I figured I wouldn't know much of the music. I figured right.

Here's what I learned: most video game music (at least the music played by the symphony) sounds like it was composed by Hans Zimmer. Also, whoever wrote the narration seemingly tried to write it using only cliches. By the end, we could barely contain our giggles! 

As the performance ended, I did find myself feeling a little cheated. This picture from the program, while not promising anything, certainly seemed to imply that the Mario theme would be part of the performance. But Mario was nowhere to be found ... and now I have an incredible urge to play some Super Mario!

Dad got us a hotel room so we wouldn't have to drive home late. We stayed at the Comfort Suites, and, though they were in the middle of a major renovation, the rooms were nice. Sadly, though, the breakfast left a lot to be desired.

One of the highlights of our trip was being able to attend Blendy's church this morning. It's very small, and the people are so nice and welcoming. I think she'll really thrive there. Then we headed to Cracker Barrel for lunch. Our server, Alex, was one of the best ever! If you're ever at the Council Bluffs Cracker Barrel, look for Alex—he'll give you the greatest service! I also had perhaps the best fried chicken of my life. It's the Sunday special—two boneless breaded and fried chicken breasts. I could only eat one, so now I have lunch for tomorrow!

Following a rather extended trip to Walmart, we took Blendy back to the dorm and headed home. What a fabulous weekend! (And the icing on the cake? My cats, who were left alone inside for more than 24 hours, didn't destroy anything or relieve themselves anywhere but the litter box!)

"glittering promises" by lisa t. bergren

About the book (from Litfuse): Lisa T. Bergren's popular Grand Tour series concludes as Cora Kensington journeys farther into Italy, wrestles with a terrible ultimatum from her father, and comes to terms with the Father who will never fail her.

America's newest heiress must decide if her potential fortune is rationale enough to give up her freedom and all that God is leading her toward. And when her newly-discovered siblings are threatened with ruin, her quandary deepens. Then as Cora nears Rome, more journalists are tracking the news story of the decade—"Copper Cora," the rags-to-riches girl—and want to know more about her family and the men vying for her attention. Meanwhile, a charming Italian countess decides that if Cora isn't going to claim Will's heart, she might just try . . .

My take: Readers who have been waiting for the next installment of Lisa T. Bergren's Grand Tour series will be happy to know that Glittering Promises serves as a fitting conclusion.

Though at first I had a difficult time remembering the events that led up to the third book (and a short recap prior to the beginning of the book would certainly have been welcome!), I soon became absorbed in the continuing saga of the Kensingtons and Morgans. Bergren included some twists I did not see coming (though another was telegraphed pretty well), and the resolution of the Cora-Will-Pierre love triangle was especially satisfying.

I greatly enjoyed the whole series and highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

My rating: 4 stars

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Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Bergren's Glamorous Illusions and Grave Consequences.

About the author: Lisa T. Bergren is the award-winning author of over thirty-five books, with more than 2 million copies sold. A former publishing executive, Lisa now divides her time between writing, editing, parenting three children with her husband, Tim, and dreaming of her next trip to Italy. She lives in Colorado Springs.

Learn more about Lisa here: http://lisatawnbergren.com.

About the giveaway: 
Lisa T. Bergren is celebrating the release of her new book, Glittering Promises, by giving away a $200 Italian feast from Williams-Sonoma and hosting a fun Facebook party on October 29th.

 
  One winner will receive:

• A $200 Italian feast from Williams-Sonoma delivered to your door
• The three-book Grand Tour set

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 29th. Winner will be announced at the "Glittering Promises" Facebook Author Chat Party on October 29th. Connect with Lisa for an evening of book chat, European trivia, and prizes, and get an exclusive look Lisa's next book.

So grab your copies of the Grand Tour series and join Lisa on the evening of October 29th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the books, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 29th!

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 bargain" by stephanie reed

About the book (from Amazon): Book one in the Plain City Peace series.

It’s 1971, and Betsie Troyer’s peaceful and predictable life is about to become anything but.

When their parents flee the Amish, nineteen-year-old Betsie and her seventeen-year-old sister Sadie are distraught. Under the dubious guidance of a doting aunt, the girls struggle to keep the secret, praying their parents will return before anyone learns the truth—a truth that may end all hopes of Betsie’s marriage to Charley Yoder.

Worse still, Betsie must learn a trade while she boards with a dysfunctional Englisher family: Sheila, a twelve-year-old desperately searching for a friend and in dire need of her mother; the free-spirited mother, who runs off to "find herself" on the stage; the angry father whose structured life crumbles; and Michael, a troubled college dropout nearly killed in the Kent State Massacre.

Thrust into the English world, Betsie must grapple with the realities of war and miniskirts, pot parties and police brutality, protests and desertion. Can she help the Sullivan family and find peace in her new surroundings, or must she forget the bargain she made and seek refuge back in Plain City with protective and reliable Charley?

My take: These days, it seems that Amish books are a dime a dozen. So what makes Stephanie Reed's new novel stand out from the crowd? Two things: first, the novel is set during the Vietnam War. Never before have I read an Amish novel set during that time period. Second, the novel begins with Betsie's parents leaving the Amish because they have found Christ. Not many Amish books point out the legalism that is rampant in the religion, and Reed isn't afraid to make it clear that many Amish follow "the rules" while having no idea what it means to have a relationship with Christ. Those two aspects made this novel very intriguing to me.

Honestly, I didn't enjoy Betsie very much at first because I was so frustrated with her insistence that the Amish way was the only way to God. Yet she did grow on me as she began to show some chinks in that armor, enjoying the Englisch way of life and becoming close to the Sullivan family. And, eventually, she began building her own relationship with God. I will be interested to see where her story takes her—and the Sullivans—next.

The Bargain is book one in the Plain City Peace series, and it ends rather abruptly ... making me anxious for the release of the second book! If you're looking for a book that isn't your typical Amish romance, The Bargain is the book for you!

My rating: 4 stars

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Read my review of Reed's Across the Wide River.

About the author: Stephanie Reed lives on the outskirts of Plain City, Ohio, site of a once-thriving Amish community. She gleans ideas for her novels from signs glimpsed along the byways of Ohio, as she did for her previous books, Across the Wide River and The Light Across the River.

Learn more at Stephanie's website: http://www.stephanielreed.com/

About the giveaway:  Stephanie L. Reed is celebrating the release of The Bargain, the first book in her new series, Plain City Peace, with a Kindle Fire 'Bargain Bundle' giveaway!

 
  One winner will receive a 'Bargain Bundle':

• A Kindle Fire
• The Bargain by Stephanie Reed

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 27th. Winner will be announced at the Litfuse blog on October 28th.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by the Litfuse blog on the 28th to see if you won. (Or, better yet, subscribe to their blog {enter your email in the blog sidebar} and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox)!

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 journey of josephine cain" by nancy moser

About the book (from Litfuse): When a socialite from the nation's capital embarks on a journey to the Wild West, her life is changed forever.

A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general's daughter. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose . . . and true love.

My take: I've enjoyed each book I've read in the Summerside Press "American Tapestries" line, and The Journey of Josephine Cain is no exception. Probably because I live right along the Union Pacific railroad, I've always been interested in the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. While Josephine Cain only uses the railroad as a backdrop, I loved reading about places that I know—Columbus, Grand Island, and even my town (under its former name of Lone Tree).

Then there's the actual story. I found the storyline regarding Lewis, one of Josephine's suitors, to be intriguing, and I didn't anticipate all the twists and turns it took. Hudson (the Irish railroad worker) and Josephine are both likable characters, and I enjoyed watching their romance develop. I also appreciated the growth in Josephine from the beginning of the book to the end. The relationships she builds with the women in her life are especially touching.

While things did wrap up a bit too neatly to be completely believable, the book is completely enjoyable. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy The Journey of Josephine Cain.

My rating: 4 stars

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About the author: Nancy Moser is the best-selling author of more than twenty novels. She is a winner and two-time nominee of the Christy Award, and her latest novel was named to Booklist's "Top 10 Romance Novels of 2011." Nancy and her husband have three grown children and three grandchildren, and they live in the Midwest. Learn more at Nancy at: http://nancymoser.com/.

About the giveaway: The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser follows the adventures of a D.C. socialite as she gets involved with the building of the Transcontinental Railroad right after the Civil War. Be sure to check out Nancy's fun Pinterest board for the book!

Enter to win 1 of 5 copies of the book!

  Five winners will receive:

• The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 26th. All winners will be announced October 28th at the Litfuse blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 28th to see if you won one of the books!

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."

"return to me" by lynn austin + book giveaway

About the book (from Litfuse): From the Acclaimed Author of Chronicles of the Kings

After decades of exile, the prophesies are coming true—King Cyrus has declared the Jews may return to Jerusalem. Iddo, a priest, is sure this is a sign of God's renewed favor. For too long they've remained in Babylon, and many, including Iddo's sons, are losing the faith that sets them apart. And so only a few choose to leave everything to return—return to their home and their God.

Nothing about their journey to the Promised Land is easy. As hardships mount, even the faithful, like Iddo's beloved wife, Dinah, question the sacrifice of following God's leading. Zechariah, Iddo's oldest grandson, feels torn between his grandfather's ancient beliefs and the family they left behind. But one life-changing encounter with the Holy One gives him insight that will change Zechariah—and history—forever.

Bringing the Old Testament to vibrant life, Return to Me tells the compelling story of two men living by faith in the midst of doubt, the women who love them, and the faithful remnant struggling to rebuild their lives in obedience to the God who beckons them home.

My take: Like many people, I tend to skip over large sections of the Old Testament—sections I deem too "boring" to spend my time on. So I'm very thankful for Return to Me, which brings the book of Ezra to life. At first, I was afraid I would have a hard time finishing this book (after all, it is 455 pages), and I did struggle to get into it at the beginning. But once the Jews began their journey to Jerusalem, I was hooked. After I finished the book, I even continued reading Ezra (Return to Me deals with events through Ezra 6) and looked up a timeline of Old Testament events. (Yes, I should have learned all of this in my 16 years of Christian schooling, but apparently it didn't stick.) I appreciate that Return to Me gave me a bit of a kick in the pants—it reminded me that all of God's Word is important and rekindled my interest in the Old Testament!

Return to Me is completely captivating, and I look forward to reading the next book in "The Restoration Chronicles." This is a book that I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone—it's not just a "girly" book!

My rating: 4-1/2 stars

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My giveaway: I received an extra copy of the book from the publisher, so I'm giving it away! Enter through the Rafflecopter widget below:

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About the author: Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live near Chicago.
You can find out more about Lynn at http://www.lynnaustin.org/.

About the giveaway: Lynn Austin is celebrating the release of Return to Me, the first book in her new Biblical fiction series, The Restoration Chronicles, with a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat party.

 
  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Return to Me by Lynn Austin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 22nd. Winner will be announced at the "Return To Me" Facebook Author Chat Party on October 22nd. Connect with Lynn and friends for an evening of book chat, biblical trivia, prizes, and get an exclusive look at the next book in Lynn's Restoration Chronicles series!

So grab your copy of Return to Me and join Lynn on the evening of October 22nd for a chance to connect 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 by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word — tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 22nd!

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."