six questions

This blog has been all about the book reviews all month long. Between reading, reviewing, working, and, well, watching Fall TV, I haven't had time for much else! But I do have other things to talk about, so I thought I'd do a question and answer post. I've thought of six questions that you might ask me if we met for coffee, and I'll answer them here. (Why six? Because six has been my favorite number ever since, as a six-year-old, I heard Bert sing about his favorite number.) So grab a cup of coffee—I've got my fall favorite pumpkin spice latte—and enjoy this glimpse into my world.

Are you still gluten free?
Yes! It really hasn't been too difficult, and the worst part by far is eating out. I've discovered that I absolutely love almond and coconut flour (too bad they're pretty expensive), and I've had fun experimenting with gluten free baked goods. (Some have turned out awesome, others not so much.) My favorite is a peanut butter cookie recipe that I've adapted into a really awesome cookie, if I do say so myself. I'll try to snap pics the next time I make them and then post the recipe here on the blog.

How are you feeling?
This is kind of ironic, as I'm writing this on a day that I'm having what I like to call a "thyroid day," but I actually feel tons better. I don't feel "normal" yet, but I feel the best I've felt in two years. Two years! I think it's a combination of going gluten free, changing medication, making sleep a priority, and reducing stress. I still have hopes of getting my energy back, losing weight, and being able to fully participate in things I love, but if this is all the better it gets, it's livable, and I will be grateful for the health I have.

The other day, while on a two-mile walk (something that would have killed me just six months ago but I did with ease now), my mom asked me what my dreams are. I couldn't even answer her. These last two years have been all about surviving, not dreaming. But now it's time to start thinking about goals other than "make it through the work day so I can crash on my couch."

What classes are you teaching this year?
As I have for the last couple of years, only yearbook. While I do miss getting to know the international students on as personal a level (which I talked about here and here), I also am enjoying my job as a whole more than I have probably ever. I still do a little bit of a lot of things, but my main area is communications: website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, our quarterly newsletter, etc.

Are you doing Singing Christmas Tree?
Considering Singing Christmas Tree has been such a huge part of my life and was even a large factor in my decision to attend my church, this may come as a surprise, but no. It's not that I don't want to participate, but I'm trying to make decisions that will help, not hinder, my healing process. One of the things I'm learning is that stress and tiredness are huge triggers for me. If I have a big, busy day, I can pretty much guarantee that either the next day or the day after that I will not feel well. Singing Christmas Tree is a wonderful ministry, but it is also incredibly time consuming and exhausting, and speech season (my most stressful time of the year) directly follows it. I want to go into speech as healthy and rested as possible. I hope to rejoin the choir next year.

What has God been teaching you?
First of all, I'm finally learning to say no to things. When I was struggling with whether or not to do Singing Christmas Tree, I mentioned to a co-worker what I was thinking. Her response? "You are way harder on yourself than anyone else will be. If you need to take a break, you take a break. They'll survive without you." So true. While I feel a little guilty about taking this year off, I shouldn't.

I'm also learning compassion. Because Hashimoto's is a disease that often isn't physically apparent, most people who see me would have no idea that anything was wrong with me. The knowledge that others have no idea how I feel has helped me understand that, likewise, I have no idea what others are going through. I need to extend grace to others instead of being so judgemental. I don't know what circumstances in their lives are influencing the way they behave and the decisions they make.

Most importantly, though, I'm learning that God has everything under control. It's one of those things that I always know in my head, but sometimes my heart forgets. And then God steps in, and it's like he's nudging me and saying, "See? I've got this." This was especially evident a few weeks ago. Back at the beginning of August, I finally got a referral to an endocrinologist, but I couldn't get in to see her until mid-November. This is the same endo my dad sees for his diabetes, so he called to see if we could switch appointments, as he had one in early September. They said no, since initial appointments take longer than return visits, but they could put me on a waiting list in case of cancellations. The morning of my dad's appointment, I got a call from the clinic—they had a cancellation, and the slot was mine if I wanted it. So I was able to carpool with my dad and see the doctor a full two and a half months early! If that's not a God thing, I don't know what is!

Now a fun one: Do you have any good movie or TV recommendations?
Of course I do! Movie first: Belle. It's about a mixed race daughter of an British Navy captain who is raised by her great aunt and uncle on an English estate in the late 1700s. I don't really want to say much more than that because you need to watch it. It would make a great companion piece to Amazing Grace—both deal with slavery in different ways.

TV: Forever. It stars Ioan Gruffudd as a man who can't die. Well, he actually CAN die, he just can't STAY dead. He's a medical examiner in New York City who has a skill for discerning how people died, and he often works with a female detective. Sound a bit like Castle? It definitely has that feel to it. So far, I'm loving it! You can watch the pilot episode here.

And while we're on the subject of TV, if you're looking for a good binge watching show, check out Ringer on Netflix. It also stars Gruffudd (and Sarah Michelle Gellar)—I recently recommended it to another blogger after she wrote about Forever, and then I had this urge to watch it again. I'm one of about five people who actually watched it when it aired on the CW, and I'm enjoying it just as much on this pass through as I did on the first. (Yes, it's ridiculously soapy with about a million plot holes, but it's so entertaining!) There's only one season, so you won't even have to spend much time watching. Plus, Logan Echolls is a guest star ...

"a bride in store" by melissa jagears

A mail order bride story with a twist, A Bride in Store is sure to satisfy lovers of historical fiction.

---

Impatient to meet her intended groom and help him grow his general store, mail-order bride Eliza Cantrell sets out on her travels a week early. But her plan goes sadly awry when her train is held up by robbers who steal her dowry and Axel, her groom-to-be, isn't even in town when she finally arrives.

Axel's business partner, William Stanton, has no head for business and would much rather be a doctor. When his friend's mail-order bride arrives in town with no money and no groom in sight, he feels responsible and lets her help around the store--where she quickly proves she's much more adept at business than he ever will be.

The sparks that fly between Will and Eliza as they work together in close quarters are hard to ignore, but Eliza is meant for Axel and a future with the store, while Will is biding his time until he can afford medical school. However, their troubles are far from over when Axel finally returns, and soon both Will and Eliza must decide what they're willing to sacrifice to chase their dreams—or if God has a new dream in store for them both.

---

It's no secret that I love marriage of convenience stories. Most mail order bride plot lines fall into that category, so that's what I was expecting when I picked up A Bride in Store. (Obviously, I didn't read the description too carefully!) However, this novel—about a woman who finds herself falling in love with the best friend of her intended groom—is perhaps even more satisfying that a traditional mail order bride story because of the additional layers of guilt and questioning the woman faces. I also love that Eliza isn't your typical romantic heroine. She's not a classic beauty—or even a beauty at all—but she becomes beautiful to those who get to know her.

Will and Eliza are both great characters who are a bit too stubborn for their own good! And that leads to really my only complaint with the novel—Will and Eliza's stubbornness results in a failure to communicate that is basically the driving force of the middle third of the novel, and I felt like that part drug on about 50 pages too long. But overall, A Bride in Store is a great look at both small-town Kansas and some very endearing characters. This is the second book in Melissa Jagears' Unexpected Brides series (there's also a novella), but it stands alone. However, the couples from both book one and the novella appear in this book, and I definitely want to go back and read their stories now! 4 stars.

Buy the book.
Get Jagears' Unexpected Brides novella, Love by the Letter, free for Kindle!

---

Melissa Jagears, an ESL teacher by trade, is a stay-at-home mother on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house. She's a member of ACFW and CROWN fiction marketing, and her passion is to help Christian believers mature in their faith and judge rightly. Find her online at www.melissajagears.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers through its book reviewer 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."

"mr. miracle" by debbie macomber

Readers who loved Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle and Call Me Mrs. Miracle (either the book or film versions) are sure to enjoy her latest Christmas romance, Mr. Miracle. (The question is, will they enjoy it as a novel or as a film?)

---

Harry Mills is a guardian angel on a mission: help twenty-four-year-old Addie Folsom get her life back on track—and, if the right moment strikes, help her find love. Posing as a teacher at a local college in Tacoma, Washington, Harry is up to the task, but not even he can predict the surprises that lay in store.

After trying to make it on her own, Addie has returned home to Tacoma for the holidays, but this time she plans to stay for good, enrolling in the local community college to earn her degree. What she doesn’t plan to do is run into Erich Simmons.

Addie and her next-door neighbor, Erich, are like night and day. Growing up, he was popular and outgoing while she was rebellious and headstrong, and he never missed an opportunity to tease her. Now she intends to avoid him entirely, yet when they’re suddenly forced to spend Christmas together, Addie braces for trouble.

Perhaps it’s the spirit of the season or the magic of mistletoe, but Addie and Erich soon find they have more in common than they thought—and that two people who seem so wrong for each other may actually be just right. With a little prompting from a certain angelic teacher, the two are in for a holiday miracle they’ll never forget.

---

I'll be the first to admit that I'm more a fan of the film versions of Debbie Macomber's novels than of the novels themselves. I think she comes up with great stories (the film adaptation of Trading Christmas is one of my favorite Christmas movies), but the characters and dialog in her novels aren't always as developed as I'd like. This was true of Mr. Miracle. It's a charming story, really more focused on Addie and Erich than on Harry (Mr. Miracle). But there's not a lot of character development, and the romance, which I think will play fabulously on screen, didn't do much for me in print. To be honest, I requested this book just because I wanted to be able to compare it to the TV movie—it's one of Hallmark Channel's Christmas movies this year! (Rumor has it it's also a backdoor pilot, so we could be seeing another Debbie Macomber series on Hallmark in the near future.) The film stars Rob Morrow in the title role, and the farther I read in the novel, the stronger my desire to watch some Northern Exposure became. Too bad it doesn't stream on Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu ... what's up with that?

If you're a fan of Debbie Macomber's novels, then you'll want to read Mr. Miracle. If not, I'd recommend you wait until November 29 to see the premiere of Mr. Miracle on the Hallmark Channel. 3 stars.

Content Note: There is absolutely nothing objectionable in this book, unless you're into angelology and wish your fiction to be theologically accurate.

Buy the book.
Read my review of Macomber's Rose Harbor in Bloom.
Learn more about all of Hallmark's 2014 Christmas movies.

---

Debbie Macomber is a leading voice in women’s fiction. Eight of her novels have hit #1 on theNew York Times bestseller list, with three debuting at #1 on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly lists. In 2009 and 2010, Mrs. Miracle and Call Me Mrs. Miracle were Hallmark Channel’s top-watched movies for the year. In 2013, Hallmark Channel produced the original series Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove. She has more than 160 million copies of her books in print worldwide.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product free for review from Amazon.com through its Vine reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions 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."

"an august bride" by debra clopton

Do you believe in love at first sight? I don't ... but perhaps I'm just cynical because it hasn't happened to me. "An August Bride" sure made me want to believe, though.

---

Kelsey vowed never to love a cowboy again. But then she meets Brent.

After a cowboy broke her heart, Kelsey Wilcox traded in her boots for flip-flops and a bistro on the beautiful sandy beach of Corpus Christi. Two years later, still not believing in happy endings, she is about to endure a weekend of torture at her cousin's beach wedding. Not only will she be forced to watch yet another wedding, but her great-aunt and her two best friends-aptly nicknamed "the matchmaking posse of Mule Hollow"-are coming to the wedding, and Kelsey is sure to be on their radar.

Brent Corbin has had his share of bad luck with women and isn't looking for love or looking forward to the weekend of wedding festivities as a groomsman for his friend. When he sees a commotion on the beach and what appears to be a mermaid in distress, he doesn't hesitate to dive to the rescue. His attention is instantly captured by the woman he's saved and it turns out they're part of the same wedding party. But the instant Kelsey spots his soaking wet boots she wants no part of him.

Thrown together through the weekend and with the meddlesome encouragement from the matchmakers, Brent is determined to pursue Kelsey and change her mind about cowboys. Sparks fly at this August wedding as Kelsey and Brent dance a rocky Texas two-step toward a beach wedding of their own.

---

Debra Clopton isn't a new-to-me author, but "An August Bride" is the first of her contemporary work that I've read. (I previously read her entries in the A Bride for All Seasons and Four Weddings & a Kiss historical romance anthologies.) I must say, I enjoy her contemporary cowboy romance much more than her historicals! While I generally don't care for the love at first sight/relationship moves at the speed of sound romances, "An August Bride" won me over. Brent is the epitome of a heroic leading man, and Kelsey's hesitancy to get involved with a cowboy is understandable. Put them together, and you have a great couple with sizzling chemistry. Yes, the romance moves quickly, but it also feels realistic. The novella length felt like the perfect space to tell this couple's story, and I'll definitely be checking out more of Clopton's contemporary romances! 4-1/2 stars.

Buy the novella.
Read my reviews of A Bride for All Seasons and Four Weddings & a Kiss.
Read my reviews of the other "Year of Weddings" entries: December, January, February, March, April, May, June and July.

---

Bestselling author Debra Clopton has sold over 2.5 million books and her holiday story, OPERATION: MARRIED BY CHRISTMAS has been optioned for an ABC Family Movie staring LeAnn Rimes. Debra writes cowboy romances, inspirational, Christian romance, contemporary and western romances set in Texas. She is known for her snappy dialogue, cowboy heroes and spunky heroines. Her awards include: The Book Sellers Best, Romantic Times Magazine's Book of the Year. She's also a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Finalist, and a triple finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award.

A sixth generation Texan, Debra lives on a ranch in central Texas with her husband Chuck. She loves to travel and spend time with her family. She is the author of the much loved Mule Hollow Matchmakers series where you never know what the Matchmaking "Posse" is going to do next! She writes for Harlequin Love Inspired and Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins Christian. She is currently working on her 30th novel surrounded by cows, dogs and even renegade donkey herds that keep her writing authentic and often find their way into her stories. She loves helping people smile with her fun, fast paced stories.
Visit Debra's website at http://www.debraclopton.com
Check out her Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/debra.clopton.5
Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/debraclopton
Contact her at Debraclopton@yamil.com
Sign up for Debra's newsletter and contests at http://debraclopton.com/contest

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook blogger 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 an 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."

"finding mr. darcy: high school edition" by erin butler

Finding Mr. Darcy: High School Edition

by Erin Butler

Release Date: 09/16/14

Swoon Romance

Jane Austen reboots are a dime a dozen ... and I'm a sucker for all of them! Some are definitely better than others, and I feared Finding Mr. Darcy was headed for mediocre territory. Fortunately, this novel is a twist on Pride & Prejudice that I didn't see coming.

---

Sixteen-year-old Liza Johnson takes fangirl to a whole new level of crazy when she decides to take dating advice from her literary hero: Jane Austen.

With the help of her best friends, Liza sheds her ancient-speak and complete Austen wardrobe for something a bit more modern in an attempt at finding her very own Mr. Darcy.

Enter Will, the new kid and Liza's Darcy incarnate. Add her BFF's ex to mix and the sexy Brit who kisses with an accent, and Liza is in trouble.

So, what's a girl to do? Without her mom to go to relationship advice, Liza turns to the only person she can truly trust with matters of the heart via her mother's copy of COMPLETED WORKS OF JANE AUSTEN.

It's too bad Austen's heroines have never played Spin the Bottle or Seven Minutes in Heaven. Liza's determined to find her true Austen-esque happy ending, but if she can't trust herself instead of books, she just might end up in her own tragic love story.

---

Finding Mr. Darcy: High School Edition is not without its flaws, but it has such a fun, winning spirit about it that you end the novel with a smile on your face ... and you have trouble remembering what exactly you didn't like in the first place.

Never fear, though: I do remember one thing I took issue with. Most of the time, I give the author a lot of leeway when it comes to realism. But the instant the principal sent Liza and Will to New York City together—with Will driving and no adult supervision—in the middle of the school day and without parental permission, I wanted to chuck the book against the wall. (Or in this case, my Kindle ... which is why I refrained.) I work at a school. A high school principal would never do that. Talk about liability issues! If something like that happened at my school, heads would roll.

Aside from that one glaring annoyance, I did enjoy the novel. As I said before, it's a twist on Pride & Prejudice that I didn't expect. I think the author is actually quite clever here, as she assigns names to the characters that cause you to assume one thing (provided you know P & P), but you find, as Liza does, that you really can't put characters in a box. (In that way, Finding Mr. Darcy reminds me of the fabulous BBC miniseries Lost in Austen, which you can watch the first episode of free.)

Finding Mr. Darcy won't change the world, but it is an enjoyable way to pass an afternoon. Sometimes, that's all you need. 3 stars.

Content note: There are a few mild wear words sprinkled throughout the novel, and some makeout sessions get a little hot and heavy. If this were a movie, it would be a mild PG-13.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Add to Goodreads.

---

Erin Butler is lucky enough to have two jobs she truly loves. As a librarian, she gets to work with books all day long, and as an author, Erin uses her active imagination to write the kinds of books she enjoys reading. Young Adult and New Adult books are her favorites, but she especially loves the ones with kissing scenes.

Erin lives in Central New York with her very understanding husband, a stepson, and doggie BFF, Maxie. She prefers to spend her time indoors reading and writing, but will venture out for chocolate and sunshine. She is the author of BLOOD HEX, a YA paranormal, HOW WE LIVED, a contemporary New Adult novel, and FINDING MR. DARCY: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION, a contemporary YA.

Author Links:
http://www.erinbutlerbooks.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3273590.Erin_Butler
https://twitter.com/ErinButler
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Erin-Butler/222797011068049

GIVEAWAY: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook free for review via YA Bound Book Tours. 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."

"evergreen" by susan may warren

Fans of Susan May Warren's Christiansen Family series will love this glimpse into the lives of John & Ingrid, the Christiansen parents.

An empty nest has Ingrid Christiansen dreading the upcoming holidays, but her husband, John, couldn't be more excited about this new season of life. He even has a surprise trip abroad planned. He’s sure she'll love it. What’s more romantic than Christmas in Paris?

Before he can stop her, however, Ingrid agrees to spearhead a major church project. Then their faithful dog, Butterscotch, needs emergency surgery, draining their savings. And then—because disasters strike in threes—an unexpected guest arrives, dredging up old hurts.

As a beautiful blanket of snow transforms the north woods into a winter wonderland, a deep chill settles over John and Ingrid’s marriage. With the holidays fast approaching, their only hope of keeping their love evergreen depends on turning the page on the past and embracing a new chapter of their future.

I'd be hard pressed to name a series I'm enjoying more than Susan May Warren's Christiansen Family series. Each of the novels focuses on one of John & Ingrid Christiansen's adult children. Up to this point, we've seen glimpses of John and Ingrid, but we haven't really gotten to know them. But Evergreen, a novella that falls after the third book in the series (When I Fall in Love), rectifies that.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this novella. After all, how interesting could empty nesters be? Well, I shouldn't have doubted; Evergreen is every bit as engaging and heartwarming as the novels about John and Ingrid's children. There's also a depth of emotion—both good and bad—that I didn't anticipate. Yes, I cried. Twice.

Through the pages of this novella, John and Ingrid became more than the wise, supportive parents we saw in the previous novels. They became real, fleshed out characters who I wanted to both hug and smack at various times. I'm sure I'll look at them differently when they appear in future Christiansen Family novels. 5 stars.

Buy the book.
Read Susan May Warren's blog post about Evergreen.
Read my review of When I Fall in Love.

Susan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award-winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women's events about God's amazing grace in our lives. She also runs a writing community for authors.

Find Susan online: website, My Book Therapy, Twitter, Facebook

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers and the author. 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."

"all's fair in love and cupcakes" by betsy st. amant

What single girl hasn't dreamed of falling in love with her best friend? (Well, first I'd have to find a guy best friend, and then I could go about the business of falling in love with him.) That's exactly what Kat Varland is facing—she's gone and fallen for her best friend Lucas. What Kat doesn't know is that Lucas has fallen for her, too...

Kat Varland has had enough of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

At twenty-six years old, Kat is still living in the shadows of her family in Bayou Bend, Louisiana. Still working shifts at her Aunt Maggie's bakery. Still wondering what to do with her passion for baking and her business degree. And still single.

But when Lucas Brannen, Kat's best friend, signs her up for a reality TV bake-off on Cupcake Combat, everything Kat ever wanted is suddenly dangled in front of her: creative license as a baker, recognition as a visionary . . . and a job at a famous bakery in New York.

As the competition heats up, Lucas realizes he might have made a huge mistake. As much as he wants the best for Kat, the only thing he wants for himself---her---is suddenly in danger of slipping away.

The bright lights of reality cooking wars and the chance at a successful career dazzle Kat's senses and Lucas is faced with a difficult choice: help his friend achieve her dreams . . . or sabotage her chances to keep her in Louisiana.

I love the competition shows on The Food Network. (Except for the horrible Cutthroat Kitchen. I hate it when the contestants are encouraged to sabotage each other.) So when I realized the majority of this novel would take place behind the scenes of Cupcake Combat (similar to Food Network's Cupcake Wars), well, I was all in.

The cupcake show does make a fantastic backdrop for All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes, but the characters are what truly makes it special. Lucas and Kat are both realistically flawed characters, and their stutter steps into a relationship, while a bit maddening, are totally understandable. I loved watching their relationship evolve, and the ending made me want to cheer.

All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes is a well written, thoroughly enjoyable romance, and I can't wait to read Betsy St. Amant's next novel, which will feature Kat's sister Stella. Also, can we talk about that cover? Gorgeous. Maybe my favorite cover of the year! 5 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of St. Amant's "A February Bride" (from Zondervan's A Year of Weddings)


Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana with her young daughter and has a heart for sharing the amazing news of God's grace through her novels. A freelance journalist, Betsy is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she's not reading, writing, or singing along to a Disney soundtrack with her daughter, Betsy enjoys inspirational speaking and teaching on the craft of writing.

Find Betsy online: website, Facebook

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."

"all's fair in love and cupcakes" giveaway information

Somehow, I didn't realize until this morning that my review of Betsy St. Amant's All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes is due the same day as the Facebook party and giveaway. I don't have the book finished yet (it's fantastic so far!), so my review will go up this evening, but I want to make sure you know about the giveaway. Keep reading to see how you can win!

Don't miss Betsy St. Amant's latest fiction release, All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes. A "sweet" tale of two best friends and the choices they make between dreams and a possible "sure thing," St. Amant's novel is sure to satisfy your romantic-fiction craving.

Betsy is celebrating with a fun Kindle giveaway and a Love & Cupcakes Facebook party! One winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle
• All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 18th. Winner will be announced at the "Love & Cupcakes" Author Chat Party on 9/18. Betsy will be hosting a "sweet" book chat, giving away prizes, and answering questions from readers. She will also share an exclusive sneak peek at her next book project!

So grab your copy of All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes and join Betsy on the evening of September 18th 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. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

"tried & true" by mary connealy

Featuring a spunky heroine, swoon-worthy hero, and twisty plot, Tried & True kicks off Mary Connealy's new western series with a bang.

Saddle up for a wildly fun ride with the Wilde sisters!

Kylie Wilde is the youngest sister—and the most civilized. Her older sisters might be happy dressing in trousers and posing as men, but Kylie has grown her hair long and wears skirts every chance she gets. It's a risk—they are homesteading using the special exemptions they earned serving in the Civil War as "boys"—but Kylie plans to make the most of the years before she can sell her property and return to the luxuries of life back East.

Local land agent Aaron Masterson is fascinated with Kylie from the moment her long hair falls from her cap. But now that he knows her secret, can he in good conscience defraud the U.S. government? And when someone tries to force Kylie off her land, does he have any hope of convincing her that marrying him and settling on the frontier is the better option for her future?

I've been a fan of Mary Connealy's books for a while now ... and the fact that she's a Nebraskan who often tweets about Castle doesn't hurt! (#GBR) I enjoyed her Kincaid Brides series and really liked the Trouble in Texas series, but if Tried & True is any indication, the Wild at Heart series will be my favorite yet!

Not only is the romance in Tried & True sweet, but the danger surrounding Kylie is handled deftly—it's never over the top or unrealistic, and the resolution genuinely surprised me. These two factors combine to make a very satisfying novel. Now that I've read Kylie's story, I can't wait to dig into her sisters' stories! 4-1/2 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book. 
Read my reviews of other Connealy novels.
Get Connealy's Out of Control, book one in the Kincaid Brides series, free for Kindle! (as of 9-17-14)


Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Kincaid Brides, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series, and she has been a finalist for a Rita and Christy Award and a two time winner of the Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.

Find Mary online: website, Facebook,Twitter

Don't miss the first book in Mary Connealy's Wild at Heart series. In Tried & True, Mary is back with her signature humor and heartfelt story-telling.

Mary's celebrating by connecting with readers during a live webcast event and giving away a Kindle HDX.

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• Tried & True by Mary Connealy

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 23rd. Winner will be announced at the Tried & True LIVE webcast event on September 23rd. Connect with Mary for an evening of swoon-worthy book chat, fun trivia, laughter, a sneak peek at the next book in the Wild at Heart series, and more! Mary will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books, fun prizes, and gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Tried & True and join Mary and friends on the evening of September 23rd 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 signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

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."

"christmas at rose hill farm" by suzanne woods fisher

A novel of love lost and found set during the 1977 Christmas season, Christmas at Rose Hill Farm takes the reader back to Suzanne Woods Fisher's beloved Stoney Ridge.

Bess Riehl is preparing Rose Hill Farm for her Christmas wedding, but her groom isn't who she thought it would be. Billy Lapp is far away from his Amish roots working as a rose rustler for Penn State and wants nothing to do with Stoney Ridge, his family, or Bess. And that suits Bess just fine. Why should she think twice about a man who left without a word, without any explanation? It's time she moved on with her life, and that meant saying yes to Amos Lapp, Billy's cousin and best friend. But as Bess and Amos's wedding day draws near, her emotions tangle into a tight knot. She loves Amos. Yet she can't forget Billy.

When a "lost" rose is discovered at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. Get in, identify the rose, and get out. That's his plan. The only catch is that he's having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose, and he can't get those tropical blue eyes of Bess Riehl out of his mind.

As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy—and Amos, too—that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.

"Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, this story will charm readers into the holiday spirit."

I've read many of Suzanne Woods Fisher's novels, but I haven't read the Secrets of Lancaster County series, which introduces Bess and Billy. This isn't really an issue, as the novel functions completely as a stand alone. But I did feel a bit of confusion regarding Amos. Through the first several chapters, I kept thinking, "Amos Lapp. Why do I know that name?" And then I realized that an Amos Lapp is the patriarch in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series. And then I came to a page where the year was identified as 1969, and it all came together. It's the same Amos Lapp! Because I already have an affection for the character, I found myself caring more about Amos's journey than Bess and Billy's, though I did care about them, too. (Also, dearly beloved Jimmy Fisher pops up, sort of, in a way that made me smile.) But none of this is really important ... I just wanted to share my experience in reading!

I've come to expect several things from Fisher's novels: relatable characters, spiritual lessons that pack a punch without being preachy, and laugh out loud moments. Christmas at Rose Hill Farm provides all three. It's charming and funny while dealing with serious family and spiritual issues. (When you read it, be on the lookout for Maggie Zook, who provides the biggest laugh in the novel. I'd love to spend more time with her!) Though it ended far too soon, I hope that we'll be able to visit these characters again. 4-1/2 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Fishers' Inn at Eagle Hill books: The Letters, The Calling, "The Rescue" (novella) and The Revealing; The Stoney Ridge Seasons books: The Haven,The Lesson; and A Lancaster County Christmas.

Get The Choice, the first book in the Lancaster County Secrets series FREE! (as of 9-14-14)

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, 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 a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California.

Download Suzanne's free app! http://bit.ly/10Tygyi

Find Suzanne online: website, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest

Join best-selling, award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher for an Amish Christmas to remember. Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, Christmas at Rose Hill Farm will charm readers into the holiday spirit.

Suzanne is hosting a "Christmas Rose" iPad bundle giveaway and a nation-wide Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch in November. Enter the giveaway below and sign up to host a brunch HERE.

 

TWO grand prize winners will receive:

• An iPad
• A Rose-patterned iPad case
• A Rose-patterned phone case (for any model phone)
• A Christmas wreath
• A set of Christmas hand-towels
• Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Five second place winners will receive:

• Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 28th. All winners will be announced September 29th at Suzanne's blog.

Host a Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch! This fall Suzanne is inviting book clubs across the nation to throw a Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch. Sign up here between now and September 29. If you’re selected as one of the 50 hosts, you’ll receive a copy of the book plus two other Revell titles (give them away as party prizes or door prizes or keep them for yourself), a complete party kit, and a discount code to purchase copies of Christmas at Rose Hill Farm for your book club at a discount. Suzanne is also encouraging each book club brunch to collect non-perishable items for their local community shelter. She will be making a donation to her favorite charity (helping abused women and children) for every brunch that meets their goal. Click here for more details and to SIGN UP!

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 29th to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog 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 desire" by dan walsh & gary smalley

Bringing to mind Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series, The Desire follows the Anderson family through the ups and downs of life.

For two years, Allan and Michele have been trying to have a baby. The emotional ride has been taking a toll on their hearts—and their relationship. Michele is obsessed with researching fertility treatments while Allan seems content to spend his time—and their money—on supporting displaced children in Africa. Something's got to give. But they both hope it's not their marriage.

Still, God has a plan for Allan and Michele that they could never have imagined. And all it takes to set it in motion is a change of heart . . .

In The Desire, authors Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley pick up the story of the Anderson family, which began with The Dance and continued in The Promise. (Don't worry if you haven't read books one and two; this book works as a stand-alone novel. I hadn't read the other books in the series, and I didn't feel like I was missing much; there were just a few references that I didn't understand.) This book focuses on Anderson daughter Michele and her husband Allan and their struggle with competing desires—Michele's desperation for a biological child, and Allan's longing to help set up an orphanage in Africa.

The emotional parts of the book are done very well, and I had tears in my eyes multiple times. The story seems very realistic—like these events could really happen to a family you know. The infertility storyline feels very timely, as so many women struggle with it today.

I especially liked a subplot involving Christina, a pregnant teen who becomes close to the Andersons. I found her story to be the most touching of any in the book, and I look forward to reading more about her in the next book in this series.

The only thing I didn't really enjoy about the book was the way the spiritual lessons were incorporated. Don't get me wrong; the lessons about humility and the sufficiency of Christ are important ones. However, the way they're incorporated (through a Sunday School curriculum) felt out of place to me. When I read these sections, I felt like I was reading a Bible study book instead of a novel. It just became a little too preachy.

Overall, I enjoyed The Desire. It definitely feels similar to Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series (which she wrote with Gary Smalley), and that's a good thing. If these books would spawn a saga similar to the Baxters, well, I'd be a happy reader for years to come! 4 stars.

Buy the book.

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of many books, including The Dance and The Promise with Gary Smalley, The Discovery, and What Follows After. He has won three Carol Awards, and three of his novels were finalists for RT Book Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships and has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, and TODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of many books, including the Baxter Family Redemption series with Karen Kingsbury and The Dance and The Promise with Dan Walsh. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 50 years and live in Missouri.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads 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."

"nowhere to turn" by lynette eason

Intense action and heart-pounding suspense make this novel a thrill ride from start to finish.

She thought her days of hiding were over . . . but the danger has just begun.

The day Danielle Harding takes her eleven-year-old son and flees from her abusive husband is the same day Kurt Harding dies. A relieved Dani believes she and her son are finally safe—but in reality, things are just heating up. When Kurt was alive, he took something important from a mysterious individual—who wants the item back and believes Dani now has it. As she and her son run for their lives, they have nowhere to turn, until she hires Adam Buchanan of Operation Refuge and goes into hiding. Unfortunately, she won't be able to hide for long . . .

From the first breathless scene, this tension-laced story will hold you in its iron grip as bestselling author Lynette Eason propels you along in a race to discover the truth.

In Nowhere to Turn, book two in the Hidden Identity series, author Lynette Eason takes the audience on an intense, fully satisfying journey. From the moment I began reading until I turned the last page, I was hooked. Though I found the beginning to be a tad confusing due to the vast array of characters introduced, I kept reading (because really, how could I not when the story was so exciting?), and soon I figured out at least who it was important to keep track of.

The romance in this novel is very low key—which I think is a good thing, as too much romance would have detracted from the break-neck speed of the action. (You never thought you'd hear me say I was glad for minimal romance, did you?)

While this is book two in a series, it definitely works as a stand alone novel. (I haven't read book one, and I didn't even realize this was a sequel until I was about a quarter of the way through the book.) But you'll probably want to go back and read book one, as Nowhere to Turn will leave you wanting to read more about the Hidden Identity world! 4 stars.

Buy the book.
Read an excerpt.

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series and the Deadly Reunions series, as well as No One to Trust. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She has a master's degree in education from Converse College and she lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads 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."

"making marion" by beth moran

Do you enjoy Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove books (or Hallmark Channel's Cedar Cove series)? Then you'll want to check out Making Marion.

Marion Miller comes to Sherwood Forest to uncover her father's mysterious past. She is looking for somewhere to stay, but instead finds herself on the wrong side of the reception desk at the Peace and Pigs campsite. Despite her horrible shyness, she promptly lands herself a job working for the big-hearted and irrepressible Scarlett.

It takes all of Marion's determination to come out of her shell and get to grips with life on a busy campsite, where even the chickens seem determined to thwart her. Then an unfortunate incident with a runaway bike throws her into the arms of the beautiful, but deeply unimpressed, Reuben ...

Can Marion discover her father's secret? And will she find peace, and perhaps even love, among the pigs?

When I began reading Making Marion, I wasn't sure what to expect. The cover makes it look whimsical and fun, but the first few chapters were slow, and I struggled to get through them. I think this is largely due to my lack of knowledge of British vernacular. Even now, after finishing the book, I'm not sure where exactly Marion was living—I think maybe it was in an RV? Regardless, I think my lack of interest in the beginning was the fault of this reader, not the author.

What I discovered as I pressed on was a delightful story with quirky characters. Making Marion is told from Marion's point of view, and her perspective is at various times sweet, heart wrenching, and humorous. I actually giggled a lot while reading this novel, and that humor helped cut some of the seriousness.

Making Marion is a pure delight to read, and it had the feel of some of the British shows I enjoy, like Monarch of the Glen and Doc Martin. (For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, the closest American comparison I can make is Cedar Cove, though with less soapy drama.) I would love to watch Marion's story unfold week by week on the small screen. (BBC? ITV? Any takers?) My only complaint is that it ended rather abruptly ... so I hope that author Beth Moran isn't finished with Marion's story!

There is a bit of harsh language, as well as a few (hilarious!) descriptions of people in compromising positions, so if this were a film, it would probably receive a PG-13 rating, but it would be a very mild PG-13.

While faith isn't a major focus of Making Marion, Marion does take several steps back toward God after ignoring him for many years. I don't think I'd classify this as inspirational fiction, but it is fiction that I can happily recommend. 4 stars.

Buy the book.

Beth Moran has a background as a research scientist and adult educator. She now concentrates on church work and is part of the national leadership team of the UK women's network Free Range Chicks. She is married with three children and lives in Nottingham, England. 

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.”

"meant to be mine" by becky wade

Every so often, a book comes along that so wholly consumes you that you simply can't put it down until you've read the last page. And when you do finally reach the end, hours after beginning to read, you wish you could just start all over again. Meant to Be Mine is one such book.

After a whirlwind romance and spur-of-the-moment wedding leaves Celia Park heartbroken and pregnant, she decides that her estranged husband Ty Porter doesn't ever need to know about their child. But when Ty learns he has a daughter, he determines to be a good father—even if Celia still wants nothing to do with him. The two form a tenuous friendship for the sake of their daughter, and it soon becomes apparent that the attraction that sparked their original romance is still a powerful force. But Celia's reluctant to trust Ty with her heart again, and Ty's not sure he's ready to give up his plan for his life. 

I loved so much about Meant to Be Mine that it's hard to even know where to begin. The romance, of course, is fantastic. It's that sigh inducing, toe curling, happily ever after kind of romance, but it's also not inordinately easy. Celia and Ty face serious trials on their way to love, and everything about their journey struck me as realistic.

The characters are also a strong point. Celia and Ty both have strengths and weaknesses, and I love that while they changed for the better throughout the novel, surrendering their lives to Christ didn't magically make their struggles go away. I also love, love, love their daughter Addie. She's perhaps the most adorable child I've ever read about in fiction.

Becky Wade's books are always fantastic, but Meant to Be Mine is so much better than I'd dared to hope. I have no doubt it will find itself near the top of my Top 10 of 2014 list come December! 5 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Wade's My Stubborn Heart (my favorite book of 2012) and Undeniably Yours.

Becky Wade is a graduate of Baylor University. As a newlywed, she lived for three years in a home overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, as well as in Australia, before returning to the States. A mom of three young children, Becky and her family now live in Dallas, Texas. Visit her website at www.beckywade.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased this book myself and reviewed it of my own free will. 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 an 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.”