12 years ago
Showing posts with label abingdon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abingdon. Show all posts
Saturday, November 19, 2016
"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Ace Collins
Saturday, June 4, 2016
"through the shadows" by karen barnett
Historical fiction lovers will enjoy this look into San Francisco as it recovers from the 1906 earthquake in Through the Shadows, the third book in Karen Barnett's Golden Gate Chronicles.As San Francisco rises from the ashes, an age-old battle looms between corruption and the promise of new beginnings.
The devastating earthquake is just two years past, but the city of San Francisco is still trying to recover. Destruction of this magnitude is not so easy to overcome—and neither are the past regrets shadowing Elizabeth King's hopeful future.
Hoping to right her wrongs, Elizabeth dedicates herself to helping girls rescued from slavery in Chinatown brothels, even if it means putting her own life at risk to sneak through the gloomy alleys and rooftops where dangers lurk.
Putting her life on the line for a worthy cause is admirable. But opening her heart is even more terrifying. So when Elizabeth meets attorney, Charles McKinley—a man who dreams of reforming San Francisco's crooked politics—Elizabeth begins to doubt: Can she maintain her pretense and hide her past? Or will her secret jeopardize both their futures?
I've long been interested in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. (Just ask my poor high school classmates, who had to suffer through a speech I wrote about it. Trust me: no one back then would have ever believed I'd spend 12 years coaching high school speech!) So when I learned that Karen Barnett, whose Mistaken I really enjoyed, had written a series centered around the earthquake, I knew I wanted to read it. The first two books, Out of the Ruins and Beyond the Ashes, were both enjoyable reads. I loved the plots, but I felt a bit ambivalent toward the heroines. Still, the strong writing was enough to keep me coming back for more.
Through the Shadows features the same vivid writing found in Barnett's previous novels, but I liked it even better for one reason: I loved the heroine! Elizabeth is a spunky young woman unafraid to stand up against evil but terrified that she can never be forgiven for her past mistakes. I really appreciate that Barnett chose to gave Elizabeth a real past—she's not feeling guilty about circumstances out of her control; rather, she's regretting her sin. She moves to San Francisco to help the girls at the Mission Home, but she also believes that maybe, just maybe, if she does enough good, that will get her back into God's good graces. As danger swirls around her, she finally understands that God's grace is freely offered, not something she must work to attain.
I also enjoyed Elizabeth's romance with Charles. When Elizabeth was tentative, Charles was patient and kind, and all the roadblocks to their happily ever after made sense. (One of my biggest pet peeves in romance is when the hero and heroine are kept apart due to ridiculous miscommunication.) In the beginning, I wasn't so sure that I'd like Charles, as he was quick to take his (obviously shady) uncle at his word. But Charles quickly grew on me, and just as I rooted for Elizabeth to accept God's grace, I rooted for Charles to stand up to his uncle and make his own way in the world. Also, I enjoyed the look into law office politics.
The bulk of the novel takes place at the Mission Home, a refuge for girls rescued from forced servitude and prostitution in Chinatown. I loved reading about Elizabeth's interactions with the girls, as well as the rescue missions—so to learn the Mission Home was a real place (that still exists today!) and mission director Donaldina Cameron was a real person was just the icing on the cake. You can learn more about the mission—renamed the Cameron House—here.
Through the Shadows is Barnett's best book yet. I loved every second I spent reading it, and I highly recommend it! 5 stars.
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Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Barnett's Beyond the Ashes (3-1/2 stars), Out of the Ruins (4 stars), and Mistaken (4 stars).
Enter the giveaway here.
Karen Barnett is the author of Beyond the Ashes, Out of the Ruins, and Mistaken. Named the 2013 Writer of Promise by Oregon Christian Writers, Karen lives in Albany, Oregon, with her husband and two kids. When she's not writing novels, she loves speaking at women's events, libraries, and book clubs.
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."
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
"beyond the ashes" by karen barnett
Where better to rebuild and face one's fears than in 1906 San Francisco, a city rising from the ashes?
Ruby Marshall, a young widow, is certain she'll discover new purpose assisting her brother Robert with his cancer research, but she doesn't anticipate finding new love.
Dr. Gerald Larkspur dreams of filling his empty home with family, but he'd always hoped it would be a wife and children. In the aftermath of the great earthquake, the rooms are overflowing with extended family and friends left homeless by the disaster. When Robert's widowed sister arrives, the close quarters seem close indeed.
Ruby and Gerald's fledgling romance is put at risk when Gerald develops symptoms of the very disease they're striving to cure. Together they must ask---is it worth a second chance at love when time might be short?
Beyond the Ashes is the second book in Karen Barnett's Golden Gate Chronicles, but it can be read without having first read Out of the Ruins. This novel picks up in the months following the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake as the city and its citizens are trying to recover from the tragedy.
Gerald and Ruby are both interesting characters, and I especially enjoyed reading about Gerald's work with cancer patients. One patient in particular, a young woman named Dee, especially caught my attention. Her story was heartbreaking, but I loved the way she handled her illness and looming death. I did struggle to like Ruby in the beginning, but she grew on me as the book progressed, and she ended up being a very sympathetic character.
The romance in this book, though sweet, does suffer from what I like to call "just talk about it already!" syndrome—where if the hero and heroine would simply have a conversation about their problems, they could easily be resolved. But this is one of those books that I enjoyed for things other than the romance, and Barnett's description of medicine at the time is particularly strong. I also liked Gerald's story line, and I'll be very interested to see what happens to him in the future.
While Beyond the Ashes didn't grab me in the same way as Out of the Ruins did, it still is a good story that looks back on a fascinating time in our nation's history. I'll certainly be looking for the third book in the series next year. 3-1/2 stars.
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Read my reviews of Barnett's Out of the Ruins (4 stars) and Mistaken (4 stars).
Find Karen online: website, Twitter, 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 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."
Saturday, June 20, 2015
"burning bush 2.0" by paul asay
Maybe God doesn’t speak through prophets as often these days because he knows people wouldn’t listen. Maybe God speaks to us in different ways—and in the places he knows where we congregate: in our movie theaters, living rooms, iPods, and smartphones. Maybe God still longs to connect with us, and so goes into the places where we’re most likely to listen. Burning Bush 2.0 is a whimsical and sincere examination of the ways God communicates with us—sometimes subtly and secretly—through our media and entertainment streams. Asay examines how faith and God’s fingerprints mark movies and music, television and technology. Through word and picture, God still speaks to us through unsuspecting voices—in ways we’re best able to hear—even if we don’t fully comprehend it completely in the moment. God is everywhere, and doesn’t ask permission to speak, shout out, or whisper his name. Includes study guide for individuals and church groups.
I've been familiar with Paul Asay for several years, due to his work at Plugged In, an entertainment review site. I often go to Plugged In when I'm considering whether to watch a movie. (While Plugged In points out every teensy little thing that someone might find offensive, I like having a good idea of a movie's content so I can make an informed decision.) So I was intrigued when I learned that Asay had released a book about pop culture. I've ended up having mixed feelings about it.
I'm going to start at the end, because I feel like it's the strongest section. In it, Asay talks about the importance of discernment in entertainment choices, and he's careful to point out that for each person, this will look different because we are all prone to certain sins and temptations. He also encourages readers to always go into entertainment with their brains engaged—to not just let entertainment wash over them but to be an active mental participant. He then gives a list of conversation starters that will help people discuss works of entertainment. I think this is the most valuable section of the book, and I would have loved to have the whole book focus on this.
The rest of the book (the first 10 chapters) is about finding God (or at least biblical principles) in pop culture. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of pop culture—superhero movies, video games, music, and reality TV, to name a few. This part is fine, and I enjoyed Asay's thoughts on things, but I didn't find it particularly engaging or enlightening. It's a lighthearted and conversational book, which I appreciated, but some of Asay's jokes fell a bit flat—he tends to harp on certain entertainers (Miley Cyrus), and I found it offputting.
Honestly, I'm not sure who Asay's target audience is. Obviously, Christians—I'm not sure why someone who doesn't believe would pick up this book. But beyond that, is the audience Christians who are in tune with pop culture? (I'd say no—because it doesn't take a lot of movie knowledge to realize that films are full of Christ figures or that something redeeming can be found in much of today's entertainment if you look deeply enough.) Christians who only watch Christian films and listen to Christian music? (Again, I'd say no—many of the examples in this book are decidedly not family friendly.) It's almost like this book doesn't quite know what it wants to be.
I know this review has been largely critical, but I did enjoy the book. I just didn't find it particularly memorable, and I'm not sure who I'd recommend it to. 3 stars.
Buy the book.
Paul Asay is associate editor at Plugged In, a ministry that reaches more than six million people with movie reviews that help people understand popular cultural trends and how they intersect with spiritual issues. Paul is an award-winning journalist who covered religion at The (Colorado Springs) Gazette and whose work has been published by such outlets as The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Youth Worker Journal and Beliefnet.com. Paul has a special interest in the unexpected ways faith and media intersect. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Wendy, and two children. Feel free to check out his website at www.paulasay.com.
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. 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."
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
"fatal trauma" by richard l. mabry
A gunman who has nothing to lose faces a doctor who could lose it all to prove his innocence.
When Dr. Mark Baker and Nurse Kelly Atkinson are held at the mercy of a dangerous gunman, the lives of every emergency room patient are at stake. At the end of the evening three men are dead. One of them is a police officer who couldn't be saved despite Mark's best efforts. The other two are members of the feared Zeta drug cartel.
Though the standoff is over, the killing is not, because when the drug cartel loses its members, revenge is not far behind. Facing an adversary whose desires are dark and efforts are ruthless, Mark finds himself under suspicion as a killer, yet still a potential victim. When he turns to his high school sweetheart, attorney Gwen Woodruff, for help, Kelly helplessly looks on, as she hides her own feelings for the good doctor.
At the height of the conflict, three questions remain: Who is the shooter? Who will the next victim be? And can Mark prove his innocence before the gun turns on him?
Overall, I enjoyed Fatal Trauma. The pacing was good, the characters were likeable (though I didn't feel I got to know some of them very well), and the plot featured a couple of twists I never saw coming and absolutely loved. (Seriously, I had a couple of gasp out loud moments—I love those when I'm reading suspense!) However, some of the aspects surrounding the investigation didn't ring true to me, and I got tired of the cops' continual focus on Mark as a suspect. I also didn't think the writing was as tight as in some of Mabry's other novels. Still, this is enjoyable medical suspense, and it makes for a quick, intense read. 3-1/2 stars.
*See the note at the bottom if you want to know specifically what bothered me about the investigation! (It's fairly general and spoiler free, but I do have to talk a bit about the plot.)
See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Mabry's Stress Test (4-1/2 stars), Heart Failure (3-1/2 stars), and Critical Condition (3-1/2 stars).
*Note: Basically, Mark is a suspect in two crimes. He doesn't have much of an alibi for either crime--except that at the exact moment the second crime was taking place, he was speaking on his cell phone. He heard the crime take place over the phone, and then he immediately placed a call to 911 on said cell phone. I know this may not be enough to prove his innocence or guilt, but wouldn't the cops at least check the cell phone records and also find out which tower the calls went through to see if Mark could have been in the area where the crime took place? Yet the cell phone is never held up--either by Mark's attorney or by the cops--as a way to tell if Mark was where he said he was. Had I not been a Serial fanatic who heard about cell phone records ad nauseam, this probably wouldn't have bothered me. But if the cops were using cell phone records back in 1999, wouldn't they also be using them in 2015?
*See the note at the bottom if you want to know specifically what bothered me about the investigation! (It's fairly general and spoiler free, but I do have to talk a bit about the plot.)
See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Mabry's Stress Test (4-1/2 stars), Heart Failure (3-1/2 stars), and Critical Condition (3-1/2 stars).
*Note: Basically, Mark is a suspect in two crimes. He doesn't have much of an alibi for either crime--except that at the exact moment the second crime was taking place, he was speaking on his cell phone. He heard the crime take place over the phone, and then he immediately placed a call to 911 on said cell phone. I know this may not be enough to prove his innocence or guilt, but wouldn't the cops at least check the cell phone records and also find out which tower the calls went through to see if Mark could have been in the area where the crime took place? Yet the cell phone is never held up--either by Mark's attorney or by the cops--as a way to tell if Mark was where he said he was. Had I not been a Serial fanatic who heard about cell phone records ad nauseam, this probably wouldn't have bothered me. But if the cops were using cell phone records back in 1999, wouldn't they also be using them in 2015?
Find Richard online: website, Twitter, Facebook
Can Mark find out who the shooter is before he becomes the next victim? You won't want to miss the suspense in Richard Mabry's new book, Fatal Trauma. Facing an adversary whose desires are dark and efforts are ruthless, Mark finds himself under suspicion as a killer, yet still a potential victim. When he turns to his high school sweetheart, attorney Gwen Woodruff, for help, Kelly helplessly looks on, as she hides her own feelings for the good doctor.
Richard is celebrating the release of Fatal Trauma by giving away The Perfect Prescription Prize Pack!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A $25 cash card
- A copy of Fatal Trauma
- A bag of coffee (because caffeine can cure a lot)
- A medical-inspired coffee mug
- Syringe pens
- A box of medical-inspired cookies (because sugar can cure what caffeine doesn't)
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 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."
Saturday, May 16, 2015
"heart sisters" by natalie chambers snapp
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Heart Sisters is for women who want to both be and have better friends and want a helpful guide to take them through the process.
Author Natalie Chambers Snapp uses her own and others' stories of successes and failures to illustrate what she has learned about girlfriend relationships. Healthy boundaries, honesty, tact, sharing, and agape love all play a part in being and maintaining a circle of close confidants. She also deals with the inevitable challenges that face many relationships including how to handle conflict; life changes like a new baby, move or divorce; and when it is right to "break-up" with your friend.
The focus in Heart Sisters is on becoming a good friend—it's like that old saying, "To have a friend, you have to be a friend." Author Natalie Chambers Snapp gives lots of great friendship advice, including showing the importance of a relationship with God, first and foremost. "It's hard to keep our relationships in sync when our relationship with God is out of sync," she says, and I wholeheartedly agree.
Other chapters include tips on finding friends, handling conflict in friendships, and setting boundaries. Sometimes the author repeats herself a bit (such as when she uses the story of Sarai, Abram, and Hagar in a couple chapters), but overall the book reads well and is very informative without getting boring. There are discussion questions at the end of each chapter, and I think this book would be perfect for a small group setting. 4 stars.
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Natalie Chambers Snapp is first and foremost a follower of Jesus, then wife to Jason, and mom to one spunky daughter and two spirited sons with a crazy amount of energy. Choosing to follow Jesus at 27, Natalie is passionate about sharing the grace, mercy, and truth of God's love. She lives in the Midwest with her crew and tries to keep it simple by writing about the faith found in the everyday mundane. The outpourings of her heart can be found at www.nataliesnapp.com in the fleeting moments between being a wife and mother.
Find Natalie online: website, Facebook, Twitter
Want to be a better friend and have better friends? Natalie Chambers Snapp wrote Heart Sisters just for you! She uses her own and others’ stories of successes and failures to illustrate what she has learned about girlfriend relationships. Discussion questions, space to journal, photos, and quick interviews of healthy female friendships are included within each chapter.
The focus in Heart Sisters is on becoming a good friend—it's like that old saying, "To have a friend, you have to be a friend." Author Natalie Chambers Snapp gives lots of great friendship advice, including showing the importance of a relationship with God, first and foremost. "It's hard to keep our relationships in sync when our relationship with God is out of sync," she says, and I wholeheartedly agree.
Other chapters include tips on finding friends, handling conflict in friendships, and setting boundaries. Sometimes the author repeats herself a bit (such as when she uses the story of Sarai, Abram, and Hagar in a couple chapters), but overall the book reads well and is very informative without getting boring. There are discussion questions at the end of each chapter, and I think this book would be perfect for a small group setting. 4 stars.
See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
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Find Natalie online: website, Facebook, Twitter
Help Natalie celebrate the release of her new book by entering to win goodies you'll need for a girls' night out with your heart sister!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A $100 Visa cash card to put toward a nice dinner or lodging
- A copy of Heart Sisters
- A manicure kit
- A summery polish
- A disposable camera (to document your fun)
- A clutch
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
"swept away" by laura v. hilton & cindy loven
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Sara Jane doesn't think she wants love. But her grandmother has other plans.
Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her ailing, stubborn grandmother. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don't always go as planned.
Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but his heart is as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane's grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between Drew and his new employer's granddaughter.
Still, it doesn't take Sara Jane long to see Drew isn't what he seems. Questions arise, and she starts researching him online. What she discovers could change her life—and her heart—forever.
Learn more about this book and the series at the Quilts of Love website.
Swept Away combines romance, faith, and family drama into a compelling novel. It's a quick read that immediately sweeps the reader into Sara Jane's world.
What I appreciated most about this novel was the very clear presentation of the gospel. Sometimes the faith element of a novel seems forced, yet here it was an integral part of the novel and completely fit into the story.
Drew is a fascinating hero who battles both self-esteem issues and his feelings for Sara Jane. I found it refreshing to read about a hero who struggles but remains likable. I also enjoyed Sara Jane, who discovers much about life and love through the course of the novel.
One thing I couldn't get past was Grandma. I understand that she was in the early stages of Alzheimer's and was going through some personality changes, but it sounds like she was never a very nice woman, and it was hard for me to feel sympathetic towards her. She did provide some great comic relief, but overall I didn't like her.
There are also a few things never explained fully (or fully enough for my liking), such as why Drew feels no woman would want him, why Sara Jane feels her parents' death is her fault, and Grandma's spiritual state. I often felt like I was missing something as I read—it was like the authors had created a back story for the characters that wasn't fully explained on paper.
Ultimately, I very much enjoyed Swept Away, but the aspects that bothered me keep me from giving it a hearty recommendation. 3 stars.
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Buy the book.
Read my reviews of other Quilts of Love releases.
Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning author and a professional book reviewer. A stay-at-home mom and home school teacher, Laura lives with her family in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. Cindy Loven is active in the church and writes from her home in Conway, Arkansas, where she lives with her husband and their son.
Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven. November’s QOL release is a spark of romance and fun just in time for the holidays.
Enter to win a Kindle HDX, and RSVP for the “Merry Quilted” Quilts of Love Facebook party on December 9th.
- A Kindle Fire
- Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven
- Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll
- Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey
RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on December 9th!
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."Monday, November 3, 2014
"quilted by christmas" by jodie bailey
A grandmother's last wish is to communicate God's love through an Irish chain quilt.
Taryn McKenna believes she's easy to forget. Abandoned by her parents and left behind when her high school sweetheart joined the army, she vows to never love again and throws herself into her love for the outdoors and the pursuit of a college degree—something no one else in her family has ever accomplished. Her goal, as a young teacher in the hills of North Carolina, is to leave a legacy in the lives of the middle-schoolers she teaches.
When Taryn's grandmother Jemma, the only other person who ever held her close, has a heart attack that reveals a fatal medical condition, Taryn is corralled into helping Grandma work on a final project—an Irish chain quilt that tells the story of her history and the love Jemma knows is out there for Taryn. As the pieces of the quilt come together, Taryn begins to see her value. Can she learn to believe that God will never leave her behind even though others have?
Quilted by Christmas is a sweet, two-fold love story. Not only is there the requisite man-woman romance (after all, this is a romance novel), but there's also the love story between Taryn and the God she thought she drove away. Both love stories are delightful in their own ways. (Sorry, but I can't really say more about that without giving away major spoilers! Trust me when I say that it's well worth it to discover what happens on your own.)
The characters in this novel are particularly endearing. Taryn is a very likeable, relatable heroine, and Jemma is the perfect spunky grandmother. Justin, as Taryn's lost love, makes a great hero—he's good but not too perfect.
The plot has some major twists, but they all make sense within the story. And while the ending is a bit predictable, it's still super sweet. I could very easily see this as one of Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas" movies.
The only thing I didn't love about this book was that it took me a couple chapters to get into it. It was like I couldn't quite get into the rhythm of the writing for a bit. But once I did, I couldn't put the book down. It's a great Christmas love story! 4-1/2 stars.
See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Learn more about the Quilts of Love series.
Read my reviews of the Quilts of Love novels Rival Hearts, A Promise in Pieces, Tempest's Course, A Wild Goose Chase Christmas, and Aloha Rose.
Connect with Jodie: website, Facebook, Twitter
Enter to win a Kindle HDX, and RSVP for the “Merry Quilted” Quilts of Love Facebook party on December 9th.
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- Two copies of Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey (One for you and one to give away as a gift!)
- Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll
- Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven
Wait! There's more! RSVP for the "Merry Quilted" Quilts of Love Christmas Book Chat Party on December 9th and connect with some of the Quilts of Love authors. Jodie Bailey, Laura V. Hilton, Cindy Loven, Cathy Elliott, and Gina Welborn will be hosting a "merry" evening of book chat, Christmas traditions, prizes, and more!
RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on December 9th!
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."
Saturday, August 30, 2014
"home to chicory lane" by deborah raney
Landyn longs for home, but her mother may have other plans.
Audrey Whitman's dreams are coming true. Now that their five kids are grown, she and her husband, Grant, are turning their beloved family home into a cozy bed and breakfast just a mile outside of Langhorne, Missouri.
Opening weekend makes Audrey anxious, with family and friends coming from all over to help celebrate the occasion. But when Audrey's daughter, Landyn, arrives, the U-Haul she's pulling makes it clear she's not just here for a few days. Audrey immediately has questions. What happened in New York that sent Landyn running home? Where was Landyn's husband, Chase? And what else was her daughter not telling her? One thing was for sure, the Chicory Inn was off to a rocky start. Can Audrey still realize her dream and at the same time provide the comfort of home her daughter so desperately needs?
In Home to Chicory Lane, Deborah Raney begins her Chicory Inn novels, which center around Grant & Audrey Whitman and their grown children. While the book sets up what seems to be a promising series, I didn't love it. It's a well-written story, yet the plot and characters never grabbed hold of me. Instead, it was like I was a passive observer who bounced around among the four main characters. Sometimes, multiple points of view work well in a novel, but in this case, I think I would have enjoyed the novel more had it only been from Landyn's and Chase's perspectives.
That said, I did enjoy the story itself, and I am interested in learning what happens to some of the other Whitmans, namely Grant & Audrey's son Link and their daughter-in-law Bree.
If this was the first book by Deborah Raney that I'd read, I'd probably write her off as an author whose writing style doesn't click with me. But I have experienced her books before, and I've been moved by them. So while I can only give Home to Chicory Lane a mild 3-1/2 star recommendation, let me highly recommend the following Raney books/novellas: The Face of the Earth, "A January Bride," Forever After, and After All.
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Buy the book.
Deborah Raney's books have won numerous awards, including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas—the setting of many of Deborah's novels—for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita, where they enjoy gardening, antiquing, movies, and traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away.Find Deborah online: website, Twitter, Facebook
Giveaway Information
The first book in Deborah Raney's new Chicory Inn series, Home to Chicory Lane, introduces us to Audrey Whitman, a mother who has launched all her children into life and now looks forward to fulfilling some of her own dreams during her empty-nest years. However, not all of her children are ready to stay out of the nest quite yet.
Deborah is celebrating the release of her new series with a $200 B&B Weekend Getaway and a Facebook author chat party.
One winner will receive:
- A B&B Weekend Getaway (via a $200 Visa cash card)
- Home to Chicory Lane by Deborah Raney
So grab your copy of Home to Chicory Lane and join Deborah on the evening of September 9th 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 9th!
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."
Monday, June 30, 2014
"rival hearts" by tara randel
Molly Henderson and Ben Weaver have been rival magazine writers for the same publishing group for years. When both come up for the same promotion, they find themselves in an unexpected competition to win the spot. Molly, editor of Quilter's Heart, and Ben, editor of Outdoor Adventures, must switch roles, each working for the other for one month, then submit an article at the end of their quests.
Can girly-girl Molly survive the outdoor adventures that Ben has planned? Can Ben navigate the perils of the social dynamics of quilting events without destroying a valuable quilt in one short month? More importantly, in this he-said, she-said situation, will Molly and Ben give in to their attraction and fall in love, no matter who wins?
My take: Rival Hearts features one of those stories that I could easily see being made into a romantic comedy: co-workers vying for the same promotion are pitted against each other in a competition and soon find themselves incredibly attracted to one another. I don't know that I've seen this exact plot, but I'm sure Hallmark or Hollywood has done something similar. (You've Got Mail, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Hallmark's A Christmas Song aren't quite the same plot, but they do have some similarities.)
Even though the plot is familiar, it works. Well. From start to finish, Rival Hearts is enjoyable. Ben and Molly are both compelling characters with intriguing back stories. Their chemistry is palpable, and the romance is sweet. Also, I never figured out who would actually win the competition, so kudos to the author for keeping it secret yet realistic.
The dialog does come across a bit stilted at times, especially in the beginning. There's one section where the boss is laying out Ben's and Molly's accomplishments, and it seems to be solely for the reader, as Ben and Molly would both be well aware of everything the boss is saying. Also, the "villain" (not too villainous, but the only person who doesn't seem like a wonderful human being) was very clearly telegraphed, so when conflict between Ben and Molly arose, I had no difficulty figuring out who to blame.
Overall, though, Rival Hearts is a very enjoyable read and an excellent entry in the "Quilts of Love" line.
Content note: While this book contains no objectionable content regarding language or sex, I do need to note that the view of salvation in this book does not line up with my own—it's more "if you believe in God, then you're a Christian" than "saved by grace through faith." As this is romantic fiction and not a theology book, and the religious thread is very light, I don't think it's a major deal, but it is worth noting.
My rating: 4 stars
See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Learn more about this book and the series at the Quilts of Love website.
Read my other Quilts of Love reviews: A Promise in Pieces, Aloha Rose, Tempest's Course, and A Wild Goose Chase Christmas.
About the author: Tara Randel is the author of five romance novels including Lasting Love, Melody of Love, and This Time Love. A member of ACFW, Tara is also the lead author of the new Annie's Mysteries series (see AnniesMysteries.com). Tara lives in New Port Richey, Florida.
Connect with Tara at her website and on Facebook.
About the giveaway: Don’t miss this month’s Quilts of Love book, Rival Hearts, by Tara Randel. A quilt becomes a labor of love for a lonely wife mysteriously separated from her young husband.
Celebrate June's release by entering to win a summer camping kit (grill, tent, and camp chairs) from Quilts of Love.
One winner will receive:
About the author: Tara Randel is the author of five romance novels including Lasting Love, Melody of Love, and This Time Love. A member of ACFW, Tara is also the lead author of the new Annie's Mysteries series (see AnniesMysteries.com). Tara lives in New Port Richey, Florida.
Connect with Tara at her website and on Facebook.
About the giveaway: Don’t miss this month’s Quilts of Love book, Rival Hearts, by Tara Randel. A quilt becomes a labor of love for a lonely wife mysteriously separated from her young husband.
Celebrate June's release by entering to win a summer camping kit (grill, tent, and camp chairs) from Quilts of Love.
One winner will receive:
- A Coleman grill, tent, and camp chairs
- A Promise in Pieces by Emily Wierenga
- A Stitch and a Prayer by Eva Gibson
- Rival Hearts by Tara Randel
Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.
About the series: Quilts tell stories of love and loss, hope and faith, tradition and new beginnings. The Quilts of Love series focuses on the women who quilted all of these things into their family histories. A new book releases each month and features contemporary and historical romances as well as women's fiction and the occasional light mystery. You will be drawn into the endearing characters of this series and be touched by their stories.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
"out of the ruins" by karen barnett
While her sister lies on her deathbed, Abby Fischer prays for a miracle. What Abby doesn't expect, however, is for God's answer to come in the form of the handsome Dr. Robert King, whose experimental treatment is risky at best.
As they work together toward a cure, Abby's feelings for Robert become hopelessly entangled. Separated by the tragedy of the mighty San Francisco earthquake, their relationship suddenly takes a back seat to survival. With fires raging throughout the city, Abby fears for her life as she flees alone through burning streets. Where is God now? Will Robert find Abby, even as the world burns around them? Or has their love fallen with the ruins of the city?
My take: Ever since I read Promise Me the Dawn
by Diane Noble (writing as Amanda MacLean) as a young teen, I've been interested in the 1906 San Fransisco earthquake. When I learned that Karen Barnett, whose Mistaken
I enjoyed reading last summer, had written a book about the disaster, I jumped at the chance to read it.Out of the Ruins is not what I expected ... in a good way. I thought most of the book would center around the earthquake, and while a large portion of it does, the first third of the book does a great job of introducing the characters and helping the reader understand exactly why Abby is so angry with God. Barnett also offers a fascinating glimpse into the early use of radiation to treat cancer.
The second part of the book takes place over four days, beginning with the earthquake on April 18, 1906. The action shifts back and forth between Robert and Abby as they each search for loved ones following the quake. I found this section to be the heart of the book, and Barnett did an excellent job of bringing the reader into the chaos following the quake.
I have to say that I wasn't a huge fan of Abby through most of the book—I thought she was a bit flighty at times, and sometimes her reasoning didn't make sense to me. But Barnett has stated that she didn't want to write the typical heroine, and I think she definitely succeeded. Just because Abby wasn't my favorite doesn't diminish the quality of Barnett's writing.
Out of the Ruins is the first in a planned trilogy, and you can bet I'll be coming back to read the rest!
My rating: 4 stars
See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Barnett's Mistaken.
Karen can be found at her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.
About the giveaway: Don't miss the debut book, Out of the Ruins, in Karen Barnett's new series, The Golden Gate Chronicles. Set against the backdrop of early 20th century San Francisco, Out of the Ruins will remind readers that no matter who we are or what we’ve done, God is still as close to us as our next breath.
Karen is celebrating with a fun giveaway and Facebook author chat party.
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire HDX
- Out of the Ruins by Karen Barnett
So grab your copy of Out of the Ruins and join Karen on the evening of June 19th 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 19th!
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."Saturday, May 3, 2014
"a promise in pieces" by emily wierenga
About the series: Quilts tell stories of love and loss, hope and faith, tradition and new beginnings. The Quilts of Love series focuses on the women who quilted all of these things into their family histories. A new book releases each month and features contemporary and historical romances as well as women's fiction and the occasional light mystery. You will be drawn into the endearing characters of this series and be touched by their stories.About the book (from Litfuse): A baby quilt touches many hearts as it travels from family-to-family and through generations.
After the end of World War II, Clara Kirkpatrick returns from the Women's Army Corp to deliver a dying soldier's last wishes: convey his love to his young widow, Mattie, with apologies for the missed life they had planned to share.
Struggling with her own post-war trauma, Clara thinks she's not prepared to handle the grief of this broken family. Yet upon meeting Mattie, and receiving a baby quilt that will never cuddle the soldier's baby, Clara vows to honor the sacrifices that family made.
Now a labor and delivery nurse in her rural hometown, Clara wraps each new babe in the gifted quilt and later stitches the child's name into the cloth. As each new child is welcomed by the quilt, Clara begins to wonder whatever happened to Mattie—and if her own life would ever experience the love of a newborn. Little does she know that she will have the opportunity to re-gift the special quilt—years later and carrying even greater significance than when it was first bestowed.Learn more about this book and the series at the Quilts of Love website.
My take: I've read several of the Quilts of Love books with mixed results. Some I've really enjoyed, and others have been difficult to get through. But A Promise in Pieces? It's in a class of its own.
One thing that makes A Promise in Pieces unique is the way it's told. It begins in the year 2000 as Clara, her husband Oliver, and their children and grandchildren are traveling to New Orleans to deliver a special quilt to a museum. This portion (and all other portions in 2000) is written in third person. Then Clara begins telling her story—and the story of the quilt—to her grandson Noah, and this part is written in first person from Clara's perspective. What's different about this is the reader can actually hear Clara speaking to Noah—it's as though this portion was a transcription of Clara's speech. Wierenga switches seamlessly between Clara's story and the action in 2000 as she unveils Clara's story in pieces.
Ultimately, though, what makes A Promise in Pieces special is the story itself. Clara and Oliver's love story is so sweet and unusual, and the story of the quilt and how it touched so many lives is truly special. And near the end, when Clara faces something she'd dreaded her whole life, well, let's just say I had to stop reading for a bit to regain my composure! The end is not what I expected, but it's very fitting for Clara.
At a mere 193 pages, A Promise in Pieces can be read in an evening, but the story will stick with you much longer than that. It's one of those novels that I would love to see made into a film. (Hallmark???) I highly recommend it!
My rating: 5 stars
See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of other Quilts of Love novels: Aloha Rose, Tempest's Course, and A Wild Goose Chase Christmas.
Learn more about Emily at http://www.emilywierenga.com.
About the giveaway: The latest Quilts of Love release, A Promise in Pieces by Emily Wierenga is receiving glowing reviews.
Emily is celebrating the release of her debut novel with a "Women Helping Women" shopping spree giveaway.
One winner will receive:
- $200 to spend at Emily's favorite shops, Noonday Collection & Vibella (Click through to learn more about how these companies exist to make a difference in the lives of women!)
- A Promise in Pieces by Emily Wierenga
- A Stitch and a Prayer by Eva Gibson
- Rival Hearts by Tara Randel
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