Review: "My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel's Dream" by Pepper Basham

I have really enjoyed several of Pepper Basham's contemporary romances, and I've heard good things about her historicals, but I hadn't read any until I received My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge as part of a blind tour with JustRead Tours. This made for a perfect "blind date with a book"!

Review: "Shadow among Sheaves" by Naomi Stephens

I am all about retellings of famous stories—Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Bible. So when I heard that Shadow among Sheaves was based on Boaz & Ruth in the Bible, I knew I wanted to read it.

Review: "Ladies of Intrigue" by Michelle Griep

Michelle Griep has become one of my go-to authors of historical fiction, so it's pretty much an automatic "yes, please!" whenever I have a chance to review one of her books. So I'll admit that I signed up for this tour without realizing that Ladies of Intrigue is actually a book of three novellas. But that was fine by me—I love a good novella now and again!

Review: "The Captured Bride" by Michelle Griep

I'm a bit late to the Michelle Griep party—I didn't discover her books until last year—but once I read The Captive Heart, there was no turning back.

"Colors of Christmas" by Olivia Newport

If the Hallmark Channel can show Christmas movies in October, then I can read Christmas stories in October, right?

Olivia Newport's Colors of Christmas novella collection features two sweet Christmas stories—and they're low on romance, so if that's not your thing, you can still enjoy them!

"raptor 6" by ronie kendig

About the book: His mission.

His team.

Captain Dean Watters keeps these parts of his life in laser-like focus. So when hackers threaten both his mission and his team, Dean's Special Forces training kicks into high gear. Ten military super-secure computers are missing-which if opened, would give America's enemies a blueprint of US military intelligence. Failing to stop the hackers isn't an option.

Zahrah Zarrick is a missionary teacher to Afghan children in Mazar-e Sharif. She's also a target. Her expertise in quantum cryptology makes her an unwitting pawn in the hackers' deadly game. They're coming for her, and Dean and his team must stop them.

Before the team can get to Zahrah, she disappears. Now Dean must race to rescue her and stop the hackers from unleashing terror on millions across the globe. But to do so, Dean will be forced to crack open the steel box around his heart-a move that might come at the highest cost.

My take: Ronie Kendig is known for "Rapid-Fire Fiction," so when I picked up Raptor 6, the first of her novels I've read, I expected to immediately be swept into an action-packed thrill ride. That's not quite what happened. The novel does start out with a bang as Dean "Raptor 6" Watters is dumped at a military base in Afghanistan following time in captivity. But then the action jumps back six months, and things progress rather slowly as Kendig introduces characters and sets things up. During this section, the glossary of terms and the character lists were invaluable. I found myself constantly flipping to them as I tried to grasp who everyone was and what exactly was happening.

But once the plot really began rolling—probably about 60 pages in—it fired on all cylinders. Suddenly, things moved so quickly that I struggled to keep up! (And I did still need to consult that glossary every so often.) But even though the plot moved at break-neck speed, I still felt like I got to know the characters. Dean is a great hero—a strong leader who keeps his emotions at arms length until he meets Zahrah. Zahrah is very intriguing, and I feel like we only scratched the surface with her, so I hope she shows up in future novels! Also, I did not expect to tear up while reading Raptor 6, but I did—there is an incredibly touching thread involving one of the members of Dean's team that tugged at my heart.

As I reached the last few pages of the novel, it became clear that everything wasn't going to neatly wrap up. It doesn't exactly end on a cliffhanger, but there are enough threads left open that I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

My rating: 4 stars

See what others are saying and enter the giveaway.
Buy the book.

About the author: Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. After twenty-plus years of marriage, she and her hunky hero husband have a full life with four children and a Maltese Menace in northern Virginia. Author and speaker, Ronie loves engaging readers through her Rapid-Fire Fiction.

Ronie can be found at www.roniekendig.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

About the giveaway: Don't miss the first book, Raptor 6, in Ronie Kendig's new Quiet Professionals series. Ronie combines a dangerous romance and explosive action for a thrilling and satisfying ride. "Lock and load for this Spec Op, fighting under God’s 'rules of engagement.'" —Bob Hamer, veteran FBI undercover agent and award-winning author

Ronie is celebrating with a Kindle HDX Giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Raptor 6 by Ronie Kendig

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 15th. Winner will be announced June 16th on Ronie's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Ronie's blog on June 16th to see if you won.

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."

"fear, faith, and a fistful of chocolate" by debora coty

About the book (from the back cover): Are you ready to strip fear's power over you and become the confident woman you were meant to be? Maybe it's time for a healthy dose of truth gift-wrapped in humor.

With her own brand of off-beat wit and near-wisdom, inspirational humorist Debora Coty addresses heart needs of women worn down by everyday fears—financial, health, relationships, loss, pain, the unknown, the what ifs—both real and imagined.

With fresh spiritual insight, Debora shares hope, true life stories, scriptural lifelines, and a few LOL's along with simple, practical tips for sidestepping fear with faith. And a fistful of chocolate!

My take: What are you afraid of? For me, the answer is simple, though it varies based on what I'm currently experiencing: dying alone (when I'm sick), being raped and/or killed by someone who breaks into my house (when I'm living alone—for some reason, having a roommate completely erases this fear), getting cancer (when I find an odd lump or stare too long at that mole I've had my whole life), a close family member dying (when someone's late or unreachable by phone when they shouldn't be).

You know what all of these fears have in common? I cannot control whether or not they come true. What I can control is how I deal with these fears, and the best aid for dealing with my fears is the Word of God. That's the big takeaway I got from Debora Coty's Fear, Faith, and a Fistful of Chocolate.

You could read the book through from start to finish, but you'll probably want to go straight for the chapters that deal with your personal struggles—that's what I did! Each chapter deals with a different fear or a way to combat fear. Even though not every chapter directly applied to me, I still enjoyed reading the whole book (after I checked out those sickness and death chapters!)—and oftentimes, I found myself laughing aloud at one of Debora's illustrations.

Near the end of the book, she said something that will stick with me for a long time: "Face it, sister, you have no control over what creaks in the night, ... the longevity of your internal organs, ... when your loved ones will be called to eternity, or a thousand other possibilities you can invent. You can't control what God does or doesn't do. Because He is God. He's the one in control. He always has been and always will be."

She often says that fear is our way of trying to control a situation over which we have no control. (Yes, there are other fears, as well, but this is the type of fear I always seem to have!) That makes so much sense to me. I know that I want to stop being afraid—I don't want my fears to control me; I want to live my life to the fullest while resting in the knowledge that God has everything under control!

I am very glad I had the opportunity to read this book (it came at the perfect time!), and I highly recommend it for anyone who struggles with fear (and who doesn't?). I'm sure I'll be pulling it out again and again when fear strikes. 5 out of 5 stars.

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.

About the author: Debora Coty is an occupational therapist, a piano teacher, and a freelance writer. She's also involved in the children's ministry at her church and is an avid tennis player. Debora began writing to fill the void when her last child left for college, and it has since become a passion. Debora has a real knack for getting across sound biblical concepts with a refreshing lightheartedness as attested in her monthly newspaper column entitled "Grace Notes: God's Grace for Everyday Living."

About the giveaway:
Celebrate the release of Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate with Debora Coty by entering her Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVPing to the March 7th Author Chat Party on Facebook!

One "sweet" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A Debora Coty Library (Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate, More Beauty, Less Beast, Too Blessed To Be Stressed, and Everyday Hope)
• Chocolate (Every good thing begins with chocolate!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/6/13. Winner will be announced at Debora's "Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate" Facebook Party on 3/7. Debora will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Debora via Skype.)

So grab your copy of Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate and join Debora and friends on the evening of March 7th for an evening of fun. (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 7th!

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."

"stand-in groom" by kaye dacus

About the book: Business couldn't be better for thirty-something wedding planner Anne when she lands a client with an unlimited budget. The problem? The groom is George, a man she finds herself incredibly attracted to. However, things are not as they seem, and Anne may yet have a chance at love. But will the hurts of her past keep her from embracing the future?

My take: I first heard of author Kaye Dacus about 18 months ago. At the time, I was attracted to her writing because she featured women like me—women who had reached the age of 30 unmarried and who often had never even had a significant romantic relationship. The first Dacus book I read was The Art of Romance. I devoured it ... and promptly purchased all of Dacus's other contemporaries. (She has a historical series, too, but I prefer reading contemporary novels.) Then I got bogged down with all of my review books, but I'm finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm beginning to read some of the books that have sat on my "to be read" shelf for over a year.

Stand-In Groom is Dacus's debut novel, and reading it showed me just how far she has come as a writer in the years since it was published. That's not to say that Stand-In Groom is bad; it just isn't written as well as her more recent books are. There are a few plot threads left hanging, and while they may be resolved in the following books, the way the characters ended their discussion about the topic made it seem pretty final. And the bad guy's transformation to a sympathetic character didn't ring true.

That said, I did enjoy the plot quite a bit. Dacus took the concept in a different direction than I expected, resolving the conflict between Anne and George much earlier than I anticipated, and then she brought in a whole new conflict to occupy the second half of the book. I enjoyed the twists the plot took, and I'm looking forward to reading books two and three in the series, as they feature some of my favorite supporting characters from Stand-In Groom. 3 stars.

Read my review of Dacus's The Art of Romance.
Buy the book.

About the author: Kaye Dacus is an author and editor who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. Pursuing her passion for writing, she earned a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She is a former Vice President and long-time member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and is also a founding member of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and writes contemporary and historical romances. To find out more about Kaye and her books, please visit her online at kayedacus.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased this book myself and reviewed it of my own accord. I was not compensated in any way. 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.”

"by the light of the silvery moon" by tricia goyer

About the book: Passage on the Titanic offers Amelia Gladstone a chance for a new life in America. Mr. Chapman, a man she has been corresponding with, paid for her ticket, and Amelia hopes that when they finally meet, he will be everything she has been looking for in a man.

Amelia didn't count on meeting Quentin Walpole, though. Quentin, a man who fell from grace to live on the streets, is stunned when Amelia offers him a ticket. He finds himself drawn to her, yet he knows he is unworthy of her love.

When Amelia discovers Quentin's father and brother also sail the Titanic, she wonders if perhaps God led her to Quentin in order to reunite him with his family. Things become complicated, however, when both brothers pursue her. Should she give her heart to one of them, or should she begin a relationship with Mr. Chapman?

My take: By the Light of the Silvery Moon is basically the parable of the prodigal son, set on the Titanic. And that's a good thing! In the past, I have always sympathized with the older brother—because, let's face it, I do have "older brother" tendencies—but when viewed through Tricia Goyer's eyes, I could understand the younger brother much better.

I loved this story. Once I picked up the book, I could barely put it down. The characters jumped off the pages, and the Titanic itself came to life in my mind's eye. So far this year, I've read a lot of books that I've greatly enjoyed, but this has to be one of my favorites. 5 out of 5 stars!

You can buy the book here or see what others are saying about it here.

Video Trailer:



About the author: Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of thirty-two books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas, where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

More info: Living Inspired (http://toginet.com/shows/livinginspired) and www.triciagoyer.com.

About the giveaway: Win an Flip HD Camcorder during @TriciaGoyer's Unsinkable Titanic Giveaway and RSVP for 4/10 Titanic Party!
 
Celebrate the release of By the Light of the Silvery Moon with Tricia by entering her giveaway and RSVPing to her Titanic party.

One "unsinkable" winner will receive:

• Flip HD video Camera (Make your own dramatic saga!)
• Titanic movies from the ages {Titanic (1953) Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), Titanic (1997)}
• Secrets of the Titanic (Get the facts from National Geographic.)
• And the Band Played On (Music Played on the Titanic.)
• By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer (Be swept away in this tale of love and courage.)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 9th. Winner will be announced at "Silvery Moon" Titanic Facebook Party on 4/10. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club). During the live chat Tricia will have a *special guest* join her. More details coming soon!

So grab your copy of By the Light of the Silvery Moon and join Tricia on the evening of the April 10th for a fun chat, trivia contest (How much do you know about the Titanic?) and lots of giveaways. 

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 10th!

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. 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 art of romance" by kaye dacus

A couple weeks ago, Peter at christian-fantasy.com wrote about meeting Christian romance writer Kaye Dacus. I'd never heard of her before, so I clicked on over to her website, where I found this quote:

My heart is, as it has been for more than twenty years, focused on writing light-hearted romances. But not just any romances. I like writing characters who represent a growing segment of the population that seems to be increasingly left out in Christian circles: women in their late-twenties, thirties, and early-forties (and even older) who have never been married and who want to be loved and accepted for who they are, not pigeon-holed into a category, labeled, or, as happens most often, shoved to the side and ignored/forgotten about by their churches, coworkers, or even friends and family. I’m writing to the women who, like me, expected to be married before they turned twenty-five (-six, -seven, -eight . . .), but who may find themselves now in their mid- to late-thirties or forties and have never even had a date or meaningful relationship.

As soon as I read that, I knew I needed to give her books a chance. The older I get, the less inclined I am to read romances that feature girls in their late teens to early twenties. That's just not where I am anymore, and I want to read about women who may be a little like me--because, strange though it may sound given this is fiction, their love stories give me hope that my own will come someday.

Quite by accident, I found Dacus's The Art of Romance available for review on NetGalley. Without hesitation, I sent a review request. Four days later, I've read the entire book ... and this is while I've been moving!

Caylor is an English professor who helps care for her grandmother while writing Christian romance novels on the side. Dylan moves in with his grandparents after a scandal involving the chair of his department causes him to lose his position as an instructor at a prestigious art school. As both are single, their grandmothers scheme to get them together, but each is harboring a secret that could drive the other away. (And that's all you're gonna get from me--if you want to know about their secrets, you'll just have to get the book for yourself!)

I really enjoyed The Art of Romance! While it was in some ways your predictable boy-meets-girl romance, the plot took several twists and turns I wasn't expecting. I also appreciated that both main characters had a past. Dylan especially had a lot of issues to work through, and he really grew as a character throughout the book. No, this book won't change the world, but it certainly was a lot of fun to read--and isn't that what we want during the summer? I will definitely be checking out more books by Kaye Dacus!

This is the second book in The Matchmakers series (though it functions as a stand alone title, as well): The Art of Romance and Love Remains (book one) are available now, and Turnabout's Fair Play will release in November.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a galley of this book free for review from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."