Sunday, March 31, 2019

a Sweet Voice by Margo Hansen

I loved A Sweet Voice. Margo Hansen has again created a fascinating group of characters which she uses to bring the past alive. In A Sweet voice Jake and Keane escape from the ship on which they were shanghaied. They head back to Keane's home in Ulen MN. I really enjoyed the story of redemption that is woven into their lives. This book is definitely going on my keeper shelf! So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for a great read.

From Amazon:

“This should never have happened to me.”

Shanghaied, tortured, and beaten down, Keane Wheatly turns to a fellow prisoner for help. Together Keane and Jake make their escape back to the Wheatly farm in Ulen, Minnesota, as far from an ocean as they can get. But adjusting to everyday life isn’t easy with the memories they both carry. Each day they rely more and more on God’s grace.

As Keane reacquaints himself with the farm, one day he hears a voice singing a hymn—a voice, sweeter than anything he has ever heard before. Each day he searches to learn who the singer is.

Newcomer Mina loves the small town of Ulen and the people she’s met, especially her shy new friend Tuva Thomsen. Although Tuva has known Keane all her life, she has never had the courage to speak to him. Mina’s curiosity about Keane and Jake leads her to believe that one of them is not who he really says he is.

While Keane tries to find the identity of the unknown singer, Mina tries to discover the true identity of the man she has come to love. When trouble hits town, they all learn the magnitude of God’s grace to each of them.

About the author:

MARGO HANSEN, author of A Newly Weds Series and Tall Timber Trilogy, loves writing about the north woods of Minnesota where she lives with her husband Bruce. Her greatest desire is to share the Gospel of God’s Grace with others through her stories.

Friday, March 22, 2019

Castle On The Rise by Kristy Cambron

Castle on The Rise is book two of Kristy Cambron's Lost castle series. This book tells the tale of three women whose lives are linked by their devotion to the Castle. The setting is Ireland and the Book has 3 stories running simultaneously. Maeve lives in 1798 at the beginning of the Irish rebellion. Issy is a photographer during The Easter Rebellion of 1916. Laine lives in contemporary times. She travels to Ireland with a friend.

I loved all the details of Irish life. The descriptions of the countryside and castle, plus the local pub with it's snugs was quite satisfying. After I got used to who belonged to which time period, I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series which will be released later this year.

So brew up a pot of Irish Breakfast tea and settle into your snug for a thoroughly enjoyable read!

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

A storied castle. A band of rebels.

A nation chasing a centuries-old dream of freedom.

And three women who rise above it all . . .

When Laine Forrester travels overseas to attend her best friend’s vineyard wedding, she expects to find the bride on the brink of a fairy-tale life. But after a series of unforeseen setbacks, it seems the storybook lives they’d imagined are suddenly ripping apart.

With hopes of resurrecting a happy ending, Laine agrees to accompany the newlyweds to the groom’s home in Ireland—never expecting she’d be the one drawn in by its wide-open moors, backroads bordering the Irish Sea, and a mysterious castle that dares to keep its secrets hidden.

From the storied streets of Dublin to the shores of the Emerald Isle, Laine is drawn in to the land and its rich history. The castle ruins whisper stories of Issy—a photojournalist battling through the 1916 Easter Rising, and Maeve—the castle’s lady of legend, fighting for survival through the 1798 rebellion that started it all.

Spanning more than two centuries, Castle on the Rise unites the legacy of three women who must risk mending the broken places within for life, love, and the belief that even through the depths of our pain, a masterpiece of a story can emerge.

“Castle on the Rise perfectly showcases rising star Kristy Cambron’s amazing talent! Perfect pacing, lovely prose, and an intricate plot blend together in a delightful novel I couldn’t put down. Highly recommended!” —Colleen Coble, USA TODAY bestselling author of Secrets at Cedar Cabin and the Rock Harbor series

“Cambron’s latest is one of her best. Gripping and epic, this intricately woven tale of three generations seeking truth and justice will stay with you long after the last page.” —Rachel Hauck, New York Times bestselling author

About the author:

Biography

KRISTY CAMBRON is an award-winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling debut The Butterfly and the Violin, and an author of nonfiction, including the Verse Mapping series Bible studies. She's a Women's Ministry Leader at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY, and a passionate storyteller who travels to speak at events across the country, encouraging women to experience a deeper life in the Word through verse mapping. Her work has been named to Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews' Best Books, RT Reviewers' Choice Awards, received 2015 & 2017 INSPY Award nominations, and has been featured at CBN, Lifeway Women, Jesus Calling, Country Woman Magazine, MICI Magazine, Faithwire, (in)Courage, and Bible Gateway.

Kristy holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing, and has 15 years of experience in education and leadership development for a Fortune-100 Corporation, working in partnership with such companies as the Disney Institute, IBM/Kenexa, and Gallup. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, and can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read.

To stay connected, visit: www.kristycambron.com

Blood of Adam by Rachel S. Neal

Blood of Adam is a fascinating story of what life may have been like in the Days of Noah. This book is about the relationship of Japheth and his wife. Ms. Neal has done a wonderful job of creating a story that remains true to the Biblical story but adds rich details as to what might have happened. I look forward to reading the rest of this trilogy. So grab a mug of mint tea and relax with a good story.

From Amazon:

Before the earth splinters into continents, before the first raindrops fall from the sky, only one family is destined for salvation. Denah is not among them by choice. Her husband is a disgrace, her sisters-in-law are cursed, and the family adheres to the rigid demands of an outdated God. Denah simply wants the life she deserves. She will follow her own forbidden path to fulfillment, encountering blackmail, jealousy, and betrayal along the way. What she deserves turns out to be far different than what she imagines, and she must face the tumultuous consequences of her decisions before the past and future of all mankind collide in the shadow of Noah's ark.

About the author:

Biography

Rachel lives under the Big Sky of Montana with her husband Michael, a cat, and as many daylilies as she can find room for in her garden. When her hands aren't typing, they are busy in the yard, her church, or with any sort of I-can-make-it-myself project.

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Tatia's Tattoo by Linda Brendle

Tatia's Tattoo is one of the best books I have read this year. Ms. Brendle handles the horrors of human trafficking with honesty without being too graphic. Because of the subject matter I cannot say i enjoyed Tatia's Tattoo, but I could not put it down, in fact at times I was moved to tears. If I had my way I would have all junior high students read this book to be aware of what dangers are out there. So grab a glass of mango iced tea, a box of tissues and settle in for an impressive read.

From Amazon:

As a successful D.C. lawyer, Tatia’s mission in life was to destroy the sex trafficking trade in small-town America. She knew where to find it. She’d been there. With only apathetic foster parents to protect her, she fell prey to the local pimp. Trapped in the sordid underbelly of a small Texas town, she survived by sheer will. Her friendship with her fellow victim Cindy was the only light of humanity in the darkness until she saw a familiar face. Would Mrs. G, a mama bear of an attorney, still think she had strength and potential? Would Jesse, the young Christian tattoo artist and biker, still look at her with a twinkle in his eyes? Or would they both see only the mark of shame Eric had etched onto her forearm?

About the author:

Biography

After 15 years as a family caregiver, I began writing to encourage, inspire and amuse other caregivers. I love to travel and, since retiring, I have traveled mostly by motorcycle and RV. My husband and I live in a small East Texas town where I garden, write and take an active part in my church.

Monday, March 11, 2019

Taken by Dee Henderson

Wow! Dee Henderson has written a stunning book. Taken is written in the same style of her earlier books, the ones we all fell in love with. It is good to have her writing the unique mix of suspense, romance, and love of G-d all in the same storyline. Everything flows together into a smooth cohesive story.
Matthew Dane and Shannon Bliss are totally real. I was involved with the story and could not wait to see what was coming next. Dee handled the details so well that I found myself caring what happened to the 'bad' guys.I also loved spending time with some old friends from other books. Now that I have made Taken last as long as possible, I need time to process Matthew and Shannon's story.I hope Dee has another book soon.

This is probably the third time I have read this book and I still love it.

So grab a cup of tea and settle in for a great read by a master storyteller.

From Amazon:

An investigator who knows tragic loss firsthand,
and his new client, missing far too long...

Abducted at the age of sixteen and coerced into assisting the Jacoby crime family, Shannon Bliss has finally found a way out. She desperately wants to resume some semblance of normal life, but she also knows she has some unfinished business to attend to. She might have enough evidence to put her captors behind bars for a very long time.

When Shannon contacts private investigator Matthew Dane, a former cop, to help her navigate her reentry into society, he quickly discovers that gaining her freedom doesn't mean her troubles are over. If the Jacoby family learns she is still alive, they'll stop at nothing to silence her.

If justice is to be done, and if Shannon's life is ever to get on track again, Matthew will need to discover exactly what happened to her--even if it means stirring up a hornet's nest of secrets.

About the author:

Biography

Dee Henderson is the author of numerous novels, including Immortality, An Unfinished Death, Taken, Unspoken and the acclaimed O’MALLEY series. Several titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestseller list; Full Disclosure has also appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list. Her books have won or been nominated for several industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award and the ECPA Gold Medallion. Visit her at www.deehenderson.com.

Sunday, March 10, 2019

The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel

I wasn't sure about this book for the first few chapters, but I kept reading and was drawn into a story I couldn't put down! This was my first book by Lindsay Harrel and i am looking forward to reading more books by her. The Secrets of Paper and Ink follows the story of two women in contemporary times and another in Victorian England. All three women are dealing with some difficult life events. I loved the way Ms. Harrel ties together the two timelines. She throws in a few plot twists to keep her readers guessing. She creates handsome gentlemen for her ladies. So grab a pot of tea (sorry Sophia) and enjoy a great read!
I was given a copy of this book by Celebrate Lit with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

About the Book

Title: The Secrets of Paper and Ink

Author: Lindsay Harrel

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Release date: February 26, 2019

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Lindsay Harrel presents a powerful story of healing, forgiveness, and finding the courage to write your own story.

A year after the death of her abusive fiancé, domestic violence counselor Sophia Barrett finds returning to work too painful. She escapes to Cornwall, England—a place she’s learned to love through the words of her favorite author—and finds a place to stay with the requirement that she help out in the bookstore underneath the room she’s renting. Given her love of all things literary, it seems like the perfect place to find peace.

Ginny Rose is an American living in Cornwall, sure that if she saves the bookstore she co-owns with her husband then she can save her marriage as well. Fighting to keep the first place she feels like she belongs, she brainstorms with her brother-in-law, William, and Sophia to try to keep the charming bookstore afloat.

More than 150 years before, governess Emily Fairfax knew two things for certain: she wanted to be a published author, and she was in love with her childhood best friend. But he was a wealthy heir and well out of her league. Sophia discovers Emily’s journals, and she and William embark on a mission to find out more about this mysterious and determined woman, all the while getting closer to each other as they get closer to the truth.

The lives of the three women intertwine as each learns the power she has over the story of her life.

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Lindsay Harrel is a lifelong book nerd who lives in Arizona with her young family and two golden retrievers in serious need of training. She’s held a variety of writing and editing jobs over the years and now juggles stay-at-home mommyhood with writing novels. When she’s not writing or chasing after her children, Lindsay enjoys making a fool of herself at Zumba, curling up with anything by Jane Austen, and savoring sour candy one piece at a time. Connect with her at LindsayHarrel.com.

Guest Post from Lindsay

With every book I write, it seems God has something new to teach me. That certainly was true of The Secrets of Paper and Ink.

Lately, I am learning more and more about the power of our words. I’ve become more conscious of the words I speak over myself as well as what I say to other people. It’s more than “positive thinking”—the words we say ultimately contribute to the stories we weave, and I want my story to be as positive and hope-filled as possible, regardless of my circumstances.

I’ve also become much more aware of the lies that I tell myself—“you are not worthy, you are not enough, you will never achieve what you want to achieve”—and the need to replace those lies with the truths that God says about me. I have listened to Lauren Daigle’s song You Say on repeat lately, and it has become a theme not just of The Secrets of Paper and Ink, but one in the story of my very life.

So while I may not have experienced everything my characters have—I’ve never suffered emotional abuse, or been ostracized by my family, or been orphaned and alone in a world that seems against me at every turn—I have learned alongside them. I set out to write a book that would draw readers closer to the true healer and hope giver, and I ended up being drawn closer myself.

And that, to me, is the true power of story.