Finding Lady Enderly by Joanna Politano

Finding Lady Enderly is the third book I have read by Joanna Politano and I can see definite growth in her writing abilities.I would class this book as Gothic in style. I am giving this book four stars rather than five because it took me a while to get into the story. For me it was a very slow start. Looking back on the book, I think I had trouble connecting to the characters because I really did not like them in the beginning. However, I am glad I stuck with the book as I did enjoy the plot and the use of literary references. By the end of the book I did honestly care what became of Raina and Sully. So grab a pot of tea and settle in for a good read.

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

From Amazon:

Raina Bretton is a rag woman in London's east end when a handsome stranger appears in a dank alley and offers her a glittering smile and a chance for adventure. Rothburne Abbey has a unique position for her, one that will take her away from her hardscrabble life and give her a chance to be a lady. Things she could only dream of might be coming true. But some dreams turn out to be nightmares.

Though Raina has traded squalor for silk and satin, something about the abbey is deeply unsettling. As she wrestles with her true identity, the ruin, decay, and secrets she finds at the heart of the old mansion tear at her confidence and threaten to reveal her for who she really is. Only one man stands between her and the danger that lurks within--and only if he decides to keep her biggest secret hidden.


About the author:

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Biography

Joanna Davidson Politano freelances for a small nonfiction publisher but spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. Her debut novel, Lady Jayne Disappears, releases October 3 from Revell. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods and shares stories that move her at www.jdpstories.com.

Evermore by Jody Hedlund

Wow! Lost princesses, knights, evil kings what's not to love about Jody Hedlund's Evermore? I loved the action packed story line! Lady Adelaide is a strong woman who can lead her people to freedom, she just needs to decide how to stay out of King Ethelwulf's hands.  With the help of her foster brother Christopher she may survive. I am really enjoying these stories and am anxiously looking forward to reading the next 2 books. So grab your favorite beverage and settle in for a fabulous read!

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



From Amazon:

An ancient key. A secret treasure. And a princess destined to use them both to fight evil and restore peace.

Raised by a noble family, Lady Adelaide has always known she’s an orphan. Little does she realize she’s one of the lost princesses and the true heir to Mercia’s throne…until a visitor arrives at her family estate, reveals her birthright as queen, and thrusts her into a quest for the throne whether she’s ready or not.

Unable to tolerate King Ethelwulf’s cruelty and lawlessness, Christopher Langley left Mercia years earlier, training a group of rebels in neighboring Norland. When he returns home after his mother’s death, he discovers that not only is Adelaide all grown up, but she’s also the rightful queen of Mercia.

When King Ethelwulf discovers Adelaide’s location, he’ll stop at nothing to capture her and the key she holds to the ancient treasure. Christopher is just as determined to protect Adelaide so she can lead the growing rebellion. When feelings ignite between the two old friends, forces threaten to destroy their love and rip them apart forever.

About the author:

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Biography

Jody Hedlund is the author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

YA books by Jody Hedlund:

The Lost Princesses
Prequel Novella: Always
Book 1: Evermore
Book 2: Coming soon
Book 3: Coming soon

The Noble Knights
Prequel Novella: The Vow 
Book 1: An Uncertain Choice
Book 2: A Daring Sacrifice
Book 3: For Love and Honor
Book 4: A Loyal Heart
Book 5: A Worthy Rebel 

Other books by Jody Hedlund:

The Orphan Train Series
Prequel Novella: An Awakened Heart
Book 1: With You Always
Book 2: Together Forever
Book 3: Searching for You

The Beacons of Hope Series
Prequel Novella: Out of the Storm 
Book 1: Love Unexpected
Book 2: Hearts Made Whole
Book 3: Undaunted Hope
Book 4: Forever Safe
Book 5: Never Forget

The Michigan Brides Collection
Unending Devotion 
A Noble Groom 
Captured by Love 

The Hearts of Faith Collection
The Preacher’s Bride 
The Doctor’s Lady
Rebellious Heart 

Historical
Luther and Katharina 
Newton and Polly

A Song Of Joy by Lauraine Snelling

A Song Of Joy is a return to 1911 Blackduck MN. I have greatly enjoyed reading about the Carlson family as I live about a 100 miles north of Blackduck and I often drive through on my way to Bemidji. I love the characters that Ms. Snelling has created. it is fascinating to read of the struggles of the Scandinavians who settled this area.  Nilda Carlson is a strong Norwegian immigrant who is struggling to find her place in a new world. She is fortunate to have a sponsor in Mrs. Schoenleber, who has not only employed her, but has offered friendship as well. I highly recommend Ms. Snelling's Under Northern Skies series along with the Red River Valley series. So grab a cup of Coffee and a few ginger cookies then settle in for a great read!

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

From Amazon:

In Minnesota in 1911, Nilda Carlson is torn between society life in the city of Blackduck and spending time with her family back home on the farm. Her employer, Mrs. Schoenleber, gives her more and more responsibility and experience, including recommending new opportunities for her philanthropy. Still new to America herself, Nilda focuses on the area's immigrant community, but she'll have to fight to get her ideas accepted by the locals and donors alike.

In the meantime, one of her greatest joys is her weekly piano lesson with the handsome schoolteacher, Fritz. But just as Nilda is beginning to realize she has feelings for him, a stylish, affluent young woman moves to Blackduck and monopolizes Fritz's attention. With her humble background, how can Nilda hope to compete with such a sophisticated beauty?

About the author:

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Biography

Award-winning and best selling author Lauraine Snelling began living her dream to be a writer with her first published book for young adult readers, Tragedy on the Toutle, in 1982. She has since continued writing more horse books for young girls, adding historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers to her repertoire. All told, she has over eighty books published with more than 4 million copies in print.


Shown in her contemporary romances and women’s fiction, a hallmark of Lauraine’s style is writing about real issues of forgiveness, loss, domestic violence, and cancer within a compelling story. Her work has been translated into Norwegian, Danish, and German, and she has won the Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Inspirational Fiction, the Silver Angel Award for An Untamed Land and a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart for Song of Laughter. 


As a sought after speaker, Lauraine encourages others to find their gifts and live their lives with humor and joy. Her readers clamor for more books more often, and Lauraine would like to comply ... if only her paintbrushes and easel didn’t call quite so loudly.

Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a watchdog Basset named Winston. They love to travel, most especially in their forty-foot motor coach, which they affectionately deem “a work in progress”

An Unorthodox Match by Naomi Ragen

It has been a while since I have read anything by Naomi Ragen and I had forgotten how strong of a writer she is. I love  her descriptions of life in an Orthodox Jewish home. She shows both the good and the bad of society. She creates strong females who are truly the heart of the home. I loved her descriptions of the food , so much that I can almost smell the scents of the community. She also recreates the sounds and accents of the people. Her writing style reminds me of Chaim Potok but with a focus on the females rather than the men. I enjoyed the plot and the fact that it involved several generations dealing with each other and the changes that inevitably happen. This is a must read book. So grab a pot of tea and a plate of Rugalach and settle in for a great read.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own

From Amazon:

An Unorthodox Match is a powerful and moving novel of faith, love, and acceptance, from author Naomi Ragen, the international bestselling author of The Devil in Jerusalem.

California girl Lola has her life all set up: business degree, handsome fiancé, fast track career, when suddenly, without warning, everything tragically implodes. After years fruitlessly searching for love, marriage, and children, she decides to take the radical step of seeking spirituality and meaning far outside the parameters of modern life in the insular, ultraorthodox enclave of Boro Park, Brooklyn. There, fate brings her to the dysfunctional home of newly-widowed Jacob, a devout Torah scholar, whose life is also in turmoil, and whose small children are aching for the kindness of a womanly touch.

While her mother direly predicts she is ruining her life, enslaving herself to a community that is a misogynistic religious cult, Lola’s heart tells her something far more complicated. But it is the shocking and unexpected messages of her new community itself which will finally force her into a deeper understanding of the real choices she now faces and which will ultimately decide her fate.

About the author:

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Biography

Naomi Ragen is the author of many novels, including several international bestsellers, and her weekly email columns on life in the Middle East are read by thousands of subscribers worldwide. An American, she has lived in Jerusalem for the past forty years and was voted one of the three most popular authors in Israel..

Always by Jody Hedlund

Always is a novella to introduce the back story of Jody Hedlund's Lost Princesses series. I enjoyed this very much. Although written for young adults, I, a 53 year old woman, found it to be quite enjoyable. The plot was well thought out and moved at a decent pace. I liked how the story was told by Lance and Felicia in alternating chapters. I really liked the theme that we all need to depend on God for strength, we cannot make it on our own. I am looking forward to reading Evermore, the first full length novel in the series. So grab a glass of Ice water and settle in for a great read.

I was given a copy of Always by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.



From Amazon:

A fierce elite guard. A loyal lady in waiting. They must work together to save three princesses from certain death.

On the verge of dying after giving birth to twins, the queen of Mercia pleads with Lady Felicia to save her infant daughters. With the castle overrun by King Ethelwulf’s invading army, Lady Felicia vows to do whatever she can to take the newborn princesses and their three-year old sister to safety, even though it means sacrificing everything she holds dear, possibly her own life.

Gravely wounded in battle and knowing all is lost to his enemy, the king of Mercia tasks Lance, one of his fiercest elite guards, to protect his family along with keys to an ancient treasure. As Lance makes plans to sneak the princesses out of the capital city, he doesn’t need or want Lady Felicia’s help.

With the dark enemy in pursuit, Lance and Felicia must put aside their differences to outrun King Ethelwulf and prevent him from killing the princesses. In a desperate attempt to hide the young girls, Lance and Felicia agree to a marriage of convenience, a decision that will change their lives—and hearts—forever.

YA books by Jody Hedlund:

The Lost Princesses
Prequel Novella: Always
Book 1: Evermore
Book 2: Coming soon
Book 3: Coming soon

The Noble Knights
Prequel Novella: The Vow 
Book 1: An Uncertain Choice
Book 2: A Daring Sacrifice
Book 3: For Love and Honor
Book 4: A Loyal Heart
Book 5: A Worthy Rebel 


About the author:

 Following

Biography

Jody Hedlund is the author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

Other books by Jody Hedlund:

The Orphan Train Series
Prequel Novella: An Awakened Heart
Book 1: With You Always
Book 2: Together Forever
Book 3: Searching for You

The Beacons of Hope Series
Prequel Novella: Out of the Storm 
Book 1: Love Unexpected
Book 2: Hearts Made Whole
Book 3: Undaunted Hope
Book 4: Forever Safe
Book 5: Never Forget

The Michigan Brides Collection
Unending Devotion 
A Noble Groom 
Captured by Love 

The Hearts of Faith Collection
The Preacher’s Bride 
The Doctor’s Lady
Rebellious Heart 

Historical
Luther and Katharina 
Newton and Polly

A Desperate Hope by Elizabeth Camden

I really enjoyed the plot of A Desperate Hope. I love the way Ms. Camden creates strong women characters in careers that were unusual for their time period. Louise Drake is one of 6 female CPAs in New York. She epitomizes the tough, cold controlled female until her past and present collide. Alex Duvall a man from her past is now in her present and I love the way he still turns her head. A Desperate Hope is a wonderful story with many layers. I love the way Ms. Camden wove the character's faith into the story. So grab a thermos of coffee and settle in for a fantastic read!

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

From Amazon:

Eloise Drake's prim demeanor hides the turbulent past she's finally put behind her--or so she thinks. A mathematical genius, she's now a successful accountant for the largest engineering project in 1908 New York. But to her dismay, her new position puts her back in the path of the man responsible for her deepest heartbreak.

Alex Duval is the mayor of a town about to be wiped off the map. The state plans to flood the entire valley where his town sits in order to build a new reservoir, and Alex is stunned to discover the woman he once loved on the team charged with the demolition. With his world crumbling around him, Alex devises a risky plan to save his town--but he needs Eloise's help to succeed. 

Alex is determined to win back the woman he thought he'd lost forever, but even their combined ingenuity may not be enough to overcome the odds against them before it's too late.



About the author:

 Following

Biography

Elizabeth Camden is best known for her historical novels set in gilded age America featuring clever heroines and richly layered storylines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic librarian at some of the largest and smallest libraries in America, but her favorite is the continually growing library in her own home. Her novels have won the RITA and Christy Award, and she lives in Florida with her husband who graciously tolerates her intimidating stockpile of books.

Identity Theft by Alana Terry

About the Book

Book: Identity Theft

Author: Alana Terry

Genre: Christian fiction, mystery/suspense

Release date: March 15, 2019

She imagined Alaska would be the perfect place to hide. She found out it’s the most dangerous place to be found …
Lacy has a secret. A secret nobody knows — not even her fiancé.
A secret that would cost her life … and so much more.
So it’s a good thing she’s tucked away in the very heart of rural Alaska, where for once in her life she is finally safe.
But can she stay that way for long?
Suspenseful, thrilling, and impossible to put down, Identity Theft is an unforgettable novel by bestselling Christian author Alana Terry.
Buy your copy today … but be prepared to stay up late!

About the Author

Alana is a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom, self-diagnosed chicken lady, and Christian suspense author. Her novels have won awards from Women of Faith, Book Club Network, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Alana’s passion for social justice, human rights, and religious freedom shines through her writing, and her books are known for raising tough questions without preaching. She and her family live in rural Alaska where the northern lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer make hauling water, surviving the annual mosquito apocalypse, and cleaning goat stalls in negative forty degrees worth every second.

More from Alana

What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when you think about Alaska? Are you a city soul or do you prefer the country? I’m pretty happy in small-town Alaska, but I’m afraid that wasn’t always the case.

Have you ever lived in a town with 400 residents? Even with all the wide-open spaces, it’s enough to make some personalities feel claustrophobic.

I thought of our move to rural living as our big adventure. (Because what’s more adventurous than feeding chickens and milking goats at negative 40 degrees?) Then I read my first draft of Identity Theft and realized the adjustment wasn’t going as smoothly as I hoped. It was more autobiographical than I had realized!

However, I learned to love rural Alaska, and that’s the main reason I wanted to write my Alaskan Refuge Christian Suspense Novel series – so I could share some of my favorite parts with you.

Identity Theft is the first of three stand-alone novels, all filled with adventure, suspense and thrills, and all set against the backdrop of Alaska. I hope as you settle in to read, you will begin to experience a little of what I’ve grown to love living in this spectacular state.

Blog Stops

Genesis 5020, July 25

EmpowerMoms, July 25

Inklings and notions, July 26

Blogging With Carol, July 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 27

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, July 27

Just the Write Escape, July 27

Just Your Average reviews, July 28

Splashes of Joy, July 28

Carla Loves To Read, July 29

Retrospective Spines, July 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 29

All-of-a-kind Mom, July 30

The Becca Files, July 30

Quiet Quilter, July 31

Maureen’s Musings, July 31

Godly Book Reviews, August 1

For Him and My Family, August 1

Texas Book-aholic, August 1

Literary Reflections Book Blog, August 2

Mary Hake, August 2

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 3

CarpeDiem, August 3

Through the Fire Blogs, August 4

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, August 4

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 5

Moments, August 5

Henry Happens, August 6

Livin’ Lit, August 6

janicesbookreviews, August 6

As He Leads is Joy, August 7

A Readers Brian, August 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Alana is giving away a $30 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e546/identity-theft-celebration-tour-giveaway