Giver of Wonders by Roseanna White

 I have come to love Roseanna White's historical novels set in England. Her Ladies of the Manor trilogy are among my all time favorite books. It was interesting to read Giver of Wonders because although it too is a historical novel, the time period is the 3rd century AD. I fell in love with the characters and really enjoyed learning about a real person. Although some artistic license was used, it was clearly stated at the end of the book what was fiction and what was true. I loved learning about the true St. Nicholas, not the commercialized version that we are told. He was a man of G-d, not an elf, and he preferred to give in secret. A truly delightful novel about Christmas.

Cyprus was little more than a child when a fall left her paralyzed...and when the boy known as the wonder-worker healed her. Ever since, she has wondered why the Lord spared her, what he has in store for her. But her pagan father thinks she was spared solely so she could be introduced to the wealthy wonder-worker, Nikolaos.


Nikolaos has never questioned that his call in life is to dedicate himself to the church and to God. Never, that is, until he and his cousin Petros meet the compelling Cyprus Visibullis. For years he struggles with the feelings she inspires...and with the sure knowledge that Petros loves her too.

Petros knows he will never be good enough for Cyprus's father to consider him as a match for his favorite daughter not as long as Nikolaos is there. But when tragedy strikes the Visibullis family, he will do anything to save his beloved. Unfortunately, his beloved is determined to do anything to save her sisters ~ even at the cost of herself.

As the festival of lights bathes their Greek city in beauty, Cyprus, Petros, and Nikolaos celebrate the miracle of their Savior s birth together one last time. And in remembrance of their Lord's greatest gift, one of them will make the ultimate sacrifice for the others...and a centuries-long tradition will be born.

From Amazon:
about Roseanna White:
Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna has a slew of historical novels available, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. She lives with her family in West Virginia. Learn more at[...]

I was given this book by Celebrate Lit group in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

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The Battle Belongs to the Lord

Without Warning by Lynette Eason

         Lynette Eason, one of today's top Romantic Suspense writers, has created a unique group of bodyguards. Elite Guardians Agency is staffed by females and they are quite capable of keeping you safe. They come from various backgrounds and each has a distinct history and can bring different skills to the Agency. I enjoyed the fact that while good at their jobs all of the women show an all too human side. The characters are well developed and the plot is fast moving. This is book two and although I did not read the first book, I had no trouble enjoying this book. It can definitely be read as a stand alone novel.

 From Amazon:
 Katie Singleton, a partner with the Elite Guardians Protection Agency, stumbles upon her next assignment quite by accident. Spotting blue lights at a familiar restaurant, she stops to investigate, only to discover that owner Daniel Matthews has become the target of someone who will go to any lengths to put him out of business.

Daniel might be concerned, but he's not convinced that a bodyguard--and a female one at that--is necessary. A new attack and his niece's urgings are enough to make him reconsider. He and Katie must figure out who's behind the intimidation and threats--before a would-be killer strikes again.

Witty dialogue and a simmering attraction will have readers flying through this tension-laced thriller. Eason exercises complete control of her readers' emotions as they race through the pages to discover the truth.

About the author from Amazon blurb:
Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, and the Hidden Identity series, as well as Always Watching in the Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of an ACFW Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. She has a master's degree in education from Converse College and she lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

I was given this book by NetGalley.com for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

Baxter Family Christmas by Karen Kingsbury

                                                            I enjoyed having this chance to visit with                                                  the Baxter family and their friends. It was fun                                                 to see what their holiday traditions are and to                                                   see that they have moved on to the point that                                                   they can remember the joy that Erin's family                                                     provided. Anyone who has followed the                                                                  Baxters will welcome this visit.

Meet the Author

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Don, and their five sons, three of whom are adopted from Haiti. Their actress daughter, Kelsey, lives nearby and is married to Christian recording artist Kyle Kupecky. The couple recently welcomed their first child, Hudson.

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling n

The Thorn Healer by Pepper Basham

           Bitter and broken Jessica Ross has returned home from the trenches in France. She hopes to settle into a quiet life with her grandparents and hopefully regain peace. But when she gets off the train she discovers that the war has followed her home in the form of a German internment camp.
              The Thorn Healer is book 3 in Pepper Basham's PennedIn Time trilogy and provides a satisfying conclusion to the series. Pepper has a way with romance that will thrill your heart while adding enough spice to her characters to make their lives interesting. She paints beautiful word pictures that bring her stories to life and make one wish to travel just to find places like the small chapel in the Appalachian mountains.  Jess and August are real enough that I could imagine walking down the street to have a chat with them. I have to add one of the nice features of a trilogy is that the characters that I have grown to love in previous books made a guest appearance in this book.


        about   Pepper Basham
Pepper Basham writes Blue Ridge romances sprinkled with grace and humor. She is a regular contributor of Christian Fiction Online Magazine and blogger at The Writer's Alley. A mom of five, speech-language pathologist, crazy-hat wearer, and lover of chocolate, you can find her chatting about life or giving book reviews on her personal blog, Words Seasoned with Salt. Pepper is represented by the fabulous Julie Gwinn from the Seymour Agency
Find Me Online

https://www.facebook.com/pepperdbasham/?fref=ts

I was given this book by the author for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

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The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser

I pretty much devoured this book! The Pattern Artist grabbed me and sucked me in. Annie was such an intriguing character who in the course of this book progresses from sheltered housemaid to an independent woman at the end. I enjoyed her growth and her growing reliance on G-d. As Annie states, she walks through the doors presented to her and the doors to the past close, there is no going back. She makes several friends and an enemy or two along the way. I suggest grabbing a hot cup of tea and settling in for a great read.

From Goodreads:
English housemaid Annie Wood arrives in New York in 1911. On her own for the first time working as a Macy’s sewing department clerk, Annie catches the eye of a salesman at the Butterick Pattern Company. Through determination, hard work, and God’s leading, Annie discovers a hidden gift: she is a talented fashion designer—an artist of the highest degree. As she runs from ghosts of the past and focuses on the future, Annie enters a creative world that takes her to the fashion houses of Paris and into a life of adventure, purpose, and love.


Nancy Moser: from Goodreads



Nancy Moser Goodreads Author
Born in The United States
Websitehttp://www.nancymoser.com
TwitterMoserNancy
GenreHistorical Fiction, Contemporary, Biography
Member SinceDecember 2007
URL https://www.goodreads.com/nancymoser
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Nancy Moser is the award-winning author of twenty-nine inspirational novels that focus on discovering our unique purpose. Her genres include both contemporary and historical stories.

Her latest historical novels are the Downton Abbey-inspired Manor House Series:"Love of the Summerfields", "Bride of the Summerfields", and "Rise of the Summerfields."

Also new is "The Pattern Artist" about Macy's and the Butterick Pattern company.

Her historical bio-novels allow real women-of-history to share their life stories:"Just Jane" (Jane Austen), "Mozart's Sister" (Nannerl Mozart), "Washington's Lady" (Martha Washington) and "How Do I Love Thee?" (Elizabeth Barrett Browning.)

"An Unlikely Suitor" was named to Booklist's Top 100 Romance Novels of the last decade.

Nancy's time-travel novel, "Time Lottery", won a Christy Award, and "Washington's Lady" was a finalist.

Her contemporary books are known for their big-casts and intricate plotting. Some titles are "The Invitation", "John 3: 16", "Weave of the World", "The Sister Circle", "The Seat Beside Me", and "The Good Nearby".

Nancy and her husband live in the Midwest. She's earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She knits voraciously, kills all her houseplants, and can wire an electrical fixture without getting shocked. She is a fan of anything antique--humans included.

Find out more: nancymoser.com.

  I was given this book by the author, All thoughts are my own.