Archive | June, 2015

Review: Laugh-Out-Loud Pocket Doodles for Boys

30 Jun

Laugh Out Loud cover

Laugh-Out-Loud Pocket Doodles for Boys by Rob Elliot

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

My thoughts:

Laugh-Out-Loud Pocket Doodles for Boys is sure to elicit smiles and laughs from the boys in your life!  Packed with jokes, riddles, and ready-to-finish doodles, this little book is full of fun.  As soon as I gave it to my oldest son, he began to read it out loud and the whole family shared in the laughs.  Here are his thoughts… 
 

Laugh out Loud“I thought this was a really good book!  The jokes were funny and the doodles were lots of fun, too.  Laugh-Out-Loud Pocket Doodles for Boys was quite entertaining!  Thank you for sending my mom this book for me to enjoy and review.”

 

We received a complimentary copy of Laugh-Out-Loud Pocket Doodles for Boys from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. 

 

 About the book:
Rob Elliott’s Laugh-Out-Loud joke books have brought laughter to more than half a million households. His last book invited kids into the action as he teamed up with cartoonist Jonny Hawkins to create “Laugh-Out-Loud Doodles for Kids.” Now the dynamic duo is back with two brand-new books for boys and girls who love to draw and love to laugh! Packed with jokes that will keep boys and girls giggling for hours, and unfinished doodles for them to complete any way they want, these books keep little hands and minds busy. Perfect for road trips, lazy summer days, or anytime the kids say, “I’m bored!”

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Review: Summer’s List

29 Jun

Summer's List

Summer’s List by Anita Higman

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1GKqprL

A dying wish alters the course of a young woman’s life.

Life hadn’t been easy for Summer Snow. In acts of selflessness-caring for her ailing parents and running her grandmother’s bookstore-she had forfeited her youth and dreams for the needs of others. And the only tries she had at love… didn’t turn out. She had the bookstore, she had her beloved granny, but she was missing something-or someone. 

Opportunity strikes when Granny sends Summer on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree, a kind but gangly young man from Summer’s past. A childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way?

My thoughts:

Summer’s List is a contemporary romance with a Gothic flair.  Quirky characters, humor, heartbreak, drama, dysfunction, and mystery intertwine to create a unique tale.  Summer Snow is a young woman who has experienced loss in life and in love.  When her grandmother sets an adventure in motion, Summer’s life changes in ways she never expected. 

Summer’s List is filled with unexpected surprises and evoked mixed emotions!  I really enjoyed the heartwarming moments of this story.  Granny Snow was my favorite character and I loved her sage advice and words of wisdom.  The relationship she shared with Summer was special, as was the list of tasks she left behind.  I also enjoyed the rekindled relationship between Summer and childhood friend Martin Langtree.  The Gothic threads that run through this story were not as enjoyable for me, but I have no doubt they will delight many readers. 

If you’re looking for an imaginative tale that blends poignancy with peculiarity, Summer’s List is the perfect choice! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  I appreciate the opportunity to read this story and share my honest opinion.

Landing page:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/ahigman

 

Anita Higman

Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

 

Find Anita online: website, Twitter, Facebook

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Review + GIVEAWAY: The Lumberjacks’ Ball

26 Jun

Lumberjacks_ Ball cover

The Lumberjacks’ Ball by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/1LvRx0G

A decade after surviving a brutal attack, a mercantile owner’s daughter begins her life anew in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A gifted craftsman wishes to leave the lumber camp and seeks employment at her new store. When his presence dredges up memories she wishes to suppress, the proprietress must learn to face her past and open her heart. When complications arise, will they overcome adversity in time for The Lumberjack’s Ball?

My thoughts:

The Lumberjacks’ Ball is a wonderful short novel! Carrie Fancett Pagels is a terrific wordsmith, evoking imagery and emotion from the first words until the last. She skillfully brings her beautiful setting, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, to life, as well as her endearing characters. Brimming with drama, intrigue, and romance, Rebecca and Garrett’s story is captivating!

The Lumberjacks’ Ball is the second book in The Christy Lumber Camp Series, following The Fruitcake Challenge. I loved both of these stories and look forward to more!

 

Giveaway- CFPagelsThank you so much, Carrie, for offering this generous giveaway!  To enter, please leave a comment, along with your email address. This giveaway ends Friday, July 3 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.

To earn additional entries, you may do the following:

◦Follow my blog, Buzzing About Books
◦Share this giveaway through Facebook, Twitter, your blog, or email

Be sure and leave a comment letting me know what you have done to earn additional entries.

 

Carrie brick headshot pmConnect with Carrie:

Carrie Fancett Pagels Ph.D. is an award-winning, best-selling, and multi-published Christian historical romance author. Carrie was a psychologist for twenty-five years. Married for twenty-seven years with two children. Carrie resides in Virginia’s Historic Triangle and enjoys reading, traveling and researching. She’s a finalist for the 2014 Maggie Awards for Excellence.

Website | Blog- Overcoming with God | Blog- Colonial Quills | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | LinkedIn

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Review: Love’s Rescue

25 Jun

Love's Rescue

Love’s Rescue by Christine Johnson

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

When her mother dies, Elizabeth Benjamin heads home to Key West, determined to transform herself into the perfect Southern belle her parents always wished her to be. But nothing goes according to plan. Her crippled brother resents her, the servants do not obey her, and Rourke O’Malley, the dashing man she vowed to forget, refuses to relinquish his hold on her heart. Worst of all, it becomes painfully obvious that her father is not the upright man he appears to be.

As family secrets come to light, Elizabeth is faced with a difficult choice: to do her duty and abandon her dreams, or to leave her life of privilege behind to chase the man her father sees as little better than a pirate.

From the first emotional page, author Christine Johnson throws readers into a world of impossible choices, hidden desires, and heart-melting romance in the steamy south. Readers will cheer for Elizabeth and Rourke as they battle the odds and the elements to secure their future.

My thoughts:

Love’s Rescue is a captivating story of adventure and romance! Christine Johnson’s writing is beautiful and she deftly swept me away to historical Key West. The island setting comes to life on the pages, as do the characters and their story.

Elizabeth Benjamin and Rourke O’Malley are wonderful characters and their dramatic story beguiled me with its intrigue, emotion, and romance. I loved Love’s Rescue and look forward to continuing this compelling series!

I received a complimentary copy of Love’s Rescue from the author. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and share my honest opinion.

 

Christine Johnson

A small-town Michigan girl, Christine Johnson has lived in every corner of the state’s Lower Peninsula. After trying her hand at music and art, she returned to her first love–story. She holds degrees in English and library studies and works part-time as a librarian. She feels blessed to write for Love Inspired and doubly blessed that two of her manuscripts were finalists for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® award.

When not at the computer keyboard, she loves to hike, kayak, and explore God’s majestic creation. She and her husband split their time between northern Michigan and the Florida Keys.

Christine enjoys hearing from readers through her web site at http://www.christineelizabethjohnson.com.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Review: A Heart’s Betrayal | Melt Into Summer Giveaway

24 Jun

A Heart's Betrayal

A Heart’s Betrayal by Colleen Coble

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1B65ZsM

Emmie finds shelter in the arms of a soldier, but her secret could drive them apart.

When Emmie Croftner answered the door to her late husband’s home, she discovered an awful truth: her deceased husband was a bigamist. And what’s more, the home she thought she inherited never belonged to her at all.

Suddenly displaced, powerless, and ashamed, Emmie can’t stay in Wabash, Indiana. She makes a hopeful start for Fort Laramie, Wyoming, to find her friend Sarah Montgomery and a new beginning. But when she arrives, she discovers she’s pregnant—and without a husband. The new start she’d hoped for slips from her fingers.

But then she meets Isaac Liddle, a handsome soldier with a kind heart. When he begins to court her, Emmie wonders whether she could ever really be his—and whether she dares to tell him she is carrying another man’s baby.

My thoughts:

A Heart’s Betrayal is another great story in the Journey of the Heart serialization!  As the end of this journey draws closer and closer, the more anxious I become to find out what will happen next.  Each short story has left me eager for the next, and A Heart’s Betrayal is no exception. 

In this fourth installment of the serialization, readers are introduced to Emmie Croftner, Ben Croftner’s sister.   When Emmie’s world is turned upside down, she seeks a fresh start in Wyoming with childhood friend Sarah Montgomery.  While this story is not as action-packed as those that have preceded it, I thought the slower pace was well-suited to the dramatic story line.  I enjoyed meeting Emmie, as well as catching up with Rand and Sarah and Jacob and Amelia, and I can’t wait to continue their stories.   

The Journey of the Heart serialization begins with A Heart’s Disguise and includes six installments that will release monthly from March through August. These stories were originally published in two books, Where Leads the Heart and Plains of Promise.

A complimentary copy of A Heart’s Betrayal was provided to me through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and offer my honest opinion.

Landing page:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/ccoble

 

Melt into summer with a new giveaway from Colleen: four books (books one–four in Colleen’s A Journey of the Heart series) and a box of chocolates to pair with your new books!

heartsbetrayal-400
One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A copy of A Heart’s Betrayal
  • A box of Colleen’s favorite chocolate truffles from DeBrand Fine Chocolates
  • A copy of A Heart’s Disguise
  • A copy of A Heart’s Obsession
  • A copy of A Heart’s Danger

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 30th. Winner will be announced July 1st on Colleen’s website.

heartsbetrayal-enterbanner

 

Colleen Coble

Colleen Coble has sold over 2 million novels worldwide. Seagrass Pier, the third installment in her acclaimed Hope Beach series, marks a new highpoint for emotion and complexity in Coble’s addictive brand of romantic suspense.

Find Colleen online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Review: Two Roads Home | 5 Book Giveaway

23 Jun

Two Roads Home

Two Roads Home by Deborah Raney

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1BdaEcG

What if it’s too late for dreams to come true?

Minor—but-nagging setbacks continue to sour Grant and Audrey Whitman’s initiation into the world of innkeeping, but larger challenges brew when an innocent flirtation leads to big trouble for the Whitmans’ son-in-law, Jesse. Jesse Pennington’s friendly, outgoing personality has always served him well, especially in a career that has earned him and his wife Corinne a very comfortable lifestyle. But Corinne and Jesse are both restless—and for similar reasons, if only they could share those with each other. Instead, too many business trips and trumped-up charges of harassment from a disgruntled coworker threaten their marriage and possibly put their three precious daughters at risk.

With their life in disarray, God is tugging at their hearts to pursue other dreams. Can Corinne and Jesse pick up the pieces of what was once a wonderful life before it all crumbles beneath them?

 

Thoughts:

Two Roads Home is an engaging story!  With great characterization, vivid imagery, and a realistic story line, Deborah Raney brings Jesse and Corinne Pennington’s story to life.  Real-life issues and experiences are shared, and spiritual elements are beautifully woven through this narrative.  I really enjoy family dramas and this one has me rooting for the Whitman family and eager for more!   

One of my favorite things about a book series is the feeling of really knowing the characters and becoming invested in their stories.  I have not read Book 1, Home to Chicory Lane, so I was a bit concerned about starting this series with the second book.  However, I had no problem following the story line or understanding the family dynamics.  I look forward to reading Book 1, as well as the forthcoming novels in the Chicory Inn series. 

I received a complimentary copy of Two Roads Home through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.  I appreciate the opportunity to read this story and share my honest opinion. 

Landing page:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/draney

 

Click the image below to enter to win a copy of Two Roads Home — 5 winners will be chosen!

Two Roads Home Deborah Raney

 

D. Raney

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

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Review: Backfire

22 Jun

Backfire

Backfire by Elizabeth Goddard

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Just as the tagline promises, love and danger collide in Elizabeth Goddard’s latest Mountain Cove release. While fans of the series will enjoy David Warren’s story, each of the Mountain Cove books can be enjoyed independently.

Backfire is an exciting story! Tracy Murray and David Warren are vulnerable characters who have been deeply affected by traumatic events. Both are struggling to overcome their pasts and must rely on each other to secure their future. I enjoyed these characters, as well as another special character, Solomon. I thought this search and rescue dog was a great addition to the story line. Dramatic and intriguing, I enjoyed this Alaskan adventure!

A complimentary copy of Backfire was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate the opportunity to read this story and offer my honest opinion.

About the book:

Tracy Murray had thought she’d be safe disappearing in the wilds of Alaska after her testimony put away a gang leader. But the gang symbol tattooed on an attacker’s arm means the clock has run out. She’s been found—and she knows the killers won’t let her escape alive again. She can’t fight an entire gang alone—she needs help. But when she finds herself relying on widowed firefighter David Warren, a new struggle emerges. Fleeing Alaska and cutting all ties could be the only way to survive…but it would mean leaving her heart behind.

Mountain Cove: In the Alaskan wilderness, love and danger collide

 

highresgoddard-HR-2-2-e1382722351811

Elizabeth Goddard is an award-winning author of eighteen romance and romantic suspense novels, including the romantic mystery, The Camera Never Lies—winner of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011. After acquiring her computer science degree, she worked at a software firm before eventually retiring to raise her four children and become a professional writer. A member of several writing organizations, she judges numerous contests and mentors new writers. In addition to writing, she home schools her children and serves with her husband in ministry.

To learn more about Elizabeth and her books, visit her website at http://elizabethgoddard.com. 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Review: Desperate Measures

20 Jun

Desperate Measures

Desperate Measures by Sandra Orchard

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Researcher Kate Adams has finally pinpointed the medicinal plant responsible for tearing her family apart. She’s certain that discovering its secrets is her only hope of solving the mystery surrounding the disappearance of her father. Kate will risk anything to find the truth–even her budding relationship with Detective Tom Parker. But more people than she can fathom are after the plants and going it alone just might prove to be a fatal mistake.

 

Thoughts:

Desperate Measures is an exciting conclusion to an exciting series!  This is the third and final book in the Port Aster Secrets series, and I definitely recommend reading the first two books, Deadly Devotion and Blind Trust, prior to reading this one.  The drama, intrigue, and romance are ongoing through this series and continue to build with each novel. 

While lingering questions were answered, Desperate Measures continued to surprise me with its twists and turns.  I have really enjoyed the characters in this series, as well as the unique plots.  The research and use of plants and herbal medicine was very interesting!  Sandra Orchard writes with depth and detail, and I appreciate her complex story lines that keep me turning the pages.  I enjoyed this great series and look forward to more stories from this talented author! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I appreciate the opportunity to read this story and share my honest opinion.

 

Sandra Orchard

Sandra Orchard is the award-winning author of several books including Deadly Devotion, winner of the 2014 The Word Award for suspense, and Blind Trust. Her Love Inspired Suspense titles have garnered two Canadian Christian Writing Awards and a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award. Sandra has also received a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She lives in Ontario, Canada.

Learn more at http://www.sandraorchard.com.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Friday Freebies

19 Jun

Freebie Graphic- BuzzingAboutBooks.com

 

 

To My SonsTo My Sons by Bear Grylls

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

This humorously illustrated book is a collection of wisdom that renowned adventurer Bear Grylls wants to share with his sons about the risks, tumbles, and victories of a well-lived life. Mountain climber, world-record holder, and internationally known television personality Grylls knows a thing or two about adventure. The greatest adventure he’s experienced, though, is raising his three boys. In To My Sons, Grylls shares the quotes, Scripture verses, and spiritual wisdom he has learned through the literal ups and downs of an exciting life. Featuring cartoons from well-known sketch artist Charlie Mackesy, this book is a poignant primer for boys and men of all ages.

 

Not By Sight

Not By Sight by Kay Lyons Stockham

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Emma Wyatt agrees to tutor a recently blinded, embittered soldier because of the $50,000 paycheck his brother offers. The job is an answer to many prayers. Blind herself, Emma dreams of independence and freedom away from her overprotective family. Tutoring Ian in all things “blind” isn’t easy, especially when the biggest challenge is helping him walk by faith.

Good soldiers show no weakness. Ian MacGregor holds his battle with claustrophobia close to his chest, unsuccessfully trying to cope on his own, too angry with God to seek comfort. Ian knows duty, honor, serving his country. So why is he being punished with this very personalized hell?

As Ian struggles to strong-arm his phobia and let go of his anger, his growing feelings for Emma are overshadowed by the danger lurking around them. Emma would be better off with someone else. Someone sighted.

Someone able to protect her from the person determined to keep them apart…

 

Daughter of Joy

Daughter of Joy by Kathleen Morgan

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Abigail Stanton’s whole life was rooted in her faith, a faith she now clings to for survival. After losing her husband and young son, Abby sets out alone, bereft, and heartsick. And when she is led to Conor MacKay’s doorstep, the very foundation of her belief starts to shift.

As the volatile rancher’s new housekeeper, Abby is supposed to keep his affairs–and his capricious little girl–in order. Abby feels anything but order, though, when she and Conor are together. Can love heal the wounds of the past? Or will Abby and Conor risk even greater losses than they have already suffered?

The first in the Brides of Culdee Creek series, Daughter of Joy takes you on a journey of grief, intrigue, and redeeming love in the nineteenth-century Colorado highlands.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Review: Fatal Trauma | Perfect Prescription Prize Pack Giveaway

17 Jun

Fatal Trauma

Fatal Trauma by Richard Mabry

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1AIM9U5

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?

 

My thoughts:

I love watching and reading medical dramas, so I was eager to read Fatal Trauma, my first book by Richard Mabry.  Dr. Mabry’s medical expertise is evident, and I really enjoyed the context of the story and its medical aspects.  I also appreciated the elements of suspense, but must admit that I was hoping for more depth to the story and its characters.  I felt a sense of detachment throughout the novel and struggled to become invested in the drama.  The spiritual threads also felt forced and were delivered in a manner that was more telling, rather than showing.  While Fatal Trauma did not deliver the edge-of your-seat suspense I was hoping for, it did deliver a satisfying story.  I have no doubt there are many who will love this book! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Litfuse Publicity.  I appreciate the opportunity to read this story and share my honest opinion. 

Landing page:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/rmabry

 

Dr. Mabry

A retired physician, Dr. Richard Mabry is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels of medical suspense. His previous works have been finalists for the Carol Award and Romantic Times Reader’s Choice Award, and have won the Selah Award. He is a past Vice-President of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the International Thriller Writers. He and his wife live in North Texas.

Find Richard online: website, Twitter, Facebook

 

Richard is celebrating the release of Fatal Trauma by giving away The Perfect Prescription Prize Pack!

fatal trauma - 400
One grand prize winner will receive:

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 20th. The winner will be announced June 22nd on Richard’s blog.

fatal trauma-enterbanner

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries