Archive | September, 2017

#BookReview: All This Time by Melissa Tagg

29 Sep

All This Time is a story I’ve anticipated since the moment Raegan and Bear appeared on the page. Beautifully rendered, their emotional journey is tender and touching and not soon to be forgotten! Tagg’s characterization is exceptional, as she has crafted a fictional family that very much comes to life in the mind of the reader. I love the charm of Maple Valley and revel in the Walker’s camaraderie! While I lament the end of this wonderful series, it is certain to remain one of my very favorites.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Bear McKinley’s past refuses to let go.

Ten years ago, Bear gave up everything-his freedom and his reputation-for his mess of a family. But after years of distance and too many attempts at starting over, he finally has a new life doing noble work in Brazil . . . until his past catches up to him once again. Suddenly he finds himself back in Maple Valley, charged with the care of his missing brother’s children, convinced he’s out of second chances to make his life count. And yet, with every day that passes, these kids, this quirky town and the woman he never stopped missing help patch the holes in his heart. Maybe this is the fresh start he’s been longing for all along. But as his newfound hope grows, so does the mystery surrounding his brother’s activities-and when the threat reaches into the lives of those he loves, it’s clear he can’t run away this time.

Fear holds Raegan’s future captive.

Raegan Walker is fine. She’s happy working a slew of part-time jobs, still living in her childhood bedroom and rarely venturing from her hometown. At least, that’s what she tells everyone . . . and herself. But she can’t help wondering what might’ve happened if she hadn’t abandoned her art so many years ago-and if Bear McKinley had never left. When Bear returns and she’s commissioned for a painting that just might revive her artistic ambition all in one week, it’s time to finally reach for more than fine. But doing so means facing the fears that have held her back all this time, including admitting the secret she’s kept from Bear and her family. With her dream and her heart on the line, how much will Raegan have to risk to finally chase her happy ending?

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#BookReview: Gathering the Threads by Cindy Woodsmall

22 Sep

Gathering the Threads is a compelling conclusion of The Amish of Summer Grove series! Woodsmall delights readers with another heart-stirring story, as she deftly intertwines the Old Order Amish world with the Englisch. Ariana and her family have endured much, and their emotional and spiritual journeys are both engaging and thought-provoking. I enjoyed Gathering the Threads and highly recommend reading this trilogy in order. However, if you haven’t read the preceding stories, a story line summary is given at the beginning of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

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About the book:

After three months of draus in da Welt, Ariana has returned to Summer Grove, the Old Order Amish community where she was raised for twenty years, and life with her Brenneman family. Skylar Nash, the Englisch-raised young woman is working in Ariana s cafe while getting to know her birth family and their Plain way of life. Skylar’s time in Summer Grove has changed her outlook, just as Ariana has grown to see her personal faith in God in a different light than the manner she was taught while growing up. Both women will have to make decisions about their paths and Ariana must decide what role her childhood friend, ex-Amish Quill Schlabach, will play in her life.

Gathering the Threads is the third and final novel in The Amish of Summer Grove series.

Learn more, read an excerpt, and purchase a copy.

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#BookReview: 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path by Liz Curtis Higgs

19 Sep

31 Proverbs to Light Your Path is a lovely devotional! Ideal for personal and group study, the thirty-one verses from the book of Proverbs are presented in ways that are applicable and actionable. Higgs offers insights, stories, and inspiration, while compelling readers to perform a quick challenge at the end of each chapter. Uplifting and encouraging, I enjoyed spending time in this wonderful book and look forward to using it again and again!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

With her signature ability to blend ancient truth with real-life takeaway, best-selling author and Bible teacher Liz Curtis Higgs examines thirty-one verses from the book of Proverbs, and then offers a unique “One Minute, One Step” challenge at the end of each chapter, suggesting a do-it-now task that requires one minute or less. Readers will quickly discover how practical and applicable the book of Proverbs is, and how the Lord can use even the smallest steps to lead us in the right direction.

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#BookReview: The Two of Us by Victoria Bylin

18 Sep

The Two of Us is a tender and touching tale! From family dynamics to Alzheimer’s care, Victoria Bylin deftly portrays her characters and their emotions. I delighted in Mia’s and Jake’s journey, as well as the secondary story between Sam and Lucy. Hope-filled and heartfelt, I thoroughly enjoyed The Two of Us!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

After two broken engagements, nurse practitioner Mia Robinson is done with dating. From now on, she only trusts herself and God, and she’s focused on her eighteen-year-old sister, Lucy, and caring for patients. Just as she applies to work for an international aid organization, a phone call from Lucy, who’s pregnant and running off to marry her twenty-one-year-old boyfriend, throws a wrench into all of Mia’s plans.

Jake Tanner may have recovered from the physical injuries he sustained on the job as a police officer, but his heart has yet to heal from losing his former partner in the tragedy. He’s poured himself into starting a camp for the sons of fallen officers and mentoring Sam, the adult son of his deceased partner, who’s asked him to be his best man at his wedding.

Mia is expecting a mess when she arrives to sort out the situation with Lucy, but she wasn’t expecting Jake. And Jake, who can’t help envying Sam and Lucy, doubts he’ll ever experience their happiness for himself. But maybe Jake’s courage and Mia’s caring spirit are just what they need to bring them a lifetime of healing and a forever kind of love. . . .

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#BookReview: My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley by Andrea Boeshaar

17 Sep

My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley is a lovely tale! Boeshaar brings this unique destination to life, along with the characters who reside there, and I delighted in the vivid descriptions and historical details found in their story. Lillyanna Laughlin finds herself in quite a predicament, facing the possibility of a forced marriage. When McAlister Albright arrives unexpectedly on Lily’s land, a friendship soon begins and a new path unfolds. Brimming with heartfelt emotion, I thoroughly enjoyed Lily and Mac’s journey!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Captain McAlister “Mac” Albright has purchased land in the Shenandoah Valley. However, the land belongs to Lillyanna Laughlin—or so she erroneously thinks. Mac sets her straight about current laws, and despite a poor start, the two are becoming friends.

Then, while Mac is away on business, Lily is faced with the impossible decision of marrying a man twice her age or she and her brothers becoming homeless, as her late father gambled away their home and acreage. But with debts being called in, will Lily be forced to choose a loveless marriage just when she is discovering what true love could be? What can she possibly do? Will Mac return in time to spare Lily a lifetime of unhappiness?

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#BookReview: Rule of Law by Randy Singer

14 Sep

Rule of Law is a compelling tale! The characters and plot grabbed my attention on page one, and I remained engrossed until the very end. I loved the legal intrigue and was fascinated by the political and military drama that unfolded. Expertly told, this legal thriller made me an instant Singer fan, and I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

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About the book:

What did the president know? And when did she know it?

For the members of SEAL Team Six, it was a rare mission ordered by the president, monitored in real time from the Situation Room. The Houthi rebels in Yemen had captured an American journalist and a member of the Saudi royal family. Their executions were scheduled for Easter Sunday. The SEAL team would break them out.

But when the mission results in spectacular failure, the finger-pointing goes all the way to the top.

Did the president play political games with the lives of U.S. service members?

Paige Chambers, a determined young lawyer, has a very personal reason for wanting to know the answer. The case she files will polarize the nation and test the resiliency of the Constitution. The stakes are huge, the alliances shaky, and she will be left to wonder if the saying on the Supreme Court building still holds true.

Equal justice under law.

It makes a nice motto. But will it work when one of the most powerful people on the planet is also a defendant?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

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#BookReview: Mail-Order Marriage Promise by Regina Scott

5 Sep

A unique twist on the mail-order marriage trope, I loved Dottie and John’s heartwarming tale! The relationship that develops between these two characters is tender and touching, as they both struggle to overcome the issues that plague them. The Wallins are an endearing family, and I always delight in the opportunity to spend time in their special community. Mail-Order Marriage Promise is a wonderful addition to the Frontier Bachelors series, and I look forward to reading more!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Stunned that his sister ordered him a mail-order bride, John Wallin insists he’s not the husband Dottie Tyrrell needs. The scholarly logger knows Dottie will make the perfect wife–for some other man. Yet he’s compelled to invite the lovely widow and her infant son to stay with his family…but only until she can find her own way.

Dreams of true love are for other women. Betrayed by her baby’s father, Dottie just wants a safe home for her precious child. But who could resist a man with John’s quiet strength? When her secret past brings danger to their door, they may yet find this mail-order mix-up to be the perfect mistake…

Learn more about the book and the author.

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