Archive | May, 2018

#BookReview: Storm Front by Susan May Warren

28 May

Combining risk and romance, it is always a pleasure to revisit the PEAK Rescue team! Warren brings to life a dynamic cast of characters whose camaraderie is tangible, as is the turmoil they face. In Storm Front, Ty Remington and Brette Arnold share a dramatic and emotional journey where “life and love hang in the balance”.  I enjoyed their action-packed adventure and eagerly await this series’ finale. While each of the Montana Rescue books can be read independently, I recommend reading the progressing storylines in order for a greater understanding of the characters and their stories.

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

 

About the book:

A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community and among the missing are not only a group of students but PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved–and lost–walks back into his life. But Brette needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine.

A blogger for Vortex Storm Chasers, Brette Arnold didn’t expect her adventures to land her in the same place as Ty, the guy who she walked–no, ran–from over a year ago. She had her reasons–good ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn’t the kind of man to give up–not on the missing students, or on her.

Learn more about the book and the author.  

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#BookReview: Where Hope Begins by Catherine West

23 May

Where Hope Begins is a meaningful and memorable story! From the captivating characters to the stirring story line, my emotions were engaged from beginning to end. Each turn of the page pulled me deeper into Savannah’s journey of heartache and healing, and I reveled in the laughter and the tears. West tackles several tough topics and does so with grace and hope, offering readers a multitude of truth and wisdom to linger over and savor.  Where Hope Begins is a beautifully told tale and highly recommended read!

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

 

About the book:

In the aftermath of her husband’s act of adultery and abandonment, Savannah must finally face the ghosts that haunt her and discover for herself whether authentic faith, grace, and ultimate healing really do exist.

When her husband of twenty-one years leaves her, Savannah Barrington believes she’s lost almost everything she’s ever loved. With her daughter in college and her son in boarding school, Savannah retreats to her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, where hope and healing come in the form of an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, a touch of magic, and a handsome man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove she’s still worth loving.

But when her husband asks to reconcile, Savannah is faced with the hardest challenge of all: Forgiving the unforgivable. Somehow she must find freedom from the chains of their past and move forward, or face an unknown future without him.

Learn more about the book and the author.  

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Join Catherine West TONIGHT for a FB LIVE Party!

22 May

Join Catherine West TONIGHT for a FB LIVE party to celebrate the release of WHERE HOPE BEGINS!
https://www.facebook.com/CatherineJWest/

 

Sometimes we’re allowed to glimpse the beauty within the brokenness…

Savannah Barrington has always found solace at her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, and it’s the place that she runs to when her husband of over twenty years leaves her. Though her world is shaken, and the future uncertain, she finds hope through an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, and a man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove to Savannah that she is worthy of love.

But soon Savannah is given a challenge she can’t run away from: Forgiving the unforgivable. Amidst the ancient gardens and musty bookstores of the small town she’s sought refuge in, she must reconcile with the grief that haunts her, the God pursuing her, and the wounds of the past that might be healed after all.

Where Hope Begins is the story of grace in the midst of brokenness, pointing us to the miracles that await when we look beyond our own expectations.

Learn more about Where Hope Begins.  

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#BookReview: Together Forever by Jody Hedlund

16 May

I adore historical fiction, and Jody Hedlund’s orphan train series is one of my favorites! The details and descriptions are vivid and bring to life a compelling tale. Marianne Neumann, her fellow Children’s Aid Society agent Andrew Brady, and their young charges are well-crafted and endearing characters, and I loved experiencing their emotional journey. Together Forever is a beautiful blend of history and romance, and I can’t wait to continue this wonderful series!

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

 

About the  book:

Marianne Neumann became a placing agent with the Children’s Aid Society with one goal: to find her lost sister. Her fellow agent, Andrew Brady, is a former schoolteacher with a way with children and a hidden past. As they team up placing orphans in homes in Illinois, they grow ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy changes one of their lives forever.

Learn more about Together Forever.

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Love Inspired #BlogTour, #BookReview, and #Sweepstakes!

15 May

I have long enjoyed the Love Inspired line of books and am excited to be sharing a few of their recent releases as well as their blog tour sweepstakes!  For those who aren’t familiar with Love Inspired, they release twelve new books each month; six books for those who love contemporary romance and six books for those who enjoy some danger with their romance.  “Feel comforted and at peace when you read these uplifting romances of faith, forgiveness, and hope.”  

 

The Wedding Quilt Bride
by Marta Perry

Widowed single mom Rebecca Mast returns to her Amish community hoping to open a quilt shop. She accepts carpenter Daniel King’s offer of assistance—but she isn’t prepared for the bond he forms with her son. Will getting closer expose her secret—or reveal the love she has in her heart for her long-ago friend?

 

The Rancher’s Secret Child
by Brenda Minton

Marcus Palermo’s simple life gets complicated when he meets the son he never knew he had—and his beautiful guardian. Lissa Hart thought she’d only stick around long enough to aid Marcus in becoming a dad—but could her happily-ever-after lie with the little boy and the rugged rancher?

 

Bound by Duty
by Valerie Hansen

When Sgt. Linc Colson is assigned to monitor Zoe Sullivan and determine if she’s secretly aiding her fugitive serial killer brother, his instincts tell him she’s not in league with the criminal—she’s in danger. It’s up to him and his K-9 partner, Star, to keep the pretty single mom alive.

 

Primary Suspect
by Laura Scott

Framed for the murder of his ex-girlfriend—and then attacked at the crime scene—fire investigator Mitch Callahan turns to ER nurse Dana Petrie for help. As they fight for their lives, can she be convinced of his innocence—and in his promise of love?

 

My thoughts:

Primary Suspect is an exciting tale of suspense and romance! Rife with drama and danger, the tension builds as Mitch and Dana’s story unfolds. Although Primary Suspect is the fifth book in Laura Scott’s Callahan Confidential series, it is the first one I have enjoyed, 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.

 

One winner will WIN a $100 VISA card!  

Click the graphic below to enter the sweepstakes!

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#BookReview: Coach Wooden’s Forgotten Teams by Pat Williams with Jim Denney

15 May

Coach Wooden’s Forgotten Teams is a fascinating look at John Wooden’s often overlooked career as a coach at summer youth basketball camps. His love of basketball and his fellow man made his camps memorable for those who attended them over the years; he taught what he loved, and he loved what he taught. As we walk down the road of life, we might never meet any extraordinary individuals, but John Wooden was certainly one and was able to touch many lives. Don’t miss this wonderful book and the stories and lessons it has to offer. “Coach Wooden isn’t with us anymore, but he left us his words, his passion, and his legacy of teaching and influencing future generations of young people.”

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

 

About the book:

Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden is known for his record-breaking run of NCAA championships and for working with some of the best players in the sport. His principles for success have been used by not only coaches and athletes, but also business leaders, entrepreneurs, and others. But his reach stretches even farther than most people know–into the hearts and lives of the people who learned the game of basketball on one of Coach Wooden’s forgotten teams.

For nearly twenty years, John Wooden ran scores of summer youth basketball camps in California and other states, imparting wisdom and teaching skills to thousands of boys and girls between the ages of eight and fifteen. Most would not grow up to play professional or even college ball, but all of them found their lives changed by their interaction with the greatest coach who ever lived. In those camps, Coach Wooden also impacted hundreds of camp counselors and assistant coaches. This one-of-a-kind new book shares their inspiring stories and six fundamental lessons for a life of success and an unforgettable impact on others.

Learn more about Coach Wooden’s Forgotten Teams.

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#BookReview: Defeating Dementia by Dr. Richard Furman

14 May

Informative and encouraging, Defeating Dementia is a helpful resource for those who want to know more about dementia and its many forms. Dispersing medical research and scientific findings with personal experiences, Dr. Furman helps readers gain a greater understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Pointing out the correlation between our lifestyle choices and the likelihood of various forms of dementia, Dr. Furman offers measures that can be taken to prevent dementia, as well as slow the process if it has already begun. “Every one of us is affected today in some way by Alzheimer’s dementia, though clearly some much more directly than others. Current trends suggest those connections will grow closer and more painfully personal with the passing of each year.” Having read this book, I am more equipped and committed to preventing this dreaded diagnosis.

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

 

About the book:

Dementia. It’s one of the most dreaded conditions we face as we age. Many people claim they would rather be diagnosed with cancer than dementia or Alzheimer’s. What many don’t realize is that dementia is not a foregone conclusion as we get older. Our own lifestyle choices and habits can have a significant impact–for good or ill–on our chances of developing the disease. And that means there’s hope.

Drawing from the latest medical research, Dr. Richard Furman helps readers understand dementia and Alzheimer’s and shows them how to make three powerful lifestyle changes that can help decrease the probability of developing this disease. He explains how eating the right foods, exercising, and sustaining an ideal weight can dramatically reduce the likelihood of developing dementia in the first place, and even how it can slow the progression of the disease in someone who has already received a diagnosis.

Learn more about the book and the author. 

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