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Heart Wide Open, plus a GIVEAWAY

26 Mar

Heart Wide Open

Heart Wide Open by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson

Synopsis:

You believe in God. You’re trying to serve Him.
But do you know how to truly love Him—and let Him love you?
 
As a Bible-believing churchgoer, author Shellie Tomlinson harbored a secret in her good-girl heart. She longed for something more than routine faith; she wanted to love God with a genuine, all-consuming passion. So she got honest with Him: “I admit it. I don’t love you like I should, but I want to love you. Help me!”
 
In Heart Wide Open, Shellie invites you to answer the call of your restless heart and refuse to settle for anything less than the intimate friendship of God. Through her heartfelt and honest words, you’ll find practical inspiration to help you…
·   exchange your “just enough Jesus” mindset for an all-out pursuit of Him
·   put sizzle in your Bible study by asking God to show you the wonder of His Word
·   trade formulaic devotions for a devoted life
 
Are you ready to stop struggling to make time for God and instead live every moment with God? Discover how to live with your heart wide open.

Thoughts:

Shellie Rushing Tomlinson uses her gift of words, along with her signature humor, to share her own story of seeking a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. As the cover suggests, Shellie has traded in mundane faith for an exuberant life with Jesus.

I love Shellie’s refreshing candor and her contagious exuberance! She has written a book filled with real-life experiences and overflowing with scriptural references. Heart Wide Open is a wonderful source of encouragement and is ideal for individual and group study. I also love the Bible study and discussion guide that has been included in the back of the book. It is a great aid for deeper study and examination.

Full of charm, wit, and wisdom, Heart Wide Open is a book that will inspire you!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Biography:

Shellie and her husband, Phil, live in Lake Providence, Louisiana. They have two children and five grandchildren. Shellie is the author of “Lessons Learned on Bull Run Road”, “‘Twas the Night before the Very First Christmas”,”Southern Comfort with Shellie Rushing Tomlinson” and the Penguin Group USA release, “Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On”, voted Nonfiction Finalist of 2009 by SIBA, the SIBA Independent Booksellers Alliance. “Sue Ellen’s Girl  Ain’t Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy!” was released May, 2011 and subsequently nominated for the same Nonfiction Book of the Year by SIBA for 2012.

Shellie is owner and publisher of All Things Southern and the host of a radio show and weekly video segment by the same name. You can listen to Shellie’s All Things Southern LIVE Talk Show each Monday evening at 5-6 PM CST on TALK 540KMLB. The  show streams LIVE and podcasts are available so everyone can join Shellie’s southern celebration!

When Shellie isn’t writing, speaking, taping her show, answering email or writing content for the next deadline, you can find her playing tennis with Dixie Belle, (the chocolate lab who thinks she is in charge of running Shellie’s life).

To learn more about Shellie, visit her website at http://www.allthingssouthern.com/.

Giveaway:

hwo_giftbasket

To celebrate the release of Heart Wide Open, Shellie is offering a special giveaway!  This wonderful gift basket includes the following:

 A beautiful wallboard inscribed with these words from the Song of Solomon, “Come and awaken love and when I find him I won’t let him go.”
A beautiful coffee mug bearing this sentiment, “Heart you to the moon and back.”
A Bird of Paradise heart-shaped candle
A Heart Shaped Keepsake Box
A Red and White Chevron Design Scarf
A Heart Wide Open T-Shirt (winner to designate size)
A $50 Amazon Gift Certificate
And, of course, a copy of Heart Wide Open
 

To enter, leave a comment below and fill out the simple online form that will allow the names to be collected from participating blogs.  The winner will be drawn on April 1. This contest is open to U.S. residents only.  Good luck!!

http://form.jotformpro.com/form/40657125364959

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Forget Me Not

17 Mar

Forget Me Not

Forget Me Not by Miralee Ferrell

Synopsis:

Can a Lost Love be Redeemed?

Baker City, Oregon, 1881

Seven years ago, Julia McKenzie rejected the man she loved, wanting to experience more of life. Now, at the age of twenty-four, she regrets that decision. What will Seth think of her, when they encounter one another hundreds of miles from home? Will the man she cared for understand the direction her life has taken and love her in spite of her choices?

Pastor Seth Russell has never completely forgotten the girl he once courted. When she shows up in his new home of Baker City, all those feelings return. But why is she sneaking around town late at night? Even more important, will she reject him and break his heart again, or can God heal the breach between them?

Thoughts:

Forget Me Not is a story that is as beautiful and unique as its namesake! This heartfelt novella is a wonderful addition to the Love Blossoms in Oregon series. While any of the books in the series can stand alone, I encourage you to read them in order. In doing so, you will come to know the residents of Baker City, Oregon, and understand their stories.

Miralee Ferrell is a master storyteller and has once again penned an exceptional story. I loved the endearing characters and their spiritual and emotional journeys! I was also touched by the themes of compassion and forgiveness, expressed so eloquently in this novella. One of my favorite quotes is, “Forgiving isn’t saying what they did is right, it’s simply letting go of the past and choosing to walk toward God’s light and love, instead of toward darkness.”

Inspiring words of wisdom and faith, woven together in this tender love story, make Forget Me Not a must read!

I received a complimentary copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Biography:

Miralee Ferrell- headshotMiralee Ferrell is a speaker, accredited counselor, and former ACFW chapter president who has published multiple contemporary and historical romance novels since starting to write in 2005. She enjoys horseback riding, gardening, and family gatherings around their eleven-acre property in Washington State’s beautiful Columbia River Gorge. Miralee has had eight books release, both in women’s contemporary fiction and historical fiction, with another 5 under contract. She’s an award-winning author of Western fiction, and her newest novel, Wishing on Buttercups released February 1, and is the second in a series set in Baker City, Oregon, 1880s.

Interact with Miralee:

Website:  www.miraleeferrell.com

Facebook Author page:  www.facebook.com/miraleeferrell

Twitter: www.twitter.com/miraleeferrell

Forget Me Not Launch Party

Celebrate the release of Miralee Ferrell’s novella, Forget Me Not, tomorrow night, March 18 at 8:00 p.m. EST.  Up for grabs are lots of great prizes, including a Basic Kindle, several copies of Miralee’s books, and Amazon gift cards. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to chat with Miralee and enter to win great prizes!  Hope to see you there!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/228120830713813/

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Free Novella- Kissed By A Cowboy

21 Feb

Kissed By A Cowboy

Kissed By A Cowboy by Lacy Williams

Synopsis:

Kissed By A Cowboy, a sweet inspirational romance
 
Just shy of her thirtieth birthday, Haley Carston returns to Redbud Trails, Oklahoma, to care for her dying aunt. She thinks she’s ready for this homecoming. She’s spent years escaping her perpetual shyness and being Katie Michaels’ tag-along friend, but being back in her hometown brings back a lot of old memories, especially when she is faced with the cowboy she never forgot—Katie’s older brother, Maddox.
 
Twelve years ago, Maddox Michaels was supposed to be somebody. He had everything. A football scholarship. A Division I team scouting him. Maybe even a chance at the pros. Now, he’s a burned-out cowboy working day and night to stay ahead of his brother’s medical bills and keep their family farm from going bankrupt. And trying to be a father-figure for his niece, Olivia.
 
When Haley and Olivia start spending time together, Maddox can’t help remembering those dreams that died alongside his sister. Will being with Haley open his heart to new dreams?

Thoughts:

Kissed By A Cowboy is a delightful novella! Lacy Williams writes with wonderful characterization and vivid descriptions. I loved the main characters, Haley Carston and Maddox Michaels, and adored Maddox’s niece, Olivia. Their story is one that will captivate you and warm your heart!  Don’t miss the opportunity to download this free novella, Kissed By A Cowboy!

Kissed By A Cowboy is also included in the anthology, First Kisses, which releases March 15, 2014.

Biography:

Lacy Williams grew up on a farm, which is where her love of cowboys was born. In reality, she’s married to a right-brained banker (happily with three kiddos). She gets to express her love of western men by writing historical romance. Her books have finaled in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Awards (2012 & 2013), the Golden Quill and the Booksellers Best Award.

Lacy also writes YA action romance under the pen name Lacy Yager. She has a soft spot for bad boy heroes and heroines with swords. Although her teen years are long behind her, she enjoys writing about the drama and first love that comes with this time in our lives.

You can learn more about Lacy Williams by visiting her website, http://lacyjwilliams.com/.

 

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Blog Tour and GIVEAWAY- Wishing on Buttercups

17 Feb

Wishing on Buttercups- Blog Tour

I am thrilled to be participating in the blog tour for Wishing on Buttercups.  Each tour stop will be giving away one print copy of Wishing on Buttercups, U.S. residents only, so be sure and visit each stop to increase your chances of winning!  Giveaway details are given at the bottom of the post. 

February 10th – A Book Lover’s Retreat

February 11th – Shelley’s Book Case

February 12th – For the Love of Literature

February 13th –  The Book Bag

February 15th –  HomeSchooling4boyz

February 17th – Buzzing about Books

February 18th – Stuck on Books

February 19th – The power of words..

February 20th – My Recent Favorite Books

February 22nd – Melina’s Book Blog

February 24th – The Front Porch

February 26th – My Devotional Thoughts

February 28th – Diana’s Tea Time Reviews

February 28th – Create with Joy

 

Synopsis:

Can Love Survive When Secrets Collide?

She’d kept her secrets safely hidden—those from her past, and those in the present. Some things, Beth Roberts knows, a lady simply doesn’t share, even in the 1880’s West. The townspeople would never understand. No one ever has.

Jeffery Tucker, a handsome young writer, has kept his own secrets. He doesn’t have a right to pry into Beth’s affairs but finds himself strangely drawn to her and intrigued by the whiff of mystery surrounding her.

Beth knows that one day someone will unravel the threads of her past. And when two men from her past arrive, the truth might just hurt . . . Beth’s future and her heart.

As shadowy memories surface, Beth sketches the scenes she sees and is shocked by what—and who—her illustrations reveal. Dare she risk her heart again?

Thoughts:

Wishing on Buttercups is the second book in Miralee Ferrell’s Love Blossoms in Oregon series. This captivating story imparts a wonderful message. “God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance.”

Wishing on ButtercupsHaving read Blowing on Dandelions, I was eager to continue this series! I loved returning to Baker City, Oregon, and delving deeper into the lives of Beth Roberts and Jeffery Tucker. Both of these characters harbored secrets from their pasts and unanswered questions plagued them. This intriguing storyline, coupled with complex characters, kept me turning the pages and wanting to know more.

I also enjoyed catching up with the other colorful characters who were introduced in Blowing on Dandelions. It was a pleasure to revisit the boardinghouse, which continued to bustle with the activities of its residents.

Miralee Ferrell has penned a story that is full of heart and emotion; one that will draw you in and surround you with comforting hope. I highly recommend Wishing on Buttercups and eagerly await more stories in this wonderful series! 

You can order your copy of Wishing on Buttercups from Amazon, other online retailers, or your favorite bookstore.

Biography:

Miralee Ferrell- headshotMiralee Ferrell is a speaker, accredited counselor, and former ACFW chapter president who has published multiple contemporary and historical romance novels since starting to write in 2005. She enjoys horseback riding, gardening, and family gatherings around their eleven-acre property in Washington State’s beautiful Columbia River Gorge. Miralee has had eight books release, both in women’s contemporary fiction and historical fiction, with another 5 under contract. She’s an award-winning author of Western fiction, and her newest novel, Wishing on Buttercups released February 1, and is the second in a series set in Baker City, Oregon, 1880s.

Interact with Miralee:

Website:  www.miraleeferrell.com

Facebook Author page:  www.facebook.com/miraleeferrell

Twitter: www.twitter.com/miraleeferrell

Giveaway:

To be entered to win a print copy of Wishing on Buttercups, please ask Miralee a question in the comments below.  Be sure to include your email address!  Miralee would love to answer questions concerning her books, writing, publishing career, pets, or her hobbies.  She will stop by periodically to answer questions, so drop in again to read her replies! 

Please note: Winners will be drawn on March 2.  There will be one winner drawn per blog and no winner may win more than one book in this tour. 

Welcome back, Miralee.  It is such a pleasure to visit with you again!  I have heard authors say they were surprised by a character, scene, or other element in their writing.  Did you encounter any surprises while you were writing Wishing on Buttercups? 

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The Baby Rescue

12 Feb

The Baby Rescue

The Baby Rescue by Margaret Daley

Synopsis:

OPERATION BABY RESCUE

To rescue an abducted infant from a baby-smuggling ring, U.S marshal Colton Phillips has to work with FBI agent Lisette Sutton. But their tactics couldn’t be more different. The too-pretty agent goes by the book, whereas Colton breaks rules to get the job done. Colton vows to keep his heart out of the job, but his unwanted attraction to Lisette lowers his guard. Now Lisette—and an innocent child—are in grave danger, and Colton will stop at nothing to save them.

Thoughts:

The Baby Rescue is the 2nd book in the Love Inspired Witness Protection continuity series. Each written by a different author, these books can be enjoyed as a series or read as stand-alone stories.

Margaret Daley is a master of suspense and has written an action-packed story. With strong characters and a dramatic storyline, The Baby Rescue will keep you turning the pages, eager for more!

Colton Phillips, U.S. Marshal, sees the atrocities of the world through his job and clings to his faith for strength and reassurance. Issues from her past have caused FBI Agent Lisette Sutton to question her faith. Both must learn to trust and draw strength from each other in order to rescue an innocent child. “Evil is in our world. It’s how we deal with it that’s important.”

Mounting suspense, dangerous situations, and undercurrents of romance make this a most enjoyable book and one I highly recommend!  You can order your copy from Amazon, other online retailers or your favorite bookstore.

Biography:

Margaret Daley

Margaret Daley is an award-winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. She has also won the Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, Holt Medallion and the Barclay Gold Contest. Margaret wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press.  To learn more about Margaret, please visit her website at: www.margaretdaley.com.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

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The Quilted Heart Celebration and GIVEAWAY

20 Jan

Join me this week in celebration of the release of The Quilted Heart!

Today, I am sharing my thoughts and offering one copy of The Quilted Heart to be given away.  Wednesday, I will feature an author interview with Mona Hodgson, as well as details on how to enter her three book giveaway.  Friday, I will share a character interview with Elsa Brantenburg, as well as more giveaway opportunities! 
 
 

The-Quilted-Heart-Omnibus

The Quilted Heart by Mona Hodgson

The Quilted Heart releases tomorrow, January 21.  You can order your copy from Amazon, other online retailers, or your favorite bookstore.

Synopsis:

Like a beautiful patchwork quilt, the three novellas in The Quilted Heart tell stories of lives stitched together with love and God’s unending grace.
 
Once a week, Elsa Brantenberg hosts the Saint Charles Quilting Circle at her farmhouse on the outskirts of the riverside town of St. Charles, Missouri. The ladies who gather there have all experienced heartache related to the intense hardships of the Civil War, and together, they are facing their painful circumstances with friendship and prayer. Can the tattered pieces of their hearts be stitched together by God’s grace?
 
Dandelions on the Wind
When Maren Jensen took a job on Elsa Brantenberg’s St. Charles, Missouri farm, she never expected to call the place her home. As she grows to love Mrs. Brantenberg and her granddaughter, Gabi, Maren is transformed from a lonely mail-order bride-without-a-groom to a beloved member of the Brantenberg household. But when Gabi’s father, Rutherford “Wooly” Wainwright, returns to the farm unexpectedly, everything changes for Maren, and she feels compelled to find another job. Are her choices in obedience to God, or is she running from His plan?
 
Bending Toward the Sun
Dedicated to her education and to helping her father in his general store, Emilie Heinrich is convinced she doesn’t have time for love. But when a childhood friend returns to St. Charles, Missouri, after serving in the Civil War, his smile and charm captures Emilie’s eye and her heart. Will she be forced to choose between honoring her father and a future with a husband and family of her own?
 
Ripples Along the Shore
Change is brewing in St. Charles. A group of brave souls are preparing to head west on the Boone’s Lick Wagon Train, led by the mysterious and handsome Garrett Cowlishaw, who served as a Confederate soldier in the war that killed Caroline’s husband. Despite her dislike for him, Caroline is tempted to join the wagon train and start fresh somewhere new, but when Mr. Cowlishaw forbids her—a single woman—to travel with them, will one man’s prejudice destroy Caroline’s hope for a new future? Or will the ripples of God’s love bring the answer she needs?

Thoughts: 

Mona Hodgson’s wonderful characterization brings the characters of The Quilted Heart to life. Each character is special and their life stories are beautifully quilted together in this novella collection. “Like a quilt is made up of remnants…scraps, so is your life and mine.”

The Quilted Heart novellas are bursting with details and descriptions, adding richness and depth to their engaging storylines. I clearly envisioned Saint Charles, Missouri, its residents and its businesses. I delighted in learning of the goods bought and sold, foods prepared, and quilts made with loving hands.

The spiritual elements are one of the most endearing facets of The Quilted Heart. The wisdom and scriptures that are shared are a blessing to all who read this book. “God, the Divine Quilter, has the perfect patchwork pattern for our lives. Each will be different as sunshine and snowfall.”

The Quilted Heart is a book that I love having on my shelf and is one I will read and enjoy again and again!  It is also a book that I want to share, so I have ordered one copy to give away.  Please see the giveaway details below and enter to win!

Biography:

Mona Hodgson StandingMona Hodgson is the author of nearly 40 books, historical novels for adults and children’s books, including her popular Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series, The Quilted Heart novellas, and Prairie Song, Book 1 in her Hearts Seeking Home Series. Her children’s books include bestseller, Bedtime in the Southwest, six desert and princess Zonderkidz I Can Read books, Real Girls of the Bible: A 31-Day Devotional, and her six I Wonder books.

Mona’s writing credits also include several hundred articles, poems and short stories, which have appeared in 50 different publications. Mona is a speaker for women’s groups, Christian women’s retreats, book clubs and reading groups, schools, and conferences for writers and librarians.

GIVEAWAY:

I am excited to be giving away one copy of The Quilted Heart by Mona Hodgson. 

Leave a comment, along with your email address, to be entered.The-Quilted-Heart-Omnibus

To earn additional entries, you may do the following:

  •  Let me know you follow my blog
  •  Sign up to follow my blog if you are not a follower
  •  Share this giveaway through Facebook, Twitter, your blog, or email
  •  Comment on any of The Quilted Heart posts this week

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

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and ends Saturday, January 25 at midnight CST.  The winner will be drawn and contacted January 26.  Good luck!!

 

I was blessed to receive a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

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Love on the Slopes

9 Jan

Love on the Slopes

Love on the Slopes by Elizabeth Goddard

Synopsis:

Shannon De Croix had big plans, but a serious injury ended her dreams of making the nation’s top ski team.  Now, with her handsome coach, Hudson Landers, at her side, Shannon hopes to compete again.  Though she trusts Hudson’s judgment, she wants to train harder.

Hudson cares too much about Shannon to let her risk her life just for the sake of competition.  He fears that one more fall could destroy her future and break her heart.  Can Shannon and the disabled kids he coaches show him that falling down and getting back up again is what faith and love are all about?

Thoughts:

I love Elizabeth Goddard’s books and this tender love story is one of my favorites!  Love on the Slopes is a beautiful story of faith and love!

Elizabeth Goddard always does a tremendous job of drawing the reader into her stories.  The sights, sounds, and atmosphere in Love on the Slopes were wonderfully depicted!  I envisioned the athletes and their training routines, as well as the ski resort and its beautiful surroundings.

I was quickly captivated by the main characters, Shannon De Croix and Hudson Landers.  I admired their dedication and determination, but also enjoyed their vulnerabilities.  I found their journey throughout the book to be enlightening and loved the way their relationship slowly unfolded.

Love on the Slopes is a charming book and one I highly recommend!  You can order your copy from Amazon, other online retailers, or your favorite bookstore.

Biography:

highresgoddard-HR-2-2-e1382722351811Elizabeth 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  www.elizabethgoddard.com.  While you’re there, be sure and sign up for her quarterly newsletter so you won’t miss any exciting news!

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.

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The Painted Table Blog Tour/Giveaway

7 Jan

The Painted Table

The Painted Table by Suzanne Field

Blog tour information and schedule: http://litfusegroup.com/author/sfield

Synopsis:

A beautiful heirloom ingrained with family memory has become a totem of a life Saffee would rather forget—a childhood disrupted by her mother’s mental illness. Saffee does not want the table. By the time she inherits the object of her mother’s obsession, the surface is thick with haphazard layers of paint, and heavy with unsettling memories.

After a childhood spent watching her mother slide steadily into insanity, painting and re-painting the ancient table, Saffee has come to fear that seeds of psychosis may lie dormant within her. But as an adult with a family of her own, Saffee must confront her mother’s torment if she wants to defend herself against it.

Traversing four generations over the course of a century, The Painted Table is an epic portrait of inherited memory, proclivity, and guilt. It is a sprawling narrative affirmation that a family artifact—like a family member—can bear the marks of one’s entire past . . . as well as intimations of one’s redemption.

Purchase your copy: http://ow.ly/rIosh

Thoughts:

The Painted Table is a haunting tale of life, mental illness, and redemption.  Suzanne Field vividly portrays the feelings of the characters and the devastating, lingering effects of mental illness. 

At the center of this story is a family heirloom that has been passed through the generations.  A table that once was crafted and given with love becomes a symbol of insanity and obsession.  As an adult, with a family of her own, Saffee begins to realize that things can be different…that she can be different.  Fear, like the stains of paint, can be stripped away and true nature and beauty can be revealed. 

The Painted Table is a candid portrayal of mental illness and its message is one of redeeming love.     

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

About the Author:

Suzanne FieldSuzanne Field, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, has taught English as a Second Language in China, Ukraine, and Hawaii. She has also been a magazine editor and home-school teacher. She and her husband have five children and divide their time between Kansas and Hawaii where she is a tutor and mentor.

Learn more about Suzanne at: https://www.facebook.com/SuzanneFieldThePaintedTable

 

Suzanne Field is celebrating her novel, The Painted Table, with a beautiful hand-painted table giveaway!

paintedtable-400

One winner will receive:

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 18th. Winner will be announced January 20th on Thomas Nelson’s Facebook Page.

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by check the TNZ Facebook Page on the 20th to see if you won.

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My Hope Is Found

17 Dec

My Hope is Found

My Hope Is Found by Joanne Bischof

Synopsis:

Gideon O’Riley has been given another chance at a life with Lonnie. But will the fight for her heart risk it all over again?
 
After finally finding love with his sweet bride Lonnie, Gideon’s heart was torn when a woman from his past claimed to be his true and rightful wife, forcing him away from his family. God’s merciful hand saw Gideon through the heartache, and with Cassie’s blessing, he is able to return home. But his journey back through the Blue Ridge Mountains will hold a trial he never anticipated.
 
Meanwhile, Lonnie determines to seal off her heart from Gideon, convinced he is lost to her forever. Strengthening her resolve to move on is her growing fondness for the handsome Scotsman, Toby McKee—the young reverend she has come to care for deeply. His proposal of marriage offers a bright future for her and her young son.
 
Yearning to allow joy back into her life, Lonnie must put aside the broken pieces of her heart that still love Gideon. When he returns to find her betrothed to another, he has to place his hope in God, trusting that the One who redeemed their love once can do it again.

Thoughts:

Rarely have I found a book or books that evoked such strong emotions. However, Joanne Bischof masterfully stirred my emotions with every turn of the page.

My Hope Is Found is a stunning conclusion to The Cadence of Grace series. I gave my heart completely to the compelling characters and the vivid beauty of the Appalachians in Book 1, Be Still My Soul. I wept at the heart-wrenching emotion so beautifully written in Book 2, Though My Heart Is Torn. Wanting and needing to know what was going to happen to these precious people I had come to know and love, I was eager to read My Hope Is Found. I found myself speeding up and slowing down and savoring every last word. As I finished reading the last words of this book, I exhaled the breath that I found myself holding. Sighing with great satisfaction in the fact that, despite despair and suffering, hope is found!

Joanne Bischof has written an amazing series of books that will touch your heart. The spiritual thread so beautifully and eloquently woven into these books is a gift and a blessing to everyone who reads them. The Cadence of Grace series is a poignant story that you absolutely must read!

Biography:

Christy Award-finalist and author of Be Still My Soul, Though My Heart Is Torn, and My Hope Is Found, Joanne Bischof has a deep passion for Appalachian culture and writing stories that shine light on God’s grace and goodness. She lives in the mountains of Southern California with her husband and their three children. When she’s not weaving Appalachian romance, she’s blogging about faith, folk music, and the adventures of country living that bring her stories to life. You can visit her website at www.joannebischof.com.

On Thursday, I will be sharing my recent interview with Joanne.  I am so excited to be discussing My Hope Is Found, as well as a bit about the book Joanne is writing now.  I hope you will join us!  

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A Wild Goose Chase Christmas

13 Dec

A Wild Goose Chase Christmas

A Wild Goose Chase Christmas by Jennifer AlLee

Synopsis:

Upon her grandmother’s death, Izzy Fontaine finds herself in possession of a Wild Goose Chase pattern quilt that supposedly leads to a great treasure. 

Of course, once the rest of the family finds out about the “treasure map,” they’re determined to have a go at the treasure themselves. And, if that weren’t enough, Max Logan, a local museum curator, contacts Izzy and says that Grandma Isabella promised him the quilt.

What is it about this quilt that makes everyone want it? Is Izzy on a wild goose chase of her own, or a journey that will lead her to the treasure her grandmother intended?

Thoughts:

A Wild Goose Chase Christmas is an enchanting tale that will warm your heart!  I fell in love with this story on the very first page and loved it even more as I read the last words. 

Izzy Fontaine receives a very special gift, a Wild Goose Chase pattern quilt, from her beloved grandmother.  Izzy does not understand the gift, or its value, and is surprised when Max Logan appears on her doorstep claiming ownership of the quilt.  Max is a local museum curator and claims that Isabella promised him the quilt, to be used in a museum exhibit. 

If that isn’t strange enough, notes begin to arrive from unexpected people and places.  Soon everyone is on a wild goose chase searching for the treasure that Grandma has alluded to.  What they find is something they least expect but need the most! 

Jennifer AlLee has written an endearing story that is sure to delight readers!  With a wonderful cast of characters, including Bogie, the Jack Russell Terrier, and important lessons beautifully woven throughout, A Wild Goose Chase Christmas is a story you won’t soon forget! 

Click to enjoy an excerpt from A Wild Goose Chase Christmas!
 
 

Please read Jennifer’s delightful interview below.

AlLeeJennifer

1. I adore A Wild Goose Chase Christmas!  What inspired this enchanting, heartwarming story? 

Thank you so much! There were several inspirations for this book. First, my grandmother was a professional dancer, so she was the inspiration for Grandma Isabella. The dynamic between Izzy, her mother, and her brother was inspired by my own family, even though our personalities are much different. And finally, the town of Monrovia is an actual place in Southern California that actually has a Friday night Street Fair. I’ve got lots of happy memories of it, so it seemed like the perfect place to set the story.      

2. A Wild Goose Chase Christmas is part of the Quilts of Love series.   Are you a quilter and/or do you have any quilts that are meaningful to you?  

I’m not a quilter myself, but I do have a special quilt. It’s a pattern called “Grandma’s Flower Garden” and was made by my mother. She used material from dresses and other clothing that had belonged to four generations of women in the family, from my great-grandmother to me. The quilt was a present when I went to college.      

3. The quilt in this story leads to great treasure.  What are some things you treasure?  

My greatest treasures are the people in my life, my family and friends. My son, Billy, is twenty, and he’s been my number one treasure since the day he was born. God certainly did bless me with that boy!      

4. Christmas is quickly approaching!  Please share with us one of your favorite Christmas memories.  

When I was in kindergarten, I was an angel in my school’s Christmas pageant. That’s one of my best Christmas memories, because I was so proud of my angel robe and my sparkly, gold tinsel halo!  

Thank you so much, Jennifer!  Merry Christmas to you and your family!!

 

Jennifer has shared a special character post, written by Izzy Fontaine.

I love my family, but you know how it is. Spending time with them, especially at the holidays, can be beyond stressful.

Take my mother… please! Just kidding. My mother and I have always had a bumpy relationship. For some reason, she can find fault in everything I do while my brother, Brandon, remains the golden child. But this year, Brandon’s not shining quite as bright, and Mom and I are spending way more time together than we expected to.

And it’s not just family that causes stress. There’s a new man in my life, and not because I went looking for one. No, Max Logan showed up at my door looking for his grandfather, who had gone AWOL from an assisted living facility, and for the Wild Goose Chase quilt that my grandmother left to me. He’s got the crazy idea that Gran gave the quilt to his museum. 

I tried not to like Max at first. I told myself that he was pushy and only cared about the quilt and making it the centerpiece of his new exhibit. But he also is smart, and funny, and I can’t ignore how much he loves his grandfather.

Thanks to Grandma Isabella, this could be the best – and craziest – Christmas yet.

 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Abingdon Press.  All thoughts expressed are my own and no monetary compensation was received.

 

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