Tag Archives: Inspirational fiction

#BookReview: The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck | $100 Cash Card #Giveaway

3 Dec

The Wedding Chapel

The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

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

For sixty years, a wedding chapel sat silent, waiting for love. But times have changed and the hour has come when it just might be too late.

Retired hall-of-fame football coach Jimmy “Coach” Westbrook never imagined anything would come of his labor of love—the wedding chapel he built for Collette Greer, the woman he fell for back in ’49. But now an offer has come to turn the chapel into what it was meant to be—a place for love—and Jimmy sees no reason to hang onto his dream any longer.

Photographer Taylor Branson is trying to make a life for herself in New York. Leaving her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, she put a lot of things behind her, including her family’s abysmal marriage rate. But love surprises her when she falls head-over-heels for Jack Forester, a top ad man. Their whirlwind romance results in an elopement, and a mountain of doubt. Jack, while genuine in his love for Taylor, can never seem to overcome his own demons to find the words of his heart.

When Taylor takes an assignment in Heart’s Bend, the job does more than send her back to her hometown, but into a world of family secrets buried beneath the sands of time.

When Taylor’s journey intersects with Coach’s, they rediscover the heartbeat of their dreams and that the love they long to hold is right in front of them. And worth every waiting moment.

 

My thoughts:

There is so much goodness to be found in Rachel Hauck’s stories, and I believe The Wedding Chapel is one of her best yet! 

Told from multiple points of views, I was captivated by the intricacies of this story. I also reveled in the dual time frame and the superb imagery that brought each time period to life. There was a genuineness about the characters and their emotion-filled journeys that captured my heart, as did the wedding chapel and all it represented.

I loved this beautiful love story and longed to step into its pages and visit the enchanting chapel tucked in the Tennessee woods. I think it’s a place you’ll want to visit, too!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.  All thoughts expressed are my own.  

Blog Tour:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/rhauck

 

Join Rachel in celebrating the release of The Wedding Chapel by entering to win a copy and a $100 cash card—perfect for finishing up your Christmas gift shopping!

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One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A copy of The Wedding Chapel
  • A $100 cash card

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 17th. The winner will be announced December 18th on Rachel’s blog.

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Rachel Hauck

Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, best selling author of critically acclaimed novels such as The Wedding Dress, Love Starts with Elle, and Once Upon A Prince. She also penned the Songbird Novels with multi-platinum recording artist, Sara Evans. Booklist named their novel, Softly and Tenderly, one of 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals. She serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pets.

Connect with Rachel: website, Twitter, Facebook

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#BookReview: The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

1 Dec

The Golden Braid

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

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

The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower…

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel, in turn, rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to him than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery are about to be revealed after seventeen years. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

 

My thoughts:

The Golden Braid is a delightful retelling of Rapunzel!

I loved the adventure and romance of this enchanting tale! As I read, images danced across my mind as the story and its characters came to life on the pages. Although the premise is not new, Dickerson’s reimagining of Rapunzel’s story is fresh and vibrant and sure to please fans of fairy tales and medieval romance.

Melanie Dickerson is known and loved for her fairy tale retellings, and The Golden Braid is another splendid addition to the Hagenheim / Fairy Tale Romance series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Blog Tour:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/mdickerson

 

Melanie Dickerson

Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.

Connect with Melanie: website, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube

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#BookReview: Rising Darkness by Nancy Mehl

30 Nov

Rising Darkness

Rising Darkness by Nancy Mehl

Purchase links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Sophie Wittenbauer left her strict Mennonite hometown under a cloud of shame and regret. After a rough childhood, her teenage poor choices harmed others, leaving her with no choice but to change her life. Her entry-level writing job at a newspaper puts her in the right place at the right time to overhear office gossip about a prisoner who has information on a decades-old unsolved crime. While the other reporters write off the tip as the ravings of an angry criminal, Sophie can’t ignore it because she knows the name of this prisoner from her old life.

Upon learning from the man that one of the other suspects is hiding out in the Missouri town of Sanctuary, she takes on a false identity to investigate and meets the young pastor of a local church–the very man she’d loved as a troubled teenager. As she gets closer to finding the suspect, will the truth of her own past come out before she discovers the identity of the criminal–or the very person she’s seeking puts a fatal stop to her investigation?

 

My thoughts:

Rising Darkness is the third and final book in the Finding Sanctuary series. While this novel stands alone, it does revisit characters from previous books. In fact, readers who have read Unbreakable, book two in the Road to Kingdom series, will especially enjoy reading Sophie Wittenbauer’s story.

When the pursuit of information concerning an unsolved crime leads Sophie to Sanctuary, Missouri, it also brings her face to face with someone from her past. Can Sophie keep her own identity concealed while trying to uncover the identity of a criminal?

Sophie and Jonathon are well-crafted characters, and their story is filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. Rising Darkness combines suspense and romance and is an enjoyable conclusion to the Finding Sanctuary series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

Nancy Mehl

Nancy Mehl lives in Festus, Missouri, with her husband Norman, and her very active puggle, Watson. She’s authored fifteen books and is currently at work on a new romantic suspense series for Bethany House Publishing.

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

You can find out more about Nancy and her books by visiting her website.

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#BookReview: The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson

28 Nov

The Christmas Joy Ride

The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson

Purchase links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Miranda did not put adventure on her Christmas list, but thanks to her eighty-five-year-old neighbor Joy, that’s exactly what she’s getting this year. When Joy tells Miranda that she plans to drive an old RV decked out in Christmas decorations from their Chicago neighborhood to her new retirement digs in Phoenix–in the dead of winter, no less–the much younger Miranda insists that Joy cannot make such a trip by herself. Unemployed and facing foreclosure, Miranda feels she has nothing to lose by packing a bag and heading off with Joy toward Route 66. But Joy has a hidden agenda for their Christmas joyride–one that could derail the whole venture.

My thoughts:

The Christmas Joy Ride is pure delight! I always enjoy Melody Carlson’s Christmas stories, and this is one of my favorites!

When Joy Jorgenson makes plans to drive her RV along Route 66 to the retirement home in Phoenix, her neighbor Miranda packs a bag and climbs aboard for what becomes the ultimate Christmas joyride.

I loved Joy and Miranda’s holiday adventure and the meaningful message of their story! Humorous and heartwarming, Melody Carlson captures the spirit of Christmas in this touching tale.  The Christmas Joy Ride is a special story you don’t want to miss!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

Melody Carlson

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than two hundred books with combined sales of more than six million. She is the author of the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, Christmas at Harrington’s, and The Christmas Cat. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.

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#BookReview: Keeping Christmas by Dan Walsh

21 Nov

Keeping Christmas

Keeping Christmas by Dan Walsh

Purchase a copy:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

For the first time since their children were born, empty nesters Judith and Stan Winters spent Thanksgiving without the kids, and it’s looking like Christmas will be the same. Judith can’t bring herself to even start decorating for the holiday; her kids always hung the first ornaments on the tree, ornaments they had made each year since they were toddlers. Sure they were strange-looking–some could be called downright ugly–but they were tradition. A tradition she’s heartbroken to miss this year.

With Judith refusing to decorate the bare spruce tree in their living room, Stan knows something must be done. And his only hope for saving the holiday is found in a box of handmade ornaments.

 

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this nostalgic Christmas story!

Empty nesters Stan and Judith Winters are well-crafted characters and their thoughts and emotions feel very true-to-life as they spend their first Thanksgiving without their children and grandchildren. When it looks like Christmas will find their nest empty as well, Judith becomes despondent over the traditions she and her family will miss.

The holidays are a difficult time for many people and this story is filled with realistic moments as Judith experiences disappointment and discouragement. However, it is also a tale filled with tender, heartwarming moments that made me smile, and I loved the emotional conclusion. Keeping Christmas is a meaningful story that tugged at my heartstrings!

I received a complimentary copy of this story in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Unfinished Gift and The Restoration Series with Gary Smalley. He has won three Carol Awards, and three of his novels were finalists for the RT Book Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for twenty-five years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he’s busy researching and writing his next novel.

Learn more about Dan and his books at www.danwalshbooks.com.

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#BookReview: An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti | Holiday Cheer $100 #Giveaway

19 Nov

An Endless Christmas

An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1PmF69N

Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster.

Christmas takes a very different turn when the guests of honor break up instead of announcing their engagement. Trapped with his family, they learn that love looks different than either imagined. Both in their eighties, Dodie and Wilson Binder celebrate every Christmas as if it were their last. This year, their grandson Micah is planning to ask his girlfriend, Katie, to marry him so they can celebrate with the whole family. But things go very wrong when she says, “no.” Now they are stuck. Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster. But sometimes too much is just enough. Especially when it’s Christmas.

 

My thoughts:

I adored An Endless Christmas!  It’s a Hallmark movie kind of story and a perfect read for the holiday season! 

Cynthia Ruchti masterfully crafts characters who readers love spending time with and the Binder family is no exception.  I reveled in their camaraderie and Christmas traditions and was inspired by the spiritual messages of their story.  I laughed, I cried, and I loved every minute of An Endless Christmas!  This is one Christmas story you don’t want to miss!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.  All thoughts expressed are my own.  

Blog Tour:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/cruchti

 

Celebrate the holidays with Cynthia and An Endless Christmas by entering her $100 Target gift card giveaway!

endless christmas-400

One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A copy of An Endless Christmas
  • A $100 gift card to Target

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 30th. The winner will be announced December 1st on Cynthia’s blog.

endless christmas-enterbanner

 

Cynthia Ruchti (1)
Drawing from 33 years of on-air radio ministry, Cynthia Ruchti tells stories of hope-that-glows-in-the-dark through her novels and novellas, nonfiction books and devotionals, and speaking for women’s and writers’ events. Her books have been recognized by Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards, Selah Awards, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Christian Retailing’s BEST Awards, and Carol Award nominations, among other honors, including a Family Fiction Readers’ Choice Award. She and her plot-tweaking husband live in Pittsville, Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren.

 

Connect with Cynthia: website, Twitter, Facebook

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#BookReview: Love’s Sure Dawn by Naomi Rawlings

17 Nov

Love's Sure Dawn

Love’s Sure Dawn by Naomi Rawlings
Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/1HQ13Gw

No matter how hard she tries to help, Rebekah Cummings always ends up causing more problems than she solves. This time, though, things will be different. She’ll find a way to pay her family’s debts, even if doing so requires leaving Eagle Harbor. Maybe then they’ll start treating her as a capable woman who makes her own choices.

Gilbert Sinclair is going to marry an heiress. With his latest business venture sunk at the bottom of Lake Superior, he needs money to replace the steamship he lost, so he heads to Chicago where his father’s business connections should land him a suitable wife. Like most things in his meticulously planned life, everything goes as expected—until he discovers Rebekah Cummings working as the new cook on his ship.

Rebekah well remembers the pain she endured the last time she tried trusting Gilbert, and Gilbert can’t afford to pursue the love of a working class woman. But they can’t stop the forgotten feelings swirling between them—or ignore the sacrifices they’d both have to make for a future together.

 

Graphic- Love's Sure Dawn

Love’s Sure Dawn is a captivating tale! The characterization is excellent, and I lost myself in the drama and romance of Gilbert and Rebekah’s story. I always marvel at the emotional and spiritual growth of Naomi Rawlings’ characters and the inspiration that is beautifully woven through her stories. This talented author has masterfully stirred my emotions throughout this compelling series, and I can’t wait to read more!

If you’re a fan of historical romance, I highly recommend Love’s Sure Dawn, as well as the other books in the Eagle Harbor series. Each novel can stand alone, but I recommend reading them in order for a greater understanding of the characters and enjoyment of their stories.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

Naomi Rawlings

A mother of three, Naomi Rawlings spends her days picking up, cleaning, playing and, of course, writing. Her husband pastors a small church in Michigan’s rugged Upper Peninsula, where her family shares its ten wooded acres with black bears, wolves, coyotes, deer and bald eagles. Naomi and her family live only three miles from Lake Superior, where the scenery is beautiful and they average 200 inches of snow per winter. Naomi writes bold, dramatic stories containing passionate words and powerful journeys.

To learn more about Naomi and her books, please visit her website.

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#BookReview: The Five Times I Met Myself by James L. Rubart

14 Nov

The Five Times I Met Myself

The Five Times I Met Myself by James L. Rubart

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1O1Wrle

What if you met your twenty-three-year-old self in a dream? What would you say?

Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling. His coffee company. His marriage.

So when he discovers his vivid dreams—where he encounters his younger self—might let him change his past mistakes, he jumps at the chance. The results are astonishing, but also disturbing.

Because getting what Brock wants most in the world will force him to give up the one thing he doesn’t know how to let go . . . and his greatest fear is that it’s already too late.

 

Review Graphic- The Five Times I Met Myself

 

The Five Times I Met Myself is a thought-provoking story!  If you could go back and talk to your younger self, what would you say?

James L. Rubart has spun a vivid tale that will transport readers into the life of Brock Matthews. When Brock’s life begins to fray and dreams plague his sleep, he seeks help from a trusted friend. Morgan offers Brock a book on lucid dreaming and advises him to “Read the book and see where God leads you.” The journey Brock takes is unique and unexpected and captivated me from beginning to end.

I really enjoyed this extraordinary story of redemption and second chances! The Five Times I Met Myself is brimming with life lessons and inspirational messages that will make you think and challenge you to live in the present. Fans of Mitch Albom and Andy Andrews are sure to enjoy this latest offering from James L. Rubart!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.  All thoughts expressed are my own.

Blog Tour:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/jrubart

 

James Rubart

James L. Rubart is a professional marketer and speaker. He is the author of the best-selling novel Rooms as well as Book of Days, The Chair, Soul’s Gate, Memory’s Door, and Spirit Bridge. He lives with his wife and sons in the Pacific Northwest.

Connect with James: website, Twitter, Facebook

 

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#BookReview: Another Way Home by Deborah Raney | 5 Book #Giveaway

10 Nov

Another Way Home

Another Way Home by Deborah Raney
Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1NQhjf8

Review:

Another Way Home is another dramatic story in the Chicory Inn series! Deborah Raney brings the members of the Whitman clan to life, and I really enjoy the love and camaraderie they share.

Dallas and Danae’s struggle with infertility has taken a toll on their marriage, and their heartache is palpable. When Danae decides to put aside her despair and volunteer at a local women’s shelter, unexpected events transpire that change several lives forever. Another Way Home tugged at my heartstrings and left me eager for the next visit with the Whitman family!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Blog Tour:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/draney

 

Enter to win a copy of Another Way Home—five winners will be chosen! Click the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced November 23 on the Litfuse blog!

anotherwayhomebookgiveaway

 

Synopsis:

Sometimes God’s ways are not at all what we expect . . . and exactly what we need.

Grant and Audrey are adding grandchildren to their family left and right, but middle daughter, Danae, and her husband, Dallas Brooks, have been trying for years with no baby in sight.

Though Danae is ready to consider adoption, Dallas will not even discuss it. Despairing of ever having a family of her own, Danae decides to pour her passion and energies into volunteer work with a newly opened women’s shelter in town. Looking for a good cause to fill her lonely days, she never expects to give her heart to the hurting women she meets there. She’s finally learning to live her life with gratitude, but then heart-wrenching events on Thanksgiving weekend threaten to pull the entire Whitman clan into turmoil-and leave them all forever changed.

 

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

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#BookReview: When Love Returns by Kim Vogel Sawyer

9 Nov

When Love Returns

When Love Returns by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Click here to purchase a copy or learn more about When Love Returns.

Riddled with doubt and lingering regrets, will Suzanne and Paul find strength in God to explore a second chance at love?

It wasn’t easy to move back to the Old Order Mennonite community from which quiet, responsible Suzanne Zimmerman was shamefully sent away as a pregnant teen. Returning twenty years later to take care of her mother, Suzanne and Alexa—the daughter she raised as her own—have spent months rebuilding relationships with her family.

Now with the upcoming wedding of their biological daughter, Suzanne and Paul find themselves drawn to one another once again—but with new challenges to face. They have been single parents with painful pasts. Can Paul and Suzanne find the strength to rebuild the loving relationship that was torn apart by their teen pregnancy so long ago?

Suzanne must also let go of Alexa as she heads back to Indianapolis to visit friends–and as her chance to find her birth parents. Leaving the bed-and-breakfast in Suzanne’s apprehensive hands, Alexa embarks on a journey that will certainly change her life completely. Can mother and daughter trust God to restore all things in His timing?

 

My thoughts:

When Love Returns is a beautiful conclusion to a compelling series! The third and final book in the Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy, this novel continues the emotional story that began in Book 1, When Mercy Rains. Because of the family history that runs through this trilogy, I recommend reading these books in order.

Once again, Kim Vogel Sawyer envelops readers in the lives of the Zimmerman family. Their story is told from multiple points of view, and I really enjoy this type of storytelling. I delight in knowing and understanding the characters, as well as experiencing their thoughts and emotions. Questions that have lingered through this series are answered and restoration is made in the lives of several characters. I enjoyed When Love Returns and can’t wait to read more from this talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Blogging for Books in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

Kim Vogel Sawyer

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling, award-winning author highly acclaimed for her gentle stories of hope. More than one million copies of her books are currently in print. She lives in central Kansas where she and her retired military husband, Don, enjoy spoiling their granddarlings.

Find Kim online: website, Facebook, Twitter

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