Tag Archives: Inspirational fiction

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

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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.

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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

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2 Book GIVEAWAY | River of Danger + Color of Danger

4 Jun

River of Danger

River of Danger by Alexa Verde

Purchase a copy: Amazon

Dallas reporter River Montenegro returns to her hometown, Rios Azules, in south Texas to aid her father, a constantly recovering alcoholic. After the notorious Smiling Killer strikes close to her home — and her own neck, River grudgingly accepts help from her childhood friend and first love, who unknowingly crushed her heart.

When his formerly awkward school buddy is being stalked and attacked, local newspaper editor and town favorite Jacob Forrester decides to protect River. Falling for River, who blossomed into a confident, beautiful woman, Jacob is also eager to take their friendship to a different level. But River always made it clear she wouldn’t stick around.

Scarred and scared, River has fled to the big city lights once. But she’s stronger now. The homegrown killer better be prepared because not all Rivers run…

Novella River of Danger is a prequel to the Secrets of Rios Azules Series, followed by Book 1, Color of Danger. The series is set in Rios Azules, a small Texas town where rivers and emotions run deep, and the richest family in town has a fine taste for food, jewelry, and murder.  Each book is a complete inspirational romantic suspense and can be read as a stand-alone. Each book in the series features one of five childhood friends – a group once nicknamed Danger Girls – finding love amid danger to her life, her heart, and her faith.

 

My thoughts:

Last year, I had the privilege of reading and reviewing Alexa Verde’s debut novel, Color of Danger.  This inspirational romantic suspense kept me guessing until the very end!  It also left me eager for more, so I was excited to learn that Alexa was releasing a prequel novella.

River of Danger is an exciting story and a wonderful introduction to the Secrets of Rios Azules Series!  Whether you’ve already enjoyed the first book, as I have, or have not yet had the pleasure of visiting Rios Azules, this novella is a recommended read.

I enjoyed getting to know River Montenegro and her childhood friends, the Danger Girls, and look forward to reading each of their stories in future books.  Alexa Verde skillfully weaves elements of drama, intrigue, and romance with an inspirational thread.  I really enjoyed River of Danger and can’t wait for more stories in this exciting series! 

My thanks to the author for the complimentary copy of River of Danger.  I appreciate the opportunity to read this novella and share my honest opinion.  

Giveaway- Alexa Verde

Alexa has graciously offered to give away an e-copy of River of Danger and an e-copy of Color of Danger to one lucky winner!  To enter, please leave a comment, along with your email address. 

This giveaway ends Wednesday, June 10 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.
The winner will be drawn and announced on Thursday, June 11.

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.


 About the Author:

Alexa Verde fell in love with writing at age eight when she penned her first poem. After publishing 200 short stories, poems, and articles in the five languages she speaks, Alexa has turned her creative passion to writing novels. Her May 2014 debut inspirational romantic suspense, COLOR OF DANGER, is the first in her Secrets of Rios Azules series—set in a fictional small Texas town where rivers and emotions run deep and the richest family in town has a fine taste for food, jewelry, and murder.

Visit Alexa online: website, Facebook, Goodreads

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Friday Freebies

6 Mar

Three Little Words

Three Little Words by Melissa Tagg

Link:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ava Kingsley and Seth Walker might be the most unlikely friends ever. The only thing these two polar opposites have in common is a knack for wordsmithing. Back in college, they were known for their written sparring in the campus newspaper’s popular “He Says/She Says” column.

At their ten-year college reunion, they pick up right where they left off. Except this time their squabbling leads to a surprising turn: friendship and a year-long exchange of emails. So when Ava approaches a crossroads in her athletics department career in Minnesota, Seth is quick to offer the open apartment above the restaurant he’s been remodeling in Maple Valley, Iowa.

Ava doesn’t know where her career will lead her next, but she’s starting to suspect she might see Seth as more than a pen pal. Which would be exciting…except for the fact that he only sees her as a friend.

As Maple Valley grows on her, Ava wonders if there might be something here for her even though Seth is unavailable. And maybe, just maybe, after all the words the two of them have exchanged over the years, they’ll finally be able to say the three that matter most.

Three Little Words is an e-only novella that gives an exciting introduction to Melissa Tagg’s new series about the charismatic Walker family and the endearing town of Maple Valley!

 

Callie

Callie by Sharon Srock

Link:
Amazon

A baby is dead and Callie Stillman blames herself. Haunted by memories of a tiny coffin, Callie can’t understand how God could expect her to put her heart on the line a second time. But the evasive little girl attending her Sunday School class is so obviously in trouble that Callie finds her resolve cracking.

Iris and Samantha Evans are living on borrowed time. Deserted, orphaned, betrayed, and deceived, they need rescuing in the worst way.

Steve Evans had his life changed by God. A reformed drug addict, he’s searching for the family he abandoned ten years ago and praying for a miracle.

The road to healing is rocky. But as Callie confronts her worst fears by bringing father and daughters together in a risky bid for reconciliation, she realizes that the Evans family aren’t the only ones God wants to rescue from a tortured past.

 

How Sweet the Sound

How Sweet the Sound by Amy Sorrells

Links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

A Southern Novel of Second Chances

From a distance, the Harlans appear to be the perfect Southern family. Wealth and local fame mask the drama and dysfunction swirling through their family line. But as the summer heats up, a flood tide of long hidden secrets surface.

Devastation from a rape followed by the murder of two family members brings three generations of the Harlans together on their pecan plantation in Bay Spring, Alabama. Chief among them is Anniston, who by the time she turned thirteen thought she’d seen it all. But as her heart awakens to the possibility of love, she begins to deal with her loneliness and grief.

This tender coming-of-age tale, inspired by the story of Tamar in 2 Samuel 13, shows how true healing and hope comes only from God. Though our earthly family can wound and disappoint, our heavenly Father brings freedom to those long held captive through His mercy and grace.

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Review: Masterpiece Marriage

11 Feb

Masterpiece Marriage

Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn

After a flood damages the looms at Zenus Dane’s Philadelphia textile mill and the bank demands loan payment, Zenus turns to his aunt for help repurposing his textiles. Trouble is . . . his aunt has already been hired by the lovely yet secretive Englishwoman Mary Varrs. Eager to acquire his aunt’s quilt patterns, Zenus attends the summer Quilting Bee, a social event his aunt has uniquely designed with the secret purpose of finding Zenus a wife. However Zenus only has eyes for Mary, but Mary has no such desire for him. Though his aunt is determined to design a masterpiece marriage, both Zenus and Mary will have to overcome their stubborn ways. Can he realize that love requires stepping out of his routine? And will she recognize that following her heart doesn’t mean sacrificing her ambition?

 

Thoughts:

“Being intentional,” he said, “is a quality more people should possess.”

Gina Welborn has penned a wonderful addition to the Quilts of Love series! Masterpiece Marriage is a beautiful story!

I loved the richness and depth of the historical setting and story details. The tapestry of this story includes so many lovely threads. The characters are complex and charming and the relationship between Englishwoman Mary Varrs and textile mill owner Zenus Dane is delightful. I also enjoyed Zenus’s Aunt Priscilla and her determination to design a masterpiece marriage.

Engaging, humorous, and romantic, Masterpiece Marriage is a pleasure to read! I loved this book and can’t wait to read more from Gina Welborn!

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook

 

Gina Welborn

Gina Welborn wrote public service announcements for a news radio station until she fell in love with writing romances. She’s the author of three Barbour novellas, including the 2014 Selah finalist “Mercy Mild” in ECPA-bestselling Mistletoe Memories, with more novellas to be released over the next two years. 2014 ushers in the release of her novels: The Heiress’s Courtship, The Marshal’s Pursuit, and Masterpiece Marriage. A moderately obsessive fan of Community, Once Upon a Time, and Chopped, Gina lives in Oklahoma with her pastor husband, their five Okie-Hokie children, a box-lab, two rabbits, four guinea pigs, and a fancy Russian dwarf hamster named Tom Bob Deucalion.

To learn more about Gina and her books, please visit http://www.ginawelborn.com/.

 

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

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Cover Reveal + GIVEAWAY: Where Trains Collide

8 Feb

I’m so excited to share Amber Stokes’ cover reveal for Where Trains Collide!  Isn’t it fabulous?  I love it!

WhereTrainsColllide

 

New Adult Contemporary Romance Novella
 
Two hearts racing in different directions will meet where trains collide.
 
Burned out and disillusioned with her chosen career path, Trisha Knolane gives in to impulse and hops on a train bound for Oregon, eager to escape the stress of college for a few days. But what begins as a fun little adventure suddenly collapses into a nightmare when she discovers that her ex-boyfriend is also on board.
 
All her hopes and dreams had once centered on Paul Benson. Now, when Trisha doesn’t know where her current track will lead, Paul’s questions only complicate matters and spark a few of her own.
 
Questions that could change the course of her life.

A heartfelt and thought-provoking contemporary romance novella, Where Trains Collide faces the uncertain season of new adulthood head-on and shows that sometimes a path of broken dreams can lead to life’s best destination.

Coming April 2015

Add to Goodreads

WTC Graphic

 

About the Author

Amber Stokes Author PicAmber Stokes works in marketing for a Christian publisher. On the side, she writes inspirational fiction depicting the seasons of life and love. Her passion for books compelled her to earn a bachelor’s degree in English and to run her own freelance editing and publicity business for over a year. The next step in her career has her happily settled in the Pacific Northwest—a part of the world she’s always considered home. Learn more about her indie-author adventure at http://www.seasonsofastory.blogspot.com.

 

About the Cover Designer

Lena Goldfinch Author PicLena Goldfinch writes romance and fantasy for adults and teens. She’s a sucker for a good old-fashioned romance, whether it’s a novel, novella, or short story, young adult or adult, fantasy or realistic, contemporary or historical. Elements of romance, fantasy, and mystery have a way of creeping into her writing, even when she’s writing historicals or something light and contemporary. Lena has been a finalist in several national writing contests, including the RWA Golden Heart and ACFW Genesis contests. She lives in a scenic small town in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled Black Lab. Visit Lena at http://www.LenaGoldfinch.blogspot.com.

 

GIVEAWAY!

Autumn Earrings - Belle on a Budget

Fall in love with gorgeous autumn earrings by Belle on a Budget (perfect to set aside as a gift for yourself or a friend later on!) and treat yourself now to a little something on Amazon.com with a $5 gift card. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only, and you can enter using the Rafflecopter form below.

Enter the Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY here!

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Friday Freebies

6 Feb

Forsaking All Others

Forsaking All Others by Allison Pittman

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Camilla Fox is alive. The last thing she remembers is being lost in the snow after leaving her home to escape the Mormon faith she no longer calls her own. She’s been taken in by the 5th Infantry Regiment of the US Army and given over to the personal care of Captain Charles Brandon. As she regains her strength, memories of her two children she had to leave behind come flooding back, threatening to break her heart. Camilla is determined to reunite with her daughters. But when news of her father’s grave illness reaches her, she knows she must return to the family farm to reconcile with her father. As spring arrives, Camilla returns to Salt Lake City a changed woman, but nothing could prepare her for the changes to the city, to the Mormon church, and to the family she left behind.

 

Firewall

Firewall by DiAnn Mills

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

After a whirlwind romance, Taryn Young is preparing to board a plane at Houston International Airport, bound for a dream honeymoon, when a bomb decimates the terminal. Injured but still alive, she awakens to discover her husband is missing and they’re both considered prime suspects in the attack. Further, the FBI is convinced her husband isn’t who he appears to be.Agent Grayson Hall’s number-one priority is to catch those responsible for the day’s act of terror. All evidence is pointing to Taryn and her new husband. But his instinct tells him her pleas of innocence are genuine. Is her naivete just for show, or could she truly be another victim of a master scheme, possibly linked to the software she recently developed for her company?With both their lives and reputations on the line, and the media outcry for justice increasing with each passing minute, Taryn and Grayson have no choice but to trust one another . . . and pray they can uncover the truth before they become two more casualties.

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Review: Christmas Underdogs

4 Feb

Christmas Underdogs

Christmas Underdogs by Connie Cameron

Christmas is supposed to be a season of joy and gladness. But sometimes it can be a season of pain and sorrow. For author Connie Cameron, Christmas of 2009 was just that.  However, Connie was reminded that she didn’t have to succumb to the pity party; she had a choice. When she trusted God in the midst of her sadness, He worked behind the scenes in her heart and in the hearts of others.

Thoughts:

Christmas Underdogs is an inspiring book! Connie Cameron shares seasons of joy and seasons of sorrow in this touching, personal story. I enjoyed the wit, wisdom, and candidness with which she recounts her journey helping underdogs, both canine and human. Christmas Underdogs is a heartfelt tale that will bring laughter and tears and encourage you to open your heart to those around you!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through The Book Club Network. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own and no monetary compensation was received.

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$0.99 Sale- Love Finds You on Christmas Morning

24 Dec

LFY- Christmas Morning

Love Finds You on Christmas Morning is on sale for only $0.99!

Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Two women receive marriage proposals in the same house—eighty-five years apart. Love finds a home on Christmas morning in two heartwarming holiday stories.

“Deck the Halls” – In 1925, the wealthy William Tronnier becomes smitten with the lovely but penniless Lillian Pickard. As Christmas descends on the picturesque town of Cary, North Carolina, William plans to make Lillian a proposal she can’t refuse. DEBBY MAYNE is the author of more than a dozen books and lives with her husband in Florida. Read more at http://www.debbymayne.com.

“Tis the Season”- Nikki Tronnier moves back home in Cary, North Carolina, with plans to buy back the Tronnier family home built by her great-grandfather, William, for his bride, Lillian. But before she is able to make an offer, the handsome Drew Cornell buys the house just before Christmas.  TRISH PERRY is an award-winning, multipublished novelist who makes her home in Virginia. Read more at http://www.trishperry.com.

 

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