Thursday, October 24, 2019

A Distance Too Grand by Regina Scott




I have travelled by plane, car, bus, train, boat and r.v. throughout the U.S. and in other countries.  I have seen mountains and oceans. I have experienced the beautiful countryside of small villages and majestic views. So travelling West with Meg and Ben was a delight.  I was able to "picture" what Meg was trying to accomplish.

I enjoyed going on this adventure.  The scenery was so realistically described that you could actually see yourself in those glorious locations.

Meg didn't believe she could do it all.  She was driven to be the best photographer she could be.  Because of this, marriage or having a relationship could not be an option.  This is so different in today's world.

This is Book One of a new series by Regina Scott.  I really look forward to reading the next book.  I love being able to travel and not leave my recliner!!!

I received this free from Revell to review.

About Regina

Regina Scott started writing novels in the third grade. Thankfully for literature as we know it, she didn't actually sell her first Regency romance novel until she had learned a bit more about writing such as vocabulary, sentence structure, and plot. After numerous short stories and articles in magazines and trade journals, she got serious about her novel writing. The Regency romance The Unflappable Miss Fairchild was her first novel to be published (March 1998). In 2011, she was delighted to move into Christian romance with the publication of The Irresistible Earl. October 2019 will mark her debut for prestigious publisher Revell. Her novels have been translated into Dutch, German, Italian, and Portuguese; and a large number have been issued in hardcover, large print editions. She has twice won the prestigious RT Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice award for best historical Christian romance of its type, for The Heiress's Homecoming in 2013 and Would-Be Wilderness Wife in 2015.
Regina Scott and her husband are the parents of two sons. They reside in the Puget Sound area of Washington State on the way to Mt. Rainier and are members of the Church of the Nazarene. Regina Scott is a graduate of the University of Washington. She comes by her writing talent naturally--both her parents were excellent writers in their vocations as teacher and electrical technician. Her mother envisioned the plot for "Sweeter Than Candy," the novella which was written as a tribute to her.
Regina Scott has learned to fence, driven four-in-hand, dressed as a Regency dandy, and sailed on a tall ship, all in the name of research, of course. Her extensive historical, fantasy, and science fiction costume collection takes up the entire closet in her office.
 

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Misty Beller's Hope's Highest Mountain




A few years ago I was introduced to Misty Beller's work.  I have made sure that I have read every one of her books since then!!! So with anticipation I started to read her newest addition.  I was not disappointed.

Ingrid was determined to accomplish her mission.  GOD was by her side and with his guidance she would complete the task.

Micah never got over his grief.  He had doubts and fears that he couldn't shake off on his own.

GOD is always there for us.  He is ready and eager to hear our prayers.  He can strengthen us.  He can comfort us in times of need.  Ingrid and Micah's survival was based on their faith and belief that GOD was with them in their struggles.   He would not desert them.

I couldn't put this book down.  I loved it.  I enjoyed getting to know Ingrid and Micah.  I look forward to the next book in this series.

I received this free from Celebrate Lit to review.

About the Book

Book: Hope’s Highest Mountain
Author: Misty M. Beller
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: October, 2019
Hope's Highest MountainWhen Ingrid Chastain agreed to accompany her father to deliver vaccines to a mining town in the Montana Territory, she never could have anticipated a terrible accident would leave her alone and badly injured in the wilderness. Rescue comes in the form of a mysterious mountain man who tends her injuries, but she’s hesitant to put her trust in this man who seems to have wounds of his own.
 After tragedy struck his family, Micah Bradley left his work as a doctor and escaped to the wilds of Montana. But his self-imposed solitude is broken when he finds Ingrid in desperate need of medical attention, and he’s forced to call on his doctoring skills once again.
 Micah can’t help but admire Ingrid’s tenacity despite the severity of her injuries, until he learns the crate she brought contains smallpox vaccines to help quell a nearby outbreak. With Ingrid dead set on delivering the medicine–with or without his help–he has no choice but to accompany her. As they set off through the treacherous, snow-covered Rocky Mountains against all odds, the journey ahead will change their lives more than they could have known.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Beller_MistyAfter working for 13 years in the corporate world, Misty M. Beller (mistymbeller.com) is now the author of fourteen independently published Christian historical romance novels. Raised on a farm in South Carolina, she combines her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life by writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. She lives outside Charlotte, North Carolina, is an active member of ACFW, and teaches regularly at conferences and writing groups on effective book marketing.

More from Misty

Remember Lassie? Old Yeller? Chance and Shadow from the movie Homeward Bound? There was something about these dogs that gripped my heartstrings and made me love them as though I’d known them for years. (And, yes, I cried during every one of these movies and books.)
Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had real dogs I’ve loved too. As far back as I can remember, we’ve had at least one or two dogs, and each one has been my very best friend. They’ve suffered my undying love, even allowing me to dress them up like dolls during my younger years.
But the dogs in my stories have a special place in my heart. Handsome, the sweet little black fluffball in Hope’s Highest Mountain is no exception! He was the runt of the litter, and such a dark black that the story’s hero nicknamed him Shadow. You can see the picture that inspired Handsome at the book’s Pinterest page. Those eyes! Hard not to fall in love, right?
The more I wrote in the story, the more I enjoyed getting to know this little guy, and I could almost feel his soft puppy fur as he snuggled in close. I completely see why Ingrid (the heroine) is smitten him! As you read Hope’s Highest Mountain, I hope you love Handsome as much as I do. Please give him some extra petting for me! ?

Blog Stops

Sara Jane Jacobs, October 12
Betti Mace, October 13
Blessed & Bookish, October 14
Texas Book-aholic, October 14
Genesis 5020, October 14
janicesbookreviews, October 16
Mary Hake, October 16
Batya’s Bits, October 17
Connect in Fiction, October 17
Older & Smarter?, October 18
Life of Literature, October 18
A Reader’s Brain, October 18
The Becca Files, October 19
Splashes of Joy , October 19
Moments, October 20
Daysong Reflections, October 21
Wishful Endings, October 21
Joy of Reading , October 21
Pause for Tales, October 22
Britt Reads Fiction, October 22
Lis Loves Reading, October 23
Bigreadersite , October 23
Live. Love. Read. , October 24
Hallie Reads, October 24
Remembrancy, October 25
Mia Reads Blog, October 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of Hope’s Highest Mountain, a $20 B&N gift card, and cute mountain cards!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.


Tuesday, October 8, 2019

One More River To Cross



Jane Kirkpatrick hit another one out of the park.  It's not a light read.  It's difficult at times but you have to turn the page to find out what happens next. The story is about a wagon train that left Missouri going to California. Winter arrived and decisions had to be made.  This is based on a real event.

The women were "being controlled by domineering men. " They basically had no say in decisions that impacted their futures.   They were at their mercy.  This was in 1844. This did not sit well with them.

This wonderful book demonstrates courage, strength and determination.  As you read you question yourself as to what you would do?  I loved seeing the growth of the characters as they are faced with situations that could make or break them.  I became part of their family as I got to know them as they shared their stories. 

Beautiful story.  Heartwarming. 

I received this free to review from Revell.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Stitches In Time


Some lines in this book resonated with me.  Messages we received as children can have a lasting affect on how we look at ourselves.  I always saw myself as the smart one.  I didn't feel pretty.  I felt like the fat one. No one told me I was but I compared myself to my peers.  But when I see pictures of my young self, it wasn't the case.  Because of the message I received, I was self-conscious....quiet.


It took me years to free myself from these negative messages.  The messages I gave myself.  Izzy, Luke, Sam and Mollie lived their lives listening to those negative messages. What would it take for them to shake off these thoughts?

This book reminds you that you are capable of reprogramming your thoughts with GOD's help.  God is there to listen.  He is there to comfort you.  He is always there to heal and lead you in the right direction.

Great story.  Suzanne Woods Fisher brings the characters alive to me.  I found myself reaching for a kleenex.  I loved the book and I loved the ending.  

I received this book for free from Celebrate Lit to review.

About the Book
Book: Stitches in Time
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Genre: Contemporary Amish fiction
Release Date: October 1, 2019
Detachment had worked well as a life strategy for horse trainer Sam Schrock. Until he met Mollie Graber . . .
New to Stoney Ridge, schoolteacher Mollie has come to town for a fresh start. Aware of how fleeting and fragile life is, she wants to live it boldly and bravely. When Luke Schrock, new to his role as deacon, asks the church to take in foster girls from a group home, she’s the first to raise her hand. The power of love, she believes, can pick up the dropped stitches in a child’s heart and knit them back together.
Mollie envisions sleepovers and pillow fights. What the 11-year-old twins bring to her home is anything but. Visits from the sheriff at midnight. Phone calls from the school truancy officer. And then the most humiliating moment of all: the girls accuse Mollie of drug addiction.
There’s only one thing that breaks through the girls’ hard shell–an interest in horses. Reluctantly and skeptically, Sam Schrock gets drawn into Mollie’s chaotic life. What he didn’t expect was for love to knit together the dropped stitches in his own heart . . . just in time.
Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the little Amish church of Stoney Ridge for a touching story of the power of love.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Carol-award winner Suzanne Woods Fisher writes untold stories about inspiring people. With over one million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction, ranging from Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World to the historical novel Anna’s Crossing.

More from Suzanne

Have you ever felt the tug to become a foster parent?
On any given day, there are nearly 438,000 children in foster care in the United States. Most states have a critical need for more foster parents, and the number of children placed in foster care increases yearly.
There are plenty of assumptions about having foster children, but most are incorrect. The media has a tendency to focus on the negative, but from all the research I conducted to write this book, for every bad news story, there were two good ones. Good stories just don’t make the news.
Below are some of the most common assumptions about foster care, with corrected information that is applicable across the United States (but keep in mind that each state has their own requirements).

Myth: Kids in foster care are bad or troubled.
Truth: Children in foster care are good kids taken out of a troubled situation. They need a caring foster parent who is patient and understanding. When given the opportunity, most of these children begin to thrive.

Myth: To be a foster parent, you need to be married and own a home and be a college graduate.
Truth: You don’t need to be married or to own a home or even be a college graduate. That means if you’re single or renting, you can be a foster parent.

Myth: I can’t afford to be a foster parent.
Truth: There are monthly reimbursement rates for children in foster care based on the level of care you provide. Medical and dental care is paid through state Medicaid programs.

Myth: Most kids in foster care are teenagers.
Truth: The average age of a child entering foster care is seven years old.

Myth: Most kids are in foster care because their parents have abused drugs.
Truth: Now, this one is not a myth. It’s true. There are fifteen categories that can be responsible for a child’s removal from a home. Drug abuse from a parent has had the largest percentage increase.

Myth: Fostering could require a commitment until the child turns eighteen.
Truth: Generally, children remain in state care for less than two years. Only six percent spend five or more years in foster care.

Myth: It’s too hard to give a child up to his biological family.
Truth: Most children are in foster care for a short time, returning to their biological families. Reuniting a child to his family is the ideal situation. Foster families provide a safe haven for a child. Healthy grieving is to be expected, but it’s for the right reasons. It’s healthy.

Myth: You can’t adopt foster children.
Truth: In 2016, more than 65,000 children—whose mothers and fathers parental rights were legally terminated—waiting to be adopted. Also in 2016, more than 20,000 children “aged out” of foster care without permanent families. Research has shown that those who leave care without being linked to a “forever family” have a higher likelihood than the general youth population to experience homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration as adults.

Is there room in your heart and family for a child in need? There are many ways to get involved, some that do not even require foster care. One recommendation: volunteer with The National CASA Association (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children. You can find out more information here: www.casaforchildren.org.
Or consider small ways to connect to children in need—after school tutoring at your public library. Volunteering at a community center. Buy Christmas gifts for a family in need through an Adopt-a-Family program with a local church. Support a family who does provide foster care with respites—babysitting or meals. There’s many ways to get involved to care for children in need. And every little bit makes a difference.

Blog Stops

The Power of Words, September 26
The Becca Files, September 26
SusanLovesBooks, September 26
Through the Fire Blogs, September 27
Anne Rightler, September 28
Texas Book-aholic, September 28
Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 29
Blogging With Carol , September 29
Hookmeinabook , September 29
The Avid Reader, September 30
Mia Reads, September 30
janicesbookreviews, October 1
CarpeDiem, October 1
Stories By Gina, October 2
Activating Faith, October 2
A Reader’s Brain, October 3
EmpowerMoms, October 3
Wishful Endings, October 3
Pause for Tales, October 4
Quiet Quilter, October 5
Vicky Sluiter, October 5
Hallie Reads, October 5
Bigreadersite, October 7
By The Book, October 7
She Lives to Read, October 7
Moments, October 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of her book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham



Letter writing has become a lost art.  I loved receiving mail from my grandparents who lived in England.  I would get excited when I saw a letter in the mailbox from them.  Now over 50 years later I can pull out a letter and relive the moment.  I have a token of their love saved.

Do you believe in destiny?  Was Penny meant to meet Thomas?  When one of his letters landed in the dead letter office, she was intrigued.  She knew she had to make sure the letter got to it's recipient.

Have you ever made a decision on impulse?  What happened?  Did you live to regret it?  Penny and Thomas' story would have been different if she wasn't the one who got his letter.

All our stories would have been different if we didn't take a chance or a gamble.  Some examples are leaving one job for another, entering a relationship and sometimes just taking a risk.

Penny took a leap of faith that she was doing the right thing.  Her risk left her vulnerable but it was worth it.  Could Thomas take that chance?

I really enjoyed the story.  I also loved where the author spoke of how her husband and her have made memory books of their love story.  Very sweet and romantic.

I recommend this book to others that need to remember that life is about taking risks.  It can pay off.

I received this free to review from Revell Books.

The Pick-Pocket Orphans

  A sad but inspiring story of two young people who made the best of their unfortunate circumstances. Alice couldn't live with her fathe...