Monday, November 4, 2019

The Roll of the Drums by Jan Drexler

An author I read before so  I knew immediately that I was going to read this quickly.  I did.  I was left with wanting more.  I was so glad to see that there will be another book in this series.



The two main characters are Ruby and Gideon. They both make promises that they don't know if they can keep.  Life doesn't always go as planned.  Ruby and Gideon must work out past regrets in order to go forward in their lives.

You can't help loving Ruby.  Ruby is like her name: a jewel.  She is a treasure. Gideon is a loving husband and a good father.  What can happen when unexpected circumstances brings them together?

I loved the story and the community it is based in.  Jan Drexler did a spectacular job making you feel that you were part of the family.  I highly recommend end picking up this book. 

Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7


I received this free from Revell Books to review.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Amish Front Porch Stories



I can't thank Wanda Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter and Richelle Brunstetter enough.  I just finished another great collection of stories by them last night.

This collection was extra special as each story had a Bible passage at the conclusion of the story.  The valuable lessons pertained to each one of us at one time or another.

Miriam's Care struck my heart.  It brought back the struggles we had when my mother-in-law was suffering from dementia. 

Laura's Choice gives you hope.  The Bible verse for this story is one we need to remember:

I waited patiently for the Lord;
and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.   PSALM 40:1

This is a special book that would be a fantastic gift for anyone on your list.  I usually pass on books to my Mother after I am done but this might be a keeper on my bookshelf.

A winner! 

Amish Front Porch Stories

{November 2019}
Come and sit awhile as you enjoy 18 fictional short stories of love, joy, and the peace found in Amish country.
Amish Country is known for an atmosphere of peace and quiet, perfect for front-porch sitting with a good book. Join New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, her daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, as they share 18 heartwarming stories from Amish Country. These fictional short stories include journeys we can all relate to as we seek how to live led by love, joy, peace, patience, and other Fruits of the Spirit. Meet Anna, who struggles to show love to a cantankerous neighbor; Laura, who endures infertility; Nora, whose pride threatens to consume her life; and other women who walk in their faith each day.


Saturday, October 26, 2019

Aiming For Love (Brides of Hope Mountain)



The  Nordegren Sisters lived in seclusion. They never left their area as they were led to believe that harm would come to them.  How often are we too afraid to go out of our safe zone?  What do we risk if we take a step outside the box?

So many times in my life I had to take those steps (sometimes voluntary and sometimes forced).   With each step comes growth.

Jo was more adventurous than her sisters.  She was willing to take a risk.  And with this risk, she gained so much more.

There will be more books to follow as we get to know Jo's sisters better.  Ilsa and Ursula each have lessons to learn and hopefully take a leap of faith in their journeys towards love.

I received this free from Celebrate Lit to review.

About the Book

Book: Aiming for Love
Author: Mary Connealy
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: October 2, 2019
Aiming for LoveJosephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world–a world she’s been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls’ secret home, her older sister is especially frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.
 David’s parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. But his father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Connealy_MaryMary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Learn more at www.maryconnealy.com.

More from Mary

What it would do to someone to run wild from nearly their earliest memory?
What if three young girls had the basic skills to survive a rugged life but no adults to guide them?
Would they grow up to be a completely odd and untamed version of themselves, or the truest, in some ways most honest version?
I wanted to explore that idea: wild children, tough young women, afraid of the invading world, but lonely, too. So I created the plot for my Brides of Hope Mountain series by mixing the three little girls who’d grown up wild on the top of a mountain with some fairy tale ideas.
Book one, Aiming for Love, is Josephine Nordegren’s story. I had this vision of Ariel the mermaid seeing a man for the first time when strangers invade the high valley she lives in with only her two sisters. Curiosity is her besetting sin, or so she’s always been told. She has wilderness skills, mainly in the form of owning a bow and arrow and understanding wild animals, but for the first time, she is drawn to a man.
Jo needs to be tamed, or Dave, the man she can’t stop watching from in the woods, needs to learn the ways of the wild, because they’re out of place in each other’s worlds.

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, October 25
Moments With Mercy, October 25
Bigreadersite , October 25
Emily Yager, October  25
Quiet Workings, October 26
Stories By Gina, October 27
Older & Smarter?, October 28
Betti Mace, October 28
Wishful Endings, October 28
The Becca Files, October 29
Mary Hake, October 29
Mamma Loves Books, October 29
Britt Reads Fiction, October 30
Hallie Reads, October 31
Connect in Fiction, October 31
Daysong Reflections, November 1
Splashes of Joy, November 1
Moments, November 2
Batya’s Bits, November 2
She Lives To Read, November 2
EmpowerMoms, November 3
Remembrancy, November 3
Blessed & Bookish, November 4
Pause for Tales , November 5
Texas Book-aholic, November 6
janicesbookreviews, November 6
A Reader’s Brain, November 7
Leona J. Atkinson, November 7
Lukewarm Tea, November 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away a grand prize package of a $20 Amazon gift card, a copy of Aiming for Love, and a copy of Fairy Tales from Around the World!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

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.

Amish Friends Comfort Foods Cookbook

I am not known as being a cook.  I am usually the one that brings the pop or napkins to a party.  I sure don't expect to be the next Foo...