Saturday, June 27, 2020

A Bride of Convenience by Jody Hedlund

Zoe traveled far to escape her hardships in England and to find her brother.  Abe was determined to further his career.  But something called marriage interfered in both of their plans.  Zoe found herself  A BRIDE OF CONVENIENCE.

I loved the story.  You can't help but love Zoe.  She had a giving heart.  Abe fought his attraction to Zoe as he was fixated on a lost love.  He took too much time focusing on what he didn't have or what he wanted to achieve. He almost lost it all.

Many people are in the same situation.  We spend so much time trying to achieve a goal or envy what our neighbor has.  We don't realize how blessed we are.  We sometimes realize this after it is too late. 

I received this book for free to review. 

A great story that I know my friends and family would enjoy. 

Author: 
Series: The Bride Ships Series, Book 3
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Year: 2020
ASIN: 0764232975
ISBN: 9780764232978
Unemployed mill worker Zoe Hart jumps at the opportunity to emigrate to British Columbia in 1863 to find a better life and be reunited with her brother, who fled from home after being accused of a crime.

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

The Highest of Hopes by Susan Anne Mason

Emmaline had the Highest of Hopes when she travelled to Canada to search for her father.  Jonathan had the Highest of Hopes that Emmaline could love him.

They both learned that feelings such as love and affection can not be forced.   It is a gift that is given to you without it being a competition or contest.

You don't have to earn GOD's love.  You don't have to impress GOD for him to love you.  His love is constant.

This is the second book of the Canadian Crossings Series.  I read the first book of the series.  They each can stand alone but a few characters in Book one appear in Book two. I have Book three ready!!!!


I received this free from Bethany House to review.

Book Cover for "The Highest of Hopes"Book 2: The Highest of Hopes
For Years She Searched for Somewhere to Belong.
But is She Looking in the Right Place?
Emmaline Moore and her best friend, Jonathan Rowe, travel to Canada to find the father she never knew. Instead of the joyful reunion she anticipates, however, she finds Randall Moore is more concerned about his bid to become mayor of Toronto than getting to know his daughter. Jonathan has secretly loved Emma for years and hopes that during their trip he can win her heart. When she informs him that she has no intention of returning to England, Jonathan begins to despair. Will she ever come to see that Jonathan is her true home?
headshot of SusanI have always loved to write. As a teen, I wrote my first novel, only to be politely rejected by my publisher of choice.
Life got in the way – university, marriage and children became the priority. Then once I had time to start reading again, the writing bug bit once more.
I enjoy writing both contemporary and historical Inspirational romances. “Romance sprinkled with faith” describes my writing style. I love themes of forgiveness and redemption!
I am a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Romance Writers of America. My association with such amazing groups of people has been the biggest asset toward learning my craft.
Home for me is Brampton, Ontario, Canada (near Toronto), where I live with my husband and our two children. My day job is a part-time secretary at a local church. In my spare time, I like to read and research our family history online.

Monday, June 8, 2020

The Best of Intentions

I just finished this touching book by Susan Anne Mason.  I was sad for it to end but I already have the next book in the Canadian Crossings Series.

I couldn't put the book down.  I loved Grace and her compassion.  I wanted to shake Andrew because of his sense of responsibility.  I wanted to shout at Mr. Easton for being so stubborn and set in his ways.

I highly recommend this book.  I can't wait to give it to my Mother to read.  Ms. Mason wrote such a beautiful story that I have to share. 

I received this book for free from Bethany House to review.




Susan Anne Mason

Susan Anne Mason's (www.susanannemason.net) historical novel Irish Meadows won the Fiction from the Heartland contest from the Mid-American Romance Authors Chapter of RWA as well as the Christian Retailer's Choice Award for Debut Novel. A member of ACFW, Susan lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children.

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Wanda Brunstetter's Amish Friends Farmhouse Favorites Cookbook

I am not a cook.  I never have pretended to be.  The funny thing is that I love collecting cookbooks and antique kitchen items.

I can't resist cookbooks and when I received one by Wanda Brunstetter...well..I did a little happy dance.

This cookbook will be one I will use instead of it just sitting on my shelf.  I found a few recipes that I am ready to make.

The pictures are great and the pages are sturdy. It is not flimsy.  

A great addition is the section with tips and suggestions to use in the home.  

This will make a wonderful gift for anyone who loves to cook or someone like me.  It's my birthday this month so it couldn't have come at a better time.  Thanks, Wanda Brunstetter!  

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."I





Friday, June 5, 2020

What Momma Left Behind

Cindy K. Sproles wrote this touching story of Worie Dressar.  Worie thought she had a heavy load on her shoulders.  But it was more than she could imagine.

The Bible tells us:

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).

Worie with the help of Pastor Jess came to the realization that she wasn't alone.  She had a family.  Unconventional it might be but what defines a family?

Worie, Calvin and Justice were Children of God that Momma Louise loved and cared for.  They were not the only ones.  It is no wonder that Worie took after her.  Her arms were wide enough to hold them.  Her heart was large enough to love.



I received this free from Revell Books to review.

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

The Lady and the Mountainman



I know when I pick up a Misty Beller book that I am in for a treat.  She has a way to make her characters come alive.

Leah was a lady.  She knew what was expected of her but she can't do it.  Her life was in jeopardy.

Gideon was a mountain man.  He got the jobs done.  He focussed on his chores and kept everyone at a distance. He had to.  He wasn't willing to take a chance.

Until......Leah showed up.

GOD had a plan for them.  GOD makes no mistakes.

In the moment, we often question why or how come when something bad happens.   Sometimes we feel our Prayers are not heard of answered.  GOD always hears our prayers. He wants the best for us.  We must trust and believe.

Leah and Gideon had their doubts and fears.  GOD was there to guide them.

I received this free from Celebrate Lit to review.



Genre: Christian historical romance
Title: The Lady and the Mountain Man
Author Name: Misty M. Beller
Series Info: (The Mountain Series, Book 1)

Book link to get the eBook: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/wfrrm3vc0j

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MQB7F4U
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-lady-and-the-mountain-man-misty-m-beller/1120376441?ean=9780998208718


Hook: When a murder plot forces a Southern belle onto a ranch in the wild Montana mountains, love is the last thing she expects to find.

Back cover blurb:
Leah Townsend, a recently orphaned heiress, flees Richmond after discovering her fiancé’s plot to kill her after their wedding. She needs a safe place to hide, and finds herself accepting a newspaper marriage proposal from a God-fearing young rancher in the Montana Territory. But when Leah arrives at the mountain ranch, she learns her intended husband was killed by a grizzly, leaving behind a bitter older brother and a spunky younger sister.
When Gideon Bryant finds an eastern lady standing in his log cabin, his first thought is to send her back where she came from. He’s lost too many people to the wild elements of these mountains––his parents, his wife, and now his brother. His love for this untamed land lives on, but he’s determined not to open his heart to another person.
But when an accident forces Leah to stay at the ranch for seven more months, can Gideon protect his heart from a love he doesn’t want? Has Leah really escaped the men who seek her life?

Author Bio:
Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.
She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
God has placed a desire in Misty's heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God's abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Author Links:
http://www.twitter.com/MistyMBeller
https://www.facebook.com/MistyMBellerAuthor
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/misty-m-beller
https://www.goodreads.com/MistyMBeller
http://www.pinterest.com/MistyMBeller
https://amazon.com/author/mistymbeller


Tweets:
When a murder plot forces a Southern belle onto a ranch in the wild Montana mountains, love is the last thing she expects to find. THE LADY AND THE MOUNTAIN MAN by @MistyMBeller  https://amzn.to/32igd9z #christfiction #amreading

Like to #amreading Christian historical romance? With over 1700 Amazon reviews, THE LADY AND THE MOUNTAIN MAN by @MistyMBeller is a bestseller you won’t want to miss! https://amzn.to/32igd9z #christfiction #historicalromance
  1.  historical romanceTitle:The Lady and the Mountain

Monday, May 25, 2020

On a Coastal Breeze

We all experience fear at some point in our lives. How we handle this fear determines our future.  It can cripple or strengthen us.

Maddie and her sisters each suffered some type of anxiety.   On a Coastal Breeze describes how they handled their anxieties and the impact on their lives.

Pastor Rick was new to the job but not to Maddie. He gave her many reasons to feel anxious. He made her heart beat a little faster.  Was he worth taking a risk and facing her fears?

I love this story.  I read the first book of the series and I was hooked.  I know that I'll be first in line for the next one.  

I received this free from Celebrate Lit to review.


About the Book

Book:  On A Coastal Breeze
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Genre:  Amish Romance
Release Date: May 5, 2020
On A Coastal BreezeFor Madison Grayson, life is good. Newly licensed as a marriage and family therapist, she can’t wait to start her practice. Despite the unfortunate shortage of eligible bachelors on the island–they’re all too young, too old, or too weird–Maddie feels like she’s finally found her sweet spot. Not even one panic attack in the last year. Not one.
And then Ricky O’Shea drops in. Literally. Floating down from the pure blue sky, the one man in the world she hoped never to see again–the one who’d been her archnemesis from kindergarten through her senior dance–parachutes into town, landing on Boon Dock, canopy draping behind him like a superhero. Ricky O’Shea. Now Pastor Rick, the new minister on Three Sisters Island.
Time to panic.
With wit and a bit of whimsy, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Three Sisters Island where family, forgiveness, and a second chance at love await.


Click here to get your copy!




About the Author

suzanne woods fisherSuzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than thirty books, including On a Summer Tide, as well as the Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop’s Family, The Deacon’s Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, among other novels. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Facebook @SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor and Twitter @suzannewfisher.

More from Suzanne

Dear Reader,

The minute you step off the ferry and onto Three Sister Island, magic begins. Crisp ocean air acts like an elixir. Stress starts to evaporate, like a wisp of steam from a cup of hot tea. Happiness moves in, and you’ll feel more cheerful, more positive about the future.
And then there’s time! Somehow, there seems to be plenty of it.

Little things will catch your notice—finding seashells on the beach, watching waves crash against the rocks, gazing at the star-studded night sky.

Life just starts to slow down…and you wonder if you really want to ever leave Three Sisters Island.

Nor do you have to! That’s the beauty of books—they are the perfect escape. Always available, just waiting to be picked up. Always ready to transport you to a fresh and new state of mind.

On a Coastal Breeze is that kind of a read. The Grayson Family saga continues as they move to Three Sisters Island off the coast of Maine for a fresh start. Maddie Grayson takes center stage in this story. Life is finally coming together for Maddie. On the very day she opens her counseling practice, she spots a billowing skydiver. Parachuting in is Ricky O’ Shea—the one person on earth Maddie hoped she’d never see again. But Rick’s the new pastor for the island’s only church and he’s not about to leave. That’s when sparks start to fly.

Join me for a getaway by the sea that will leave you in a happy, relaxed, vacation-y state of mind…without leaving your home. Once you board the Never Late Ferry, even in your imagination, the island will take it from there.

Warmly, Suzanne

https://promosimple.com/ps/fb52/on-a-coastal-breeze-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, May 18, 2020

The Wedding Dress

Enjoyable read. I haven't read one of Danielle Steele's books in ages. I have no idea why???

I enjoy multi-generational books. This story was about three generations and the consequences of the depression on them all.

I love the women characters. They all were strong in various degrees. At times, I wanted to shake one or two but they had to learn.

Great read on a cold, wet, quarantined day!!!

Someone Like You

A powerful book about the consequences of modern science. Karen never disappoints. This is a stand alone book but it's wonderful to visit the Baxter family again.

I loved the story and read it in one day. How can you not worry about Maddie? How can she handle the truth?

GOD has A plan for each one of us. We don't always understand but things will work out. I truly believe that GOD arranged my meeting with my husband. He knew that I went through some hard times and he was trying to tell me.... "Hold on, Jeanette. I am always with you. Everything will be ok...Just wait and see."

Thank you, Karen. I will continue to be one of your biggest fans!!!!

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Karen Witemeyer's AT LOVE'S COMMAND

I always enjoy a book where the female lead is not a shrinking violet.  Josephine is certainly not that.  She is opinionated.  She is sassy.  She is smart.  And she is a doctor!

Matt had no room for romance in his life.  He just didn't meet Dr. Jo yet.

Matt is the whole package.  He is handsome, strong and a decent man.  He valued Jo's strengths and loved her for them.

Two strong characters that are drawn to each other, both fighting their feelings but realizing that love can't be denied.  Disaster strikes and each must fight for what they hold dear.

I loved how their faith carried them in good times and bad.  Their faith encouraged them when it appeared that all was lost.  They never gave up. During these times in the coronavirus pandemic, it is important to hold on to our faith.

I enjoyed this story and look forward to more books in the series.  You can't go wrong with any books written by Karen Witemeyer.







Starfish Pier by Irene Hannon

Starfish Pier is located in a small town called Hope Harbor.  Sounds like a place I would love to live in.  Everyone knows your name.  A community where the residents look out for each other.  Of course, the drawback is that everyone knows your business.

I was drawn to one character as I turned the pages.  Pete came to Hope Harbor without hope.  He lost himself.  He thought he knew what his plane were until he met his neighbor. He was an example of a "changed" man.

He wasn't the only one who changed or grew in this lovely story.  Many of the characters had demons that they lived with.

Irene Hannon clearly demonstrated that we can conquer our fears, our demons with GOD by our side and with the help of others.  We don't have to do it alone.

I loved the story and was sad to see it end.  I will look for the other books in this series as I am confident that they would be just as enjoyable.

I received this free from Revell Books to review.

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...