Masterpiece Marriage - a Litfuse Review

Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn
Series: Quilts of Love
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (December 16, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426773633

Read Chapter 1 here! Click on "Excerpt" to download and read.

Book Description

He wants to save his business. She wants to be a professor. But are they asking for more than they can really have?

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?

My Thoughts
Set in the late 1800s when America was going through big changes in industry, women's rights, and breakthroughs in science and knowledge in general, this was a book that I truly enjoyed! I haven't read very many books set in this time period, and it has been a pleasure to plunge into that time!

Zenus Dane's textile factory was horrifically damaged by flooding. His business future loomed very grim, until he decided to reconnect with his Aunt Priscilla in the hope that she can help him come up with a quilt pattern that he can market to try to salvage his loss.

Mary Varrs is Aunt Priscilla's neighbor. Mary, who is working diligently to become a professor, becomes part of Aunt Priscilla's plot to find her nephew a wife. Mary wants none of that. And really, neither does Zenus.

The story matter in this story was really very fresh and out-of-the box. Women's suffrage, botany, textile mill--all of those combined into a novel centered around a quilting theme. Love it!

The characters were enjoyable. I found myself laughing quite a bit and definitely felt drawn in continually. 

Loved this read, and I would highly recommend it!

 

About the Author
Gina Welborn is the author of several novels and novellas, including The Heiress’s Courtship. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers; the president of Faith, Hope and Love; and one of the founding members of InkwellInspirations.com. She lives in Cache, Oklahoma, with her pastor husband and their five children. Visit her online at GinaWelborn.com.



I've been given a copy of Masterpiece Marriage by Litfuse Publicity Group, in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

Swept Away - a Litfuse review

Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven
Series: Quilts of Love
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (November 18, 2014)
ISBN-10: 1426773625

Read Chapter 1 here! Click on "Excerpt" to download and read.

Book Description
Sara doesn’t think she wants love. But her grandmother has other plans.

Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her ailing, stubborn grandmother. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don’t always go as planned.

Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but his heart is as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane’s grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between Drew and his new employer’s granddaughter.

Still, it doesn’t take Sara Jane long to see Drew isn’t what he seems. Questions arise, and she starts researching him online. What she discovers could change her life—and her heart—forever.

My Thoughts
I have read some truly enjoyable books in the Quilts of Love series. This book is one of those. Reading is a passion, and while my life has been a bit more chaotic than I'd like lately, I try to get in as much reading as I can. Books like this one make my free time (which is already extremely limited) pleasurable.

The books in this series are quick reads (a couple of hours if I my children allow me uninterrupted time ;) ), and are centered around a quilting theme. The characters in this novel are Sara Jane Morgan, a school teacher on summer break, and Andrew Stevenson, a handyman and artsy broom maker. Sara Jane's grandmother Sari has decided, upon meeting Andrew at a craft fair, to set her granddaughter up with him. She hires Andrew to do some home repairs at her house, while Sara Jane spends her days helping Sari go through quilt squares to assemble a quilt. Andrew and Sara Jane are not attracted to each other and buck against Sari's feeble attempts to bring them together. But when Sari starts having some problems, Andrew and Sara Jane are united in helping the elderly woman and find themselves more accepting of each other.

The authors do a wonderful job of sketching the characters, and the scenes were well constructed. However, I found a little annoyance at the characters' treatment of one another. I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't read it, but there's a bit of back and forth annoyance between Andrew, Sari the grandmother, and Sara Jane. Also, there's a bit of story that I'd have liked to have seen fleshed out a bit more--I feel like this story could have continued or been drawn out more, because of the weighty background stories of the characters.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to others who enjoy some light reading!

About the Authors

Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning author and a professional book reviewer. A stay-at-home mom and home school teacher, Laura lives with her family in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas.

Cindy Loven is active in the church and writes from her home in Conway, Arkansas, where she lives with her husband and their son.

          I've been given a copy of Swept Away by Litfuse Publicity Group, in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

A Most Inconvenient Marriage - a Regina Jennings Launch Team review

A Most Inconvenient Marriage
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (December 2, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764211404

Book Description
Abigail Stuart Thought She was Jeremiah Calhoun's Widow.
But Jeremiah Calhoun Is Very Handsome, Very Alive, and Very Perplexed.
Most Inconvenient Indeed.
With few options of her own, nurse Abigail Stuart agrees to marry her patient, a gravely wounded soldier calling himself Jeremiah Calhoun. They arrange a quick ceremony before he dies, giving Abigail the rights to his Ozark farm and giving Jeremiah the peace of knowing someone will care for his ailing sister after he's gone--a practical solution for both of them.

After the war, Abigail fulfills her side of the bargain--until the real Jeremiah Calhoun shows up, injured but definitely alive, and wastes no time in challenging Abigail's story. Abigail is flummoxed. After months of claiming to be his widow, how can she explain that she's never seen this Jeremiah Calhoun before? How can she convince him that she isn't trying to steal his farm? And will she find a way to stay, even though this practical arrangement has turned into a most inconvenient marriage?

My Thoughts
Historical romance is one of my favorite genres. When it's coupled with an inspirational theme, I'm on it! When I had an opportunity to review Regina Jennings' newest novel, I jumped on board. There's nothing that I appreciate more than a well-written novel and characters who seem life-like. Jennings accomplishes both of those. She's an author who, although she's relatively new, manages to tell a story in such vivid detail that I can see the action in my mind as if it were a movie. I like that!

While reading this novel, I found myself having to tear myself away from it. I went through several frustrating real-life situations that demanded my attention during the time that I was attempting to read, and I found myself longing to get my hands on it so that I could continue reading! It isn't often that I carry a book to the bathroom with me to prop up on the counter while I'm fixing my hair or putting on makeup. It's not often that I take a novel along with me in the diaper bag in the hope that I could even sneak in two minutes of reading time somewhere. THIS is one of those books. And because of my desperate attempts to get at it during the chaos that held me captive, the book is a little worn. It now wears the marks of a well-loved novel. lol

The novel's setting takes place just after the Civil War has ended, and its location is in the Ozarks. Prison hospital nurse Abigail Stuart managed to get herself hitched to a dying Civil War prisoner named Jeremiah Calhoun. When he asks her to go back to his home and take care of his sister and his ma, Abigail has no qualms about heading that way. Her own family had basically disowned her because of a misunderstanding, so a trip to the Calhoun property was accepted as her new home. However, when she got "home" and realized that Jeremiah wasn't dead after all, but was instead someone totally different than the man whom she had married, Abigail felt the foundation underneath her begin to crumble.

When Jeremiah got home, injured and war-beaten, and found that some woman claimed to be his bride, he did his best to try to convince everyone that Abigail was definitely not his wife. Jeremiah had someone waiting on him, after all! But when he found out that Laurel had given up on him after hearing that he'd died and instead had set her affections on another, Jeremiah found himself one frustrated man.

I loved this story. There was some interesting and gripping conflict at the end of the novel (that I won't spoil for you) that surprised me. I love when an author can accomplish that element of surprise!

If you've never read any of Regina's novels, I highly, HIGHLY recommend you give her a try! If you're a local, just ask me and I'll loan you my copy of A Most Inconvenient Marriage! ;)

Regina Jennings is one of my favorite authors. She's a relatively new author who has published four novels, all of which I've had the pleasure of reviewing. It has also been my pleasure to be a part of Regina's read and review launch team, which has enabled me to provide feedback directly to Regina, given me the opportunity to have a copy of her novel(s) in exchange for an honest review. My comments are my own and not a paid review.

If you'd like to read more from Regina, check her out on Facebook!

The Bachelor - a Kregel review

The Bachelor: A Novel; Plain City Peace #2

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (October 1, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825442168

Book Description

In this sequel to The Bargain, Betsie Troyer is back home in her Amish community where she knows she belongs, free from the confusing Englisher way of life. She and Charley Yoder have made promises to each other, and her life is back on track--until Gerald Sullivan shows up with his young daughter, asking for Betsie's help. He's on his way to find his estranged wife, and begs Betsie to take young Sheila in.

 

When she agrees, Betsie's carefully planned life is shaken up again. Sheila's newfound faith is troubling to Charley--and his attraction to another girl is beginning to be a problem. But how can Betsie confront him when she is still trying to confront her own feelings about Sheila's brother, Michael? Keeping the peace between the Amish man she's always loved, a twelve-year-old Englisher girl, and a draft-dodging hippie is more than she ever thought she'd have to deal with in her simple, orderly life. Still, Betsie is convinced she can keep things from falling apart completely.

 

Then during her best friend's wedding, tragedy strikes and her world is upended. She has to make a decision: does she love Charley or Michael . . . or is she craving a deeper love that only God can give?

 

The compelling second novel of the Plain City Peace series,The Bachelor deftly weaves together the strands of a solid, simpler time with the turmoil of an era of change, revealing the strengths of both in its powerful narrative.

My Thoughts

A few years ago, I was given the opportunity to read Stephanie's Reed's novel Across the Wide River. I had never read anything written by her before, and I was moved by her writing. I've been a reader of Amish fiction since my teen years when my grandmother introduced me to Beverly Lewis' books, and for many years it was a genre that was my favorite. I don't read a lot of it at this point, due to burn-out, but when I saw that Stephanie's newest novel was available for review, I snagged the opportunity to read some well-written story!

What I love about Stephanie's writing of Amish fiction is that she writes about the Amish people's beliefs accurately, at least in my opinion. That is one of my pet peeves with Amish fiction, and a big reason why I no longer read it like I used to. But that's another story for another day.

Stephanie has a knack for capturing your attention with detail and characters that feel real. She made me feel some real feelings regarding the characters Charley (frustration, anger, appreciation--his character traits ... and flaws ... were evident) and Betsie (frustration, frustration, admiration ... did I mention frustration? lol She just seemed a good bit naive, but I can see how that would be realistic for an Amish young lady.)

Taking place during the 1970s, the story revolves around Betsie Troyer and how she struggles with her mother and father (as well as family members) leaving the Amish faith for mainstream Christianity and moving away. Left as a young adult with her seventeen year old sister Sadie, Betsie is left to fend for herself. Along the way, she struggles with her own standing in the Amish faith and finding a happy medium with an English family in her life. Between Amish fiance Charley and English friend Michael, Betsie has a hard time knowing what's right. Life challenges present themselves and Betsie finds herself at a crossroad, and she has to make a decision.

I highly recommend The Bachelor to anyone who enjoys reading Amish fiction. Stephanie Reed is definitely a name to remember in the Amish fiction world! Check her out!

Stephanie Reed - Facebook

I received The Bachelor as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Kregel Blog Tours.
My comments and opinions are my own.

NaNo Wrimo Update

I officially have become dreadfully behind in my November writing. If you read my previous blog entry, you know why.

Suffice it to say that as soon as I'm feeling well enough (hopefully tomorrow!), my plan is to get this train back on the track and chug away.

But first, I want to share a portion of what I've written so far and shared with my reading group. My goal is to eventually finish and do something with this manuscript. I don't know what I'll do. It may go into the pile with all the other ones I started and never finished, but I hope to get it out of the house and onto someone's desk for perusing. I don't know; we'll see.

Here's a glimpse:

The first time she saw Chad was on a hot July morning. Granna's icy lemonade was causing her glass to sweat. Natasha Howard wiped the condensation with her hand and watched as the cool water slid down her wrist and onto her forearm. She sat on the porch swing, gently rocking, her dirty feet shod in flip-flops that were a size too small. She hadn't asked Poppy and Granna for new ones because she hated new shoes, flip-flops included.

She sighed, wishing there was something to do. She was just wishing it was time for school to start when a baseball sailed over the wooden fence. It took a long arc, and Natasha suddenly sat up, worried that it was going to hit--

“No way!” She launched herself off the swing, leaving it careening crazily on the chain, and sprinted to the bird bath. Too late.

The ball landed right in the middle of Granna's really expensive bird bath that had its own little neat fountain and smashed the bird that perched proudly in the center.

She looked around behind her to see if Granna had seen what had happened, but the kitchen window was uninhabited, as was the living room bay window. Then Natasha fixed her gaze toward the wooden fence and saw the planks shuffle and move. Someone was trying to climb it. One of those new kids Granna had talked about who'd just moved in next door, or--

Suddenly a tow-colored head appeared atop the pointed edges at the top of the fence. “Hi, sorry. I hit the ball a little too far.”

This wasn't some little kid like Granna had suggested. He was at least her age, or maybe a year older. Natasha pointed at the bird bath and watched as the boy's gaze shifted to the mess in the middle of the yard.

His eyes grew wide and then he winced. “Did I do that? Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry!” He struggled to maintain his stance on the fence. “Can I come over and see it? My dad will probably kill me, but I'll pay for it to be replaced.”

Natasha held back a little grin as she realized there was no way this twelve or thirteen year old boy would be able to replace her Granna's prized possession. “Come on over,” she replied. “You can come over and meet my Granna. I promise she won't rip your head off, but she might be a little mad.”

“Ok, thanks. I'll be right over.”

Natasha sighed and, since he was no longer in her line of sight, let herself grin. Really big. 

That's the prologue. As you probably have figured out, it's a flashback. The rest of the story goes back and forth between modern day and when Natasha and Chad were growing up.

That's my update for NaNoWrimo. I'm not sure I'll have 50,000 words by November 30, but at least I'll have a start, and that's more than I've had for many, many years. :)

Copyright © 2014 Jami Bennington

Quilted by Christmas - a Litfuse Review

• Series: Quilts of Love
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (October 21, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426773617

Book Description 

A grandmother’s last wish is to communicate God’s love through an Irish chain quilt.

Taryn McKenna believes she’s easy to forget. Abandoned by her parents and left behind when her high school sweetheart joined the army, she vows to never love again and throws herself into her love for the outdoors and the pursuit of a college degree—something no one else in her family has ever accomplished. Her goal, as a young teacher in the hills of North Carolina, is to leave a legacy in the lives of the middle‑schoolers she teaches.

When Taryn’s grandmother Jemma, the only other person who ever held her close, has a heart attack that reveals a fatal medical condition, Taryn is corralled into helping Grandma work on a final project—an Irish chain quilt that tells the story of her history and the love Jemma knows is out there for Taryn. As the pieces of the quilt come together, Taryn begins to see her value. Can she learn to believe that God will never leave her behind even though others have?

My Thoughts
Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey was an enjoyable read. Taryn, the main character, struggled with having been told that she was manipulative and needy. She hadn't had a loving father in her life, and she never felt like she quite measured up. She had a hard time seeing herself as loved and important. She'd made mistakes that resulted in a big life change. She desired forgiveness, but seemed to not be able to believe that she deserved it.

When her high school sweetheart Justin moved back home, Taryn found herself frequently in his company. The secret that Taryn has been keeping from him was waiting in the wings, and its revelation was soon coming.

I truly enjoyed this story. The characters felt real, and the situations were believable. The characters' faith in God was evident, not overly preachy, and was touching. Faith, forgiveness, and resolution all took place in the novel and was weaved along the way effortlessly. 

About the Author
Jodie Bailey is Tarheel born and bred. After 15 years as a military spouse, she settled with her family back in North Carolina. She is the author of the military suspense novel "Freefall" and is a contributor to a devotional for military families, "Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home." While not working on her next novel, she teaches middle‑schoolers to love writing as much as she does.



I've been given a copy of Quilted by Christmas by Litfuse Publicity Group, in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

NanoWrimo - November is Writing Month!

November is National Writing Month! Have you ever heard of NanoWrimo? It's a website dedicated to writing a manuscript during the month of November. The goal is to write a 50,000 word rough draft in November. You can submit your manuscript if you'd like to participate in their writing contest (where you can earn real prizes), or you can just use the website to kick-start your own writing.

On NanoWrimo, you can select your region, take part in the forums, find a buddy or two, and just generally be sociable during your writing process. There are also tools to get your inspiration flowing!

I took part in NanoWrimo three years ago, but never got my story finished. This year I'm hoping to get closer to that 50,000 mark so that I can say I at least did better than the last time.

Any other Wrimo'ers out there? If so, maybe we can swap names and be writing buddies!

During the month of November, I plan on updating on my NanoWrimo progress, so I hope you'll check back with me to see how it's going.

A Grand Design - a Litfuse Review

Series: Quilts of Love

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (June 17, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426773471

Book Description

A getaway on a charming island may be just what Alyssa needs—if only she can let go of her past.

When Alyssa Denham, a single career woman, wins a fun getaway for two on Mackinac Island where her grandmother lives, she gives her carefree best friend a call. Together, they tour the old shops and hidden treasures of the quaint island while helping Alyssa’s grandmother piece together an heirloom quilt. Their quest gains them entrance into the homes of many longtime residents of the island, parts of the city that are otherwise off limits to tourists.

As the quilt’s story takes shape, Alyssa gains amazing insight into her grandmother’s life . . . and attracts the attention of the handsome Scott Whitman, an island resident in charge of hotel transportation. Will memories of her past keep Alyssa from letting go? Or will the quest to piece together the heirloom quilt restore Alyssa’s fractured heart—and bring healing to her entire family?

My Thoughts
This was a hard novel to read. My general rule is that if I'm not captured by the story in 30 pages that I give myself permission to stop reading. (However, this being a review book, I read until the end.) The book just didn't take off until page 100 or so. Half the story felt like filler or as if the author was trying to build up to the climax but was struggling.

The main character Alyssa was a character who I had a hard time visualizing. I'd have liked to have seen her more fleshed out, along with the other characters. The male in the story was alluded to having had a family secret of some sort, like Alyssa, but it was never addressed. I kept waiting for it, but it never arrived. That was a bit disappointing. 

***SPOILER***
There was a part of the story that really left me shaking my head. In the story, Alyssa had been attacked in the past by a man and was accosted again by him in the story. Alyssa was saved by Scott, who managed to get a few wounds during the attempt to fight off Alyssa's attacker. Alyssa tended to his wounds, and both of them felt the draw to kiss. This didn't feel right to me--does someone who's been accosted want to kiss someone who she barely knows and has been developing feelings for? I wouldn't. And when I asked my husband how he'd have felt about the matter, he wholeheartedly agreed that he couldn't imagine wanting to romantically kiss someone who had just been accosted. In another scene with Alyssa's friend Libby and Grandma, the experience was quickly talked away. Reading it, I felt like scratching my head, because I was imagining that Alyssa's experience would have left her shaken and maybe left her having a hard time sleeping. However, an hour or so after the event, Alyssa, her friend Libby, and Grandma were hilariously laughing about something. It just didn't make sense.

I will say though that the story ended ok. It had a godly focus to it, which I certainly appreciate. It had a nice romantic ending, and I wish that the story had had more oomph to it! 

About the Author
Amber Stockton is an award‑winning author, a national speaker, and a direct‑sales brand partner with Nerium International. She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have a daughter and a son, and an Aussie/retriever mix named Roxie. Three of her novels have won annual reader’s choice awards. Find out why readers love her by visiting her website AmberStockton.com.

I've been given a copy of A Grand Design by Litfuse Publicity Group, in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

A Bride for Keeps - a Bethany House review

I love a good, Christian romantic western novel. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, but I particularly love American westerns. This novel takes place post-Civil War.

Julia Lockwood ran from her life in Massachusetts. After her father promised her to another man as a business pawn, Julia was deeply hurt and abused. After having the opportunity to becoming a mail-order bride to what an acquaintance promised was a wonderful man, Julia found it her last chance to get herself out of what would be a potentially dangerous situation in her own home state. Heading to Kansas was her last chance for what she hoped would be a happier life.

Everett Cline had been jilted by three mail-order brides. Knowing that there was no way he'd humiliate himself again by requesting yet another bride, Everett soon finds out that his neighbor friend went behind his back and requested one for him!

Once Julia arrives in Kansas, Everett can't see past her beauty--why would someone so beautiful want to settle down on a homestead and work so hard? Julia, knowing that her beauty has always been what attracted men, was determined to prove that she was more than just a pretty face.

I really enjoyed this novel. I highly recommend it, if you're a lover of inspirational historical fiction. The characters were believable and the situations were captivating.

Go to Melissa's website to download for free the novella that introduces this book. You can also read Chapter 1 of A Bride for Keeps for free!

I received A Bride for Keeps as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Bethany House Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

Love in the Balance - a Bethany House review

Regina Jennings is a fairly new author. Love in the Balance is her second novel published, and her first novel Sixty Acres and a Bride, which I reviewed, was absolutely fantastic. So, when I had the opportunity to get my hands on this second novel, I jumped at the chance!

Love in the Balance is a historical romance, Christian fiction, set in Lockhart, TX, in 1879. Molly Lovelace has been brought up by "fancy" parents. Her father owns a mill, and they want only the finest things for their daughter--including a well-to-do bachelor to wed. Molly, although liking some of the finer things in life, wants to get out from under her father's controlling clutches. So, she moves out of town and gets a job working for a judge.

Meanwhile, she has her eye on a handsome hard-working, though poor Bailey Garner. She finds his character and his handsome good looks charming, and she finds herself drawn to him inexplicably. In turn, Bailey is captivated by HER, too.

But when a family tragedy strikes and Molly sees her opportunity to wed someone well-off, who is she going to pick? Someone who can provide for her and appease her father, or the man who she really has her eyes on?

I'm not gonna tell!!! You'll have to find out for yourself.

I really like Regina's writing. She has a knack for creating personable, hilarious characters and situations. The characters were not without flaw--Regina created them to be realistic and sometimes frustrating to the reader! Sometimes I wanted to shout out, "C'mon, people!! Common sense, here!" at some of the characters. haha Also, I felt that the storyline wasn't completely predictable. She took me by surprise with the direction she took the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I look forward to reading more! This is definitely an author you will want to watch!

I received Love in the Balance as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Bethany House Publishers. My comments and opinions are my own.

The Promise Box - a Launch Teammate review & a chance to win!

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party!

One "promising" winner will receive:

• Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels
• Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc...)
• Sherry Gore's Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
• The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the "The Promise Box" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun - book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

 -------------------------------------------------------

Book Description and My Thoughts

I am on Tricia Goyer's 2013 Launch Team. This means that I've been provided an opportunity to review her novels for this year in exchange for a free novel(s). I last reviewed Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska, and now I'm reviewing The Promise Box (a Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series).

 

The Promise Box is the story of Lydia Wyse, an adopted Englisch child into an Amish home. Lydia has left her Amish community of West Kootenai to move to Seattle to edit books. While she is gone, her Amish mother passes away, leading to her return to the Amish community.

 

While visiting the community again, she finds herself falling for bachelor Gideon Hooley. The problem is that she can't forget where she came from--the dark history of her birth haunts her. Gideon himself has his own secrets that plague him.

 

I've been reading Amish novels since I was a teenager. I love them! Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting involved with this one. It didn't capture me like some of Tricia's books have in the past. I'd read a few pages, then set it down and do something else. That bothered me, and I wondered what was wrong with me! It took me several weeks to finish the book, because it just didn't draw me in.

 

The story was sweet in itself and had proper development, but I didn't feel a lot of emotion (i.e. love or interest) between the two characters. It almost felt like they were being drawn together by sheer force by the author. I enjoyed the progression of the story about Lydia. Tricia did a good job about making me wonder about what actually happened to Lydia and where she'd come from. However, I felt that Gideon's history seemed unrealistic and trivial in comparison.

 

There was some slang used in this story, but it wasn't overwhelming. This is a problem many others struggle with. Being an Appalachian, the overuse of slang in a story bugs me--it seems forced and unrealistic. The Amish also have their own slang, and sometimes that can get a bit overwhelming in an Amish novel. Thankfully, this wasn't a big issue for me. There was one spot in the story where I thought slang should have been left out. It was in Chapter Seven in the letter from Lydia's adoptive mother. The going back and forth from using "yer" to "your" felt unrealistic. I know "yer" is often used in conversation among the Amish in novels (the same as Ja or ach), but in a letter, the fact that she used "your" equally to "yer" made me feel like the character wouldn't have thrown in "yer" as well. Otherwise, the character's spelling was correct, so the misspelling of your didn't make sense.

 

Overall, this story was a nice read. If you enjoy Amish fiction, I think that you will enjoy this one, too. 

 

I don't like to write reviews that aren't full of positive response, especially when I've been asked by the author to review it. My intent is not to be harsh or judgmental but to provide my honest responses while I read.

I've been given a copy of The Promise Box, in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

Penelope

Back in December, I had the opportunity to read and review a novel by Anya Wylde called The Wicked Wager. Since then, I've read a second novel, Penelope.

Book Description

Leaving behind the rural charms of Finnshire, Miss Penelope Fairweather arrives in London with hope in her heart and a dream in her eye. The dowager, no less, has invited her for a season in London, where she will attempt to catch a husband.

Thus begins our heroine's tale as she attempts to tackle the London season with all her rustic finesse. Unfortunately, her rustic finesse turns out to be as delicate as a fat bear trying to rip apart a honeycomb infested with buzzing bees.

What follows is a series of misadventures, love affairs, moonlit balls, fancy clothes, fake moustaches, highwaymen, sneering beauties, pickpockets, and the wrath of a devilishly handsome duke.

My thoughts 
Just like the last novel, this one was very witty. The characters have a corny, nonsensical way about them that makes me laugh. However, there were some things about the story that were unbelievable. The characters, falling in love, didn't convince me. I'm not sure if the author is trying to make the reader disbelieve that the characters really are in love (I remember feeling that way about the previous story's characters, too) or if this is just a wee faux pas in character weaving. The story has a ridiculousness that sorta has me confused--does Anya Wylde WANT her reader to feel that its characters and the things they say are ridiculous? I'm not entirely sure.

The story is clean--no offensive language or lewd scenes take place. A bit more editing would be my suggestion, along with some clearer purpose from the author. All in all, it's a light read, inciting chuckles, and a quick read!

Swept Away - a Litfuse Review

I really enjoy Mary Connealy's novels. (I reviewed another one of her novels, Over the Edge, last summer.) I've always loved historical fiction, and this one is no exception. Swept Away is the first novel in the Trouble in Texas series.

Ruthy MacNeil is literally swept away when her wagon train's attempt at fording a river didn't go over so well. When she is separated from her abusive adoptive parents and adoptive brother (aka fiance) in the fray, Ruthy is discovered and rescued by Regulator (and Civil War soldier) Luke Stone, who is on his way to Broken Wheel to take over his father's stolen property and, as a result, to settle a nasty score.

When Luke finds that Ruthy is mostly unconscious and not able to fend for herself, he has no choice but to take her along with him. Looking forward to getting farther away from her family in case some of them managed to survive, Ruthy went willingly.

When Luke arrives at Broken Wheel and forms his posse of friends from the Civil War to help him win back his dead father's ranch, Ruthy finds herself wanting to take part, too.

This story went from interesting to intriguing to chair-gripping excitement. Love that! This is a novel that, once you began reading, doesn't stop! Constant flowing plot, constantly building. Mary is great at plotting an exciting story that leaves you not wanting to put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters in this story. There were a lot of them, and Mary introduced them all in a logical way and in a manner that wasn't confusing. Each new addition was timely and well-described so there was no confusion about who was whom.

Mary Connealy is celebrating the release of Swept Away by giving away a $250 "Swept Away" Vacation Package and hosting a Facebook Author Chat Party! 

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A $250 Visa Cash Card (Get away for the weekend or use it to buy an eReader for a relaxing ‘Staycation’!)
• A copy of Swept Away (For you AND a friend!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 27th. Winner will be announced at the "Swept Away" Author Chat Party on March 28th. Connect with Mary, get a sneak peek of the next book in the series, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Swept Away and join Mary on the evening of the March 28th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

 

I received Swept Away as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to give a favorable review; my opinions are my own.

Wishing on Willows - GIVEAWAY!

Congratulations to Kristin Y. for winning Wishing on Willows! An email has been sent to you letting you know of your win!

For those of you who like winning books, come back this weekend for another giveaway. I'm giving away two of Robin Lee Hatcher's books!! 

I'm thrilled to be giving away a free copy of Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert!

The release date is on March 19, but I have been given by the author and publisher an advanced reader's copy to give away to my readers! (An advanced reader's copy is not the final copy, so they usually contain a few errors. It cannot be sold.)

If you would like to win an Advanced Reader's Copy, please fill out the form below. You can enter once a day. Good luck!!

This giveaway is only open to residents in the U.S.  Winners will be randomly chosen by random.org and will have 48 hours to respond from the time I send the alerting email. Failure to respond within 48 hours will result in a new winner being selected.

About the book
Does a second chance at life and love always involve surrender?

A three-year old son, a struggling café, and fading memories are all Robin Price has left of her late husband. As the proud owner of Willow Tree Café in small town Peaks, Iowa,  she pours her heart into every muffin she bakes and espresso she pulls, thankful for the sense of purpose and community the work provides.
                                     
So when developer Ian McKay shows up in Peaks with plans to build condos where her café and a vital town ministry are located, she isn’t about to let go without a fight.

As stubborn as he is handsome, Ian won’t give up easily. His family’s business depends on his success in Peaks. But as Ian pushes to seal the deal, he wonders if he has met his match. Robin’s gracious spirit threatens to undo his resolve, especially when he discovers the beautiful widow harbors a grief that resonates with his own.

With polarized opinions forming all over town, business becomes unavoidably personal and Robin and Ian must decide whether to cling to the familiar or surrender their plans to the God of Second Chances.

Release date: March 19th, 2013

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