Need You Now Part 1 - a BookSneeze review

Beth Wiseman is an author I've been reading for a while. I've really enjoyed her Amish books, and so when I was given an opportunity to review Part One of Need You Now, a non-Amish novel of hers, I was a willing participant! However, there's just something missing. The characters seem a little forced, and with every press of the button on my e-reader, I kept thinking that I'd find climax of the story or some kind of development in the characters' lives. Halfway through the book's finish (i.e. Finished reading Part 1), I'm curious to find out what happens to the characters. So far it seems that there are too many puzzle pieces that are left cluttering the table.

Darlene is a mother of three, has been a stay-at-home mom for many years. Now that her children are adolescents and are able to be fairly self-sufficient, she feels the desire to branch out. Her husband, a staunch provider, doesn't like the idea of Darlene getting a job outside the home, but supports her anyway. After Darlene gets a job as a teacher's aid at a school for special students, things start to fall apart in her family.

There are several other characters thrown into the story--the mysterious lady neighbor next door who has her own ranch but looks like a supermodel, the father of her student who develops feelings for Darlene, and friends of her children.

The story feels like it's coming together, but like I've said, it's just missing some "oomph." I'm excited to read the second half of the story to see what happens!

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

The Accidental Bride

The Accidental Bride, written by Denise Hunter, is a contemporary Christian romance novel. Set in a Montana town called Moose Creek, divorcee and single mom Shay Brandenberger finds herself face to face--at a wedding altar!--with the man who left her 14 years ago on the courthouse steps in her wedding dress. They had been high school sweethearts, but when Travis McCoy got cold feet and headed South to Texas to be a national rodeo champion, he left Shay's heart broken.

What they both didn't realize was that an elderly lady in town would try her hand at match making during the town's Founder's Day Wedding re-enactment. When Shay saw that her acting groom was none other than Travis, she knew she was stuck and had to go on with the act in front of the whole town. But when she and Travis found out that their old wedding license had accidentally gotten thrown into the minister's paperwork, got signed, and became a validated marriage, their world turned upside down.

If it wasn't for the fact that Shay's ranch was about to be lost, she'd never have agreed to stay married so that Travis could help. But what she didn't know was that Travis had more than saving her ranch on his mind!

This was a refreshing novel with some good, light-hearted romance thrown in. The book includes characters from another book called A Cowboy's Touch.

I'm grateful to have been given the opportunity to read and review The Accidental Bride through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Sixty Acres and a Bride - a Litfuse Review

Sixty Acres and a Bride is a first novel by Regina Jennings, and boy did she write a winner! This is a historical Christian fiction novel (Antebellum) which has a pleasant Naomi/Ruth feel to it that the reader will notice right away. Any who are familiar with the story of Naomi and Ruth from the book of Ruth in the Old Testament will be able to relate to the story. The story will keep you reading, grip you, and make your heart skip a beat! Regina writes as if she's a seasoned writer, and she will not disappoint. The only disappointment that I can share is that the story ended. :)

Rosa Garner and Louise Garner are both widows traveling from Mexico where Louise's husband Eli and Rosa's husband (Louise's son) Mack perished in a mining accident. When they arrive at the old Texas homeplace, they find that there's more than a hundred dollars in back taxes that they must pay within a three months' time.

When Rosa meets the extended family, she falls in love with them and in spite of the hardships of trying to raise the money, she finds the Garner family accepting and kind and her heart melts for them.

Her deceased husband's cousin Weston finds Rosa intriguing, but his past holds him back. Weston, too, had lost a spouse after her emotional breakdown, and his concern is that he won't be able to provide for another wife's emotional needs.

Rosa and Weston both have their reasons for avoiding each other, but they cannot completely avoid each other because they're kin and Louise and Rosa need Weston's help.

I highly recommend this book for all historical fiction lovers. You won't be disappointed. ;)

To read other reviews like mine, click {this} link!

About the book:

She's Finally Found a Place to Call Home... How Far Will She Go to Save It?

With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to their Texas family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have just three months to pay.

Though facing eviction, Rosa falls in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended family who want only her best. They welcome her vivacious spirit and try to help her navigate puzzling American customs. She can't help but stand out, though, and her beauty captures attention. 

Where some offer help with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston Garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, Rosa must decide to what lengths she will go to save her future. Read an excerpt here.

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children. Meet Regina here.

Learn more about Regina by visiting her website, www.reginajennings.com.  





Celebrate with Regina by entering to win a Kindle Fire and coming to her Author Chat Party on 3/27!


One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/26/12. Winner will be announced at Regina's Author Chat Facebook Party on 3/27. Regina will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and some beautiful silver jewerly!

So grab your copy of Sixty Acres and a Bride and join Regina and friends on the evening of March 27th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th!

I received Sixty Acres and a Bride 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.

 

Song of My Heart - a Litfuse review

If you're an avid reader of historical Christian fiction with a romantic twist, this book will not disappoint! Kim Vogel Sawyer, the author of Song of My Heart, is a bestselling author of more than a dozen novels. I had never read any of her books, and I've thoroughly been deprived! Her writing ranks up there with many of my other favorites like Liz Curtis Higgs, Robin Lee Hatcher, Tamera Alexander, Maureen Lang.... I could go on and on. Kim Vogel Sawyer is a new name that I will be looking for. I've already added several of her books to my "wishlist." But I digress....

Sadie Wagner, oldest daughter to her mother and bed-ridden step-father, has been alerted by her cousin Sid that there is a job available for her in Goldtree, Kansas, where she can be a clerk in a mercantile. And not only that--she can fulfill her life's dream of singing in an opera house. Knowing that her family could use the extra money that her income could provide, Sadie leaves her parents and siblings behind and arrives in Goldtree. What she doesn't realize is that her cousin Sid has had feelings for her for years. Even though they're not related by blood, Sadie feels nothing but platonic feelings for Sid, much to his chagrin. Sadie enjoys her work, and soon discovers that her singing will allow her to send a lot of money back to her family. When the new sheriff, Thad, makes regular visits to the mercantile where she works, she finds herself developing feelings for him, and he for her. Unfortunately, her boss doesn't have pure intentions for Sadie's singing and plans for her to sing an additional day during the week to a secret gathering of men who visit the underground opera house for the purpose of imbibing and gambling, which is against the law in Kansas. Knowing that this is immoral, Sadie struggles with the desire to help provide for her family and do what is right. Realizing what is at stake (including the possibility of losing Thad), she chooses to agree to her boss's wishes.

Thad McKane has arrived in Goldtree to investigate the suspicious activities in town. The mayor is convinced that bootlegging is going on, by evidence of suspicious-acting men in town. Acting as town sheriff, Thad is not entirely confident in his abilities. He is convinced that God wants him to become a minister, so he plans to earn enough money as a lawman to later go to school to become a minister. When Thad meets Sadie and hears her beautiful voice lifting up praises to God Almighty, he's entranced by her. He later discovers her in the opera house practicing a song that is not so innocent, and when he finds out that she seems to be involved in the bootlegging business, Thad's heart is broken.

To read more reviews like mind, go to the blog tour at Litfuse!

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of nineteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and six grandchildren.

She invites you to visit her Web site at www.kimvogelsawyer.com for more information.

Celebrate with Kim by entering to win a Nook Tablet and connecting with her at the Book Chat Party on 3/29!



One "songbird" winner will receive:

• A Nook Tablet
• Song of My Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/28/12. Winner will be announced at Kim's Book Chat Facebook Party on 3/29. Kim will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and much more!

So grab your copy of Song of My Heart and join Kim and friends on the evening of March 29th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

I received Song of My Heart 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.

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall - a Litfuse Review

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen is like reading a classic! Love Jane Eyre? Like Jane Austen? This book will remind you of those types of classics. Klassen did her homework--this novel, taking place in early-1800s England is written so well that I could almost picture myself beside the characters.

Margaret Macy, born to a fairly well-to-do family, finds herself in a quandry. Her step-father has decided how Margaret's inheritance should fall--by her marriage to his nephew. The nephew's character is questionable and disgusting to Margaret, and the only way that she knows how to get away from the man (and at the same time receive her inheritance rightfully in three months) is to run away and hide. To do this, though, she has to be quite crafty--she dons her deceased father's spectacles and wears a brunette wig over her blonde hair. Otherwise, she will surely be caught by her stepfather's watchers.

What she didn't realize was that her running away would require her to do a task that she was not quite prepared for--that of a servant! Quite spoiled by having had her own maid to help her, Margaret is now on her own and finds herself the servant of two of her previous beaus--Nathaniel and Lewis Upchurch. Having to clean up after them including emptying their chamber pots, a task Margaret abhors at best.

While Margaret has had to humble herself during her servitude, she begins to see the value of others and focus her feelings not only on herself, but on others.

This book has been a joy to read. At times it made me laugh at Margaret's exploits, and Klassen does a brilliant job of making each character seem real. If you love historical fiction with a little romance tied in, you will want to buy this book. It's a keeper!!

You can go here to read more reviews about this book. And if you go to this page you can find an excerpt of the book!

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She has won the Christy Award: Historical Romance for The Silent Governess (2010) and The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) which also won the 2010 Midwest Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com

Don't miss the perfect blend of Regency-era romance and mystery in The Maid of Fairbourne Hall! Grab a copy and then be sure to enter Julie's Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVP for her Author Chat party on Facebook! Swoon.

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire
• A Julie Klassen Library (The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Silent Governess)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/14/12. Winner will be announced at Julie's Fairbourne Hall Book Chat Party on 3/15. Julie will be hosting an evening of chat, trivia and a sneak peek of her next book - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books and a Downton Abbey Prize Pack (Seasons 1 and 2)!


So grab your copy of The Maid of Fairbourne Hall and join Julie and friends on the evening of March 15th for a book chat party.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on March 15th!

I received The Maid of Fairbourne Hall 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.

Heart of Gold - a BookSneeze Review

Heart of Gold, written by Robin Lee Hatcher, stole my heart! At 294 pages, this historical fiction book is an enjoyable read.

Shannon Adair grew up in Virginia and loved the life that she and her parents had. But when her mother died and Virginia was torn by war and death, Shannon's minister father Delaney decided that it was time to go elsewhere. When Shannon and her father arrived in Idaho territory, it was not with excitement. Grand Coeur was a mining town, and there were very few women. Shannon held bitterness in her heart that her wonderful life had changed.

Matthew Dubois was a stagecoach driver for Wells Fargo, and when his sister and her son moved in harboring a heart-wrenching secret, Matthew ends his driving days in exchange for working in the office. Once Matthew realizes that his sister is dying, his goal is to find someone who can be a mother to his nephew, and Shannon Adair seems to be the perfect fit.

Shannon, holding on to her pride, has to decide where her feelings lie--with her own pride or with the man who has stolen her heart.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I read a lot of books, and not all books leave a big impression on me, but this one has. There is a portion of the book that I want to share that really touched my heart. The way Robin wrote this part was truly beautiful and poetic. It's a portion where Matthew's sister Alice is lying on her bed, thinking about leaving this world and her son Todd behind. (Chapter 15, page 135)

     Her eyes closed, she pressed the side of  her face against Todd's thick, unruly hair and breathed in. He smelled of little-boy sweat and puppy-dog slobber, of pinecones and wood smoke. And suddenly she felt like crying, for she was certain she would miss these smells, even in heaven.
     Forgive me, Father. I don't mean to cling to this world. It's only-
     Her breath caught in her chest as the strangest of sensations swept over her. She would almost swear that someone had touched her hair, had breathed deeply of her scent. And an instant later an overwhelming sense of being loved swirled around her, a love so big it encompassed her son as well.
     "Ma? You all right?"
     She opened her eyes. "Yes, I'm all right, darling. I really am all right."

If you enjoy Christian historical romance, this one will be right up your alley. If you'd like to read an excerpt, Robin has a portion of it on her website. You can go {here} to read.

I am a member of BookSneeze, a fabulous program through Thomas Nelson. BookSneeze sends members free books to read and keep in exchange for written reviews on a blog and on a major retailer's website (such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

Unveiling the Kings of Israel - a Creation Conversations Review

If you love the Bible or have a fascination with archaeological history, this is the book for you. Young or old, this book will be sure to please. Unveiling the Kings of Israel by David Down is a hardback book with 170 pages filled with colorful pictures and chock full of information. Published by Master Books, this book will give you a correct recorded history of Biblical records.

I was anxious to get this book because my husband and I are both fascinated by history and Biblical history. My children enjoy learning about the Bible, and what better way to teach history and Bible knowledge at the same time? This is an excellent resource for a homeschool, a Sunday school, a church library or simply to have at your home.

Unveiling the Kings of Israel proves that there is Biblical evidence to support the Holy scriptures. We have proof that the Exodus occurred, proof of Kings David and Solomon, and many other proofs are displayed in this book. Inside you will find a map of modern-day Israel; pictures of Biblical landmarks such as the River Jabbok where Jacob prayed, Petra ruins and tombs carved into the stone walls, and Mount Sinai, to name a few; a diagram of Solomon's Temple; and information from Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.

At this link, you'll find a preview of the book with index included.





I received Unveiling the Kings of Israel as a complimentary gift in exchange for review from New Leaf Publishing Group. My opinions are my own.