An Unforgettable Story of Faith When Faced with Fear!

Book Review of:
"Within My Heart"
By Tamera Alexander
The story  begins, with the Prologue,  in the year of 1864, following the Battle of Nashville. Tamera grabs your attention immediately with her concise description of the burying of deceased men killed in battle  and the feelings of the gravedigger.
Then, the next scene takes place in the Rocky Mountains in 1877. The main character, Rachel Boyd struggles to keep her ranch afloat with the help of her two young, fatherless sons. Financial and emotional challenges continually block her way of keeping her home secure, happy and safe.  Although she  desires to keep her independence, Rachel is forced to turn to Rand Brookston,the one man she wishes to avoid. He is a physician , just like her father was-  NOT a good memory!!
Tamera has the talent of making the characters become known to you in a personal way. You feel Rachel's distrust, feeling of fear, unworthiness and hopelessness  throughout the  story.
Rand, the new phsyician in town, who is attempting to bring modern medicine to town,  is forced to make an important decision to save someone's life. Will he fail, lose his patient and any confidence he has already gained?? You will have to read to find out the answers. Rachel's stubborn heart and soul are softened by the doctor's skill and determination to help the residents in this small community and his caring manner.
You live "on the edge" in this story, fearing for lives and the desire to somehow push them in the right direction.
Tamera Alexander is a talented author who kept my attention and involvement throughout the entire book.
An excellent book from start to finish!!
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. Available now from your favourite bookseller  from Bethany House, a division of  Baker Publishing Group."

A Raleigh Harmon Novel- A Tale of Suspense

the clouds roll away

By Sibella Giorello

This is a book of mystery and intrigue. The main character, Raleigh Harmon is an FBI agent whose life seems impossible to solve, as does the case she is pursuing.  Raleigh is a forensic geologist, who returns to her home town, expecting a warm welcome. This is not to be!  Instead, she finds herself investigating an ugly crossburning at a  celebrity's manson.  Her boss is definitely not impressed with her involvement in this case.  Raleigh has personal, as well as career challenges throughout the novel.
This book keeps  you on your toes, with the constant mysterious murders and interwoven themes throughout the story.  When you think you have it all figured out, Sibella adds another mystery to the core storyline.
 I must admit, at times, I had difficulty keeping up with who was who and what exactly was taking place.  As this is not my favorite genre of books, it was difficult for me to stay focused on the many twists and turns. It does take place during the Christmas season, which makes some of the killings, very traumatic and you do feel empathy for the characters involve.
Raleigh does end up successful, in both solving the crime and finding  meaning in her life- so it is a happy ending, with some sad notes thrown in.  A good read for those interested in this type of book.

About Sibella: Sibella Giorello grew up in Alaska and majored in geology at Mount Holyoke College. After riding a motorcycle across the country, she worked as a features for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Her stories have won state and national awards, including two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize. She now lives in Washington state with her husband and sons. Find out more about Sibella and her other books at her website. www.sibellagiorello.com

This book was received from LitFuse in exchange for this review.  To see other reviews of this book, please go to http://litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/sibella-giorellos-the-clouds-roll-away-blog-tour.html) .

A Beautiful Christmas Story

Christmas at Harrington's
By Melody Carson
What a caring, beautiful Christmas story , this was, from beginning to end.  Christmas is approaching  and the main character , Lena, finds herself penniless, with no job or hope for the future. Although she is trying to start a new life, jobs are scarce.  Worries abound.
When a kind stranger gives her what seems like a useless gift, she is finally able to land a job, only to find herself in another negative, seemingly hopeless situation.
Lena's faith keeps her going through many trials and challenges through the Christmas season- with the help of the kindness and caring of strangers-her angels in disguise.
Melody creates great feeling in this novel- of  empathy , hope and trust in others. Her characters become very real to the reader - I could NOT put this book down. What an inspirational read for this Christmas season!!  Thank you, Melody, for reminding me that the small things we do for others can form their future and help regain their faith in God.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc. Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."