25 Book Reviews

Thursday, March 19, 2020

A Fantastic New Read from Colleen Coble, "One Little Lie"!


                                           "One Little Lie"
                                           By Colleen Coble

 About the Book:
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Release Date: March 3, 2020
It started with one little lie. But Jane Hardy will do everything in her power to uncover the truth in this gripping new romantic suspense.
Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama, after her father retires, but there’s no time for an adjustment period. When her father is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent murder, Jane quickly realizes she’s facing someone out to destroy the only family she has.
After escaping with her father from a cult fifteen years ago, Jane has searched relentlessly for her mother—who refused to leave—ever since. Could someone from that horrible past have found them?
Reid Bechtol is well-known for his documentaries, and his latest project involves covering Jane’s career. Jane has little interest in the attention, but the committee who appointed her loves the idea of the publicity.
Jane finds herself depending on Reid’s calm manner as he follows her around filming, and they begin working together to clear her father. But Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may be impossible to cross—especially once her father’s lie catches up with him.

Click here to get your copy.
My Thoughts:

Colleen Coble has for many years been one of my favourite romantic suspense authors. She has a unique gift for storytelling that gets one immediately involved in the story and keeps one fascinated until that last page is read!! "One Little Lie" was no exception! It is truly one of the best novels crafted by this author yet!! This was a cliffhanger that still left me hanging by a thread at the very end of this book!! I must say that I am now eagerly awaiting Book two in this series to tie up some loose threads!

 Each character is described is such depth with such detail that the reader is pulled into their lives as they travel a rather frightening, earth shattering road of life. I felt the trembling and fear as Jane finds out things that she would rather not know! People from her past and her father's could be responsible... but are they?? Every one of the people in this book appeared to be living with secrets, some from the past as well as the present. Everyday lives become scarier with each passing hour. 

 The plot is complicated with unexpected twists and turns appearing with every turn of the page. The tension builds as Jane tries to discover who and why lives are being threatened. One frightening event leads right into another. If you love books that keep you on the edge of your seat , then this is definitely one that you shouldn't miss!! My heart throbbed as I experienced every fear along with the characters. We are reminded of how fear can hold us back and keep us from having joy in our everyday lives. 

 A fabulous novel!! Definitely a five star book!!!
This book was provided by the author and CelebrateLit. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

 About the Author:


Best-selling author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. You can visit her website at http://colleencoble.com.

Blog Stops

Back Porch Reads, March 10
The Avid Reader, March 11
By The Book, March 12
Older & Smarter?, March 12
Remembrancy, March 12
Betti Mace, March 13
Emily Yager, March 13
Bigreadersite, March 14
CarpeDiem, March 15
Robin’s Nest, March 17
Stories By Gina, March 18
Mary Hake, March 18
Empowermoms, March 18
Hallie Reads, March 19
Quiet Quilter, March 20
Simple Harvest Reads, March 20 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Splashes of Joy, March 21
Moments, March 21
amandainpa, March 21
Pause for Tales, March 22


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Monday, March 9, 2020

A Fabulous New Book In the Amish Genre by Award Winning Author Author Beth Wiseman!!



               "A Beautiful Arrangement"
                      By Beth Wiseman

 About the Book:
Can Lydia and Samuel find love in their marriage of convenience? 
Lydia still can’t believe that she is Mrs. Samuel Bontrager. Or that she is seventeen with  a six-month-old daughter. As Baby Mattie grows fussier by the day, Lydia wonders how she will survive a lifetime of marriage to a man she doesn’t love—at least not in the way she wants. 
Samuel knows that he and Lydia did the right thing by marrying when Lydia became pregnant. He has even grown to love Lydia, though he never seems able to say the words out loud. What if she doesn’t love him back? After all, she pushes him away whenever he tries to draw closer. 
When Lydia and Samuel introduce their mutual friends Beverly and Joseph to each other, they are as envious as they are delighted to watch their friends fall in love. But just as Samuel thinks Lydia might be softening to him, she gets involved in investigating the mysterious past of a local homeless woman—a curiosity that threatens to drive the couple further apart. 
The third and final novel in the Amish Journeys series by bestselling author Beth Wiseman explores how wounds from the past must come to light before they can hope to heal.

 My Thoughts:

 This third book in Beth Wiseman’s Amish Journeys series may be the last but it certainly isn’t the least! It was the best yet!! This author has a unique storytelling ability that is unlike any other! 

 The reader is immediately drawn into the lives of the characters in such a way that reality is left far behind. The world passed me by as I sat totally engrossed in this new novel! Every event, emotion and challenge can be felt deeply while walking alongside these vividly described, lovable  characters. Lydia is a sweet wife and mother who just cannot believe that her husband can truly love her. After all, a sinful situation led to their quick marriage! Samuel  doesn’t have the ability or courage to say the simple words, “ I love you”, resulting in this couple struggling to find happiness. Both husband and wife experienced such inner turmoil, simply because they were unable to say what was in their hearts. It shows us how difficult it is to express one's innermost thoughts. It takes so much faith and courage to do so. Their mutual friends, Beverley and Joseph, are introduced in this tale of the  quest for true love. Alongside the searching and desire for love is the mystery of a homeless woman. This author always adds something special to her books to enhance and highten the reader's interest. 

 The complicated plot is full of twists and turns that have the reader meeting unexpected situations in every chapter. I was constantly fearing that the trust that is a must in a happy marriage would arrive too late! The strong faith of the Amish community shines through loud and clear as this tale is told of a very special young couple. Life isn't simple, even for the Plain People. They experience all of the same kind of problems as you and I. No one is exempt! Faith and trust in the Lord is truly needed by all of us in order to achieve a happy life.  

 Once again, Beth Wiseman has left a deep impact on my soul. So much to think about! Definitely a five star book!!!

This book was received from Zondervan. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

 About the Author:

Beth Wiseman is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. Having    sold two million books, her novels have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Bestseller List and the CBA (Christian Book Association) Bestseller List. She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013. She is a three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and an INSPY Award winner. In 2013 she took home the coveted Holt Medallion. Her first book in the Land of Canaan series--Seek Me With All Your Heart--was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year. Beth is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing into the year 2018, and she has published thirteen novels and thirteen novellas to date.

As a former newspaper reporter, Beth was honored by her peers with eleven journalism awards, including first place news writing for The Texas Press Association. She has been a humor columnist for The 1960 Sun in Houston and published articles in various publications. However, writing novels is where her heart is. She left her job as a journalist in 2008 to write novels fulltime.

Beth has a deep affection for the Amish and their simpler way of life, and while she plans to continue writing Amish love stories, she is also branching out into other areas. Her first non-Amish, contemporary--Need You Now--released in April 2012 and landed on the CBA Bestseller List. She enjoyed writing the story based in a town near where she lives, and she chose another small Texas town for her next non-Amish contemporary--The House that Love Built--which is based in Smithville, the same quaint town where movies such as Hope Floats and Tree of Life were filmed. Beth continued to spread her wings when she released The Promise in October 2014. Inspired by actual events, The Promise follows Beth's characters all the way to Pakistan. Beth was involved in the real-life rescue when her friend was held captive in Pakistan. Beth is currently working on book #2 in her new Amish Secrets series, tentatively titled Jacob's Ladder. Book #1--Her Brother's Keeper--recently released and was chosen as a Top Pick by RT Reviews Magazine.

Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying the country life in Texas. When she's not writing, she loves to travel, paint, and enjoy time with friends and family. You can find Beth at Fans of Beth Wiseman on Facebook where she interacts with readers and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bethwiseman.
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A Great Read to Get You in the Mood For Summer! A Collection of Super Amish Novellas!

                  "An Amish Picnic"

                By Amy Clipston, Kelly Irvin
           Kathleen Fuller , Vannetta Chapman

About the Book:
Genre: Amish; Christian Romance
Release Date: March 3, 2020
From bestselling authors in the Amish genre come four sweet stories about picnics and romance.
Baskets of Sunshine by Amy Clipston 
Kevin Weaver has lived with his brother’s family since his parents passed away when he was young, but he craves a home and family to call his own. Freeman Kurtz owns a successful brick mason business, and Kevin takes the job as Freeman’s apprentice to pursue his own financial freedom.
Phoebe Kurtz is helping her sister with her booth at the marketplace when she notices Kevin, her father’s employee. Their friendship grows, but Kevin is convinced that the difference in their ages makes a relationship between them impossible. Amidst summer outings, Kevin and Phoebe must decide if taking a chance on love is worth the risk.
Candlelight Sweethearts by Kelly Irvin
Esther Marie Shrock loves her job at Valley Grocery Store where she’s worked for four years. Despite a stutter that has plagued her since childhood, she thrives filling orders from a steady stream of customers. Still, at 25, she and her family wonder if romance is in her future.
Jasper Cotter isn’t good with people, but he’s found himself obligated to take over day-to-day operations of the family owned grocery store—a store he doesn’t have the first clue how to run. Thrown together, Esther Marie and Jasper don’t exactly see eye to eye. One night, the store loses power, and the candles aren’t the only things shooting off sparks. Esther Marie and Jasper are suddenly forced to discover common ground when it matters most, and they might be surprised with love along the way.
Reeling in Love by Kathleen Fuller
Nina Stoll and Ira Yoder are just friends. Just friends and fishing buddies. Every Saturday afternoon, they have a picnic at their favorite fishing hole and see who can out fish the other. Until Nina starts to wonder if there’s more.
Her plans to share her feelings go awry, and circumstances seem destined to keep Nina and Ira apart. With both Nina and Ira confused and hurting, it’s going to take courage, some help from the community matchmakers, and a little bit of divine intervention for Nina and Ira to realize they’re each other’s perfect catch.
Picnics and Prospects by Vannetta Chapman
Faith Troyer is claustrophobic, and David Lapp builds tiny houses. They went on a date years ago with disastrous results. Now that they’re in their late twenties, their families and friends are beginning to wonder if either will ever find that special someone. When a picnic outing is diverted by the discovery of a package of letters dating back to the 1970s, they take it upon themselves to find answers to a mystery that causes them to rethink their past and consider their future.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author


Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery,
Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, Amish Homestead, and Amish Marketplace series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at AmyClipston.com; Facebook: AmyClipstonBooks; Twitter: @AmyClipston; Instagram: @amy_clipston.
Kelly Irvin is the bestselling author of the Every Amish Season and Amish of Bee County series. The Beekeeper’s Son received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, who called it a “beautifully woven masterpiece.” The two-time Carol Award finalist is a former newspaper
reporter and retired public relations professional. Kelly lives in Texas with her husband, photographer Tim Irvin. They have two children, three grandchildren, and two cats. In her spare time, she likes to read books by her favorite authors. Visit her online at KellyIrvin.com; Instagram: kelly_irvin; Facebook: Kelly.Irvin.Author; Twitter: @Kelly_S_Irvin.
With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels,
including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. Visit her online at KathleenFuller.com; Instagram: kf_booksandhooks; Facebook: WriterKathleenFuller; Twitter: @TheKatJam.
Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She is the author of sixteen novels, including the Pebble
Creek Amish series, The Shipshewana Amish Mystery series, and Anna’s Healing, a 2016 Christy Award finalist. Vannetta is a Carol award winner and has also received more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She was a teacher for fifteen years and currently resides in the Texas hill country. Visit Vannetta online: VannettaChapman.com, Twitter: @VannettaChapman, Facebook: VannettaChapmanBooks.
My Thoughts:

 Four talented authors of Amish fiction have worked together to produce this wonderful collection of novellas, just in time for the sunny days of spring, soon to arrive, I hope! 

 Each tale is written in the author's unique style, resulting in well developed, heartwarming stories all dealing with the picnic season in the Amish communities. The stories, although different in characters and outcomes, complement one another in dealing with a developing romance , despite fears, miscommunication , uncertainty and challenges, some apparent, others hidden deep within the characters. Quirky characters, mystery and love abound within the pages of this book.

 I always am leery when reading a novella, afraid that the plot will not hold my attention, as it is a short piece of work, and this type of book doesn't always leave me feeling satisfied and fullfilled. "An Amish Picnic", to my delight, was a book that I will read again! The stories seemed to lead into the following one , all the while holding me captive until the last page was read. The plots were well developed with just enough twists and turns to keep one thoroughly engaged in the characters' lives. 

 These four authors came together to write Amish tales that will quickly get you into the mood for the nicer weather that is sure to come our way very soon!

 Definitely a five star book! Don't miss it!!


This book was supplied by CelebrateLit. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own. A positive review was not required.

Read an Excerpt

Read an excerpt here.

Blog Stops

Batya’s Bits, March 6
The Avid Reader, March 6
Bigreadersite, March 8
Quiet Quilter, March 10
Splashes of Joy, March 15
Artistic Nobody, March 18 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
EmpowerMoms, March 18
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Thursday, March 5, 2020

A Heartwarming Story of Adoption By Joanne Markey! Enter the giveaway!


                  "Yours, Mine, & Forever"
                    BY  JOANNE MARKEY

 About the Book:


Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 7, 2019
Whoever said the course of true love never runs smooth knew their business.
Especially motherly love.
Still, with adoption success just waiting for ink and paper to appear, Norah can focus on more exciting things, like Christmas, and figuring out how this marriage thing is going to work out! However, never underestimate the craftiness of an antagonist old woman determined to get her own way—or rather, stop Norah from getting hers. If it means resorting to underhanded means to ensure she comes out on top, then so be it. All it takes is a word in the right ear, a nudge here, a wink there, and the natural course of gossip and slander will do the rest.
When the dust clears, Norah’s heart is in tatters and her fledgling relationship is in ruins… Or is it? Will her hero’s patience wear thin, and is Norah’s faith strong enough to see her through whatever comes her way?
Click here for your copy.

My Thoughts:

 Joanne Markey is a new author to me , thus, I had no particular expectations when this book arrived. It is the second in the Taking Chance series. Although I hadn't read the first book, I found myself drawn into this story concerning the adoption of siblings. Many groups of children are not desireable for adoption by anyone but in this case there were two very determined adults fighting to be chosen to be a parent! I found this novel to be one stressing the importance putting one's trust in God through the challenging times as well as in the good. 

 The characters were realistically and well described. I was immediately drawn into Norah's and Clay's lives. Norah had a problem letting herself get close to others. Both Norah and Clay had a common interest! They loved children and wanted to give the neediest a home that would portray the love of Christ.  The challenge was.... who would be the winner in this situation?

 The plot moved at a slow but steady pace. I did experience some confusion trying to keep all of the characters and their roles in the storyline straight. Just when I thought I had them figured out, another new one was added to the scene. Perhaps had I read Book One of the series, I would not have had this difficulty. 

 All in all , I enjoyed this book. It was not a cliff hanger, however it portrayed the Christian values for which we should all strive. The children in this novel touched my heart sometimes with humor, other times with fear of their future.

 This is a book that is a good read, especially for those who have felt the loss of parents and fear for the future, as well as those dealing with the challenge of adoption.


This book was received from CelebrateLit. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

About the Author

Originally from Australia, Joanne now lives in Ohio with her husband and seven children where she spends her days writing, wrangling children, and trying to determine which phrases originated in which country because she uses them all interchangeably, thereby continually confusing herself as much as those around her.

More from Joanne

When people find out I’m an Aussie living in the US and that I’ve written books, they immediately assume my books are set in Australia. I’m sorry to disappoint anyone, but, no, they’re not. You see, after almost 19 years of living in the US I’ve lost touch with the culture I was raised in. Things are done differently here than they are over there, and I’ve gotten used to this life.
When I moved halfway around the world, iPads, smart phones, and the like weren’t even a thing. The internet over there (in the places I lived) was something you knew about, but not everyone was online. My family didn’t even own a computer. When you went to town you lost cell phone coverage about 20 kms out. We lived in the bush, which technically falls between the coast and the outback. Not far enough from the coast to be “outback”, but far enough there wasn’t a town worth mentioning in any direction for a good two hour drive (roughly 170km, if memory serves me correct). So yeah, we lived out bush and while it’s hard to imagine a world without the electronics we depend on so much today, the Australia I know, the life I remember, had none of them. And I’m pretty sure things have changed since then!
That’s one major issue standing between me and writing books set in Australia. Another is the language. Half the time I find it almost impossible to remember where a phrase originated. I’m not talking about the “fair dinkums” or the “g’days”, they’re easy to identify. Its the little phrases, the ones that are so ingrained in my thinking I can’t identify their origin. At least, not until every person in the room looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. I figure it out pretty quickly after that and usually have to scramble to translate to something they understand. Agreeing with someone by uttering a simple “yes” is a wee bit more effective here than the “too right!” I might use with my family.
Try adding in the whole dropping the R thing Aussies have a habit of doing, and then the clear pronunciation of the R which is pretty common among the people I know here…and yeah, it can get confusing. “Far” is a bad one. Simple word. I never stop to think about how I’m saying it, so part of the time I’ll drop the R without realizing I’ve done so. Then I’ll hear myself say “fah”, so I’ll quickly tack on the R… and it can become an issue.
Some expats might not have an issue with speech, this is just one problem I run into quite often so I ran with it in my book. Anyone who’s read the book will know who I’m talking about. Multiple languages, speech confusion especially when emotional. It’s a thing. Not everyone deals with it, but me… yeah. Sigh.
But that doesn’t mean I’ve turned my back on everything I once knew. My husband and our kids love a good damper, Aussie meat pies, and Vegemite. They turn their noses up at pavlova (where, oh, where did I go wrong?!), but little did I know when we bought some of my favorite Aussie music that it would become their favorite too. I love where I live now, but I also have a great fondness for the country I left behind, and my family too, of course. They all live over there. And this story… it originated in Australia.
I was looking for a something to write for NaNo in 2018 and my Mum had a dream to share, so she gave me the idea and I ran with it. I changed bits here and there—the setting, most of the story actually!—and finished it up mid-December of 2018. I sat on it for about six months, finally got around to sending it to an editor. And then two weeks before I hit publish, a friend heard how long it was and asked if I’d ever thought about splitting the story in two.
No, I hadn’t, but after hashing it out with my editor, we decided it was a good idea. Dreaming of More became the first half, and Yours, Mine, & Forever was born.
However, giving Dreaming an end meant I’d sort of wrapped up the main storyline I’d used in the entire 135,000 word manuscript. I needed something else because I hadn’t added the bow to the top of the package and without that, Dreaming kind of fell flat. It needed another book… So back to the editor I went and at 2am one morning we started brainstorming. Before I knew what was happening I was in the middle of rewriting the entire book. I didn’t need to follow the same storyline and because the slate had been cleared, I could add in whatever I wanted. So I did.
My friend apologized—she hadn’t meant for me to rewrite the entire book—but no apology was necessary. I loved being able to change things. New characters made it more fun and, as my youngest son would say, I got to add “all the stuffs”. The only thing I refused to change was the ending. I had to keep that because it was the one thing my Mum remembered the best from her dream. For her sake, I kept it. If you want to know what that ending is… it comes after all the other pages in the book. But if you skip over them, you’ll miss all the stuffs and they’re what make the ending worthwhile.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Joanne is giving away the grand prize package of signed copies of Dreaming of More, Yours, Mine, & Forever, and Christmas Rose!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

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Another Fantastic Read by One of My Favorite Authors, Vannetta Chapman!

An Amish Proposal for Christmas  By Vannetta Chapman Synopsis: Her deepest Christmas wish will bring more than she imagined…in this novel by...