Ann Gabhart's Small Town Story is a Success!

                              Scent of Lilacs

By Ann H. Gabhart              

1964 is the year. Life for young Jocie Brooke will never be the same.  Jocie, the main character of this book, lives in the quiet town of  Hollyhill, Kentucky, a place where there are rarely life changing events. But this all changes in the  hot summer of 1964. On the surface, everything appears to be just fine, however this young lady is experiencing a difficult time in her life. It seems as if everyone in her life is keeping secrets, they are all hiding SOMETHING from her- and perhaps from themselves as well. Jocie decides to dig into the family's past and see what she can discover. In the process, she stirs up some strange information that causes a whirlwind of discoveries!  Will she find answers that are helpful, or were these hidden truths better off hidden in the past?? 

My Thoughts:
Having previously ready Ann Gabhart's book , "Angel Sister",and a few other of Ann's books,  I knew I was in for a good read. I am pleased to say that I was correct.
 The characters were extremely well developed , to the point of being so realistic , that they became very close to me. I could feel Jocie's frustrations, when attempting to deal with the unknown.  Her sadness, confusion, fears, and a few joys along the way, all had me completely engrossed in the book. I wanted this young girl to find happiness and succeed in her quest for the unknown past.  Yes, sometimes, I wished that I could give her a hug or some advice. That to me , makes this a good book. I could identify with Jocie  as a little sister with a very big problem. The other characters were equally well described. Very unique, somewhat quirky, and entirely believable.


The plot , although, I feel got off to a slow start, was well developed. Once I had read a few chapters, I was hooked on finding out the secrets, along with Jocie. Ann managed to insert some surprising events in the midst of the search for truth. It was a relaxing read, as well as having enough shocking events to hold my interest throughout.

A good read! I would recommend it to all Ann Gabhart fans! The rest of you, try it out! You will like it!!

  "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

A Great New Christian Historical Romance!

"Love in the Balance"
   By Regina Jennings

About Love in the Balance: 

Handsome Cowboy or Debonair Tycoon.
How's a Girl to Choose?

Molly Lovelace dreams of a life without cares in Lockhart, Texas. She also dreams of handsome wrangler Bailey Garner, her ardent but inconsistent beau. The problem is, with Bailey's poor prospects, she just can't fit the two dreams together.

Then mysterious stranger Edward Pierrepont sweeps into town-and her life-and for the first time Molly wonders if she's met the man who can give her everything. But he won't be in Lockhart long and while it certainly seems like he talks about their glorious future together, she can't quite get Bailey out of her mind.

What's a girl to do with all these decisions when love is in the balance?

 My thoughts on this book:

For a fan who is attempting, and I must say, succeeding, to learn to enjoy historical fiction, this book was an ideal read! Although I have just started to read this genre with enjoyment, in an attempt to “widen my horizons” , Regina managed to hook my attention and KEEP it throughout the story!! That is a great feat in itself!!
Regina demonstrates an excellent ability to describe her characters in a detailed, realistic fashion. Molly, the main character, became my friend. I was often frustrated by her choices, sometimes loved her, sometimes felt some dislike, wanted to give my advice when I thought she had made a poor choice! This , to me, makes a good book. When I can identify with the characters, my interest is magnified . The two male characters on which the story centres, Edward and Bailey, are both equally well developed throughout the book. These two very opposite personalities are described so well that I was able to picture each in my mind as I read. Both of them frustrated me at times, and I wanted to give each of them a good shake! LOL All characters are very well defined. The details given enhance the plot and maintain your interest throughout the story.

The plot is outstanding in its twists and turns. I would think that I had the story all figured out, when suddenly , in the next chapter, all my hopes were dashed and complications arose. I was glued to the book, could NOT put it down, as I had to discover the unknown!! THAT makes a great book!!

I would highly recommend this book to all fans. Definitely a five star book! A new author to keep your eyes on. I am eagerly awaiting the next book!!

Meet Regina:  

  

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. 

Find out more about Regina at 

http://www.reginajennings.com/.

 Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/iTdiA 

To see other reviews of this book:  http://litfusegroup.com/author/rjennings 

This book was provided by Litfuse in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

A Book to Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat!!

               "Shattered"                     
            By Dani Pettrey

 "Shattered" is the second book in Dani's series, entitled Alaskan Courage. The first one, "Submerged" was one that was so outstanding, that I had no doubt in my mind that this one could not possibly be as spellbinding!! I am pleased to say that I was wrong!! This one is not AS good, it is BETTER, if that is possible!! Dani has a real talent of writing books full of suspense, keeping you guessing throughout, and never could you succeed in solving her mystery. It is entertaining, but better than that, a book that fills the reader with nervous anticipation of what will happen next! It is sure to please all fans of suspense, begging the story to NEVER end!

It all begins with the return of Reef McKenna to his home in  Yancey , Alaska. He is the prodigal brother who comes back to his beloved family, particularly his sister, Piper. She is enthralled to see him again, but life falls apart very dramatically, and she is totally devastated and shattered, when he is almost immediately arrested for murder.  Piper is one determined young lady, willing to do anything to protect her beloved brother.  

Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKenna family, however, he is sworn to finding out the truth. Did Reef commit a dreadful murder on an innocent victim?  He is totally aware that those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. The sheriff is pushing for this case against Reef to go forward with no complications. Landon is determined to find out the whole truth, as he discovers some unexpected leads that may put his own career in jeopardy. 

Piper, the faithful sister, complicates the whole investigation by attempting to solve the case herself, in order to declare Reef innocent. Landon is left feeling responsible for saving Piper from herself- her impetuous nature often leads to trouble and danger. Landon and Piper's long relationship/friendship further complicates matters. The search for truth extends throughout Alaska into Canada's rugged backcountry.  With each step closing in on the truth, the already dangerous case becomes deadlier. Can Reef be declared innocent? Can Pepper be saved from impending danger as she gets closer to discovering the truth?

Dani's characters become very real to the reader. I felt the fear, the pain and worries of each of them . The McKenna family became mine. A truly good book to me, has to have realistic characters that I can identify with- this one certainly met my criteria. The personalities of each member of the family was in such detail that I could paint a picture in my mind.

The plot of the story has totally unexpected twists and turns. Just when you think the case is coming close to the end, another shocker is thrown in!!  The surprises were around every corner !!    

All I can say about this book  is a big WOW!! A definite page turner, keep you up late at night to finish novel, makes you ignore your daily chores, kind of novel!! I could NOT put this book down until I had finished it! Totally unpredictable ending!!   
Definitely a FIVE star book!!

About the Author:
  Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves-the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of one's faith and plenty of romance. She's a huge fan of dark chocolate, is always in search of the best iced mocha and her dream is to one day own a little cottage on a remote stretch of beach. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters. Visit her web site at www.DaniPettrey.com!

This book was provided by Bethany House in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

"Swept Away" Does Just That! A great book!

About Swept Away: 

When a cowboy focused on revenge encounters a woman determined to distract him, there's going to be trouble in Texas!

Swept away when her wagon train attempts a difficult river crossing, Ruthy MacNeil isn't terribly upset at being separated from the family who raised her. All they've ever done is work her to the bone. Alive but disoriented, she's rescued by Luke Stone...so unfortunately, there are more chances to die in her immediate future.

Luke is on a mission to reclaim the ranch stolen from his family. But the men currently on the property won't let it go without a fight. Luke plans to meet up with friends who will help him take back the land, and since he can't just leave Ruthy in the middle of nowhere, she's going to have to go with him.

But the more time Luke spends around the hardworking young woman, the more he finds himself thinking of things besides revenge. Will Ruthy convince him to give up his destructive path and be swept away by love? 

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/iwbMo        

 My  Review of This Book:
Before I start, I must say that historical romantic comedies, are just "not my thing". I read all kinds of books, but I did think, when this one arrived in the mail, "Oh boy, I will never be able to finish it. How can I ever review it?" BUT , upon reading the first sentence in the first chapter, "The sharp crack of a cocking pistol brought Lucas Stone's head around.", I was hooked ! Not a difficult task to read and review this book, at all!  I must say, I was totally "swept away" by this author!!

 Mary Conneally is a talented author, who is able to describe her characters so vividly, that you can picture them in you mind as you read. The main character, Ruthy, at times , had me close to tears, other times, laughter and often made me quite frustrated. She was a real woman who experienced so much in her lifetime, I could easily identify with her worries and cares. Luke was the opposite of Ruthy, at least , I believed so at first.  He was out for revenge , as he feels he has had his father's ranch stolen from him. His goal is to get it back and he is a ruthless man, willing to do ANYTHING to do so, even rescue Ruthy and take her with him. All of the characters have unique personalities and had me laughing aloud at some of their antics. 
The plot of the this story that had seemed simple, grew into a tree with branches, intertwining plots growing out of the main one. There was constant action that keeps a reader totally involved.  Romance blooms in the midst of a rugged  scene , where intense emotions are flying high. The inclusion of comedy just adds to the pleasure of reading this novel. In the midst of a gunfight, Mary uses humor and you end up with totally mixed emotions colliding. Laughter and concern travelled side by side throughout the book.

Laughter, romance and action , ALL abound in  "Swept Away".  A great read for all fans of historical romantic comedies. 

Meet Mary: 

  

Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Kincaid Brides, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series, and she has been a finalist for a Rita and Christy Award and a two time winner of the Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.

Find out more about Mary at http://maryconnealy.com/.

To read more reviews about this book by other bloggers please go to this link: http://litfusegroup.com/author/mconnealy

  This book was supplied by Litfuse in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A New Series By Jerry Eicher!!

"Katie Opens Her Heart"
        By Jerry Eicher

Once again, one of my favorite authors, Jerry, has started another winning series in the Amish fiction genre, entitled "Emma Raber's Daughter". After completing the first book, I can already tell it will be another hit with those of us who are Amish fiction fans!! Upon finishing this book, I can hardly wait for the next. 
 The main character, Katie is known in the community as just "Emma Rader's daughter. This is not a good thing for her, as her mother is thought to be strange and not one to be friends with, by those who know her. People think her very unapproachable and prefer to stay away, rather than be rebuffed. After her husband's death, Emma withdrew from all community activities and life in general.
However, there is ONE man who believes in Katie's mamm.  Jesse Mast, a widower, actually asks Emma to marry him!! Of course, she refuses!! This is extremely upsetting and disappointing to Katie, as she has hoped that remarrying would rid her mamm of bitterness, as well as having a young, handsome man, Ben Stoll, notice her! Her hopes are dashed as Emma continues to refuse to even entertain the thoughts of marrying again. Katie is overwhelmed with disappointment and so frustrated that she begins attending Mennonite gatherings in the area. This , in turn, upsets her mother immensely. For a young Amish woman to stray to the Mennonites is thought to be turning away from her faith and the Amish way of life.

Will Emma ever change from the bitter widow to a happy wife?? Will Katie ever be happy and content?? Only God can provide what they each need, but will they follow His plan?

Jerry has a real talent when developing new characters. They were all realistic and had typical difficulties with which to deal. Katie became my very good friend. I could easily empathize with her as well as rejoice. I felt her frustrations and disappointments, wanting to sit her down and give her hope, as well as some advice!! To me, this is what makes a good book- when I become connected and identify with the characters!  All of the characters were realistic and well described. You could picture each as the story progressed. The personality of Katie's mom, Emma, had me totally frustrated and yes, at times, even feeling a bit angry, at her demands and attitude.

The plot, although simple in nature, was well developed and kept me glued to the page. There were enough twists in the plot to keep a reader satisfied and interested. The Amish faith was realistically and accurately described, as the problems that the characters had were identified and dealt with.

Jerry has once again been successful in capturing my attention in this new series. I can hardly wait to read the next book to see what happens next in Katie's and Emma's lives!!  I would highly recommend this book!!
Definitely worth the read!

This book was provided by the author and Harvest House in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Lisa Writes Another Hit!!

"Firefly Island"

  By Lisa Wingate

About Firefly Island:

Sometimes love takes you on an adventure completely off the map.

Mallory Hale's life quickly veers off course when she falls hopelessly in love. After a whirlwind romance, Mallory finds herself leaving the bustle and action of Capitol Hill for the remote town of Moses Lake, Texas-with husband, stepson, and a U-Haul in tow.

A sweet, mishap-filled journey into marriage, motherhood, and ranch living ensues, and Mallory is filled with both the wonderment of love and the insecurities of change. But what she can't shake is the unease she feels around her husband's new boss, Jack West. Jack's presence-and his mysterious past-set her on edge, and when hints of a scandal emerge, Mallory finds herself seeking answers . . . and comes to realize that the middle-of-nowhere home she wasn't sure she wanted is the very place she'll risk everything to save.

My Review:
  Firefly Island is a wonderful story about relationships, taking chances, change, adventure, regrets and finding meaning in life.
I found this to be a MOST intriguing book! I was entranced from beginning to end and found it very difficult to put down, even for a moment. I HAD to know what was going to happen next. Lisa has a special talent for capturing your attention immediately, in the first chapter, and maintaining it throughout, by adding unexpected twists and turns in her plot. You can never guess what is “around the corner”- on the next page. What is predictable, just doesn’t occur.  The mysteries were solved- although NOT in the way I had guessed.

Lisa has a unique ability to describe her characters in a such a realistic way that their fears and challenges become your's .  I could feel Mallory's desire to be married and have a loving husband and family. Her pain and terror glued me to my seat.  Heartache was felt, as well as her every joy. Her stepson was simply adorable.  I could picture him, enjoying the vivid descriptions of his appearance and behaviors. Jack, Mallory's husband presented  a mystery.  I loved him and disliked him all in the same chapter.  To be able to connect with the characters, is what attracts me to a book. AND this book did just that!! A total success!!

"Firefly Island" is definitely a five star book!  Lisa Wingate is an author to watch. I am already anticipating her next book!!

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/hVNrv

Meet Lisa:

Lisa Wingate is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books, including Tending Roses, Talk of the Town, Blue Moon Bay, and Larkspur Cove, which won the 2011 Carol Award for Women's Fiction. Lisa and her family live in central Texas.

Visit www.lisawingate.com

Win an iPad Mini from @LisaWingate! RSVP for 3/19 Facebook Party!

Lisa Wingate is celebrating the release of Firefly Island with an iPad Mini giveaway and a fun Facebook Author Chat Party (March 19th).

One fortunate winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• The Moses Lake series (Firefly Island, Blue Moon Bay and Larkspur Cove)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends . Winner will be announced at the "Firefly Island Author Chat Party on March 19th. Connect with Lisa, get a sneak peek of her next book, 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 Firefly Island and join Lisa on the evening of the March 19th 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 19th!

 Book was supplied by Litfuse in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Another Marvellous Mennonite Mystery by Nancy Mehl!!

  "Unbreakable"
By Nancy Mehl


Synopsis:

Gentle and unassuming, Hope Kauffman has never been one to question the traditions of her Mennonite upbringing. She quietly helps her father run Kingdom Quilts and has agreed to the betrothal he arranged for her with the devout but shy Ebbie Miller.
Despite the attempts of Hope and other Kingdom residents to maintain the status quo, changes have already begun to stir in the small Mennonite town. The handsome and charismatic Jonathon Wiese is the leader of the move to reform, while Ebbie insists Kingdom must remain true to its foundation. When Hope’s safety is threatened by a mysterious outsider, she can’t help but question what she’s always been taught about the Mennonite tradition of nonviolence.
As it swiftly becomes apparent the threat Hope faced is only the beginning, the town that’s always stood so strong finds itself divided. With tensions high and their lives endangered by an unknown enemy, will Hope and the people of Kingdom allow fear and division to break them or will they draw on the strength of the God they serve?


My Opinion:

Nancy Mehl is a talented author who certainly knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat while reading her book. "UnBreakable" is the second in her Road to Kingdom series, following "Inescapable", however you could read it as a stand alone. 
I was immediately caught up in the drama and mystery on the very first page of the book.  When a story begins with someone being warned to be careful because someone is threatening to destroy houses of worship as well as the Christians who live in her town, you know it will be an intense situation. 

The characters were very real to me, as they had been in Book 1. Hope, a favorite of mine, became a very good friend for whom I was concerned. I wanted to give her advice and help her solve her problems. I could feel her every fear and worry.  The conflict that Hope experienced in her relationship issues,  tore me apart, not knowing what she would choose to do. I felt her pain. The other main characters were just as well developed throughout the story. Nancy has very ordinary, realistic characters, so that you can easily identify with them in times of problems as well as in times of joy.  To me, a good book has characters that I can FEEL and understand. Nancy is very successful in the development of them throughout the book.

The plot is one which has twists and turns. Around every corner is another complication, which is completely unexpected. Just when I would think I had answers to the mystery, another wedge was encountered and throw me off completely. The element of surprise kept me on the edge of my seat.

Faith in God and the importance of keeping true to  your faith came through loud and clear. Hope, as well as the rest of the town, had to come to terms , with the fact that even when in danger, you need to pray and have the reassurance that God is with you and has a plan. His plan may be hard to understand. The people of Kingdom were shocked at the cruelty of those who were attacking their beliefs and  had to understand that  although the storms raged around them, God would take care of them. A hard concept for any of us to deal with- we could certainly identify with it!!

This is a five star book!! Mennonite mysteries are not common to find! It was a great read, unusual subject, fantastic mystery!! What more could you ask?



Celebrate with Nancy by entering her Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVPing to the March 5th Author Chat Party on Facebook!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Books one & two in the Road to Kingdom series by Nancy Mehl

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 4th. Winner will be announced at the “Unbreakable” Author Chat Party on March 5th. Connect with Nancy, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be gift certificates, books, and fun Mennonite-themed giveaways.

Grab your copy of Unbreakable and join Nancy on the evening of the March 5th for a chance to connect with Nancy 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.

 

Purchase a copy here.
Read an excerpt here.

{More About Nancy Mehl}

Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband Norman and her very active puggle, Watson. She’s authored fourteen books and is currently at work on a new series for Bethany House Publishing. All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.” Readers can learn more about Nancy through her Web site: www.nancymehl.com or her blog. She is also active on Facebook.
Find out more about Nancy at http://www.nancymehl.com/Welcome.html.

Book was provided by Litfuse, in exchange for a fair and honest review.