Friday, May 24, 2019

Review: Imagine The Giant's Fall by Matt Koceich

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About:


The last thing fourth-grader Wren Evans remembers (before the world as she knew it disappeared) is getting off the school bus to discover her house engulfed in flames. What happens next can't be explained as Wren finds herself in a beautiful valley with a shepherd named David—in ancient Israel! 

My Thoughts:

Wren Evans is transported back in time (or it may be just in her mind), but Wren is in Bethlehem meeting up with David. This story is told from Wren’s eyes as she watches David’s heroic actions with a bear and a lion and eventually with Goliath.

This is the fourth in the Imagine series and follows kids as they go on Biblical adventures. You do need to suspend reality a bit but this is a fictional story that tries to show these kids that they are important.

One complaint is that David is just only a side character. He doesn’t seem to know what is really going on with Wren. Their communication is curious. There also are some strange spiritual aspects that surround her life as well.

Other than that it is an exciting fictional story, if not Biblically accurate.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Reviewed by Ron

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport


About the Book



A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Present to Past on Family Tree
 
Meri flunks out of medical school—and runs from her parents. Genealogist Jillian Parisi-Duffy’s digging traces the family long tradition of doctors to an ancestor saved during a yellow fever outbreak in Memphis in 1878. As Meri’s family closes in, Jillian gets the final puzzle pieces in place just in time for them all to learn the truth. The Inn at Hidden Run is the first book in the Tree of Life series. Readers will come back to backdrop of a lovely mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that inspire them to connect with their own family histories and unique faith journeys.

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Thoughts:

This story takes on the topic of genealogy and shows just how fun and interesting that can be. Jillian is a genealogist and lives with her lawyer dad Nolan. Together they are quite a team, especially when a very reclusive stranger by the name of Meri comes into their small town and lives. We also have very nosy Nia and her husband the inn owners who have hired Meri at the Inn. Nia was not necessarily a favorite character of mind as I felt she was just too intrusive. I also felt bad for Jillian as well, she was a quiet, very work oriented person who may have needed to get out a bit more, however everyone was constantly interrupting her work schedule; especially Nia. 

Anyway, I found Jillian’s job fascinating and how she worked on family trees for her clients, of whom she had several, and each of the clients were interested in genealogy for different reasons. Jillian was very much a detective. Jillian uses her skills as a genealogist to help Meri for a possible reconciliation with her loved ones by tracing back through her tree when the occupation of doctor became so important. 

This is a time slip novel. We not only have a contemporary story but also a historical one that takes place in 1878 during the outbreak of yellow fever in Memphis, Tennessee. Both stories tie together. 

This is just the beginning of the Tree of Life series and I look forward to more research that Jillian will dig up. 

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.


About the Author


Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. Her husband and twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is.

More from Olivia

Of Family Lines and Family Lore

I suppose it all started in a cemetery.

Once, while a group of relatives were visiting a cemetery, one of my cousins and I wandered off and looked at all sorts of graves, speculating about the names we read and the lives they represented. We were duly scolded both for separating from our families, which caused some consternation, and for being disrespectful—though I think the second accusation was a false one!

Just because we were young children didn’t mean we were disrespecting the dead. Quite the opposite. We were respecting lives long forgotten with our curiosity about who they were and what legacies they left.

These days a lot of people are interested in genealogy. Entire TV series spin around the theme, and DNA kits show up in Christmas stockings. Lost branches of family trees find the main trunk—sometimes with big surprises.

My new Tree of Life series is set in the backdrop of a lovely Colorado mountain town I hope you’ll want to visit often, where a father-daughter genealogy team link present to past on family trees and characters learn about who they are, where they come from, and their unique faith journeys as they discover their own Tree of Life.

It all starts with The Inn at Hidden Run. When Meri arrives in Canyon Mines because she wants to run away from her family, true answers come from understanding the past that generations have forgotten—the accounts from another time and place no longer handed down but that still form the backbone of the family’s story.

What’s the backbone of your family’s history? How is it shaping your own future?

Blog Stops

Hallie Reads, May 22
Bigreadersite, May 23
By The Book, May 23
Mary Hake, May 28
Quiet Quilter, May 29
Remembrancy, May 30

Moments, May 31

Giveaway


 
To celebrate her tour, Olivia is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of The Inn at Hidden Run!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e1c1/the-inn-at-hidden-run-celebration-tour-giveaway


Monday, May 20, 2019

Review: Rise of the Mystics by Ted Dekker

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About:

Master of suspense Ted Dekker returns with Rise of the Mystics, the powerhouse conclusion to the sweeping, two-novel quest that began with The 49th Mystic. Humanity is days from falling into darkness forever and only one girl can bring it back from the brink. But first she must find the Five Seals of Truth, a quest she was born to undertake, or die trying.

My Thoughts:

Rise of the Mystics was an epic conclusion to this two book series that is part of the Circle world. There is a lot going on in this allegorical, action packed, and very suspenseful novel. If you are into fantasy, other worlds, big battles, and really evil bad guys then you will certainly be a fan of this series.

From the moment I picked this book up I was hooked into Rachelle’s world (both of them) and wondered where this story was going to take her. Rachelle was a deep character and she had been through so much already, but this story becomes even more personal to her. I liked her character. She was a good girl trying to find peace and a way to forget her nightmares. She was very trusting and that was good and bad in ways. She is the underdog and I rooted throughout the series for her.

Both my son and I have been enjoying this series.

I was provided with a copy of the novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: More to Love by Robin Helm


About the Book



Book: More to Love  
Author: Robin Helm  
Genre: Christian Historical Sweet Romance  
Release Date: February 12, 2019

“She is tolerable, I suppose, but there is rather too much of her to tempt me.” Overhearing Mr. Darcy’s rude dismissal of her shocks and mortifies Elizabeth Bennet to the core. She is living her worst fear, and it galvanizes her into action. Soon, the gentleman cannot keep his eyes from her, but can she forgive his thoughtless judgment of her appearance and character? Especially since he faces a worthy competitor for her attention? Who will win the lady’s hand, along with the right to love her through thick or thin?

Click here to purchase your copy.

My Thoughts:

This is the second book I have read by author Helm, and the second Pride and Prejudice retelling by her. I really enjoyed the first novella of hers so I was quite excited to see what she would do with a full length novel. Well…I was not disappointed.

The familiar characters and places are back along with all their pride and prejudice. This time Elizabeth overhears Darcy make a comment about her weight in unflattering terms. This understandably upsets Elizabeth and now she has a plan to change her appearance to prove him wrong. I am all for eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight, but what Elizabeth was missing at first was that she needed to do so for herself.

Darcy realizes his mistake and is truly sorry for the hurt he caused and the more he gets to know her the more he realizes how beautiful she is on the inside as well on the outside and how well they would suit each other. However, this is where the author takes the story and really makes it her own. We have another handsome suitor who also finds Elizabeth charming and then she throws in a bit of suspense and some big secrets and you have a delightful tale.

I enjoyed this retelling very much and I am a fan. I will pretty much read any Darcy and Elizabeth author Helm will write.

I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author


Robin Helm’s books reflect her love of music, as well as her fascination with the paranormal and science fiction. Previously published works include The Guardian Trilogy: Guardian, SoulFire, and Legacy (Christian paranormal romance); the Yours by Design series: Accidentally Yours, Sincerely Yours, and Forever Yours ( ChristianTime Swap romance), and Understanding Elizabeth (Christian Regency romance). She contributed to A Very Austen Christmas: Austen Anthologies, Book 1, an anthology featuring like-minded authors, in 2017, and A Very Austen Valentine: Austen Anthologies, Book 2, in 2018. New releases for 2019 include More to Love, a stand-alone Christian historical sweet romance dealing with body image; Lawfully Innocent, a Christian historical U.S. Marshal romance book in the Lawkeepers series; Maestro, a Christian historical sweet romance featuring a brilliant musician and his student; and A Very Austen Romance: Austen Anthologies, Book 3. She lives in sunny South Carolina where she teaches piano and adores her one husband, two married daughters, and three grandchildren.

More from Robin


Have you ever been judged on the basis of your appearance – what you weigh, how you dress, how you wear your hair or do your makeup? I am a professional dieter, and I have been on all of them. I lose, and I gain it back. I know the lengths a woman will go to after she overhears remarks about how she looks, so I relate to Elizabeth in More to Love in a way that’s a bit beyond my comfort zone. Another aspect of this book which is personal is that I chose to base a supporting character on a wonderful, Christian lady at my church (with her permission). Mrs. Donna Bailey has been a constant encouragement to me in regards to my writing. She often gives me beautiful sugar cookies she painstakingly decorates with holiday themes. Mrs. Bailey is the housekeeper and dessert cook at Longbourn, and she helps Elizabeth through thick and thin, so to speak.

Blog Stops


Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away
Grand Prize: a $25 Amazon gift card 1st Place: An autographed paperback of A Very Austen Valentine: Austen Anthologies, Book 2 2nd Place: An autographed paperback of More to Love 3rd Place: A set of three eBooks – Reader’s Choice of any three of my books!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e270/more-to-love-celebration-tour-giveaway


Review and Giveaway: Hers to Protect by Catherine Lanigan


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Hers to Protect
(Shores of Indian Lake #11)
By Catherine Lanigan
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
April 1st 2019 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She’s sworn to protect…

But does that include a speeding celebrity?

Violet Hawks is a by-the-books police officer—so when she catches a man speeding, she arrests him. Only, the man is famous race car driver Josh Stevens. To make amends, Josh launches a charm campaign, and it works on the small town…and on Violet. But when Josh is connected to an investigation, Violet begins to wonder—can she trust her instincts when her heart is involved?


Other Books in the Series




My Thoughts:

Hers To Protect was truly a heartwarming story of two souls that needed to find that special someone to love as both were carrying hurts from childhood and trying to excel in their current job positions. They both were using their jobs to fulfill the emptiness inside of them that their jobs could not.

Violet, a police officer, and Josh a famous race car driver have a very memorable first meeting that had me smiling. I was definitely on Violet’s side as she pulls Josh over for speeding and felt rather bad for her as she was just trying to do her job and it seemed no one took her seriously because she was young and a woman.

What plays out in this story is a beautiful friendship and romance of two people that have some serious trust issues and a bit of pride on both of their sides; especially when it comes to judging each other. This book has a bit of suspense as well, that adds more friction between these two, not like they needed that but it certainly keeps the plot moving at a quick pace.

This is a first time read for me by this author and I enjoyed her writing style and look forward to reading more of her work.

I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.


About the Author

Catherine Lanigan is the international bestselling and award-winning author of over forty-five published titles in both fiction and non-fiction, including the novelizations of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. Ms. Lanigan’s novels have been translated into over twenty-four languages. Lanigan was tasked by the NotMYkid foundation to pen a collection of compelling and informative true stories of teen addicts. Ms. Lanigan’s SHORES OF INDIAN LAKE series for HARLEQUIN HEARTWARMING includes LOVE SHADOWS, HEART’S DESIRE , A FINE YEAR FOR LOVE, KATIA’S PROMISE, FEAR OF FALLING, SOPHIE’S PATH, PROTECTING THE SINGLE MOM, FAMILY OF HIS OWN, HIS BABY DILEMMA, RESCUED BY THE FIREFIGHTER and HER TO PROTECT (2019).

Ms. Lanigan is a frequent speaker at literary functions and book conventions as well as inspiring audiences with her real stories of angelic intervention from her Angel Tales series of books. She is an outspoken advocate for domestic violence and abuse and was honored by The National Domestic Violence Hotline in Washington, D.C. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs including “Coast to Coast” and on television interview and talk show programs as well as blogs, podcasts and online radio interview programs. She writes a monthly blog for Heartwarmingauthors.blogspot.com.

Tour Giveaway


1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)
Ends May 29, 2019

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Sunday, May 19, 2019

Review: The 49th Mystic by Ted Dekker

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About:

Some say the great mystery of how one can live in two realities at once is only the stuff of dreams. They are wrong. The New York Times bestselling master of suspense takes you on a mind-bending, epic journey where everything you think you know is about to change.

My Thoughts:

The 49th Mystic is an exhilarating installment into Dekker's well-known Circle series. Likes its predecessors, The 49th Mystic doesn't fail to stay on par. Masterfully written, this book draws the reader onward as he/she helplessly travel with the 49th Mystic deeper into a universe that is quickly intertwining with another. The excellent pacing and wonderful storytelling keep a steady dramatic beat as the plot begins to unfold. 

As worlds begin to collide and with threats ever rising, the book dutifully performs and promises immense rewards for those who dare to continue further in the saga. This book fits smoothly with the others in the series and helps to paint a broader and more vivid picture of the worlds its author has created. More than just another novel from the world's best thriller writer, this one sits on the mantle as a masterpiece.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Reviewed by JackBo

Saturday, May 18, 2019

Review: The Refuge by Ann H. Gabhart

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About:


Darcie and Walter Goodwin join a Shaker village to escape a cholera epidemic, but when Walter dies, Darcie is left alone—and lonely. Can love live again for this widow in a community that doesn’t believe in marriage?

My Thoughts:

This is a revised review as the author clarified a misunderstanding I had.

The Refuge was an interesting historical read about a Shaker community and those who lived there and embraced the beliefs and those who sought refuge. Darcie and her husband sought refuge with the Shakers due to a cholera outbreak, hoping to escape the death that had claimed so many of their loved ones. Unfortunately Darcie ends up a pregnant widow in a strange and foreign lifestyle, not really belonging nor is she very happy.

This was definitely an eye-opener on many of the strange ways of the Shakers, what they believed about marriage and how they worshiped God.  (I will state that I was confusing them with Quakers, completely my fault, and thank you to the author for the clarification, so my review reflects these changes).  This was an interesting read all the same and it goes deeper into a Shaker community ways, a cult that I had not known or heard of before (that I remember).

However, they did play an important role in the surrounding communities, kind of like the monasteries of medieval age. They were a source of clean water, food, education, and hospitals when needed to be.

This was a heartbreaking read at first and I found it interesting all the reasons one would choose to leave all and join the Shaker community.


I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

My Thoughts and More on Sarah's Search by Jodie Wolfe

  About the Book Boo k: Sarah’s Search Author: Jodie Wolfe Genre: Christian Historical Romance Release Date: June 30, 2026 All her life, Sar...