Book Review: Stars Over Clear Lake

A book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

I am so excited to share with you an amazing book I just read! Stars Over Clear Lake is written by an award-winning author, Loretta Ellsworth, who is best known for penning compelling, unique characters who undertake journeys of self-discovery. Her first four novels have been for young adults but her debut adult novel, STARS OVER CLEAR LAKE, is an historical-commercial women’s fiction novel that launched May 2 with St. Martin’s/Thomas Dunne Books.

Set during the 1940s and the present and inspired by the historic Surf Ballroom near Mason City, Iowa, where Loretta grew up, STARS OVER CLEAR LAKE is a moving story of forbidden love, lost love, everlasting love―and self-love. For the first time in decades, Lorraine Kindred has returned to the ballroom where she was swept away by the big bands during the 1940s―and by a star-crossed romance. As she takes in the magnificent energy and brassy sounds of her youth, the past comes to life, along with the fateful decision all those years ago that forced her to choose between personal conviction and social expectation, between the two men who had captured her heart. It had been a time of great music and love, but also of war and sacrifice, and now, trying to make peace with her memories, Lorraine must find the courage to face buried secrets. In the process, she will rediscover herself, her passion, and her capacity for resilience.

Not only is she an amazing author but she is also a local author to me! Loretta, who lives in Lakeville, Minnesota (only about 10 minutes from me!), is a graduate of Hamline University and the author of THE SHROUDING WOMAN, a Rebecca Caudill nominee; IN SEARCH OF MOCKINGBIRD, which won the Midwest Bookseller's Choice Honor Award, was a Teen's Top Ten finalist, was an IRA Notable, and was named to the New York Library's List of Books for the Teen Age; IN A HEARTBEAT, which was named a spring Midwest Connection's Pick and an ALA Notable; and her most recent book, UNFORGETTABLE, which is a Kirkus Pick of the Month.

My Opinion

I love, love, LOVE WWII historical fiction novels so this book was so intriguing to me! I am so glad I gave it a chance because Stars over Clear Lake was a unique, well-written and very interesting book! I love that it gave history of ballrooms and prisoner camps back in the 1940s - that was so interesting to me! The history I learned in this book is phenomenal!

The storyline was also so easy to read and easy to love! I fell in love with this book and the characters from the first pages and couldn't put it down! I will be sharing this book with everyone I know and you must read if you love historical fiction books!

Buy It:

You can purchase Stars over Clear Lake for $18.31 from Amazon.com

* Disclosure - This book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Book Review: The Mark of the King

A book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

About the book:

Sweeping historical fiction set at the edge of the continent.

After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720s French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict.

When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne's brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on?

With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king's mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption.

About the author:

Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning author of ten books to date, including Wedded to War, a Christy Award finalist in 2013; Widow of Gettysburg; Yankee in Atlanta; and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. A former military wife herself, her passion for military families informs all of her writing as well as her numerous speaking opportunities. Jocelyn graduated from Taylor University with a BA in English and now lives with her husband and two children in Iowa.

My Opinion

Since I am making my first trip to New Orleans in a couple weeks, I was so excited to see that this book was based in New Orleans.

Besides being a subject of interest, this book was AMAZING! Jocelyn Green just shot to the top of my favorite author list and I can't wait to read more from her.

This book had mystery, intrigue, love and so much history - I just loved every minute of it! I highly recommend The Mark of the King! Jocelyn Green is so talented and this book was so interesting and amazing - I couldn't put it down and was so sad when it was done!

Buy It:

You can purchase The Mark of the King for $9.77 from Amazon.com

Giveaway

*Disclosure - This book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Book Review: Starving Hearts

A book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

About the book:

Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage.

She yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God's existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way. . . .

Mr. Peter Adsley is joining the clergy, and he desires a godly wife by his side. After a failed attempt to obtain one, he engages in a clandestine meeting with the bewitching young woman who keeps crossing his path. But she is so unsettling.

Destined for disappointments, Peter and Annette both endure disgraceful situations. Will Peter's faith sustain him through overwhelming setbacks? Can Annette overcome her doubts? Or will their starving hearts yield to the machinations of a mad man?

About the author:

Janine Mendenhall teaches teens English, of all things! Sometimes she sleeps, but most nights she reads, writes, or watches movies like Pride and Prejudice and claims she's researching her next book. Splickety Love and Splickety Prime have published her flash fiction. She and her husband, Tom, live in North Carolina where they and their two golden retrievers help gratify the needs of their five children and two cats.

My Opinion

Calling ALL Downton Abbey and Jane Austen fans!!! Starving Hearts is the book for you! This book is based in 18th Century England and features a great heroine and hero duo!

But it's even more than what it seems like at first glance! It is full of suspense, fear, sadness and even a look into the slave trade.

This book will really take you through a maze of emotions but it will definitely appeal to fans of books set in old England.

Buy It:

You can purchase Starving Hearts from Amazon.com for $7.95.


Will Annette's search for love and acceptance replace the loss and hurt in her heart? Find out in Janine Mendenhall's book one, Starving Hearts, of the Triangular Trade Trilogy. Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage. But she yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God’s existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way. . . .

Join in the search for love and acceptance with Janine and Starving Hearts by entering to win the Delightful Heart Gift Pack Giveaway.

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Starving Hearts
• A bottle of essential oils
• An essential oils diffuser necklace
• A chiffon scarf
• A shoulder handbag
• A copy of Jane Austen's World

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on September 12. The winner will be announced September 13 on Janine's blog.

*Disclosure - This book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Book Review: The Loyal Heart

A book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

About the book:

Robert came to Galveston to fulfill his promise to a dying man and look after his widow. He didn't expect to find love in the unlikeliest of places.

Robert Truax, former Second Lieutenant and Confederate officer in the Civil War, made a promise to his comrade Phillip Markham. If anything happened to Phillip, Robert would look after his beloved wife, Miranda. She was his life, his world, his everything.

After the war, Robert is left to pick up the pieces and fulfill his pact. When he arrives at Miranda's home in Galveston, Texas, things are worse than he imagined. Phillip's name has been dragged through the mud, everyone in town believes him to be a traitor, and his widow is treated as an outcast. Even more disturbing is her emotional well-being. Miranda seems hopeless, lost, and so very alone.

Robert had thought his duty would be simple. He would help Miranda as quickly as possible in order to honor a promise. But the moment Robert laid eyes on her, his plans changed. He's mesmerized by her beauty and yearns to help her in any way he can.

He makes it his duty to protect Miranda, turn her reputation around, and to find some way to help her smile again. But it doesn't prove to be an easy task---Robert knows something about Phillip that could shake Miranda to the core and alter her view of the man she thought she knew so well.

About the author:

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

My Opinion

As always, Shelley Shepard Gray writes a compelling book that really details the lives after the Civil War.

This book really made me think about what the families, soldiers and widows had to go through after the war was over and sympathize with the South and all the rebuilding they had to do.

This was a great historical fiction with a little romance added in - my favorite kind of book!

Buy It:

You can purchase The Loyal Heart for $9.31 from Amazon.com

*Disclosure - This book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Book Review: A Beauty Refined

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

About the book:

What does it take to reveal the true beauty of a hidden gem?

Phoebe Von Bergen, the daughter of a German count, is excited to visit America for the first time while her father purchases sapphires in Helena, Montana. Little does she know, however, that her father's intentions---both for her and the gemstones---are not what she thinks.

Ian Harper, a lapidary working in Helena, finds the dignified young woman staying at the Broadwater Hotel more than a little intriguing. Yet the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that her family story is based on a lie---a lie she has no knowledge of. And Ian believes he knows the only path that will lead her to freedom.

Meeting Ian has changed everything for Phoebe, and she begins to consider staying in America, regardless of her father's plans. But she may not be prepared for the unexpected danger that results when her family's deception begins to unravel.

About the author:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

My Opinion

Tracie Peterson is another one of those authors that I have known for a long time and been reading her books for as long as I can remember! When I see her name on the front of a book, I know it is going to be an awesome historical fiction.

And with A Beauty Refined, I found that to be true again. Tracie Peterson has not lost her talent or creativity or storytelling skills over the years and, in fact, she may be getting better with age! :)

This book was so interesting learning about the Sapphire trade back in the early 1900's. And as always, it was a great love story mixed in with murder, mystery and suspense!

If you love historical fiction, Tracie Peterson and this book are the one to read this summer!

Buy It:

You can purchase A Beauty Refined for $8.56 from Amazon.com

Little does Phoebe know that her father's plans—for the sapphires and his daughter—are not what they seem. If you love historical fiction, romance, and adventure, don't miss Tracie Peterson's A Beauty Refined. When Phoebe meets Ian, everything changes. Yet the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that her family story is based on a lie—a lie she has no knowledge of. And Ian believes he knows the only path that will lead her to freedom.

Join Tracie in celebrating the release of A Beauty Refined by entering to win her Precious Gems giveaway (details below) and by attending her author chat party on August 9!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• One copy of A Beauty Refined
• A sapphire jewelry set

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/9. The winner will be announced at A Beauty Refined Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Tracie and fellow fans of historical fiction, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 9th!

*Disclosure - This book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Book Review: The Ringmaster's Wife

A book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

About the book:

An ounce of courage. A split-second leap of faith. Together, they propel two young women to chase a new life---one that's reimagined from what they might have become.

In turn-of-the-century America, a young girl dreams of a world that stretches beyond the confines of a quiet life on the family farm. With little more than her wit and a cigar box of treasures to call her own, Mable steps away from all she knows, seeking the limitless marvels of the Chicago World's Fair. There, a chance encounter triggers her destiny---a life with a famed showman by the name of John Ringling.

A quarter of a century later, Lady Rosamund Easling of Yorkshire, England, boards a ship to America as a last adventure before her life is planned out for her. There, the twenties are roaring, and the rich and famous gather at opulent, Gatsby-esque parties in the grandest ballrooms the country has to offer. The Jazz Age has arrived, and with it, the golden era of the American circus, whose queen is none other than the enigmatic Mable Ringling.

When Rosamund's path crosses with Mable's and the Ringlings' glittering world, she makes the life-altering decision to leave behin d a comfortable future of estates and propriety, instead choosing the nomadic life of a trick rider in the Ringling Brothers' circus.

A novel that is at once captivating, deeply poignant, and swirling with exquisite historical details of a bygone world, The Ringmaster's Wife will escort readers into the center ring, with its bright lights, exotic animals, and a dazzling performance that can only be described as the greatest show on earth!

About the author:

Kristy Cambron fancies life as a vintage-inspired storyteller. Her second novel, A Sparrow in Terezin, was named Library Journal Reviews' "Pick of the Month (Christian Fiction)" for February 2015.

Cambron is an art/design manager at TheGROVEstory.com storytelling ministry. She holds a degree in art history from Indiana University and has nearly 15 years of experience in instructional design and communications for a Fortune-100 company. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three football-loving sons, where she can probably be bribed with a coconut mocha latte and a good Christian fiction read.

My Opinion

This book is one of those books that immediately set itself apart from others from the very first page! I loved the setting, the storytelling and the mix of different generations telling the story.

Reading about the circus and the circus life was SO interesting to me and I really learned a lot from this book! Not only that, but the storytelling was so amazing! Cambron proves again why she is one of my favorite authors. She always picks the greatest settings, complex characters and her storytelling is so amazing!

I love how the two characters come together after telling their separate stories - Mable & Rosamund's stories were beautiful and I just never wanted them to end!

I highly recommend The Ringmaster's Wife for any historical fiction fans out there looking for a a great summer read!

Buy It:

You can purchase The Ringmaster's Wife for $9.31 from Amazon.com

* Disclosure - This book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Book Review: Anchor in the Storm

A book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

About the book:

One plucky female pharmacist + one high-society naval officer = romance-and danger

For plucky Lillian Avery, America's entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg's attentions only annoy---even if he is her brother's best friend.

During the darkest days of the war, Arch's destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves---and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?

Sarah Sundin brings World War II to life, offering readers an intense experience they won't soon forget.

About the author:

Sarah Sundin is the author of Through Waters Deep, as well as Wings of the Nightingale and the Wings of Glory series. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force. Sarah lives in California.

My Opinion

It must really be the month of amazing books being released because I got to read another favorite author's new book this week and this one was by Sarah Sundin! I LOVE her series about WWII and the Wings of Nightingale is so interesting! I always wanted to be in the Navy and, since I never did, I live vicariously through her books and I have learned so much in her books!

Anchor in the Storm was filled with mystery, love, romance, and history and I couldn't put it down - I believe I read it all in one day - it was THAT GOOD! Sarah Sundin is so talented and now I have to wait around for her new book and the wait might just kill me....

If you haven't read any books from Sarah Sundin, you need to pick up all her books to read this summer! You won't want to put them down and Anchor in the Storm is no exception!

Buy It:

You can purchase Anchor in the Storm for $8.93 from Amazon.com

In a time of sacrifice, what price can one put on true love? Pharmacist Lillian Avery and Ensign Archer Vandenberg are about to find out in Sarah Sundin's new book, Anchor in the Storm. During the darkest days of the war, Arch's destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves—and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions Lillian has been filling? As the danger rises on both land and sea, the two must work together to answer that question. But can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?

Celebrate the release of Sarah's Anchor in the Storm by entering to win her All Hands on Deck Prize Pack!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A signed copy of Anchor in the Storm
• Nautical tote bag lined with anchor fabric
• Anchor necklace made from copper reclaimed from the USS Constitution in Boston during restoration
• 365 Devotions for Hope by Karen Whiting
• Shine: Nautical Inspirational Adult Coloring Book
• "Hope Anchors the Soul" journal
• Set of two nautical tea towels

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 8th. The winner will be announced June 9th on Sarah's blog.d

* Disclosure - This book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Book Review: Through the Shadows

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

About the book:

As San Francisco rises from the ashes, an age-old battle looms between corruption and the promise of new beginnings.

The devastating earthquake is just two years past, but the city of San Francisco is still trying to recover. Destruction of this magnitude is not so easy to overcome---and neither are the past regrets shadowing Elizabeth King's hopeful future.

Hoping to right her wrongs, Elizabeth dedicates herself to helping girls rescued from slavery in Chinatown brothels, even if it means putting her own life at risk to sneak through the gloomy alleys and rooftops where dangers lurk.

Putting her life on the line for a worthy cause is admirable. But opening her heart is even more terrifying. So when Elizabeth meets attorney, Charles McKinley---a man who dreams of reforming San Francisco's crooked politics---Elizabeth begins to doubt: Can she maintain her pretense and hide her past? Or will her secret jeopardize both their futures?

About the author:

Karen Barnett is the author of Beyond the Ashes, Out of the Ruins, and Mistaken. Named the 2013 Writer of Promise by Oregon Christian Writers, Karen lives in Albany, Oregon, with her husband and two kids. When she's not writing novels, she loves speaking at women's events, libraries, and book clubs.

My Opinion

I can honestly say that this Golden Gate Chronicles series has been one of my favorite series over the years to read! Each one has been interested historically, written really well, had twists and turns in the plot and always a great love story! Karen Barnett has quickly become one of my favorite historical fiction authors!

So to say I was soooo excited to read Through the Shadows was an understatement! It took all I had to hold back reading it the minute I received it in the mail and drop everything else I was doing to read it all at once!

I loved learning more about Elizabeth and watching her life unfold before her like she never imagined! I loved her second chances in life and the reminder that God truly forgives us and gives us many second chances in life!

As always with Barnett's books, this book had me on the edge of my seat wanting to read until the last page...all in one sitting! Definitely recommend Through the Shadows and the other books in this series!!

Buy It:

You can purchase Through the Shadows for $10.56 from Amazon.com

Link here: https://promosimple.com/ps/99f1

*Disclosure - This book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Book Review: Beyond the Silence

A book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

About the book:

The shadows over this olive grove hide more than just the truth.

Lillian Porter has always wanted to fulfill her mother's dream of going west, so when she hears about a nanny position in Angels Camp, California, she defies her grandfather and takes a chance on a new future. But she quickly wonders if she made the right choice. Murky rumors swirl around Woodward Colton, her new employer, but the gossip doesn't match the man Lillian comes to know.

Still, something dark did happen in the family's past. Lillian's seven-year-old charge hasn't spoken in over a year. Gently, Lillian tries to coax him out of his shell, hoping he'll one day feel safe enough to share wh at scared him. But the Colton olive farm is no longer a safe place. Lillian encounters suspicious characters on their land and mysterious damage done to the farm. When the housekeeper is brutally attacked, the town once again suspects the worst. Will discovering the truth help Lillian clear the name of the man she has come to love---or will it endanger her even more?

About the authors:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

Kimberley Woodhouse is a multipublished author of fiction and nonfiction. A popular speaker/teacher, she's shared her theme of Joy Through Trials with over 150,000 people at more than a thousand venues across the country. She lives, writes, and homeschools with her husband of twenty-plus years and their two awesome teens live in Colorado.

My Opinion

It always amazes me the strength of women back in the 1800's and early 1900's that would just leave everything behind and travel to the west - whether it was as a mail order bride or nanny like in this book. The strength and bravery that takes is something women today don't experience much I don't think.

This book was a great portrayal of that bravery and the fear that takes place when leaving everything you know! It was also a really interesting look into olive groves and the olive market. Growing up in the Midwest I know nothing about olives :)

This book was also filled with intrigue, murder, mystery, special needs children, and so many more elements that really made this book hard to put down!

Two thumbs up for Beyond the Silence!!

Buy It:

You can purchase Beyond the Silence for $9.69 from Amazon.com


Lillian Porter takes a chance on a new job and a new future . . . but rumors surrounding her job make Lillian begin to wonder if she made the right choice in Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse's Beyond the Silence. There are rumors in town that her new employer, Woodward Colton, caused the death of his wife. This accusation doesn't match the man Lillian comes to know . . . but soon the Colton olive farm is no longer a safe place. Lillian encounters suspicious characters on their land and mysterious damage done to the farm. Will Mrs. Goodman and Jimmy be able to speak what they know in time to save Lillian from tragedy?

Tracie and Kimberley are celebrating the launch of Beyond the Silence with a Loaded Fire Prize Pack giveaway (details below) and an author chat party on February 11!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• One copy of Beyond the Silence
• A Kindle Fire 7
• A $50 Amazon gift card to load your Fire with books

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 2/11. The winner will be announced at the Beyond the Silence Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Tracie, Kimberley, and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 11th!

* Disclosure - This book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Book Review: At Love's Bidding

A book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

About the book:

She sells priceless antiques. He sells livestock by the pound. Is he really the man to make a bid for her heart?

After helping her grandfather at their Boston auction house, Miranda Wimplegate discovers she's accidentally sold a powerful family's prized portrait to an anonymous bidder. Desperate to appease the people who could ruin them forever, they track it to the Missouri Ozarks and make an outlandish offer to buy the local auction house and all its holdings before the painting can move again.

Upon crossing the country, however, Miranda and her grandfather discover their new auction house doesn't deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its frustratingly handsome manager, Wyatt Ballentine, is annoyed to discover his fussy new bosses don't know a thing about the business he's single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more heads of cattle than they can count---but no mysterious painting---Miranda and Wyatt form an unlikely but charged partnership to try and prevent a bad situation from gett ing worse.

About the author:

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She is the author of A Most Inconvenient Marriage, Sixty Acres and a Bride, and Caught in the Middle, and contributed a novella to A Match Made in Texas. Regina 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, Oklahoma, with her husband and four children.

My Opinion

Regina Jennings always writes the most fun-filled, lighthearted romances and I love sitting down to read them when I need a mental break from the stresses of life!

At Love's Bidding was such a fun read and I love the look into early auction houses - both household items and livestock auctions. This book was a great romance with many funny moments, mystery, intrigue, family relationship issues and so much more! She really packed a lot into this easy to read, lighthearted book!

Always a pleasure to read a Regina Jennings book!

Buy It:

You can purchase At Love's Bidding for $12.98 from Amazon.com

After a cross-country trip to track down a sold painting that could ruin her family's business forever, Miranda Wimplegate forms an unlikely but charged partnership with livestock auctioneer Wyatt Ballentine in Regina Jennings' At Love's Bidding. Miranda and her grandfather discover their new auction house doesn’t deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its frustratingly handsome manager, Wyatt, is annoyed to discover his fussy new bosses don’t know a thing about the business he’s single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more heads of cattle than they can count–but no mysterious painting–Miranda and Wyatt must try and prevent a bad situation from getting worse.

Join Regina in celebrating the release of At Love's Bidding by entering to win her Cozy Winter Night giveaway and RSVPing to her January 5th author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive everything you need for a cozy winter night:

• One copy of At Love's Bidding
• A coloring book for adults
• A pie dish
• Gourmet hot chocolate
• A fuzzy throw blanket
• Warm slippers
• Wintery coasters

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 1/5. The winner will be announced at the At Love's Bidding Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Regina and other readers, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

* Disclosure - This book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Book Review: Whispers in the Reading Room

A book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

About the book:

Lydia's job at the library is her world---until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World's Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn't merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks-the man so many people fear-is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

About the author:

Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years. She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio.

My Opinion

The best part about Whispers in the Reading Room are the characters that Gray has created! I love how strong and courageous Lydia is even though she works in a library - no quiet, meek librarian in her! And Sebastian definitely has two sides to him as well!

This book takes me through mystery, intrigue, shock, awe, love and so much more and it was a journey I really enjoyed! It was one of those books you just didn't want to end!

Buy It:

You can purchase Whispers in the Reading Room for $10.17 from Amazon.com

* Disclosure - This book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Book Review: A Thousand Shall Fall

A book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

About the book:

A story of love, hope, and healing set in the midst of the Civil War

Nineteen-year-old Carrie Ann Bell is independent and spirited. The only thing she really fears are the Union soldiers fighting against her Confederate friends. When her youngest sister runs away from home, brave Carrie Ann is determined to find her and bring her back. Disguised as a soldier, she sets off---only to find she's fallen into the hands of the enemy.

Her childhood friend Confederate Major Joshua Blevins has warned her against these Yankees: they're all devils, ready to inflict evil on unsuspecting young women. When Colonel Peyton Collier arrests her for her impersonation of an officer, it seems to confirm all her fears.

Soon, though, she finds herself drawn to the handsome, gallant colonel. He rescued he r, protected her, and has been every inch the gentleman. Carrie Ann discovers that her foe has become her ally---and more than that, someone she could love. But the arrival of Joshua in the Union camp as a spy will test her loyalties. Will she protect someone who has been like family or be loyal to this stranger to whom she wants to offer her heart? When her world is being torn apart around her, whom should she trust?

Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, A Thousand Shall Fall is framed around compelling characters and a very romantic setting in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Andrea Boeshaar's extensive research guarantees historical accuracy and romance genre enthusiasts and Civil War buffs alike will enjoy the Christian perspectives on actual historical events.

About the author:

Andrea Boeshaar is the cofounder of American Christian Fiction Writers and runs "The Writer's ER," a coaching service for writers. She is the author of thirty published works, including Threads of Faith, a finalist in the Inspirational Readers Choice Awards. Andrea is also the author of a popular devotional and regularly blogs on a number of sites.

My Opinion

There is nothing like a book set in Civil War times to remind you how blessed we are in this country and in this time period. The amount of deaths and lives lost during the Civil War is so sad and jaw-dropping. This book was such an amazing reminder of what the people went through back then and how often they had to go through so much pain as so many loved ones died.

A Thousand Shall Fall was such a well written book and full of twists and turns, drama, mystery and love (my favorite part!). It was also full of history and that was really interesting for me as well.

Andrea Boeshaar really weaved a book that had me loving it from the first page! I love how Carrie Ann is a strong woman and loyal and I loved watching her fall in love and find out who she is and become a confident woman in the process! Boeschaar is definitely a talented writer and I look forward to reading more books from her!

Buy It:

You can purchase A Thousand Shall Fall for $14.99 from Amazon.com

The search for her runaway sister goes awry when Carrie finds herself arrested during the Civil War for impersonating an officer in Andrea Boeshaar's A Thousand Shall Fall. Soon, though, she finds herself drawn to the handsome, gallant colonel who arrested her. Carrie Ann discovers that her foe has become her ally—and more than that, someone she could love. Will she protect someone who has been like family or be loyal to this stranger to whom she wants to offer her heart? When her world is being torn apart around her, whom should she trust?

Andrea is celebrating the release of A Thousand Shall Fall with a Kindle Fire giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of A Thousand Shall Fall
• A Kindle Fire HD 6

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 10th. The winner will be announced December 11th on Andrea's blog.

*Disclosure - This book was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*