Stay with me by best selling author Jody Hedlund is book three in her Waters of Time Series. This is a Christian Time Travel historical novel. Each book in the series is captivating and better than the last one.
Author Hedlund makes a plausible case for the catalyst in her time travel story. Her books are well researched, organized, besides being extremely well written. I sat down with the book to read a couple of chapters and instead read until I had finished the entire thing. I was so invested in the story, characters, and adventure.
This is the story of Sybil, a modern day strong, capable, woman that travels back to 1382 medieval England in hopes of retrieving more liquid needed to heal and time travel. The medieval man she meets is the swoon-worthy Nicholas. He is physically and morally amazing. A tough warrior that protects others, especially women, and is respectful. His story is a bit on the sad side, but he manages just fine.
The chemistry between these two characters scorches the pages. From their first meeting it was obvious there was a big spark. The author never crosses the line for Christian and even includes a life lesson on purity. Brava!
There is so much to love about and learn from this book. I highly recommend it and give it a 5 star rating. A copy was provided by the publisher, but these are my honest words.
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear is a Christian contemporary holiday romance novella by outstanding author A.M. Heath. Book Three in the author’s Christmas in Garland series, it can easily be read as a stand alone novel. When I started it with the intention to just sample a chapter, I became so interested in the story that I keep turning page after page until I finished the entire thing! Yes, it was that good.
The writing style of author Heath is very much to my liking. Characters are multi-layered and believable. I became invested in the sweet characters of this book and felt as though I had made a group of friends. The setting was delightful. I am ready to book an extended stay in the Cheery Inn B&B now.
This is the story of Alissa and Stephen. Alissa is left to run her Aunt Maggie’s B&B when she is called out of town. Stephen is a new guest coming to recovery from an injury. Their initial meeting does not go well, but sparks seems to ignite. Also staying is a pair of sisters that have no boundaries and are fabulous.
The author has beautifully included many life and spiritual lessons in this gem. It is exceptionally written and certain to put a smile on your face as you read it. This would make a glorious Hallmark holiday movie.
I highly recommend this lovely story. It will put you in the holiday spirit and give you many things to ponder. I gladly give it a 5 star rating. A copy was provided, but these are my honest words.
Pregnant and alone, Alissa Hill moved to Garland, Tennessee to help at her aunt’s inn. When a guest brings her hidden past to the inn’s door, she must decide whether to face it or continue to run.
A career-ending injury ruined Stephen Powell’s life plans. Now a former NFL kicker, he’s searching for a new purpose while recovering at the Cheery Inn. But those at the inn may offer him much more than he expects.
Can a cozy inn at Christmas transform the troubled hearts seeking refuge there?
Pregnant and alone, Alissa Hill moved to Garland, Tennessee to help at her aunt’s inn. When a guest brings her hidden past to the inn’s door, she must decide whether to face it or continue to run. A career-ending injury ruined Stephen Powell’s life plans. Now a former NFL kicker, he’s searching for a new purpose while recovering at the Cheery Inn. But those at the inn may offer him much more than he expects. Sparks fly when Alissa and Stephen meet, but secrets and regrets may keep them apart unless they can learn to forgive and move beyond their brokenness.
Read this heartwarming Christmas romance today!
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Author Bio:
Besides being an Indie Author, I’m a wife, mother of four, ladies’ Sunday School teacher, sweet tea drinker, history fanatic, romantic, bubbly, lover of broccoli, and a retired cake decorator who has a soft spot for Christmas trees, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What I’m not is a laundress (or at least not one who keeps up very well), a duster, tall, or patient in a doctor’s office.
Author Links: Whether you’re on social media or not, you can ensure that you never miss one of my sales, giveaways, or new releases by signing up for my newsletter. I’ll send you a direct link to your email anytime something big happens. http://eepurl.com/dDbVNz
Enter to win a Christian Reader’s Cozy Packet! Prize pack includes a signed copy of It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, a stack of other Christian Christmas reads, and … a little something extra to round out your cozy day of reading. *Open to continental U.S. Residents only.
In celebration of the new release, Book 1 is on sale for .99 this week. Pick up Project Scrooge and the rest of the Christmas in Garland Collectionin time for your cozy Christmas reader season.
A Not So Convenient Marriage by Award-Winning and Bestselling Author Sandra Merville Hart is Book One in her new Second Chances Series. This Christian Historical Romance book is captivating. I was immediately invested in the story and the lives of the characters.
This is the tale of Rose and Samuel. Rose is a kind, sweet spinster teacher. She lives in Ohio and has dreamed of having a family of her own all her life. The man she loved in school, Samuel, married a beautiful girl and broke her heart. After that woman dies in an accident leaving him a widower with 2 young children, he comes looking for Rose and proposes marriage in name only because he needs help with his children. Rose gives up so much to go help him.
I enjoyed the writing style of the author. It drew me into the story, and I became emotionally connected to the characters. The children were adorable. Samuel was at times frustrating, and Rose did not deserve the heartache and trauma she endured. All of the characters are believable, even the secondary ones. The setting was vividly described and made it easy for me to slip right into the story.
This story was riveting! I had trouble putting the book down for even a few minutes. I was eager to see what would happen next as I urned page after page. It was a different view on a marriage of convenience and had a nice inspirational message.
I highly recommend this beautiful story. It is entertaining as well as full of life and spiritual lessons. The writing is superb. It would make a nice book club selection.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by CelebrateLit, but these are my own honest words.
About the Book
Book: A Not So Convenient Marriage
Author: Sandra Merville Hart
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Release date: November 8, 2022
A spinster teacher…a grieving widower…a marriage of convenience and a second chance with the man she’s always loved.
When Samuel Walker proposes a marriage of convenience to Rose Hatfieldso soon after the death of his wife, she knows he doesn’t love her. She’s loved him since their school days. Those long-suppressed feelings spring to life as she marries him. She must sell her childhood home, quit her teaching job, and move to a new city.
Marrying Rose is harder than Samuel expected, especially with the shadow of his deceased wife everywhere in his life. And he has two young children to consider. Peter and Emma need a mother’s love, but they also need to hold close the memories of their real mother as they grieve her loss.
Life as Samuel’s wife is nothing like Rose hoped, and even the townspeople, who loved his first wife, make Rose feel like an outsider. The work of the farm draws the two of them closer, giving hope that they might one day become a happy family. Until the dream shatters, and the life Rose craves tumbles down around them. Only God can put these pieces back together, but the outcome may not look anything like she planned.
Sandra Merville Hart, award-winning and Amazon bestselling author of inspirational historical romances, loves to discover little-known yet fascinating facts from American history to include in her stories. Her desire is to transport her readers back in time. She is also a blogger, speaker, and conference teacher. Connect with Sandra on her blog, https://sandramervillehart.wordpress.com/.
More from Sandra
There are some stories that must be told. A Not So Convenient Marriage is one of them for me.
I don’t know what it is about this story, but once I began writing it over a dozen years ago, the characters wouldn’t leave me alone.
I wrote the first draft of this book a few years before my first book—another book, A Stranger on My Land—released, so I was still learning about the writing journey. I’m certain that my first draft of A Not So Convenient Marriage wasn’t ready for publication because it was rejected.
But the characters in my imagination wouldn’t allow me to let this one go. I edited and reedited, using skills I learned at writing conferences. Then I tried again with another editor. Another rejection.
Discouraged, I worked on other writing projects and met with a little success. When my first Civil War romance published, I decided to follow my heart and continue writing about that turbulent time period.
This book was set aside.
Still, every morning I woke up thinking about the characters in A Not So Convenient Marriage. In my mind, I’d rewrite a scene from the book as I lay, trying to sleep, in the middle of the night. Or the story would haunt me before falling asleep at night, keeping me awake an hour or two.
This happened almost daily for years.
Finally, I pulled up the manuscript again. It had been written in my early days so it required a lot of modification. I asked my agent to begin showing my updated proposal for the book. She was happy to do this because she always believed in this book. In fact, she decided to represent me after reading for proposal for it.
By the way, the story was still keeping me awake as I waited to sign a book contract.
Last year, I was thrilled when Misty Beller, Wild Heart Books, offered me a contract for a three-book series for this novel. Not only that, she also gave me a three-book contract for my “Spies of the Civil War” series, that published this year. (I invite you to read the whole “Spies of the Civil War” series beginning with Book 1 Avenue of Betrayal, Book 2 Boulevard of Confusion, and Book 3 Byway to Danger.)
Misty told me that she cried when reading my manuscript for A Not So Convenient Marriage—the first time that had ever happened for a submission. That touched my heart.
I’m happy to say that scenes from the book no longer keep me awake at night…for now the story will be told.
The Secrets of Emberwild by author Stephenia H. McGee is a Christian historical novel that includes something for everyone. If you love horses and history along with mystery, adventure, danger, romance, inspiration, or twists and turns, you will not want to miss this fabulous book. It also will give you a taste of southern hospitality.
This is the story of Nora, an independent, sassy young lady that resides on a horse farm. Her desire is to race and train horses. It is also the story of Silas, a horse trainer looking for his father’s killer from fifteen years ago.
Set in 1905 at Mississippi’s Emberwild Horse Farm, the story focuses on Nora and her family. She has a passion for horses, but her family believes she should be a proper lady and leave the training and racing of horses to men. Nora loves her family, but disagrees with them on this. She is excellent with the horses and the only one that can handle the spirited one named Arrow.
At the beginning of this novel, Nora’s father tells Nora a secret as he is dying. Her Uncle Amos goes to them and announces that everything has been left to him so that he can take care of her mother. Things are changing and confusing so Nora decides to find out what the truth really is.
The author has done an excellent job with this story. The characters are relatable and easy to like. There are some surprises that will keep readers on their toes. The information on southern horse farms and horse racing was very well written. It is obvious the author did her research well.
For me, I thought the insight into what was allowed women during this era was eye-opening. I loved Nora’s grit and determination. It was fun learning about harness racing. Living near Louisville, Kentucky with Kentucky grandparents, I have an appreciation for beautiful racehorses. It was nice to glean more information on them. My only complaint is that the Christian inspirational message was very weak and skimpy. I like Christian books to have the inspirational message strongly present.
I was invested in the story and characters within the first couple of chapters. The more I read, the faster I turned the pages. I was eager to see what could happen next. It is a very good book, and I highly recommend it. I give it a 5 star rating. A copy was provided by the publisher and Net Galley, but these are my honest words.
After our Castle by author Kellyn Roth is a Christian historical novel. This is Book 6 in the Chronicles of Alice and Ivy Series. Even though it is Book 6, it could easily be read as a stand alone.
I have read the other books in this series and can say with certainty that each one only gets better. The author has a wonderful style of writing that touches me and has me invested easily in the characters and their stories. In my opinion this book is geared more toward mature and perhaps married readers due to subject matter.
Ivy seemed more confident than in the earlier books. Violet struggled with mental issues. Alice was wonderful, and Jordy was a mess. The characters are eccentric, quaint, and like old friends. The author writes them into readers’ hearts.
I was surprised by the subject matter and messages. The author did warn that the book had adult content concerning a married couple, a depressed woman, and babies. I thought it was all very well handled. Issues such as family planning and birth control were a surprise for me but handled nicely. Christian messages were sprinkled throughout the story. Hearing from God was one of my favorite parts of this book.
I highly recommend this book to mature readers. It would be great for a Women’s Reading Group. In fact, I recommend the entire series. This novel gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: After Our Castle
Author: Kellyn Roth
Genre: Historical Women’s Fiction
Release date: October, 2022
A year into a blissfully happy marriage, Violet Angel admits to a dose of skepticism. She’s not married, granted—but as the closest friend of the bride and groom, she feels she has a perspective no one but the people directly involved could have. There’s no such thing as a happy ending, and it’s only a matter of time before the castle in the sky plummets to earth.
If only Violet were always wrong instead of just mostly wrong. Ivy McAllen doesn’t believe she and her new husband are out of the honeymoon period—if they are, she isn’t going to admit it to herself—but there are certainly areas of adjustment that she hadn’t expected.
Changes at the village of Keefmore and in Ivy’s life lead to complications, and Violet spirals further and further from reality. When a castle in the sky turns to be more cloud than stronghold, finding a foothold proves to be more than a little difficult.
Kellyn Roth is a historical romance & women’s fiction author who writes about the empty places where hope has the most room to grow. Her novels include the inspirational Victorian family saga, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, and the Kees & Colliers series, which follows a broken family in the tumultuous years of the first half of the 20th century.
Kellyn is a student of the Author Conservatory and a writing coach. When not building her author career, she is likely getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, watching period dramas and facetious comedies, or spending time with her husband.
More from Kellyn
After Our Castle was a book I didn’t think I would ever write. Oh, I considered writing a short story or two about the early years of Ivy and Jordy’s marriage, yes, but it wasn’t until last year that I decided that I would write a full-length novel.
Why did I hesitate? I’m writing a family saga, after all, and I plan on covering every stage of my characters’ lives in the 10+ books I’m planning (this being book 6). Well, I didn’t think there was anything to be discussed about Ivy and Jordy’s early married days, as there was with my other book couple, Alice and Peter. Nothing interesting, I thought, happens until 1890, eight years into their union. So why write about anything before then?
Then I realized just how much backstory I was packing into that book. And I realized that, for my writing style, there are so many little things that can add up into a book. And that became the story that is After Our Castle.
The novel wasn’t an easy one to write. It required a lot of subtlety and doesn’t precisely have the most perfect ending. But I knew, if I wanted to set up book 8, I would have to write the novel this way.
So here we go. Another book I wasn’t sure about–but that careful writing and even more careful editing, along with a lot of prayer, have turned into a story I’m actually rather proud of.
Jeanette’s Gift by author Blossom Turner is Book 5 in the Christian historical Shenandoah Brides series. Even though it is Book 5, it may easily be read as a stand alone. It was by far my favorite book in the series, and I have loved them all.
This is the story of Jeanette. She is a schoolteacher with a heart meant to help and love children. She is the youngest of five sisters and has always felt less pretty and desirable than her four sisters. It is also the story of Theo. He is a widower with six children. He has moved back to the small community and does not want help from anyone.
Author Turner has written a stunning novel that had me captivated in the lives of her characters. I love books written in the late 1800s and this one is no exception. The dialog sounded authentic. Descriptions swept me away to that time in the Shenandoah Valley, and I was mesmerized by the brilliant writing. Immediately after starting the book, I became invested in the story and characters.
This page-turning novel was filled with heartfelt moments and inspirational messages. It would make a lovely movie. Jeanette was the children’s teacher and only wanted to help them, but Theo had been through some rough things and had trouble trusting.
I love the life and spiritual messages sprinkled throughout the book. The romance was lovely, and the children delightful. I highly recommend this book. It gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Jeanette’s Gift
Author: Blossom Turner
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: October 11, 2022
This life wasn’t the one she dreamed of, but happily ever afters don’t always come when and how we expect.
At twenty-nine, Jeanette Williams has watched each one of her four sisters marry and start families of their own. It’s hard not to believe God has forgotten the desires of her heart, especially when most people refer to her as Spinster Williams. Without the beautiful children she teaches, life would be unbearably lonely.
When the handsome widower, Theo Wallace, and his six children move into the Shenandoah Valley, every available woman is atwitter—except for Jeanette. She has no such aspirations that someone as plain as her could draw even a smattering of interest.
As life throws this unlikely couple together, Jeanette can’t help but fall in love with Theo’s children and their soul-wrenching plight. Before she knows it, her heart is far more invested than she could’ve ever imagined. And not just with the children, but with their handsome father as well. Is she headed for another heartbreak, or is it possible God had a beautiful plan in the works all along?
Blossom Turner is a freelance writer published in Chicken Soup and Kernels of Hope anthologies, former newspaper columnist on health and fitness, an avid blogger and published novelist of the Word Guild semi-finalist Anna’s Secret. However, she has found her home in the writing of historical fiction. The power of love and romance is authentically woven into the Shenandoah Bride Series about five sisters and their love stories. She and her husband, David, have two grown children and live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Read more at blossomturner.com.
More from Blossom
Do You Enjoy Romance That Keeps You Thinking Days Later?
Long before I knew I could write, I loved to read. Being a hopeless romantic I gravitated to all romance stories either contemporary or historical. I soon realized that finding clean fiction but still written with the passion God created us to experience, was hard to find. (Song of Solomon is a good example of the expression of passion and love between a man and woman without being explicit.)
Given the gift of a writing career later in life one thing was for sure…I wanted to write what I like to read. Clean romance does not need to be boring. As each story pours out, I realize that writing historical fiction is my passion. I finally know what I was born to do. The Shenandoah Brides is a series of five sisters and their five love stories. Oct. 11, 2022 is launch day for the final book in the series called Jeanette’s Gift.
Each book has a redeeming theme. Katherine’s Arrangement, set in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, post-civil war, speaks on how to love the way 1 Corinthians encourages, even when marriage (Katherine’s is an arranged marriage) has proven to be very disappointing. The second book Amelia’s Heartsong, situated in Richmond, Virginia illustrates how love transcends the pomp and circumstance of class and money and encourages us to view others the way God does. The third book, Lucinda’s Defender unfolds back in the valley, and speaks of how our greatest mistake does not have to define our future. A message on second chances encourages the soul. The fourth book, Gracie’s Surrender once again set in Richmond, speaks of a life dedicated to the ministry of God helping the underprivileged orphans. Gracie learns that God can upset even our best intentions with a better plan.
However, the message for this fifth book, Jeanette’s Gift, is a subject so near and dear to my heart. Growing up in an environment that tore me down instead of build me up, proved to be invaluable in writing on this subject. The theme of this book—healing from low self-worth—is a topic that many will relate to.
Jeanette suffers from low self-worth and believes God has forgotten her. A very valuable process unfolds with truth and techniques that work today. Jeanette learns to accept that how life unfolds is up to the sovereignty of God, and He can be trusted. She also breathes in the truth of how she is, indeed, fearfully and wonderfully made.
My prayer is that as Jeanette grows toward healing in the story, that any reader suffering in this same way will embrace the steps on how to break this vicious cycle. I know from first-hand experience healing is possible, and I long to get that message out there.
Although this book can easily be read as a stand-alone, enjoying the whole series as the family saga unfolds will deepen the experience.
I sincerely hope you enjoy the read as much as I enjoyed the write. I love to hear from my readers. Contact me at http://blossomturner.com
Anything but Plain by award winning author, wordsmith extraordinaire, Suzanne Woods Fisher is a contemporary Amish Christian novel that is beautifully written and emotionally charged. I was immediately involved in the story and the lives of the characters.
There is so much to love about this book beginning with the information I gleaned from it. The author took on some huge family and life issues and dealt with them exemplary. From contrary family members to medical disorders this book had beautiful suggestions for resolutions. It even dealt with lying, making poor choices, using people, reconciliation, and forgiveness.
This is the story of Bishop David’s daughter, Lydia Stoltzfus, a nineteen year old unmarried girl. She seems to be an accident waiting to happen and is usually late wherever she goes. She and her neighbor, Nathan Yoder, also nineteen years old, have a special friendship. He wants to be an organic farmer, but is met with resistance from his father and brother.
Author Fisher has done extensive research in preparing for this book. I learned a lot about Lydie’s disorder, family reconciliation, and gardening/farming. This entire novel was so interesting and entertaining at the same time. There are so many interesting subplots that this was a real page turner. I had trouble putting it down because I wanted to see what would happen next. When it was over I still wanted more! I loved the story and characters that much.
At the beginning of the book, there is a listing of characters with a little about them. After the story are discussion questions, author notes, and recommended resources for additional help on Lydie’s medical disorder. I highly recommend this amazing book. It gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by the publisher, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Anything But Plain
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Genre: Amish fiction
Release date: October 4, 2022
It’s not easy being the bishop’s daughter, especially for Lydie Stoltzfus. She’s not like other Amish girls, as much as she wishes she were. The only thing she does well is disappoint others. Leaving her family and church seems unbearable, but staying might be worse.
Knowing Lydie is “between” jobs, the local doctor asks her to fill in at the front desk for a few months. To Lydie, this is a boon. It gives her time to figure out how she’s going to say goodbye to her neighbor, Nathan Yoder–the main reason she needs to leave Stoney Ridge. Nathan claims he’s in love with her, but she knows she’s not good enough for him. If in doubt, Nathan’s father reminds her frequently.
As Dok spends time with Lydie, she recognizes symptoms of an uncommon disorder among the Amish. She offers treatment for Lydie. But will it be enough to make her stay? Or has help come too late?
Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, a Carol Award winner, a two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and the Publishers Weekly, ECPA, CBA, bestselling author of more than thirty books. Her genres include contemporary and historical romances, Amish romance, and women’s fiction. She and her husband live in a small town in California, where everyone knows everyone else, knows what they are doing and why. Most folks act a little nervous around Suzanne because they usually wind up in one of her novels. She has four grown children and enough grandchildren to keep her young. Visit Suzanne at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com
More from Suzanne
Easily Distracted? 8 Strategies to Help Stay Focused
Anything but Plain is a story about a young Amish woman with undiagnosed ADHD. Lydie Stoltzfus feels like a square peg in a round hole. She just doesn’t fit in and, to make matters worse, she’s the bishop’s daughter. At this point, the only path forward she can see is to leave Stoney Ridge. Leave her church, her friends, her family, her neighbor Nathan Yoder. It’s better to leave, Lydie decides, than to keep disappointing everyone she cares about. I won’t say anymore so that I don’t spoil the story for you.
ADHD is not a common diagnosis among the Amish and many might assume it’s not a real thing. Of course, they’re mistaken. ADHD is a real thing. While I don’t have ADHD, I do have many friends and family members who have been diagnosed. It’s challenging! And something we should all take seriously. Here’s why:
Evidence is mounting that a growing dependence on digital devices could be giving all of us some ADHD-like symptoms. Have you wondered if distractibility is becoming a problem for you? Or has a spouse or child or friend remarked on how often you pick up your phone to check a text message or scroll Instagram? You might remain physically present but your mind has wandered away. For me, the answer is, regrettably, yes.
There’s a recurring phrase in Anything but Plain that comes from an old-fashioned farming term: Walking the beans. Literally, it means weeding by hand. Figuratively, it means paying attention to our priorities. To pull the weeds before they take root.
One of the takeaway lessons of this book is to “walk the beans” of technology’s role in my life. So…I’ve been working on a few strategies. When I practice, I see a difference. Life is calmer. More manageable.
So…I wanted to pass these tips along to you. (If you have little children, these might not work for you. Not when your little ones are awake, anyway.) Hopefully, you’ll find them to be useful, and maybe spark some strategies of your own.
Make a plan. I start the day with an index card and write down the day’s priorities. And I check off tasks as I finish them!
Go off-line. Create an environment that helps you stay focused. Turn your cell phone to silent. If working on the computer, close your email app. Put yourself in distraction-free mode until you’re accomplished what you need to do
Finish one task before moving on to the next. Even little tasks.
Distractibility is at its peak during transitions. Build in margin. For example, arrive a few minutes early instead of rushing in a few minutes late.
When distractions are high, make tasks smaller and break down your large projects into smaller tasks to help you concentrate and give you a sense of accomplishment and progress.
When I’m facing a big task, I’ll break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces.
Set a deadline for a task. Beat the clock! Use a timer.
Rewards! When I beat the clock, I’ll take a break from computer work and pop up to the garden, text a friend, walk the dog. Something that feels good.
“Forgotten Memories” by author Penny Zeller is a Christian western historical romance novel. It is the first book in the author’s new Wyoming Sunrise Series. This was an excellent tale of faith, love, trust, and forgiveness. I was captivated.
Set in 1870’s Wyoming Territory, this is the story of Annie and Caleb. She has bad memories of being on the wagon train where she was robbed. Annie now teaches school in Willow Falls.
Caleb comes into town and immediately sparks fly between him and Annie. As times goes by and they become closer, Caleb realizes he has a secret that if discovered might ruin their relationship.
I love the way author Zeller writes. It is detailed enough to make me feel like I am in a time and place that I’ve never been without being boring. Her characters are genuine and become like friends as I became invested in them and their stories. Conversations sounded authentic for the time period. I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen.
There were many life lessons woven throughout this novel. Lessons on love, trust, hope, and forgiveness beautifully written. There are Christian messages of God’s love, forgiveness, and always faithfully being with us sprinkled within this thoughtful tale.
I highly recommend this historical romance. It is something that will stay with you and give you much to ponder. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Forgotten Memories
Author: Penny Zeller
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: August 30, 2022
Some memories are best forgotten…
The Wyoming Territory is rife with lawlessness and disorder, something Annie Ledbetter and her parents discover when their wagon train is robbed. Seven years later, Annie settles into her lifelong dream as a teacher in the small town of Willow Falls. When she meets handsome rancher Caleb Eliason through a humorous misunderstanding, she is quickly drawn to his kind heart and charming smile.
Former outlaw Caleb Eliason embraces his chance at a fresh start. Gone are the days of robbing stagecoaches and wagon trains. When he falls in love with the new Willow Falls teacher, he doesn’t realize they’ve met before—under much different circumstances. When his past comes to light, will it put the growing love between them at risk?
Can forgiveness and redemption heal two broken hearts or will the past keep them from sharing a future?
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.
Today Penny is the author of over a dozen books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.
When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.
I am often asked how I come up with ideas for my books.
Many different things inspire my plots. One inspiration comes from real-life stories. For instance, today our local librarian told me how her family homesteaded in our town in 1881. Of course, I had a million questions. I am also inspired by photographs, people-watching, and sometimes I will hear from readers about a story they’d like to read. I have often joked that I will need to be at least 102 to write down all the stories percolating in my mind.
The idea for Forgotten Memories came from reading about a mail-order bride named Eleanor. Eleanor answered an advertisement from a man named Louis, and after a time of written correspondence, they eventually made plans to marry. During the journey to meet her soon-to-be husband, Eleanor’s stagecoach was robbed. After obeying her request to hand Eleanor her trousseau, the robbers blew up the stagecoach and rode away with their loot.
When the time to be wed arrived, Louis recognized Eleanor immediately. Only later, when Eleanor and Louis were preparing to sign the marriage license, did Eleanor recognize him as the robber due to his voice and a discernable scar. Louis fled and rode off without a word, leaving Eleanor with a broken heart.
After reading Eleanor’s story, my imagination wandered and what-ifs filled my mind. What if something similar happened to a character who, years later, fell in love with a man who robbed her? What would happen when the truth was discovered? Was there any hope for a happily-ever-after?
Ezekiel’s Song by author Naomi Craig is an exquisite historical Biblical fiction taken from the Old Testament. It is beautifully done and makes the Bible come to life. Biblical fiction is my favorite genre when done correctly, and this book is.
This book takes us to Jerusalem in 604BC as we learn about Ezekiel, a struggling prophet, and his wife, whom the author has named Shiriel. This was a well thought, well researched, and extremely well written book. It is based on scripture and easy to understand. Each chapter begins with a Bible verse, which made it nice for cross referencing.
There is so much packed into this novel. It has topics of worship, trust, forgiveness, obedience, love, working together, and hope. I doubt I was able to absorb everything this phenomenal book offered. It has stayed with me and been in my thoughts for days. I will definitely read it again.
I highly recommend this for fans of biblical fiction. It would be great for a study group. There is so much to ponder and discuss. Author Craig did a masterful job. I rated this captivating book 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Ezekiel’s Song
Author: Naomi Craig
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Release date: August 16, 2022
A prophet’s heart broken, a woman’s joy gone. What does Yahweh have planned for His people?
On the brink of Jerusalem’s demise, devoted priest, Ezekiel, sees the insincerity of Judah’s worship. Despite his efforts to call the people back to true worship of Yahweh, priests, artisans, valiant warriors, and royals are exiled to Babylon. When God gives him messages of continued judgment for the people in his homeland, his heart breaks. How can he minister to the people from so far away?
The presence of the Lord is tangible when Shiriel sings in the temple, and her voice prepares the hearts of many to worship. When she is exiled to Babylon, her faith is shaken. Does the Lord’s presence extend beyond Jerusalem and His holy temple?
Ezekiel is struck mute and paralyzed as he begins his prophetic ministry, and Shiriel devises a plan to get the Lord’s message back to the unfaithful people of Judah. Shiriel struggles with discontentment as serving the Lord looks nothing like she’d imagined. Can she provide for her family and carry out her husband’s ministry when her joy is gone, and her own dreams are placed on hold?
How will Yahweh save His people from themselves? Find out in Ezekiel’s Song!
Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, pastor’s wife, Naomi loves reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time. When she’s not serving in various areas at church, trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes or convincing her rescue dog, Freeway, to be cute on command for Instagram reels, you’ll most likely find her enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee. Naomi co-hosts #BehindTheStory with Naomi and Lisa, an author interview show on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice.
More from Naomi
What do you recall about Ezekiel?
The wheel within the wheel?
The dry bones living.
Ezekiel 4:9 bread?
Did you know the Lord asked him to prepare his food over human dung? Or that he was paralyzed for about 14 months? What about mute for seven years?
There are so many bizarre prophecies and symbolisms in the book of Ezekiel. So many prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled. Raise your hand if you tend to skim through these parts of God’s word.
I do.
But when I read Ezekiel a couple years back, the story really jumped of the page.
What about the people who lived with the prophecies and symbolisms?
Ezekiel saw the Lord, and the message He gave was one of Jerusalem finally meeting their just reward.
Only problem is Ezekiel is already in Babylon.
Oh and there’s the whole paralyzed and mute thing.
How is a man who is physically and geographically bound able to get this message a world away?
What was it like to live on rations of war (contrary to how today’s scientists have discovered the right combination to make nutrient dense, protein packed super bread?) in a land that wasn’t suffering from famine or scarcity.
How did the prophet respond when the people who heard the message in Babylonia and Jerusalem brushed it aside as inconsequential?
Ezekiel’s Song explores the lives of those affected by the prophecies. You’ll meet Ezekiel–in the priestly service, turned prophet, Shiri—the Bible states Ezekiel had a wife, her name and her backstory is my imagination, and Gilead—a fictional valiant warrior from Jerusalem.
Discover the book of Ezekiel like you’ve never seen it before!
Trusting Her Amish Heart by author Cathy Liggett is a delightful Amish tale. It is the story or Leah,Ivan, and Zach. The author knew about the Amish lifestyle because this story sounded authentic. It was engaging and progressed well. Her characters were likable and believable, that were strong in many areas yet had issues and insecurities in others.
Zach and Leah both have secrets that they are carrying around like heavy bags. Their characters were easy to like. Their conversations were timely and sounded correct for the Amish culture. I enjoyed the horse farm setting.
There are so many life and spiritual lessons in this heartwarming story. Characters deal with their past, forgiveness, humility, pride, faith, family, hope, and fear. Zach is like the prodigal son returning home after years away with no contact. However, his welcome was much different. The faith element and message are woven throughout the entire story. They bring hope and encouragement.
I highly recommend this sweet story. Fans of Amish Fiction will enjoy it. I received a copy of Trusting Her Amish Heart: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance from the Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Trusting Her Amish Heart
Author: Cathy Liggett
Genre: Amish Inspirational Romance
Release date: August 1, 2022
Her heart may learn to love again…
But can it trust?
Running from betrayal, Leah Zook finds purpose caring for the older owner of an Amish horse farm. But when he’s injured and his estranged son returns home looking for redemption, Leah’s resolve is tested. The mysterious Zach Graber has all the power to fix the run-down farm— and Leah’s locked-down heart. But together will they be strong enough to withstand his secret…and hers?
ACFW award-winning author Cathy Liggett is an Ohio girl who never dreamed writing would take her across the world and to Amish country, too. But she’s learned God’s plans for our lives are often more creative than the ones we imagine for ourselves. That includes meeting her husband at a high school reunion and marrying three months later–forty years ago. Together, they enjoy visiting kids.
More from Cathy
Trust. It’s a small word with huge implications, isn’t it?
When I think of trust, the first thing that comes to mind is our dog Chaz. We – or rather she – rescued us when she was a little over one year old. At the time she first came into our home the poor pup was too scared to even sleep. She’d start to doze off, then jerk and open her eyes, looking all around trying her utmost to stay on guard. Now, at 13 years old, our furry gal has cushy dog beds in every room in the house. Which makes perfect sense since she undoubtedly rules our roost. It’s been our joy to be able to spoil her all these years. But I have to say, Chaz isn’t the only one who has had trust issues.
While penning Leah and Zach’s story, I was so happy because it took me back to Sugarcreek, and not just in spirit or through sweet memories. As it happened, my critique partners (and dear friends) decided Ohio Amish country would be the perfect spot for a writing retreat. How could I disagree?
In the four days we spent in a rustic cabin we got ideas flushed out and chapters written too. But we also laughed, shared, celebrated, and ate more snacks and sweets than we should have.
I’m telling you this because coming home I thought how the chance to know and share with these special women may have never happened. Many years ago, I almost didn’t say ‘yes’ to their invitation to join their critique group. I’d been working in a creative field but writing a book was something new, and they were so far ahead of me. Can I tell you that as I sit typing this, that I’m so thankful I shared my writing and myself with them?
As just noted, like Leah and Zach, I know it’s not always easy to open up and to trust. But, also like the two of them, I’ve learned when I do trust God and the special people (and pups) He sends into my life, those relationships can be beyond rewarding.
Oh! And lastly – if you’re in the mood for something sweet like the characters in this book, here’s the recipe for the “Chocolate Chip Cake” they all raved about. It’s quick, easy and delicious. Trust me!
Chocolate Chip Cake
Ingredients:
1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix
4 eggs
½ cup oil
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 package vanilla instant pudding
6 oz. package of chocolate chips
4 oz. bar of Baker’s German Chocolate grated
3 Tablespoons confectioner’s sugar
Floured tube pan
Wax paper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour tube pan and line bottom with wax paper.
Set aside 3 Tablespoons of confectioner’s sugar. Mix everything else together except for chocolate.
After mixed, fold in all chocolate chips and ¾ of the grated German chocolate.
Add to pan and bake for 1 hour (a little prior to 1 hour, check for doneness).
Mix the remaining ¼ of the grated German chocolate with the 3 Tablespoons of confectioner’s sugar. Sprinkle this chocolate sugar mixture on top of cake. Bake 3-4 minutes longer.
Remove from oven and cool thoroughly. Remove from pan.
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