The ultimate cure that could heal any disease? Crazy.
That’s exactly what research scientist Marian Creighton has always believed about her father’s quest, even if it does stem from a desire to save her sister Ellen from the genetic disease that stole their mother from them. But when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life, Marian must question all of her assumptions. He’s left behind tantalizing clues that suggest he’s crossed back in time. Insane. Until Marian tests his theories and finds herself in the Middle Ages during a dangerous peasant uprising.
William Durham, a valiant knight comes to Marian’s rescue and offers her protection . . . as his wife. The longer Marian stays in the past, the more she cares about William. Can she ever find her father and make it back to the present to heal her sister? And when the time comes to leave, will she want to?
Bestselling author Jody Hedlund is your guide down the twisting waters of time to a volatile era of superstition, revolts, and chivalry in this suspenseful story.
My Thoughts:
When I think of time travel stories, I always wish a Christian author would come up a with a series that would be readable. Award winning author Jody Hedlund granted my wish! I loved how she incorporated Christianity along with history to pen her phenomenal tale.
Author Hedlund has a exemplary style of writing. She researches her material and always provides new tidbits of information for me to learn. Her use of vivid descriptions she took me away to present day England and then 1300’s smack dab in the Middle Ages. Dialogues sounded authentic which helped keep me in the English mindset. She writes with a deft pen that has me staying up all night turning pages until I have completed the book. The best part is that she always includes an inspirational message.
Early in the first chapter I became invested with this unique story. I loved everything about it. The characters were realistic and individualized. The hunky knight Will was swoon worthy indeed. I loved that character. He had a heart of gold to go with his body of steel. The pair of young boys were delightful. I gleaned a lot of historical information about the Middle Ages that obviously I had forgotten from class years ago. The biblical references were awesome. The idea of healing from the Tree of Life made complete sense.
This novel is spellbinding. It has everything to keep readers captivated……romance, mystery, danger, adventure, twists, and surprises. There is a plethora of timeless life and spiritual lessons. Author Hedlund is a talented wordsmith and has produced a masterpiece worthy of a movie deal. I can only hope to see it acted out one day on screen.
The only bad part of this book is that I have to wait months before Book Two is released. Hahaha! I highly recommend it to everyone. This is a genius time slip or dual time novel. A reading group has much to discuss with this offering. It gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me only because I can’t leave anything higher. Believe me, it is wonderful. A copy was provided but these are my honest thoughts.
About the Author:
Jody Hedlund is the author of over thirty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.
Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).
When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.
Author Judy DuCharme has written a captivating Christian suspense novel with Blood Moon Redemption. I don’t exactly know what I expected this book to be, but it far exceeded anything I imagined. It was phenomenal! Even the cover is intriguing.
This is a multi-generational story beginning when the Jewish people were driven from their homes in Spain. That was a time I had not thought about before reading it. I knew the Jewish people were driven out of various places in Europe, but this was the first time I thought about Spain.
This is the story of Bible prophecy and an artifact from the night the Jewish people fled from Spain in late 1409s. Teetering between modern day and the past, it weaves together the tale of the last tassel ripped off of a prayer cloth and the lives it has touched.
This is also the story of Tassie, a modern day woman. She is a wonderful character and easy to befriend. Unfortunately, she has been deceived by her boyfriend Omar. He is an unsavory character to say the least.
I absolutely love the writing style of author DuCharme. She gradually drew me into her spellbinding story and kept me turning page after page. At times I cross referenced my Bible to verify what it said about end times. The author has done an excellent job researching biblical information as well as details on Israel and the Jewish people. Books that have a Christian message (and this one does) and also teach me something (yes, again) are my absolute favorite ones.
I highly recommend this thrilling, suspense, end time novel. It would make a breathtaking movie. Book Clubs and reading groups would find this fascinating with so much to discuss. It gets a 5 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Blood Moon Redemption
Author: Judy DuCharme
Genre: Christian suspense
Release date: October, 2018
An ancient relic, a puzzling prophecy, and a young woman tied together through the ages . . .
It was just a relic, and hers, just a name. Who knew what time it really was?
The blood moons were always surrounded by great persecution and great provision, great trial and great triumph.
When the Jews were expelled from Spain and traveled with Columbus, only a tassel from a prayer shawl remained with them to signify their faith. That tassel, handed down, stolen, and hidden, became a marker of God’s protection and now is the focus of a terrorist scheme and a young woman’s destiny.
Blood Moon Redemption is an end-times thriller that will keep you riveted until the very last moonrise.
Judy DuCharme grew up with Lake Huron next to her back yard and has always loved the water. She, her husband, daughter, and son moved to Door County in 1984. After teaching 5th Grade at Gibraltar School for 22 years, Judy followed the calling that tugged at her all her life to write. Blood Moon Redemption is her 6th or 8 published books and she is the recipient of numerous awards. She also writes for Guideposts Magazine. If you visit Door County, you may find her hiking in the woods, jet skiing on the bay, worshipping at her church, teaching a Bible study, cheering for the Green Bay Packers, playing with her amazing grandson, or sitting outside enjoying the beauty around her.
More from Judy
My brother, a lawyer, is a voracious reader and likes to write reviews. When he wrote of Blood Moon Redemption, he stated: ‘Most novels have pacing that gives you natural places to stop for the night but this one runs right through the stop signs.’ Current, Historical, and Prophetic, Blood Moon Redemption is a riveting novel following the suspenseful and gripping journeys the characters must travel to find their true destinies. My hope is that you are intrigued enough by all the prophecies, history, and stories here-in, that you will further explore the amazing truths that Tassie, her friends and family discovered.
The Proposal by author Tanya Eavenson is Book Two in her All Roads Lead Home series. Even though this is the second book in the Christian western historical romance series, it may be read as a standalone. Book One is The Rescue.
This is the story of Jessica Thomson set in early 1890’s Oklahoma. Jessica is a feisty young woman with secrets. She is running from something or someone in her past. It is also the tale of Sheriff Blake McKenny. He is a most likable character. His goal is to keep his town and everyone in it safe. Blake is struggling with unfounded guilt from the past. The chemistry between Blake and Jessica is undeniable.
This is a Christian romance historical adventure. The author has added some twists and turns to surprise readers. The dialog sounds authentic and adds to the story. Characters are realistic and relatable. The descriptions easily took me to Oklahoma of the 1890’s.
Author Eavenson has penned a nice story. It seemed to lack a little something to me. I loved that there was a prevalent Christian message woven throughout the book. With a little polish this good book could be a great one. Fans of historical, western, and romance fiction will enjoy it. It gets 4 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: The Proposal
Author: Tanya Eavenson
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: June 15, 2021
Oklahoma 1891
When the sheriff’s daughter goes into hiding from her father’s killer, her life isn’t the only thing in danger.
Jessica Thomson is fleeing the man who killed her father. But her stagecoach is robbed, and when the stranger who rescues her declares she will be his wife, she does the only thing she knows to do—shove her revolver in his back. Never would she have expected he wore a star on his chest. Too bad she vowed never to love another lawman.
As sheriff, Blake McKenny prides himself on protecting his town’s people from danger, but his efforts didn’t include a headstrong woman bent on putting herself in harm’s way. When outlaws threaten his town and put Jessica’s life in danger, Blake’s failure to save his late wife haunts him.
Can Jessica and Blake forgive themselves for the past and protect each other—even if that costs them their hearts in the process?
Tanya Eavenson is an award-winning Christian romance novelist. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate, and reading a good book. You can find her at her website http://www.tanyaeavenson.com/
More from Tanya
Fiction to Reality
Ever had those moments when you’re reading a novel and it’s as if the author wrote the story line, the characters, or included verses just for you? When your world turns from fiction to reality with the flip of a page?
At the beginning of December in 2014, I took a novel from my bookshelf, snuggled on the couch with a blanket, and began to read. The title of the novel is called The Rancher’s Reunion by Tina Radcliffe. The hero in the story is Will, and he has a hereditary disease that caused him to fear, not only his future, but in trusting God. And that’s when God used this story to speak to me.
“I’m scared, Annie.”
“I know, Will. I know.” She blinked back the moisture pricking her eyes.
“No, Annie. I don’t think you do. I’m not just scared. I’m terrified.”
And I understood Will’s fear. Weeks prior to reading this novel, my doctor told me I have cancer. It’s a single word that can change the course of your life, emotionally, physically, but not only yours, others around you. And though I knew God’s presence would be with me no matter what the future held, my desire to write or edit anything had vanished. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to write anymore with my future so uncertain. I wasn’t just scared, but terrified my time with my family would be shortened.
But as I continued to read Will’s story, God’s whispered words, Do not be afraid of things you cannot control, pray, and continue your call to write, took hold and draped around my heart.
I knew at that moment this book was meant to be read at this appointed time. That God was leading me to give Him every single fear, open my laptop, and begin to write again.
During the time I’d stopped writing, I was in the middle of two stories, a contemporary romance, and The Rescue, the first story in the All Roads Lead to Texas series. It took some months before I returned to writing, but I had to give my fears to God the only way I could. Like Will and Annie’s story, day by day. Moment by moment.
In my new novel, The Proposal, the second story in the All Roads Lead to Texas series, Jessica Thompson understands fear and must learn how to give it to God. She has her father’s killer on her trail and the only means for escape is to run, but she never counted on the sheriff of Graham, Texas, to get in her way.
Have you ever had a time in your life where fear caught you so unexpectedly that you didn’t know what to do next? Perhaps you didn’t know where to turn? Maybe couldn’t pray?
I’m here to tell you it’s okay. God knows how you feel, good or bad, it doesn’t change His love for you. Just remember, He’s with you, by your side through it all. He will never leave you.
The Songstress by author Lori Bates Wright is book one in her new historical Christian Series, A Matter of Intrigue. I was immediately mesmerized by the beautiful cover and was eager to read the story inside. It was not disappointing and lived up to the amazing cover!
This is the story of Juliana Chamberlain. Juliana has a lovely singing voice and also helps the Pinkerton Agency solve cases. Juliana was getting ready to sing at the theatre the night President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated and witnessed it. Years later she still has nightmares about it.
The Pinkerton need her help on a case in her hometown in Texas. There she partners with Texas Ranger Cade Matlock. Cade is not sold on a female, opera singer no less, helping him. The story goes into high gear and becomes a fast-paced, page-turning captivating wonder.
Author Wright has done an excellent job with this tale. I was invested in the character of Juliana from the very beginning. The plot was interesting and the momentum kept building. All characters were believable and well rounded. Conversations were smooth and flowed without a hitch. There were plenty of twists, turns, and surprises to make it interesting.
I loved everything about this book. It had history, action, mystery, romance, intrigue, and inspirational lessons. Five stars is the rating from me. I highly recommend it. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: The Songstress
Author: Lori Bates Wright
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: April 16, 2021
Rising opera star, Juliana Chamberlain, still has nightmares of the night she witnessed the assassination of the President of the United States from her spot on stage at Ford Theater. Recruited by The Pinkerton Detective Agency, Juliana was instrumental in bringing those responsible to justice.
Now, two years later, the Pinkertons ask her once again to join forces in exposing a corrupt political organization terrorizing her home in Texas.
Texas Ranger, Cade Matlock, has a job to do. He needs no help from a meddlesome diva with big ideas. However, he is a man of his word. He’s committed to partner with the lovely songstress to smoke out the mastermind of a dangerous clan who has proven he will stop at nothing to satisfy his thirst for vengeance.
Cade and Juliana soon discover their greatest strength is in working together until shadows of the past threaten to destroy their future.
Lori Bates Wright is an award winning author with a love for history.
Raised in New Mexico, Lori now lives in Texas with her husband of 38 years. She has two grown kids and four adorable grand boys (who leap tall buildings in a single bound!) When she’s not writing, she’s heading up small group ministries with her husband. She enjoys speaking and interacting with women of all ages.
More from Lori
Growing up, my family loved to laugh.
Some of my favorite childhood memories are centered around my grandmother’s dining room table listening in while my parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles told amazing stories. Sometimes I laughed until I’d lose my breath. Sometimes I sat quietly, taking in the bravery and perseverance shown by those who’d gone before me.
History has been a passion ever since. Couple that with an insatiable love for story and there you have the heart of what inspires me to write.
So, when it came time to brain-storm for this brand new series, I decided to take a known historical event and think about it from every angle. Beyond the recognized players, to the “what if” characters that might have played a role. And, ultimately, how such an event would have changed the course of their lives.
Thus, a star was born.
In THE SONGSTRESS, Juliana Chamberlain witnessed the assassination from her place on the stage. Because I love a little mystery and intrigue, I decided that the leading detective agency of the day would have enlisted her help in identifying the accomplices. Allen Pinkerton had been known to hire a lady detective or two, so she would be trained by the best. Her investigative skills proved helpful in bringing a quick resolution to the case.
Fast forward four years and she’s still haunted by what she saw that night. When Pinkerton again approaches her about a case involving her family in Texas, she accepts.
Being from Texas, I was so happy she did. I’ve wanted to write a story based in the Lone Star State for quite awhile. I loved visiting Georgia and the shores of England in my last series, but I have to say it was good to bring this one home. With all the rugged charm of the post-Civil War era, this book has a little more local flavor than my last three. Al-in-all, I believe my readers are in for a treat. A new cast of fun, quirky characters as we revisit a significant time in our nation.
So, here’s to new beginnings! Or as we say in Texas, “Hang on, y’all are in for a wild ride!”
To celebrate her tour, Lori is giving away the grand prize package of a Texas Gift basket including a signed copy of THE SONGSTRESS and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Every Window Filled with Light by author Sheila Stovall is a contemporary Christian Fiction. It is a touching story that moved me and stayed with me long after I had finished it. I was not sure what to expect, and this book was a poignant surprise.
This is the story of Emma Baker. One of the reasons this book is a surprise is that in the beginning we read: “The albino python flicked its tongue next to Emma Baker’s cheek.” Truthfully, I almost put the book down right then. My thoughts on snakes are such that my favorite one is a dead one. Yes, I have a fear of them. Thankfully, this was just an opening attention-getter and not a snake filled book. Back to Emma, she is a librarian and caring soul. She has lost her husband and has been receiving letters from his killer.
This is also the tale of tattooed minister Luke Davis. He does not look anything like the stereotypical pastor, but he is a phenomenal one. He preaches love and forgiveness. Looks might be deceiving, but actions and words speak volumes in this case. Luke is definitely a man of faith.
Author Stovall has an inviting style of writing. I was immediately interested in Emma and her life. Her emotions were easy to feel through the pages. Conversations read smoothly and sounded realistic. Each character was believable and realistic. The storyline was unique and held my interest. I love books set in Indiana and Kentucky since I am a Hoosier and have many relatives from the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
There were many timeless life and spiritual lessons in this story. The main ones were trusting God, learning that God uses us all for His purpose and brings out out of every situation, healing, true forgiveness and restoration. I like how Luke is not what the characters think a pastor should be, showing that God can use anyone and good can come from bad. This is an encouraging message about hope, love, joy, and living better even during
I definitely recommend this book. It is an illustration of faith in action and forgiveness lived. It would make a fabulous small group or book club choice. There is so much to discuss. I rated it 5 out of 5 stars. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit, but these are my own words.
About the Book
Book: Every Window Filled with Light
Author: Shelia Stovall
Genre: Contemporary Women’s Christian Fiction
Release date: April 2, 2021
Welcome to Weldon, Kentucky, where the only things the locals love more than fried pies are gossip and match-making.
Librarian Emma Baker, a young and childless widow, believes her dream to build a family is over. It’s been two years since a student accidentally stabbed Emma’s husband to death, and her grief has stifled any interest in romance—until she meets Pastor Luke Davis. But when Emma learns Luke is counseling her husband’s killer fresh out of jail, her temper gets in the way.
Meanwhile, Emma discovers twelve-year-old Harley, abandoned by her drug-addict mother, hiding in the library, and takes the girl in as her foster mom. Then a young mother is made homeless by an apartment fire, and Emma opens her home again. One person and one prayer at a time, Emma begins to discover hope.
If Emma can yield and offer forgiveness to her husband’s killer, perhaps she’ll be able to piece together the broken parts of her heart…and the broken people who enter her life…to form a new family and maybe even have a second chance at love.
Shelia Stovall is the director of a small-town library in southern Kentucky, where only strangers mention her last name, and the children call her Miss Shelia.
Shelia and her husband Michael live on a farm, and she enjoys taking daily rambles with their three dogs to the creek. Spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, is her all-time favorite thing. The only hobby Shelia loves more than reading uplifting stories of hope is writing them.
More from Shelia
When I was younger, I daydreamed about becoming an author, but it wasn’t something I pursued. I wrote a few short stories for fun, but I poured my time and energy into my children and career.
In the summer of 2011, I participated in a Bible study called Jonah by Priscilla Shirer. One evening, our facilitator asked us to meditate on the question, What does God want you to do that you don’t want to do. I sat feeling smug as the others prayed. I’d already signed up for a short-term mission trip to Africa, which I hadn’t wanted to do. But as I sat in the quiet, God spoke to me. Write a book for me. My heartbeat quickened as God gave me the opening and the ending of the story. I envisioned a large two-story yellow Victorian home with every Window filled with light.
God’s request filled me with panic, and the workbook page remained blank. The thought of someone reading God’s request made my face hot. Who was I to think I could be an author? Finally, I made a feeble attempt, but it was too hard.
My Ninevah was Africa. I turned my thoughts and efforts to preparing to go to Niger in December 2011. After the trip, all I could think about was returning to Africa. Our translators were visiting the US. It thrilled me when they accepted my invitation to stay overnight in my home. While preparing for their visit, I discovered my laptop under the bed covered in dust. I gulped as I remembered God asking me to write a book. With trepidation, I opened the computer and read the first few pages of the story I’d started. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great. I whined to God. I don’t have the skills or the talent. I don’t know how to write a book.
Then, I received an email in my work email account promoting a Christian writers’ conference. To this day, it is still the only email I’ve received at work advertising a writers’ conference. I could hardly breathe as I read the email promoting the writers’ workshop to be held at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, TX—a long way from Kentucky. I shared everything with my husband, and he encouraged me to go even though we didn’t have the money. He reminded me we had a travel credit in our airline account because of connection problems during our first trip to Africa, and so, I packed my bags.
When I attended the conference, two instructors, New York Times best-selling author Lisa Wingate and Judy Christie, changed my life when they encouraged me to finish the story. Judy asked me to commit to writing one hour a day, and she predicted I’d finish the first draft by Thanksgiving if I’d stick with it. The conference was held in October, and I thought her expectations impossible. I didn’t meet her goal, but I finished the first draft on 12/12/12. I’ll never forget that morning. It’s a good thing I had no idea of the work ahead of me.
Judy was kind enough to give me the email address of her award-winning editor Jamie Clarke Chavez. I sent the first three chapters to Jamie, and my mouth dropped open when she agreed to work with me. Today, she is someone I consider a dear friend. Writers have asked me, How did you get Jamie Chavez to work with you. She must have taken pity on me. I cringe as I remember those first chapters. I consider Jame a gift from God.
Through the years of hard work, God has been faithful to provide me with encouragement and help along the road to publication. If there is anything good in Every Window Filled with Light, it is from Him and the people he sent to aid me. The best blessings of the writing journey are the friendships I’ve made along the way.
I hope you’ll read Every Window Filled with Light or give it to someone who needs an uplifting story of hope. If there’s a person you know who doesn’t know Christ and doesn’t want to listen to a witness, this is a book you can share. I hope the reader will be so drawn into the story they won’t realize they are being exposed to God’s salvation plan until it’s too late.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about why I wrote Every Window Filled with Light. Has God ever asked you to do something you didn’t want to do? I’d love to hear your story.
The Rabbi’s Touch, Ten Encounters with Jesus that Changed Everything by author Annetta Lammers is a small book that packs a mighty punch. This is a biblical fiction that may be used as a devotional or even Sunday School or Small Group lesson. It is that well done.
This book examines ten different times that people cry out to Jesus for healing. Can you relate to this? I certainly can. Many times I have asked Jesus for His healing for myself or a loved one. Haven’t you?
We read story after story about how Jesus heals people with a touch or word. Each one is different, but all of them are extremely thankful. Their lives are forever changed. In this book the author whisks us away to Bible Times so that we might experience what those miracles and their results were like. It left me awestruck.
The author does an exceptional job keeping to the Bible in her retelling. Her style of writing drew me in even though I knew the stories. Each titled chapter begins with a scripture before the short inspirational story. After reading this beautiful book, I was led to read the biblical account again.
I highly recommend this. It would make a great small group ten week lesson. Seekers and seasoned followers of Christ will be encouraged and moved by this. It will make a nice gift, and I will revisit it around Easter for a Lenten devotional. Celebrate Lit provided a copy, but these are my own words. It receives a 5 star rating from me.
About the Book
Book: The Rabbi’s Touch
Author: Annetta Lammers
Genre: Biblical Historical Fiction
Release date: Sept, 2020
Ten Gospel Encounters
What if you could live in the story? What if you could meet Jesus and have His eyes meet yours and know His great love for you? What if you could feel his healing touch and know your body was well? Author Annetta Lammers explores ten encounters with Jesus found in the gospels and tells their stories. Through reflection, study of the Greek and living each story she retells the encounters of Jesus touch, voice and power.
Annetta Lammers is a wife, mother, homemaker, and educator. She savours quiet walks in the woods, the texture and colour of pottery and reading Biblical fiction with a cup of coffee. Her fascination and love of God’s word has motivated her to study over the years. You will find more of Annetta’s reflections at annettalammers.com.
More from Annetta
I counted my journals, wondering. A drawer filled with thirty-three journals. The years of words held in those pages cover countless seasons of living and following Jesus. Even the gaps of silence speak volumes in the journey.
This passion for writing, evident in that drawer of journals, has had the dream of a book tucked within it. And, quite by surprise, a book has formed and grown these past years. The Rabbi’s Touch began innocently with the study of Blind Bartimaeus. His miracle took shape in my imagination, taking on sounds, images and emotions. Notes and reflections about his healing found their way in the current journal. Hidden Greek meanings fed my imagination until I was Bartimaeus meeting Jesus. That encounter took on words that needed to be put down on paper as his story. Bartimaeus’ story led to another short story, which led to another. Each story was driven by the desire to enter the lives of those who met Jesus and were healed. Each story was written with the longing to encounter Jesus for myself, as if I had never met Him before. Perhaps I would grow in knowing Him. And I did.
As the stories grew, so did a quiet desire for others to meet Him as I had. Perhaps others could meet Jesus on their dusty road, make eye contact with Him, hear His voice and feel His healing touch? Perhaps a conviction of what He can do will grow, and they, too, could be determined to press in to receive what is His to give? Perhaps they also will cast aside the veil they have been hiding behind and walk free? Perhaps you can meet Him, too? So, here it is, a collection of first-hand stories, ready for you to encounter Jesus.
Author Lorri Dudley serves up another offering from her Leeward Island. The Captain’s Quest is book four but maybe read as a stand alone for those who have not had the pleasure of reading the first three books yet. This is a Christian historical romance series.
This is the story of Priscilla and Tobias. It is brimming with adventure and the Christian message of God’s love. The two characters find themselves in quite the predicament. Tobias proves himself to be a man of honor and courage. The tension between the couple could almost be seen on the pages. It was easy to cheer for these two.
I have thoroughly enjoyed author Dudley’s books and her writing style. It is evident by the details she includes that she has done much research on the time and location. Her vivid descriptions whisked me away to the island and Regency London.
Her characters are well rounded and believable. Dialogue flows easily between them and sounds authentic. I was immediately engaged from the very beginning. The book begins with a lot of action and adventure. As it continues there were surprises, intrigue, mystery, and romance. I loved the timeless life and spiritual lessons.
This was a page turner for me as I could not wait to hear what was going to happen next. I loved the twists and turns that kept me guessing and on my toes. It is a book that I would highly recommend. I rated it a 4 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my own thoughts.
About the Book
Book: The Captain’s Quest
Author: Lorri Dudley
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: June 22, 2021
Innocent mistakes can have dire consequences.
Pricilla Middleton only attended the Lemoore house party to keep her friend out of trouble. Now, her only chance to keep from becoming a gossip column headline is to sneak aboard her brother’s ship and pretend she’d been visiting him instead of taking part in the debacle. Before she can speak to her brother, the ship sets sail, and the man in charge is not at all who she expects.
Captain Tobias Prescott, son of an infamous war hero, has been assigned on a critical mission to deploy warships in St. Kitts for battle in New Orleans. Unfortunately, his orders require him to assume command of a friend’s ship, and he must weigh anchor the instant the former captain is escorted down the gangplank. When they reach open waters, the last thing he expects is to find a woman hiding in the captain’s cabin, yet his mission is too urgent to return her to England.
The Middleton name has always brought Tobias trouble, and Pricilla is no exception. As the waters clear and the temperature warms, the danger escalates too. Yet Tobias discovers the intuitive and strong woman who struggles to hide her anxiety is nothing like her disloyal brother. He may lose the opportunity to help his country, but perhaps he can still save the woman who’s rescued his heart.
Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household. Find her online at www.lorridudley.com.
More from Lorri
Priscilla Middleton’s character begged for her story to be told. The Captain’s Quest is the fourth book in the Leeward Island series. While it can read as a stand-alone, the heroine, Priscilla, had a brief guest appearance at the beginning of book two, The Merchant’s Yield, as Lottie’s closest friend. With Lottie now living on the isle of St. Kitts, that left Priscilla to navigate the London season all on her own. I imagined what mischief a young woman would find whose parents allowed her too much freedom, especially with her friend, the voice of reason, across the Atlantic.
When my close friend moved to Michigan, the loss of her physical presence left me feeling disoriented, lost, and out of place, even in familiar surroundings. There was loneliness, a desperate need to replace what was missing, and fears about being forgotten. In Lottie’s absence, Priscilla clings to an unhealthy friendship, landing herself in a precarious situation, with no other option but to hide aboard her brother’s ship to save her reputation and that of her family.
The biggest issue with running from problems is that we can’t run from ourselves. Priscilla avoids one catastrophe only to walk right into another as Captain Tobias Prescott takes command of the ship. She blames the brooding captain for her predicament only to realize she’s battling the wrong enemy. The more Priscilla tries to hide from the problems she must face within herself, the further she drifts from everyone she knows and the chance to be fully loved.
Although Priscilla’s story was drafted pre-pandemic, her struggles are similar to those that surfaced during the lockdowns. Anxiety, loneliness, isolation, fear, and feelings of being disregarded mounted as the pandemic spread. Vacations, Thanksgivings, and Christmases were canceled. Families couldn’t visit or see each other—the feeling of being forgotten sliced open raw wounds.
Cory Ashbury’s song Reckless Love was popular as I plotted The Captain’s Quest, and the lyrics from the book of Matthew of how God will leave the ninety-nine to chase after the one lost sheep developed Priscilla’s story. Through its comical mishaps, dramatic twists, and struggles to prevail, The Captain’s Quest is a reminder of the heights, depths, and lengths that our great God will go to show His passionate love for us.
Prairie by author Chautona Havig is Volume 1 in her Journey of Dreams Christian fantasy series. This is a much different offering than I am accustomed to by author Havig. The first thing that drew me to it was the mesmerizing cover. Whatever the woman’s story was, I wanted to hear it.
This is the story of Jessa Ann Davidson. She has not had the easiest life. Abandoned by her father for his other family, Jessa and her mother were left to fend for themself. She would daydream of. Thinking about the stories of Laura Ingalls, Jessa would dream of life on the prairie away from her home in Pittsburg.
Then, it happens. Jessa falls asleep and wakes up in Praire. There she is discombobulated. With no idea where she is, she takes off walking. Finally she sees a person, Steve, and he takes her to a house. The story takes off from there with Jessa’s introduction to the people and ways of this new world.
Chautona Havig has a pleasant style of writing. Some of my favorite things about it are the upfront spiritual messages and realistic dialogues. My favorite genre is historical, but I love all types of Christian fiction. Author Havig has dabbled in most all of them. This is the second fantasy novel of hers that I read, and honestly I struggled with it. For me, the story was sluggish and lackluster. Even when it picked up later in the book, my mind wandered.
I wanted to like this novel. I tried. It just was not my cup of tea. Fantasy fans will be thrilled with Jessa’s tale. I would recommend it to them. If you are a Havig fan, give it a try. You might love it. I really think this is a case of “it’s not you, it’s me” for me and Prairie. It was me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Prairie
Author: Chautona Havig
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fantasy
Release date: February 13, 2013
What if you could literally wish your life away?
My name is Jessa Davidson, and I awoke one day in the place of every dream I’ve ever had—the prairie. I don’t know how I got here or where here even is, but I know one thing for certain. I can’t go home again. Ever.
If I’ve learned one thing being in this beautiful place, it’s that no matter how perfect it and its people seem, sin lives in the hearts of men and women in Prairie, too. The differences between Prairie and Pittsburgh? There are too many to count.
I grew up hearing the words of the Apostle Paul. “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
Here in Prairie, they’re not a lesson. They’re a warning.
I’ve been given a gift—the greatest desire of my heart. A life in the place of my dreams, a chance at love and family, a sense of real belonging.
Can I hold onto it? Time will tell—time I may not have if I can’t learn to be content.
Prairie is the first book in the Journey of Dreams, a series of related but stand-alone contemporary Christian fantasy novels exploring truths in a whole new way.
Author of the bestselling Aggie and Past Forwardseries, Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.
More from Chautona
When Your Novel Teaches You an Important Lesson
I’ve told the story before, but I’ll tell it again. Prairie began as a dream. For several days in a row, I fell asleep and found myself lost in the sway of prairie grasses undulating to the strains of “Theme from a Summer Place.”
It’s a bad habit of mine, but despite being in the middle of a writing project, I wrote down my thoughts—my impressions. Two strange things happened.
First, the story came out in first person. Folks, I don’t write in first-person perspective. Not my novels, anyway. I don’t enjoy reading it, and I really don’t enjoy writing it.
Jessa, however, demanded I let her tell her story… her way. So I did. And it’s one of the fastest novels I’ve ever written.
There’s irony in that.
You see, I didn’t know where that story would go. My dream only replayed the scene of Jessa waking up on the prairie and not knowing how she got there—only knowing she could never go home. Beyond that, I hadn’t a clue.
And though I wanted to rush through so I could see where the story would take me, and though I wrote at breakneck speeds, the story unfolded at its own pace.
The people of Prairie live a different life from anything you’ve ever seen—and yet it is mostly very familiar. One thing, however, sets it apart.
Time.
Only in Prairie does time not work as it does here, and that changes everything. The story begins slowly and for a reason. Line by line, observation by observation, step by step through the grasses and down rutted lanes, the story draws you out of the breakneck speed of modern life and into a world that, if you aren’t careful, will whiz by faster than is even possible.
Here in our world, that is.
There… you’d better watch out.
Has anyone ever warned you not to wish your life away? It’s just a gentle reminder that if you’re always eager for today to end in hopes of a more exciting tomorrow, you may find you never lived.
Do you have a powerful story of how you found Jesus or maybe Jesus came to you? Are you an author or budding author. Please read the rest of my blog today. You might possibly be one of the 100 people that God has chosen for the Jesus Can book series to spread His Word.
Stephanie K. Reynolds is the founder of Christian Writers Collective (CWC). Her mission is to produce a series of books with inspirational chapters or devotions by 100 Christian writers. She wants to provide books that will “Encourage, Edify, and Evangelize” readers. That is after all what the Bible tells us to do.
Currently the CWC is sponsoring a writing contest looking for authors for theirs Jesus Can book series. Entering is not difficult. Simply compose your skillfully written testimony of how you came to know Jesus. Use 500 to 750 words and send your article to the CWC at http://www.christianwriterscollective.com. This will also serve as your application for membership. The deadline is May 31, 2021 for submissions.
If you are one of the winners, your testimony will appear as your first article in their second book of the Jesus Can series. Their next book, Jesus Can…Heal Your Hurts, is scheduled for release on July 4, 2021. Wouldn’t it be exciting to see your testimony in print, have your name in a book honoring God, and share in the royalties? It could happen.
Until 25 contestants have qualified for CWC membership, you may use the CONTACTUS form on the CWC’s webpage to submit your testimony. The address is http://www.christianwriterscollective.com. After 25 contestants have qualified, a checkout feature will be added to this page. It will then require payment of a $95, non-refundable, contest entry fee before allowing you to submit your testimony. However, you may use the code “GUEST” and the entry fee will be waived.
Here are some testimony writing tips:
Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit into your writing process.
Below is the standard format for a testimony:
My life before Jesus
How Jesus came into my life
My life after surrendering all to Jesus
We look forward to reading your testimony. Be sure to submit it before May 31, 2021!
P.S. Book One, Jesus Can Give You a New Life, is available for presale now. Order your copy today and be inspired.
Rooms of a Mother’s Heart, A Sacred Call and an Eternal Purpose by author Dr. Carol McLeod is a beautiful Christian Living book published by Whitaker House. The cover is gorgeous and drew me in with its feminine colors and rose petals in the shape of a heart. The inside captivated me, with its scripture, relatable words, and smooth writing.
This book on motherhood is fabulous. It is divided into fifteen chapters that relate to a home. From The Foundation and Nursery to the Kitchen and Front Porch, I felt like I was chatting with a friend about our children and experiences. I enjoyed “The Corner” chapter, which is on obedience and discipline. The author believes “love and obedience go hand in hand.” So do I. A soft, loving voice goes a long way in encouraging a child.
“The Porch” was a poignant, lovely chapter. It was a reminder that our children are forever our children. There are many ways we still influence their lives, and we must always pray for them.
I found so many hidden jewels in this book, including the scrumptious recipes in the back in Appendix B. There are many that I am eager to try (Special DeliveryChicken, Magic Meat Loaf, Nuts and Bolts, and Oat-rageous Chocolate Chip Cookies) from the McLeod Family recipes. Appendix A offers book suggestions for every age. Perfect for when you aren’t sure what would be the right fit for the right age.
This book is brimming with godly suggestions. I will definitely be giving it as a shower gift. Any mother, whether new or seasoned, will love this book. With Mother’s Day in just a few days, I think I will pick up a few copies. It will make a perfect gift. It would be a great book choice for a mothers’ reading group.
I highly recommend this sweet book. It gets 5 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my own thoughts.
About the Book
Book: Rooms of a Mother’s Heart
Author: Dr. Carol McLeod
Genre: Christian Living
Release date: April 20, 2021
For thousands of years and in a myriad of cultures, women have forged identity, unconditional love, and vast purpose in the calling of motherhood. From Eve to Sarah, from Ruth to Mary, the Scriptures are filled with the accounts of the heart of a mother who was given a divine opportunity to raise the next generation for the purposes and call of the Father.
Inside the soul of every mother lies a heart that becomes a repository of sweet memories, hard lessons, glorious victories, ordinary days, glaring failures, and God’s grace over the years of mothering. The heart of a mother becomes home to jokes around the dinner table, holiday traditions, the tears of childhood, and the love that only a mother knows. And this tender heart that has given birth to the future of mankind or has lovingly adopted the seeds of the next generation also develops rooms of unsurpassed greatness and quiet strength. These are the Rooms of a Mother’s Heart.
With her characteristic charm, joy, and biblical teaching that she shares like a good friend over a cup of coffee, Carol McLeod examines what it means to be a mother and offers tender encouragement to all women who accept that calling.
The president and CEO of Carol McLeod Ministries, Carol McLeod is a popular speaker at women’s conferences and retreats. She is the author of a dozen books, including Vibrant: Developing a Deep and Abiding Joy for All Seasons, Significant: Becoming a Woman of Unique Purpose, True Identity, and Irrepressible Hope; StormProof: Weathering Life’s Tough Times; Guide Your Mind, Guard Your Heart, Grace Your Tongue; Joy for All Seasons; Holy Estrogen; and Defiant Joy.
Carol hosts a twice weekly podcast, A Jolt of Joy! on the Charisma Podcast Network, and a weekly podcast, Significant. Her weekly blog, Joy for the Journey, has been named in the Top 50 Faith Blogs for Women. Carol also writes a weekly column in Ministry Today.
She has written several devotionals for YouVersion, including “21 Days to Beat Depression,” which has touched the lives of nearly one million people around the world. Her teaching DVD The Rooms of a Woman’s Heart won the prestigious Telly Award for excellence in religious programming.
Carol was also the first women’s chaplain at Oral Roberts University and served as chaplain on the university’s Alumni Board of Directors for many years.
Carol has been married to her college sweetheart, Craig, for more than forty years and is the mother of five children in heaven and five children on earth. Carol and Craig also happily answer to “Marmee and Pa” for their captivating grandchildren.
More from Carol
Evening Conversation …
I am working with my fabulous editor on the edits for my next book that will be released in April.
“The Rooms of a Mother’s Heart” is the title and writing it has caused me to travel back through the memory bank of my heart.
As I was working on the edits for the chapter, “The Nursery”, tonight, I came upon these words and thought that I would share them with all of you in my evening conversation.
It’s a lesson that I am still learning …
“The nursery is filled with little things, isn’t it?
It holds little bears and little clothes, tiny blankets and miniature books.
It is in the nursery of your heart that you develop an appreciation for the little things in life and where you begin to understand that these are actually life’s big things.
The nursery teaches that it is the little things in life that are capable of building a grand and historic life.
So often, during other years of my life, I have made the glaring error of living for the big moments, for the red-letter days of graduations, weddings, and championship ball games. The nursery has taught me that those monstrous occasions, as fabulous as they might seem at the time, do not construct a vital and enchanting existence at all.
A glass of iced tea on the back deck while the children are playing baseball, and the sweet giggle of a child just waking up from a nap—these give birth to a whimsical life.
The smell of the roses as I walk to the front door, a good book and a cup of coffee on a rainy afternoon, and making cookies with the children to share with the neighbors—these build a life of grand and lasting proportions.
A glorious life is built on one small but meaningful and carefully chosen building block at a time.
A wonderful life is composed of long walks along country roads while the children gather wildflowers.
It is pancakes on a Saturday morning and popcorn on Sunday evening.
In the nursery of my heart, I have been taught that the real stuff of life is as close and as dear as the morning song of the bird outside my bedroom window, the companionship of my daughter on my daily run, and the treasure of reading a devotional book that belonged to my grandfather.
Those events may seem small and even in consequential to you, but to me, they deliver joy.
There is no applause in a nursery, nor are there diplomas on the wall or trophies lined up across the changing table, but it remains the most splendid room in the entire home.
The nursery is absent of the rush of adrenaline, but it is filled with the sweet sighs of contentment.
Perhaps living inside a regular day in which nothing of earth-moving significance happens is at the heart of all that is truly meaningful and extraordinary.
The glory of life is found quite simply in the ordinary moments.
The treasure of a life well lived is acquired not in getting but in giving.
The substance of all that is good, rich, and meaningful is found in a thousand inconsequential gifts that are easily overlooked if one is not careful.
I hope that you will treasure the time spent in the nursery of your heart and remember that it is the little things that contribute to a large life.”
These are my thoughts for Sunday, January 31, 2021.
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Abba's Prayer Warrior Princess 
