Deception by author Patricia Bradley is the last one in her Christian contemporary suspense Natchez Trace Park Rangers Series. This fourth book is a thrilling roller coaster read. I had trouble putting it down! Even though I had not read the first three books, I was able to follow this one without problems. However, after reading how fantastic Book 4 was, I will go back and read the three books that I skipped.
This is the story of Ranger Megan Thorn. She is in Natchez working on a white collar crime case. Her childhood friend, Clayton Bradshaw, becomes involved after an attack. These two are relatable, realistic characters. I loved their interaction. It was easy to become invested in them as well as this book.
Action starts at the beginning of this intriguing novel and continues throughout the book. There are twists and turns, danger, surprises, danger, mystery, romance, and adventure! Just when I thought I had something figured out, something happened to prove me wrong. This tense read will keep you on your toes and turning pages! There is a thread of Christian inspiration woven throughout this book that I appreciated.
I completely enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Any fan of Christian action, intrigue, light romance will love it. It gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by the publisher, but these are my honest words.
USA Today best-selling author, Patricia Bradley is the recipient numerous awards, including an Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award in suspense, a Selah winner, was a Carol and a Daphne du Maurier finalist. Her romantic suspense novels include the Logan Point series, the Memphis Cold Case Novels, and the Natchez Trace Park Rangers. She is now hard at work on the second book in her new Pearl River series set in the Cumberland Plateau area above Chattanooga. The first book in the series, Counter Attack will release in mid-2023.
She has conducted writing workshops for American Christian Fiction Writers, the Mid-South Christian Writer’s Conference, the KenTen and Scrivener retreats (where she was the keynote), the Memphis American Christian Fiction Writer group, and the Bartlett Christian Writers group.
She and her two cats call Northeast Mississippi home–the South is also where she sets most of her books, and when she has time, she likes to throw mud on a wheel and see what happens.
The Heart of the Mountains is Book 2 in author Pepper D. Basham’s series My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge. This is a heartwarming, faith filled, historical Christian book that swept me away to the mountains in another time. Even though it is the second book in a series, it easily is read as a stand alone. However, the first book, Laurel’s Dream, is captivating, as is this one.
The is the story of spunky English nurse, Cora. She travels to America’s Blue Ridge Mountain to see her family that has gone there to help the people. It is also the tale of woodcrafter, Jeb. He is such a good man but has a few issues. He and Cora found something in common and began a beautiful friendship that bloomed into something more.
The author did a marvelous job portraying life in the mountains. She mixed mountain lore and distrust of newcomers with gratitude and eventual acceptance. With her deft pen she had me immediately invested in the story and feeling the characters’ emotions. More than once I had tears in my eyes or chuckled.
The characters are brilliant. They jumped from the page and into my heart. I found them believable and well rounded. The conversations were realistic.
There is so much in this book. Mystery, action, danger, romance, drama, are all wrapped up nicely in this novel. At times I was surprised by a twist that was thrown in, and other times laughing by the antics of a character. So many life and spiritual lessons are woven throughout the book from beginning to end.
I highly recommend this riveting novel. It is a page turning delight. Any book club would enjoy this as a selection. There is a lot to discuss. This gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit and NetGalley, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: The Heart of the Mountains
Author: Pepper Basham
Genre: Christian Fiction / Romance
Release date: July 1, 2022
Can their hearts overcome the darkness of the mountains?
To escape a forced marriage, Cora Taylor travels from England to the Blue Ridge Mountains in search of her brother, who is working as a teacher in a mission school. She hopes to find a place where her nursing skills and independent ideas will be accepted and appreciated, but nothing prepares her for the wild mixture of isolation, community, brokenness, and hope within these mountains…or in the person of Jeb McAdams.
Returning from the devastation of World War 1 emotionally damaged, Jeb McAdams struggles against the rampant mountain alcoholism to soothe his nightmares. It’s easy to hide within the mountains, or it was, before Cora Taylor arrived. Now, she seems to show up at every turn, bringing her modern ideas, curiosity, and beautiful eyes with her.
Bound by their shared war history, the pair develop an unlikely friendship, which unexpectedly hints to something more. But when Cora’s desire to help the women of the mountains crosses an unspoken line, will Jeb be able to protect this feisty flatlander from the wrath of the mountain men or will he end up losing much more than his heart?
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.
You can learn more about Pepper at her website http://www.pepperdbasham.com or connect with her on FB, IG, or Twitter.
More from Pepper
It’s so interesting how one idea can influence an entire series, or…how one person’s story can.
The idea for The Heart of the Mountains started in Laurel’s Dream with a hint of a family history story about a girl named Kizzie. (Someday, I hope to bring Kizzie’s story to the pages of a book). From there, the idea began to grow out of a love for my Appalachian culture into a series of books which highlighted (and fictionalized) stories from my family history.
The main story in The Heart of the Mountains is about Jeb and Cora, two different people with similar servant hearts, but the secondary story that touched me so much was the one based on my great grandfather’s life. I write about it in the Author’s Note at the end of the novel, so I won’t go into detail about it. However, what I loved getting to do is bring the truth of God’s redemption in my great grandfather’s life…to life again.
I never knew “Papa Rat”. I only knew the stories handed down to me by my granny and my mama, but in writing this story, I feel as though I had a tiny opportunity to “meet” him in these pages. He was a gruff mountain man with a broken past which led him to make a whole lot of broken choices, but his story is incredibly encouraging, because it points to the God of broken people. My great grandpa wasn’t left in his brokenness, but, after years of running away from God, he would later recount that God pursued him. The beauty of Sam McAdams’ journey in The Heart of the Mountainsis only a little glimpse into what I imagine my great grandpa’s redemption story looked like.
Because my great grandpa was forever changed when Jesus saved him (as any of us should be).
I think that’s what my granny and her siblings (and even “Papa Rat” himself) would want most -that his story would point to Jesus. I hope that’s what you see when you read about Sam McAdams in The Heart of the Mountains.
Have you ever read a book based on family history? One of my favorites is Catherine Marshall’s Christy.
Much Ado About Persuasion is a Christian historical, retelling of a mixture of two books. Author Barbara Cornthwaite has taken books by authors Jane Austen and William Shakespeare and blended them into one delightful story. The title might have given this away.
This novel is a very imaginative retelling of the combined stories of Persuasion by Jane Austen and Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. For me, the way the author overlapped these two stories made an interesting new tale. Both stories were twisted and shaped to become a new combined one.
I enjoyed the writing style of the author. The language was period correct. Her characters were researched and loosely based on the originals. The way the novel is written reminds me of the style of Jane Austen.
It took me a while to become invested in the story and characters. There are many different characters as well as storylines. It is not a book to read lightly. I needed to pay attention to get everything straight at first.
Scripture and faith are included along with multiple timeless life lessons. I found clever humor in places and some emotional bits. All in all it is a nice book. Shakespeare and Austen fans will enjoy it. Readers that like the combination of two books made into one will, also. For me, I prefer my stories separate, but I do recommend this one. It gets a 4 out of 5 star rating. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Much Ado About Persuasion
Author: Barbara Cornthwaite
Genre: Historical/Jane Austen Retelling
Release date: May 3, 2022
Some duel with swords, others with ships. In love, however, they duel with hearts.
When Sir Walter Elliot, secret admirer of the Navy, invites officers to visit his estate, what could be more natural than for his two daughters to find themselves in love?
Elizabeth Elliot’s legendary, bitter pride clashes with Admiral Baldwin’s stubborn conceit until any hope of a match seems impossible. They say love conquers all, but does it?
All looks hopeful for Anne Elliot and the dashing Captain Wentworth, but when a cousin steps in and sets evil plans into motion, is their love enough to withstand the storm, or is it best to let the captain sail that ship… alone?
Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing meets Jane Austen’s Persuasion in this story about trust, disappointment, and disguises.
Barbara Cornthwaite lives in the middle of Ireland with her husband and children. She taught college English before “retiring” to do something she loves far more; her days are now filled with homeschooling, trying to keep the house tidy (a losing battle), and trying to stay warm in the damp Irish climate (also a losing battle). She is surrounded by medieval castles, picturesque flocks of sheep, and ancient stone monuments. These things are unappreciated by her six children, who are more impressed by traffic jams, skyscrapers, and hot weather.
More from Barbara
I discovered Jane Austen in college when I was required to read Pride and Prejudice. This was in the dark ages before the famous adaptations, and I knew nothing about the storyline. In fact, I expected it to be depressing, probably because the title sounded similar to War and Peace. It was a delightful surprise to be charmed by the novel, and I went on to read all Austen’s other books on my own. Each of them have a special place in my heart. I love Emma so much that I wrote a two-book parallel novel for it (the George Knightley, Esquire series). I also have novellas based on Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma in the A Very Austen anthologies. This book, however, is the first thing I’ve written based on Persuasion.
Shakespeare I met in high school, and furthered my acquaintance with him in college. Much Ado About Nothing is, I think, my favorite of his plays (although there are several close contenders for the top spot). His grasp of character is unmatched, and his language, even after five hundred years, is striking.
Mixing the stories of these two authors has been great fun, and redeeming a couple of characters who didn’t learn anything from their mistakes in the original stories gives my version a spiritual twist. I hope you enjoy it!
Midnight’s Budding Morrow ~ Review with Excerpt and Giveaway
Midnight’s Budding Morrow
Regency Wallflowers Book #2
By Carolyn Miller
Midnight’s Budding Morrow is Book 2 in author Carolyn Miller’s Regency Wallflowers Series. This Christian historical fiction may be read as a stand alone if you haven’t read the first book in the series. You will be able to follow and enjoy the story.
In this Regency tale, we meet Sarah Drayton. She is an orphan from a good family, however not from one of wealth or prestige. Beatrice Langley is Sarah’s friend and takes her to visit the Langley home in Northumberland. Also there is Bea’s brother, James. He needs a wife quickly and decides on Sarah.
I really enjoy the writing style of this author. Her characters are multilayered and relatable. The villains are detestable, while the heroes shine. Conversations sound authentic for the location and time period.
It did not take me long to become invested in the story. I really liked Sarah and her friend Bea. At times the character’s emotions caused tears to gather in my eyes. That is the sign of a good book.
Overall this was a highly enjoyable book, but I will admit I did need tissue for a scene or two. So I would recommend this for home reading and not your lunch break at work.
I highly recommend this book. It gets a 4 star rating from this reader. A copy was provided by the publisher, but these are my honest words.
About the Book:
Can real love grow between a wallflower and an unrepentant rogue?
Sarah Drayton is eager to spend time with her best friend at her crumbling Northumberland castle estate. Matrimony is the last thing on her mind and the last thing she expects to be faced with on a holiday. Yet she finds herself being inveigled into a marriage of convenience with her friend’s rakish brother.
When James Langley returns to his family’s estate, he can’t be bothered to pay attention to his responsibilities as the heir. War is raging and he wants only distraction, not serious tethers. But his roguish ways have backed him into a corner, and he has little choice but to obey his father’s stunning decree: marry before returning to war, or else. Suddenly he finds himself wedded to a clever and capable woman he does not love.
Sarah craves love and a place to belong, neither of which James offered before returning to the battlefront. Now everyone around her thinks she married above her station, and they have no intention of rewarding her for such impertinence. It isn’t until her husband returns from war seemingly changed that she begins to hope they may find real happiness. But can she trust that this rake has truly reformed?
When tragedy strikes, this pair must learn to trust God and his plans. Will they be destroyed . . . or will they discover that even in the darkest depths of night, the morning still holds hope?
While most stories set in Regency England focus on the rich, the young, and the beautiful, award-winning author Carolyn Miller decided she wanted to give readers something different for a change. Her new Regency Wallflowers series follows the commoners, away from the hustle and bustle of 1810s London, out in the Lake District of England. She tells the stories of women who are slightly older and have few prospects for marriage, women who might be considered “wallflowers.”
Midnight’s Budding Morrow is the second book in the Regency Wallflowers series. The first book in the series is Dusk’s Darkest Shores.
About the Author:
Carolyn Miller is an inspirational romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children.
A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English literature and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. She enjoys music, films, gardens, art, travel, and food.
Miller’s novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers.
I have recently been reading quite a bit of biblical fiction. If it contradicts rather than supports scripture, I will not finish the book. Needless to say, I start a lot more than I finish. It did not take me long to finish this page turning intriguing tale.
The Egyptian Princess: A Story of Hagar by author KD Homberg is Book 1 in her Women of Valor Series and was a beautiful interpretation of Hagar, Sarai, and Abram. This was the first time that I had ever heard claims that Hagar was a princess and betrothed to the next pharaoh of Egypt. Rabbinical literature, Hebrew and Arabic traditions name her as Pharaoh’s daughter. Extensive research was done by the author, and she explains it all in her notes at the end of the book. Be sure to read those, also.
This book taught me so much! I love historical books that have been well researched and provide tidbits of information that is new to me. In this novel we are taken into the world of Pharaoh’s women. At times peace abides but often it does not.
Set in 2085 BC Egypt, Hagar is living with her twin brother, the next pharaoh, and her parents, the Pharaoh and Queen, as an Egyptian Princess. Sarai (Sarah) enters into the story very early in the story. I found everything extremely interesting and was immediately invested in the characters and story. Many of the characters I loved, but there were just as many I found unsavory. The author did a beautiful job describing her characters. They were authentic to the era. My perceptions of Hagar as well as Abraham and Sarah have changed a little bit. As I read this novel, I cross-referenced it with scripture.
I highly recommend this biblical historical book. Anyone wanting to learn about ancient Egypt, Hagar, Sarah, or Abraham will find it captivating. The author brought part of the Old Testament to life. Book 2 will pick up as they leave Egypt. Reading groups and small groups would benefit from this as a selection. There are discussion questions at the end of the story. It gets a 5 out of 5 stars from this reader.
Book: The Egyptian Princess: A Story of Hagar
Author: KD Homberg
About the Author
Narrator: Lillian Rachael
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release date: March 11, 2021
Two women, one ancient Egyptian harem, and the bold decision that changed the course of history.
Princess Hagar has always known her destiny in the opulent court of Egypt’s tenth dynasty. One day, she will marry Crown Prince Merikare and become the Great Royal Wife, the most powerful woman in Egypt. But dark dreams afflict Hagar when she hears of the latest addition to Pharaoh’s harem: the stunning, iridescent Sumerian, Sarai. Princess Hagar feels a powerful presence around the Sumerian woman. She suspects Sarai has brought black magic into the palace, but what can she do to convince Pharaoh?
The intrigue of Pharaoh’s court pales in comparison to that swirling in the Royal House of Women among the wives, children, and concubines of the king. Sarai’s arrival upsets the already precarious balance. Loyalties divide, and betrayal, jealousy, and tragedy plague the once peaceful household. When a series of disasters befall Egypt, Hagar must make a daring decision, and the stakes could not be higher. She could lose everything—position, power, family, and even her life.
Torn between the silent gods of Egypt and the powerful presence that surrounds Sarai, Hagar’s world falls apart around her. She must acknowledge the terrible price of truth and decide for herself who she will serve.
KD HOLMBERG is a retired flight attendant who turned an empty nest into a workshop for creating stories around remarkable women. She and her husband live in the foothills of the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains and love to travel and golf. They also run a girl gang of seven granddaughters, courtesy of their five adult children, and have one male grandchild that the author can safely declare as her favorite grandson.
About the Narrator
Born in the United Kingdom, LILLIAN RACHEL grew up in East Anglia and moved north to Durham before marrying her US military man and Atlantic hopping between Europe and North America. She’s now settled in the Washington D.C. area, where she is an award winning narrator from her personal home studio.
There’s not much she loves more than telling your story in the most engaging way. Sophisticated or sassy, with a range of accents and character personas, she brings your words to life and draws your listeners in.
More from KD Holmberg
Novel Inspiration and Tiger Nut Sweets
Who was Hagar?
That thought occurred to me during a Bible study in Genesis, which revealed:
God met with Hagar twice.
He called her by name.
She was the first to give Him a name, El Roi
She received the same promise as Abraham to become a great nation.
I was aware of Hagar’s general gist of her love triangle with Sarah and Abraham that produced Ishmael and how mother and son were sent into the desert to die. But her name niggled at me because she didn’t die. She survived and thrived as a single mother in the ultimate man’s world. How could a throwaway, uneducated handmaid accomplish such a feat?
The Hebrew and Arab traditions of Hagar gave me insight into that question. They teach that she was the daughter of the pharaoh who seized Sarah in Genesis 12. This quote from Amenhotep III made me even more curious, ‘from old, the daughter of an Egyptian king has not been given in marriage to anyone.’ A practice that prevented foreigners from having a claim on the Egyptian throne.
So how did a princess of Egypt end up in the tribe of Abraham?
I researched what life looked like for a princess in ancient Egypt. I discovered Pharaohs educated their daughters along with their sons. They learned reading, writing, medicine, politics, religion, and mathematics. An education and growing up in the luxury and privilege of the most sophisticated culture on earth rounded out my view of Hagar. It also reminded me of one of my favorite Bible verses, Deuteronomy 31:8, “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (NKJV) God had gone before this remarkable woman and prepared her with the tools she would need to exist and endure.
The Egyptian Princess: A Story of Hagar is fiction, but the historical details in my world-building are as accurate as possible. I created an ancient Egyptian harem and placed Sarah and Hagar together. I added plagues and other information from Hebrew history and imagined a twist-and-turned, life and death scenario where a princess of Egypt ended up in the first Hebrew tribe.
Book two in The Women of Valor series, More Than a Handmaid—which releases March 22. 2023 —picks up where this one leaves off. We follow Hagar as she navigates life as a handmaid and steps into the world alone, holding firm to her faith and hope in the Lord.
Tiger Nut Sweets
Tiger Nut Sweets are a favorite treat of one of my supporting characters. Foodies out there; this is one of the oldest recipes in the world and was found on a piece of ancient Egyptian pottery dating to 1600 BC. The tuberous root of the yellow nutsedge (also known as tiger nut) was used in the original recipe.
1 cup pitted fresh dates
Splash of water
1 tablespoon cinnamon (or to taste)
2 tablespoons roughly chopped walnuts
Honey
2 tablespoons finely ground almonds
Grind the dates with a splash of water to form a rough paste. Use a food processor. The Ancient Egyptians would have used one if they had it!
Place the honey and almond meal in a shallow bowl.
Transfer the date paste to a bowl and add cinnamon and chopped walnuts.
Mix thoroughly with your hands and roll into small bowls.
Mix honey and ground almonds in another bowl.
Coat balls in honey and almond mixture and serve. I like to coat in honey first and roll in the almond mixture. Enjoy!
Author Rachel Fordham has written a lovely historical Christian romance with her soon to be released Where the Road Bends. This captivating novel had me turning pages until I devoured this masterpiece in one sitting. It is engaging, emotional, and has timeless life lessons. There were twists I thought would happen but did not. Other things surprised me. I really loved this. It is my favorite one by author Fordham, and I have read all of her books.
Set in 1880 Iowa, this is the story of Norah King. The book begins with her engaged to an older man in order to save her family farm. Her parents have died, and with just Norah to maintain it, the bank is threatening foreclosure.
It is also the tale of Quincy Barnes. He stumbles into Norah’s life battered and bleeding. She is determined to nurse him back to life, but what will her fiancé say or the townspeople? This is a gritty story of redemption, forgiveness, truth, and second chances. It is a love story about true love.
Author Fordham has carefully crafted a multi-layered story with characters that stole my heart. They were realistic with quirks and flaws. The hero, tall, handsome, and caring who wants to make his sweetheart’s dreams come true, is my new literary crush. The villain is despicable. A young scamp is adorable, and an elderly matron is perfect as a substitute mother.
Author Fordham is a master wordsmith. She takes words and exquisitely weaves them into a beautiful tapestry of an engaging, captivating story. Her story is filled with many things to ponder and is still lingering in my mind. It is well researched, organized, and easy to follow. At the end are Discussion Questions for those in a reading group or wanting to dig deeper.
I highly recommend this novel. It receives a 5 star rating from this reader. A copy was provided by NetGalley, but these are my honest words.
“Corner Booth” by gifted storyteller extraordinaire,author Chautona Havig, is a contemporary Christian romance. This unique tale is another offering from an author that has a brilliant imagination and produces engaging, page-turning stories. This book is absolutely delightful. I was immediately invested in the story and marvelous characters. My interest was piqued and held captive throughout the entire book.
This is the story of Carlie and Dean. They meet in a very unusual manner that is intriguing to say the least. She works in a women’s clothing store. Dean is a college professor. Each have some emotional baggage. I loved both of these characters and most of their secondary supporting cast.
Based on the Bible scripture James 1:19, “…You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry,” this book teaches readers to really listen to others. Many times we hear people when talking, but we are preparing our response instead of letting their words sink in. When we listen, things might turn out differently.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet romance. It had drama, action, sweet romance, and surprises. A few parts of the story seemed a bit slow, and the end was a bit abrupt. I wanted a longer epilogue, but I am satisfied with the ending.
Contemporary fans should give this unique novel a read. It would be a nice book club selection because it would provide so much to discuss. I highly recommend this book and give it a rating of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Corner Booth
Author: Chautona Havig
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Release date: March 17, 2015
A daring move forges the love of a lifetime
A rushed lunch and a bold move introduce Carlie to a stranger—one who hardly acknowledges her existence as he sits across from her, sharing his booth to save her a wait in a long line. What began as a random encounter becomes a weekly date in which Carlie chatters about her life to a silent lunchmate. Much about him interests her–his slightly Euro fashion sense, his commitment to the work he does as he eats his lunch week after week, and his evident attention to the running monologue she shares between bites of meals that he inevitably pays for. Dean gets to know the woman across from him–looks forward to their lunches each week, learns valuable lessons about himself—but when the cafe is threatened, and then when she doesn’t show up one day, he suspects their unusual friendship means more to him than he imagined.
Settle into the booth with Carlie and Dean and learn just how eloquent silence really is.
USA Today Bestselling author of 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
You know, originally, I had Dean as a guy who was too wrapped up in his own little world to care about anyone else—the stereotypical academic. I pictured him buried deep in original Biblical manuscripts, annoyed that anyone would dare to invade his study time.
But you know what? That’s the easy character.
When I went back to edit the book, I had this thought. What if Dean weren’t reclusive at all? What if he were kind of a know-it-all who couldn’t keep his thoughts to himself. Maybe a child prodigy who was used to people thinking him rather brilliant and looking for his insights.
Yeah… I could get into that.
There was just one small problem. I’d written the entire book without him talking much at all on those Wednesdays. Now what?
After much deliberation, even more prayer, and a bit of fudging, I came up with the solution. What if he just challenged himself for “one lunch?” Just one hour or so of not talking to prove to himself (and his peers) that he could do it.
How could he possibly know he’d set things up for months of wordless lunches—on his part? And what would a person learn in a situation like that?
I’ve never admitted this before, but I tested it a bit. At situations where I could, I forced myself to listen to people’s stories, their questions, their opinions. The hard part was not spending my listening time formulating my response (how rude anyway!). I really had to focus on exactly what they said, how their voice altered based on their emotions, and what others around us had to say to encourage (or not—too often not, I’ll admit).
I learned a lot with the experiment, and I’ll be honest. I still catch myself listening with an ear to how I’ll respond instead of really listening. No, I don’t expect to find some café romance for myself. My guy is amazing, and he’s probably the only person on the planet who could put up with me, so… I think I’ll keep him. But I do expect to keep learning how to really hear people. You know… kind of like Jesus did. Imagine that.
The Amish Twins Next Door by best-selling author Vannetta Chapman is a Christian Amish fiction book. This delightful Amish Romance is the story of Deborah Mast. She is a single mother of seven-year-old twin sons. They all live with her parents, and the twin red-haired boys are too rambunctious for new neighbor Nicholas Stoltzfus.
Author Chapman is a fabulous storyteller. As I read this ”Love Inspired Inspirational Romance” I felt as though I was right there on the farm with the family. The characters were realistic and refreshing. I loved the parts about raising goats. They taught me things I did not know. The story has many spiritual and everyday life lessons to ponder.
It was heart-warming to watch the characters grow and mature. They slowly became more open to others and God. It was beautiful, and I became fully invested. A few twists are tucked in throughout the book.
I highly recommend this Amish Love Inspired Romance to everyone. It is a lovely book that warm your heart. I rated it 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my own, honest words.
About the Book
Book: The Amish Twins Next Door
Author: Vanetta Chapman
Genre: Amish romance
Release date: April 26, 2022
Two little matchmakers could change everything…in this novel by USA TODAY bestselling author Vannetta Chapman.
Falling for a pretend suitor could cause real complications…
Amish single mom Deborah Mast is determined to raise her seven-year-old twin sons her way. But when neighbor Nicholas Stoltzfus takes the rambunctious boys on as apprentices on his farm, she’ll learn the value of his help with more than just the children. And when the two little matchmakers hatch a plan of their own, Deborah could also discover how to reopen her heart…
Vannetta Chapman is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of 39 full length novels, plus various novella collections. She has written for Abingdon Press, Harvest House Publishers, and Harper Collins Christian Publishing. She currently writes for the Love Inspired line of Harlequin Books. Chapman has received numerous awards including the ACFW Carol Award for best mystery (Falling to Pieces), and Christy Award finalist (Anna’s Healing).
More from Vannetta
When I married my husband 22 years ago, he had a 21-year-old daughter and 16-year-old twins. I was a single mom with a 10-year-old son. I was also a certified, experienced teacher. I could handle it. (Cue laughter) I had no idea what twins was like. I didn’t understand that special language they have with one another. I was perplexed by the way they could be fighting one moment and adamantly defending one another the next. Everything about twins confused me.
Now our children are all grown. They’re adults, and I wonder how the years have passed so quickly. The Amish Twins Next Door is my first book featuring twins, and I enjoyed every minute of writing it. I enjoyed telling a story about a mom who wonders if she will ever have a conventional family—because I was that mom. I also had way too much fun writing about a man who thought he could give parenting advice when he had no children.
Ultimately though, like all of my other books, The Amish Twins Next Door is a book about the over-arching grace of God and how it can carry us through all things. My hope is that you will laugh, maybe cry, and come away from the book feeling uplifted.
Author Heidi Gray McGill has written a delightful novella with her Dial E for Endearment. This is a lovely contemporary Christian Romance that is quite different from most but in a refreshing way. I loved it.
I enjoyed author McGill’s easy style of storytelling. Her story flowed smoothly and drew me in immediately. The characters are well rounded and relatable. It was easy to slip into their world. Conversations sounded authentic and not forced.
The main character is a vision impaired, feisty lady named Everly Johnson. She is a singles talk show host wanting to help others. Cameron Boyd is a shy leading man whose dog, Max, is a wonderful addition to the story.
The author has written a well planned, organized story. It has a sweet Christian inspiration message woven throughout it. Life lessons abound in this romance about two people with vulnerabilities. I highly recommend it. It gets a 5 star rating from me. I received a copy from the Celebrate Lit, but these are my own true words.
About the Book
Book: Dial E for Endearment
Author: Heidi Gray McGill
Genre: Sweet Christian Contemporary Romance
Release date: February 1, 2022
Everly Johnson is every man’s dream of the perfect date, even though none of her audience has met her. As host for the Choose Joy segment of JOY Radio in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, she receives countless gifts of flowers and candy on behalf of her admires, which she promptly donates to her mother’s assisted living facility. What Everly wants are words–heartfelt, meaningful endearments meant for her ears only. She wants a man who will open her eyes to everything she cannot see to make her feel more than just the voice behind the mic.
Cameron Boyd struggles to make eye contact with anyone, let alone say something coherent unless it is the one-way conversation he has each Friday with Everly Johnson. Date night for Cam involves sitting alone on his back porch overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains while he dreams of things to say if he were ever to call in to her show.
A chance meeting changes everything.
Will Cam be able to step out of his comfort zone and into the world he has only been able to envision in his mind? Will Everly trust this stranger with her life as well as her heart?
Heidi is an optimist who chooses to find the silver lining in life’s clouds of doubt. This plays out in her writing. Her ability to seamlessly weave scripture into the lives of her characters will uplift and encourage you, while her masterful storytelling will keep you turning page after page and wishing for more.
Heidi lives with her husband of thirty years near Charlotte, NC. When she isn’t writing, you will find her outside playing with her two grandsons, walking, scrapbooking, reading, cooking, traveling, or finding an excuse to have an outing with a girlfriend.
More from Heidi
Everly, the main character in Dial E for Endearment and I have something in common, but it may not be what you’d expect. As Blowing Rock, NC’s JOY Radio talk show host, Everly has discovered fulfillment, but she hasn’t found love, at least not for her—not even from her mother. In Dial E for Endearment, Everly wants words–heartfelt, meaningful endearments meant for her ears only. She wants a man who will open her eyes to everything she cannot see to make her feel more than just the voice behind the mic.
You may know me as an author, but did you know I am also the retired Director and Founder of an ESL program, regularly walk 12 plus miles a week, care for my grandsons, scrapbook, read voraciously, cook, and am legally blind? That last phrase was difficult for me to say out loud not that long ago.
Vision loss does not discriminate.
My diagnosis in 2001 of Retinitis Pigmentosa was devastating. There is no cure. There is no surgery. But that does not mean there is no hope.
I still have value.
Those who do not know me well often don’t realize I have low vision. As humans, we are amazingly adaptable, and I do a pretty good job covering up my disability. My friends have learned to watch out for me and alert me to potential pitfalls, some better than others, which is always good for a laugh. I use a cane when I’m navigating alone. I’ve traveled to China—that cane my only companion.
Being blind is certainly not something I would have chosen,
but it does not define me.
Join me on this fun adventure and see for yourself that God does not discriminate. You’ll laugh your way through mishaps–most of which may have happened to me at some point…although I’ll most likely deny if asked. But most of all, you’ll learn that we ALL have value, and that includes YOU.
Today is the anniversary of Holy Saturday, Easter Eve or Black Saturday. It is the name given to the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is the seventh day of Holy Week. When Jesus died, He called out, “It is finished!” He had completed His ultimate task. Now what?
Where was Jesus on this day so long ago? My heart breaks to write this. Jesus was away from God and descended into hell. Isn’t that what the Apostles Creed says? All of what was done was for us. The price was paid for us so that we would not owe it. Our debt was paid.
This day is traditionally a time of reflection and waiting like Lent. Jesus’ followers spent this day waiting after his crucifixion on Good Friday. He had said He would rise from the dead so they would be watching for Him. Most likely they would be recalling every word He said to them. I would. Wouldn’t you go over every detail?
Roman governor Pontius Pilate instructed guards to be posted at the tomb to prevent Jesus’ followers from removing the body to claim that He had risen from the dead. Pilate sealed the tomb, secured it, and posted guards. No one was getting in. Jesus’ body would not be taken.
Easter or Resurrection Sunday is tomorrow. I know the ending of the heart-wrenching account that began with Jesus being beaten and crucified. It starts with violence and tears of shock and sadness, but it turns into a joyous celebration of triumph over sin and death with tears of joy. Have you been baptized? When we are/were baptized, we died with Christ (going down under water) and arose with Him (rising up again out of water) victorious!
Scripture tells us this in Romans 6:3-11 King James Version (KJV):
”Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
As we await Resurrection Sunday, take a moment to reflect. Just as we were baptized and died with Jesus, we died to sin. We should banish the hold sin has over us, and sin no more. As He died for us, let us live for Him. Accept His free gift of salvation given to all who simply acknowledge it. (See below for the prayer*)
*To accept Jesus as your Savior now, simply pray the Sinner’s prayer below:
”Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You are God’s Son, who died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I choose to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen”
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