“How the Light Gets In” by Author Jolina Petersheim

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

This book was in one word – phenomenal.  Yes, it really was that good.  It took me on an emotional journey with Ruth and I am still suffering from some aftershocks.  Even after finishing it days ago, my mind keeps wandering back to the story.

“How the Light Gets In” is a modern day retelling of the Bible story of Ruth.  Author Petersheim has written her own version and has woven inspiration and life lessons effortlessly throughout it.  A phenomenal wordsmith, the author rapidly caught my attention with her fluid style.  I was captured from the first words.  It is a haunting contemporary tale of Ruth and a Mennonite community she has gone to with her mother-in-law.

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The characters are believable.  I envisioned them, felt their emotions, shook my head at them, and cheered them on.  They were very well rounded, flaws and all.  Details and descriptive writing took me to the cranberry farm or bog.  I have learned a lot about cranberries from this.  The children were perfect in the story.  Obviously the author is a mother.  Being a dog person I also loved Zeus.

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The one thing about this book is that it made me feel.  I felt like I was there.  I felt the characters’ emotions.  I could almost smell the homemade cookies.  Only a gifted writer is able to lift me up and gently place me in the pages of a book to live.  I felt part of the community.  Bravo, Mrs. Petersheim.

Unfortunately I found it disappointing that the author did not incorporate the threshing floor scene from the Bible.  For me that is such a poignant, pivotal part of Ruth’s story.  However, I am certain there was a reason for this.

This is a book about self discovery, marriage, trusting God and His plans, priorities, and family.   It is about redemption, forgiveness, sacrifice, hope, and love.  It is about life and death, sadness and joy, and helping each other.

My emotions are reeling, my mind is assembling a readers group so I can discuss a burning question about this book, and questions fill my head.   Whenever a book evokes such responses, it must be excellent.  This one is.

The book is divided into three sections.  At the end are discussion questions and notes from the author.  I highly recommend this for mature readers because it deals with marriage and relationships.  There is nothing to offend.  I rated it a 5 out of 5 stars.

A copy was provided by the publisher but I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  These are my own, honest thoughts.

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Giveaway

Be sure to enter the Goodreads giveaway by March 18th!  They are giving away 100 ecopies of this amazing book for free!

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About the Book

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  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (March 5, 2019)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1496402235
  • ISBN-13: 978-1496402233

Biography

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Jolina Petersheim is the highly acclaimed author of The Divide, The Alliance, The Midwife, and The Outcast, which Library Journal called “outstanding . . . fresh and inspirational” in a starred review and named one of the best books of 2013. That book also became an ECPA, CBA, and Amazon bestseller and was featured in Huffington Post’s Fall Picks, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and the Tennessean. CBA Retailers + Resources called her second book, The Midwife, “an excellent read [that] will be hard to put down,” and Booklist selected The Alliance as one of their Top 10 Inspirational Fiction Titles for 2016. The Alliance was also a finalist for the 2017 Christy Award in the Visionary category. The sequel to The Alliance, The Divide, won the 2018 INSPY Award for Speculative Fiction. Jolina’s non-fiction writing has been featured in Reader’s Digest, Writer’s Digest, Today’s Christian Woman, and Proverbs 31 Ministries. She and her husband share the same unique Amish and Mennonite heritage that originated in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but they now live in the mountains of Tennessee with their three young daughters. Jolina’s fifth novel, How the Light Gets In, a modern retelling of Ruth set in a cranberry bog in Wisconsin, releases March 2019.

 

Love Flies by Author Julia David

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Finding a new author whose book I absolutely loved makes me just giddy.  It gives me hope that I will always have another great story sometime down the road.  Today, let me introduce you to a captivating book from a new to me author that shall be on my favorite list.

My Thoughts

“Love Flies” by author Julia David is a two hundred sixty two page Christian historical fiction.  It took me a few chapters to become invested but then it happened.  I was all in.  Author Julia David knows how to write a compelling tale.  She is a talented wordsmith.

Her writing style is nice and the words glide off of the page. The story is well organized and researched.  Attention to detail made it easy to imagine I was in 1867.  The characters were well defined.  I was drawn to many of them.  Their emotions transferred to me and I felt fear, joy, happiness, and sadness.   My emotions were raw at some points.

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The Christian message is not diluted or hidden.  Bravo author David!  This is not a preachy  book, but a nice Christian one.  There are timely life lessons to be learned from Patience and Reed.  Trusting God, forgiving others, priorities, family, and love are among some of the topics touched upon in this page turning novel.

This is Book Two in the Lennhurst Asylum Series but I was not at a disadvantage.  It can easily be read as a stand alone.  I highly recommend it.  It earned a 5 out of 5 stars from me.  Grab a few friends and start a reading group with this one.  You will want to chat about it.

A copy was provided by the author but I was under no obligation to write a review.  These are my own, honest words.

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From the Back of the Book

Calculating Reed Chapman, didn’t factor an unstable young woman from Lennhurst Asylum inhabiting his beloved land.

In 1867, bitter from the civil war, lawyer Reed Chapman is easily distracted, yet determined to have his land back. How did his simple plan to restore his family’s inheritance, leave him driving away from Lennhurst Asylum, elbow to elbow with a beautiful patient in his charge? An unstable, madcap young woman who believes she is the heir to his land.

Patience Stevens spins with the adventure of leaving Lennhurst to find her childhood trees, lake and land. Confident to face the dark unknowns that took place there, she dreams of gardens and woodland homes for all her winged friends. Fortifying herself to face the horrors one by one, the revelations of her past collides with a new struggle in the form of handsome Reed Chapman. He seems overly concerned with her wellbeing and suddenly her heart is taken with his attention.

Can a gullible young woman from an insane asylum trust the ways of the heart? Is his declaration for her hand hasty or genuine? Her simple list of dreams seems so close she can almost touch them.
Is Reed Chapman to be her tender, passionate husband or her adversary? Can her child-like faith and hope survive this haunted wilderness without him?

About the Author

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Julia David is an avid journal writer, published romance author, serial DIY’er and certified life coach. Addicted to Hallmark movies and baking, she believes it’s crucial to have some predictable things in life. Her tag line ‘escape to an era where true love prevails’ was from her own reason for reading stacks of books.
Married and mother to five, she also ministers to pregnant and parenting teens.
Find more at juliadwrites.com

The Essence of Humility Book Tour and Giveaway by Celebrate Lit

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Welcome to my stop on the “Essence of Humility” Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway. I am glad you stopped by.  Be sure to register to win the giveaway.  Details are at the bottom of this post.  Let’s begin with my thoughts on the book.

My Review

Do you use essential oils?  I use some of them, but I had to cut back because of my dog and cat.  Some oils that I loved were bad for them.  There are still oils I use in different ways, and I believe in their ability to help.  I have read books on how to use them before but never a devotional.  That is until now.

I loved this book!  It is a perfect devotional for women that use essential oils or would like to start using them.  The author has written a delightful book giving information, uses, biblical background, trivia and stories on essential oils and plants.  Her book was well researched.  It was easy to see a lot of work had gone into this devotional.

Each chapter has four or five parts.  A Bible study combines facts about the essential oils or plants and what they symbolize, a Bible story mentioning the plant, scientific and trivia facts about the oils, sometimes a recipe, and then a fictional part are all included.  That is a lot!

The subject of humility is one that definitely needs explored.  In today’s society humility is not a common thing.  It was refreshing reading a book dedicated to that.  I loved the biblical references and examples.  They reminded me that I need to be more kind, loving, and more gracious.  Don’t we all?

This book can be read as an individual or group devotional.  I would recommend reading it once chapter and then letting the information soak in for a bit.  All throughout it I yearned for at least one partner to discuss it.  A group would benefit from doing this study.  It would be fun, too.  I found it to be relevant, engaging, and thought provoking.  Finding book three in this series is a wonderful surprise, but at times I was a bit lost on the people.  Now I want to read the first two books.

I learned so much from this book.  It was an enjoyable read for me.  I love essential oils and plants.  Books with scripture and biblical references are tops on my list, too.  This was a timely topic, also.  After reading the first two books, I will revisit this one.

I highly recommend this and give it 4 out of 5 stars.  A copy was provided from Celebrate Lit but I was under no obligation to post a review.  These are my own, honest opinions.

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About the Book

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Title: The Essence of Humility  

Author: Lynn U. Watson

Genre: Devotional  

Release date: January, 2019

We live in a culture overwhelmed with disrespect, egos, entitlement, rudeness, and offense — lives focused on self, rather than God or others.  The Bible defines love in 1 Corinthians 13.  Every descriptive word included in the list whispers humility.

Patience — humility
Kindness — humility
Not rude — humility
Not arrogant — humility
Rejoices in truth — humility
No envious or boastful — humility
Not irritable — humility
Keeps no record of wrong — humility

Jesus entered our world and walked among us. He placed no importance on rank or position. Jesus life reflected love because it reflected humility, and He invites us to live and love like Him. Journey with our hostess, Cinnamah-Brosia and her friends at The Coffee Cottage. They lead us on a journey to meet real life people — our contemporaries and those on the pages of God’s word, who encountered the same real life challenges you and I face each day. Learn the blessings of a life lived like Jesus lived —- with love and humility.

Click HERE to purchase your copy!

 

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About the Author

Lynn Watson combines many years’ experience in women’s ministry, love of essential oils, and her passion for God’s word to bring her readers freshly inspired encouragement for their walk with Jesus. Her devotional, The Essence of Courage, was recognized as a ‘must read’ by regional publishing industry leaders. Married since 1973, Lynn and Steve have filled their Bartlett, Tennessee home with handmade treasures and lots of love for family, especially their five beautiful (of course) grandchildren. Aromas of freshly baked bread often fill Lynn’s kitchen. Jasmine, her tuxedo kitty, enjoys sleeping in Lynn’s lap while she writes.

Guest post from Lynn

My first lesson in humility for Volume 3 of Cinnamah-Brosia’s Inspirational Collection came from an assumption. Right. Those are never a grand idea. When God spoke to me about writing this book, he clearly gave me the subject: Love. I immediately headed to 1 Corinthians 13 – The Love Chapter of the Bible. Of course the book’s title would be The Essence of Love. The end material of The Essence of Joy announced the new “Love” title coming in 2018. And God laughed. I read 1 Corinthians 13 over and over again. It whispered “humility” over and over again. I called my dear friend – the one I consult with on every one of these books – and said, “You know what? Listen to this. Love is patient – humility. Love is kind – humility. Love is not arrogant – humility. You get the idea. Every single line of this beautiful passage comes down to the barest bones: humility.” We both laughed a little, too. And we thanked God He clarified His instructions. To live and love like Jesus requires us to humbly trust God and to humbly serve others. In Philippians 2, the Apostle Paul presents a lengthy discourse on the humility of Christ. It begins like this: If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ~Philippians 2:1-4 (HCSB) The title morphed to The Essence of Humility. I placed the focus on common everyday botanicals and plants – those familiar to us today – for this third volume in the collection. The fun came as I dug the plants from Scripture. I pray you enjoy the connections as much as I did uncovering them and connecting them to Jesus’ life, and to a whole list of characters who lived on the pages of the Bible, along with our contemporaries here in the 21st century. Thank you for choosing The Essence of Humility. So very many titles out there shout to be read. I am humbled for you to spend time with me here. I have prayed for every one of you. Copyright 2018, Lynn U. Watson

Blog Stops

Carpe Diem, January 24
Splashes of Joy, January 25
A Reader’s Brain, January 26
Creating Romance, January 29
Mary Hake, January 29
Aryn The Libraryan, January 30
Texas Book-aholic, January 30
Older & Smarter?, January 31
The Becca Files, February 1
Godly Book Reviews, February 1
Pause for Tales, February 2
Bigreadersite, February 6

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Lynn is giving away a grand prize of a wire basket that includes a hand-stamped “Gratitude, Kindness, Humility, Love” spoon necklace, Hillhouse Naturals fresh Linen hand lotion, locally hand-crafted Lavender-Eucalyptus body and foot scrub, embroidered “Love One Another” hand towel (nice ‘n soft), cozy Chamomile herbal tea, and a paperback copy of The Essence of Humility!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d93b/the-essence-of-humility-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Forgiving Jar by Wanda Brunstetter

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Amish fiction is one of my favorite genres.  The Amish seem to live their lives for God and family.  Doesn’t that sound perfect?  A simple, idealistic life, but it is no different than ours.  Their lives have troubles and conflicts, too, I’m sure.

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Author Wanda Brunstetter has penned a multitude of books, the majority of them being Amish.  She knows what she’s doing and does it exemplary.  “The Forgiving Jar” is Book Two in her The Prayer Jars Series.  It could be read as a stand alone but I highly encourage you to read book one first.  It is fantastic.

Brunstetter has come up with an amazing story with this series.  She is so gifted!  I was captivated quickly in Book One.  The characters have been well thought and described.  It was easy to visualize each one and befriend them.   Becoming invested in their lives happened in Book One and continued with this one.

Some of the things I enjoy about the author’s writing are the cooking and kitchen scenes.  It is a family tale and families gather in the kitchen cooking and eating.  She also has a strong Christian message along with scripture.  There is no doubt that Mrs. Brunstetter is a Christian writer.  This book has plenty of all of the above.

Forgiveness is the major topic of the book.  This is something we all deal with, and  Amish seem to do a very good job forgiving.  Other issues such as jealousy, acceptance, lying, and acceptance are broached.  Deepening our walk with God and trusting Him are also in the book.

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At the end of the book were two recipes.  I am getting spoiled and was hoping for more.  There is also a section with discussion questions.  Yes!  Questions for deeper study are so important and make it nice for a reader’s group.  This is an encouraging novel.

I enjoyed this book and found I did not want to put it down.  There are a few cliff hangers such as unknown identities that hopefully will be revealed.  This book did have a twist or two making it fun.

Everyone will enjoy this delightful book.  Whether you related to Grandma, Grandpa, Sara, Michelle, or someone else, you will find a friend in this book.  Readers that like Christian, contemporary, Amish, encouraging books will devour it like this reader did.  It is highly recommended along with book one.  I give it a five out of five stars!

About the Book

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Sara Murray had never met her mother’s parents and was surprised to learn after her death that they were Amish living in Pennsylvania. When she is finally able to make the trip to meet them, she is shocked to learn someone else has been living with them and pretending to be Sara. Sara can’t understand how quickly her grandparents are willing to forgive the imposter.

Secrets and deceit seem to follow Sara, and she is so tired of it. Though soon she meets Brad Fuller who is visiting her grandparents for during Christmas. She likes him a lot, but even he seems to pull away from her, not being totally honest.

Struggling, Sara finds an old canning jar hidden in the barn that is full of encouraging prayers. Can Sara find a way to forgive the past and move on to building new relationships?

This is Book 2 in the brand-new series, The Prayer Jars, from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter.
Book 1 — The Hope Jar (August 2018)
Book 3 — The Healing Jar (August 2019)

About the Author

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The Lost Art of Relationship Celebrate Lit Tour & Giveaway

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Welcome to my stop on Celebrate Lit’s Book Tour and Giveaway for “The Lost Art of Relationship” by author Dan Chrystal.   Please read all of the way until the end where you will find the link to enter the giveaway for an Amazon Echo 2nd Generation Smart Speaker.  Yes, really!  Are you ready to hear about this book?  I am eager to chat with you about it.

In his book, author Dan Chrystal tackles what family and friends of mine have been discussing for a few years now, “The Lost Art of Relationship.”  With the advances of technology our face to face communication skills seem to have dwindled.  That has changed our relationships or our thoughts on them.

This was a “head nodding book” for me.  My husband asked what I was reading because I was literally nodding my head in agreement.  It provides some information for everyone.  The author has written a scriptural based book on relationships no matter what type of relationship.  His book even gives readers a chance to look inward on what type of friend they are.

Chapters are divided into various sections of Foundations of Relationships, Obstacles of Relationships, and Building Blocks of Relationships.  Substantiating his views with personal experiences and Scriptures, the author has researched and planned his book well.  His writing style uses plain language that is easily understood.  However, I found that the book could have been just a bit better organized.

I loved the section discussing friendship during trials.  “We will all go through dark moments or even dark seasons. Those are the times when friends double down on the friendship—to be there for each other.”  Double down on friendship really made an impact on me.  Not just be there for your friend, but double down.  Wise words.

Going through a rough period is when one truly finds out who one’s friends are.  This is totally relatable to most everyone.  Me, included.  True friends will stay beside you and wait out the storm.  They will help you through it and not leave until the weather gets better.  Now I thought about my friends in the midst of storms.  How could I be a better friend to them?

This is a book everyone should read.  It will provide insight into relationships of all types.  Teens would benefit from it as it prompts what to look for in a potential relationship and what to beware of in friends.  I wish it had a few more suggestions or advice on the “how to” side of being a friend.  All in all, it is a really good book.

I rated it 4 out of 5 stars.  I would recommend it to everyone, especially to teenagers and young adults.  They seem to be moving farther away from relationship knowledge.  Anyone will pick up positive tidbits from this.  A copy was provided from Celebrate Lit but I was under no obligation to post a review.  These are my own honest words.

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About the Book:

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Title: The Lost Art of Relationship

Author: Dan Chrystal

Genre: Christian non-fiction, Christian living

Release date: October 15, 2018

Relationship is a journey of discovery—a lost art. In this generation, it has become challenging to deepen and grow personal relationships with each other. Our technology-flooded environment has left many with limited relational experience and a fear of face-to-face connection and meeting new people.

The church has done a decent job of helping people understand the need and importance of a relationship with God, but what about with each other? At the heart of every man, woman, and child is the need for connection—for relationships with people who love them for who they are.

In The Lost Art of Relationship, Dan Chrystal tackles the heart of relationship based on the time-honored instruction to “love your neighbor as you love yourself.” But what does that mean? How do we live out this odd instruction? Who is my neighbor, anyway? What makes relationships healthy, and what makes them fail? Through Dan’s personal stories and difficult life lessons, readers will come away encouraged, inspired, and motivated to love the people in their life more fully. If you desire deep and meaningful connections, now is the time to discover the lost art of relationship.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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Dan Chrystal has over twenty-three years of ministry and relationship experience. He serves as a pastor for Bayside Church Granite Bay, under the dynamic leadership of founding pastor, Ray Johnston. Dan is a vibrant speaker and a dedicated life, career, and couple’s coach. He holds an MBA in executive leadership from Kaplan University (now Purdue Global University) and is currently studying law at Concord Law School. His extensive ministry background has taken him all over the country, from the east coast to the west, where he has served in varying capacities, including Lead Pastor, Administrative Pastor, Associate Pastor, Worship Leader, and Youth Pastor. An avid student of relationship, Dan is passionate about helping others to love their neighbors as themselves.

“Choose a good reputation over great riches.” (Proverbs 22:1)

Guest post from Dan

For two years, I experienced what many would call a “wilderness experience.” I truly felt forgotten. I had spent twenty years in various aspects of church work having met and coached hundreds of people, and I still felt like I didn’t truly understand why I was put on this earth. I have moved nine times in my adult life. Everywhere I’ve lived, I had to start over—at work, home, schools for kids, and especially in relationship with others.

The last move was different. This time I was no longer looking to connect simply for the sake of connecting. There was a purpose for connection that was brewing inside me. That purpose became the driving force of my life and remains that way today. In fact, it consumes my thought life, relationships, ministry, and every aspect of what I do, think, and say.

Connecting with others has been a part of my life wherever I have gone. This came from watching my mom over many years meet, talk to, and befriend hundreds of people. At her funeral, I had just about that many tell me “thank you” for allowing my mom to be a part of their lives—how she encouraged them and truly got to know them for who they are.

During my two-year “wilderness” period, there was a realization that over all the moves, restarts, connections, coffee appointments, coaching, lunches, and dinners with people, I was learning the essence of what I believe we are called, or actually commanded, to do by Jesus. Such a simple sentence, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” However, it is one of the most difficult things to live out every day. Let’s face it; relationships are messy. They can be downright frustrating at times, but they are a necessary part of life, and the second most important thing to God.

I am by no means an “expert” in relationship. I am and always will be a student of it. I have watched relationships thrive, survive, and some fall away. There are so many divisions that come between us, and during those two years of struggling with my purpose, it became clear—God has designed, purposed, and prepared me to help others discover what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. I am not perfect at this. As a matter of fact, I struggle—sometimes daily. That is what sparked the writing of this book. I have found there is an art to relationship. For most, it is a lost art, one that can be rediscovered. I would love it if you would join me in discovering The Lost Art of Relationship.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 19

Carpe Diem, January 19

Robin is Bookish, January 20

The Becca Files, January 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 21

All-of-a-kind Mom, January 22

Creating Romance, January 22

Real World Bible Study, January 23

Mary Hake, January 24

Captive Dreams Window, January 25

Bigreadersite, January 25

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 26

margaret kazmierczak, January 26

Bibliophile Reviews, January 27

Texas Book-aholic, January 28

Just the Write Escape, January 29

A Baker’s Perspective, January 30

Janices book reviews, January 31

Book World Reviews, February 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 1

Giveaway

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To celebrate his tour, Dan is giving away a grand prize of an Echo 2nd Generation Smart Speaker with Alexa!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/d8d6/the-lost-art-of-relationship-celebration-tour-giveaway

Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Author Colleen Coble

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Do you have certain authors you really enjoy?  Fellow Hoosier Colleen Coble is one of mine.  Whenever I pick up a book she has penned I know that I am in for a treat.  Today’s subject is another excellent example of just that.

“Secrets at Cedar Cabin” is a page turning, intriguing tale that had me doing nothing except reading it.  It took very few pages to get captured within its tight grasp.  This mesmerizing tale is a contemporary Christian mystery packed with action, adventure, and romance.  It is 352 pages of emotions that jumped off of the page and right into me.

Author Coble has a smooth style of writing.  It is obvious she is a seasoned professional.  She is one of the best Christian mystery and romance authors I have found.  Her prose weaves a tale that will have readers entertained, guessing, and on the edge of their chairs.

The characters are superb.  They are well written, well described, and relatable.  It is easy to imagine them in real life.  Bailey could have been my buddy.  I wanted to help her and many times found myself giving her advice.  She was great.

The amount of details is enough to picture the scenarios but not too much to become bored.  Dialog is plentiful and realistic.  It doesn’t sound stiff.  The mention of God and faith is sprinkled throughout the novel.  The romance is so good.  It has a great love story.

This book is for mature readers because of its subject matter of human trafficking, kidnapping, abuse, murder, and death.   It is certainly not a light piece of fluff.  The author tackles real life, gritty issues that need to be addressed.   After the story look for a note from the author, acknowledgments, eight discussion questions, author’s biography, and advertisements.  I love it when the author includes discussion questions.

I highly recommend this novel to mature readers.  It would be a superb choice for a reading group.  The author included discussion questions, don’t forget.  If you are a fan of contemporary, romantic mystery you won’t want to miss this one.  Even though it is Book 3, it can be read as a stand alone.  I rated it five out of five stars.

A copy was provided from the publisher but I was under no obligation to post a review.  These are my own, honest words.

About “Secrets at Cedar Cabin”

Book Description:

From USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble comes the third book in her beloved Lavender Tides series.
Her mother lied about her identity and her husband wasn’t who she thought he was—can Bailey even trust herself anymore?
Running for her life in the wake of her mother’s murder, Bailey Fleming escapes to the only place she can think of—a remote, dilapidated cabin in Lavender Tides. Intending to finally get to the truth behind the lies of her past, Bailey only finds more questions when bodies are discovered near her cabin hideout along with traces of a dangerous human trafficking ring. In an unlikely partnership with FBI agent Lance Phoenix, Bailey races to understand the mystery surrounding her life and circumstances before the murderer tracks her down.
Meanwhile, Lance is determined to rescue his sister, Ava, who was abducted after running away from home as a teenager. An unexpected lead brings him to the remote cabin, and he wonders if Bailey—with her suspicious past and strange connections to his sister’s case—is really who she claims to be and if she can somehow lead him to Ava.
Filled with Colleen Coble’s custom blend of suspense and romance, Secrets at Cedar Cabin takes us back to the evocative landscape of Washington’s coast where nothing is quite as it seems.
“Secrets at Cedar Cabin is filled with twists and turns that will keep readers turning the pages as they plunge into the horrific world of sex trafficking where they come face to face with evil. Colleen Coble delivers a fast- paced story with a strong, lovable ensemble cast and a sweet heaping helping of romance.” —Kelly Irvin, bestselling author of Tell Her No Lies
“Once again Colleen Coble has delivered a page-turning, can’t-put-down suspense thriller with Secrets at Cedar Cabin! I vowed I’d read it slowly over several nights before going to bed. The story wouldn’t wait—I HAD to finish it!” —Carrie Stuart Parks, award-winning, bestselling author of Portrait of Vengeance and Formula of Deception

About the Author:

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Best-selling author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.
Visit her website at http://colleencoble.com.

Flights of Fancy Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Welcome to the Celebrate Lit Flights of Fancy Book Tour and Giveaway.  I am glad you joined us.  You are in for a treat as today I have not just a book review, but also a Q and A section with author Jen Turano, and a giveaway.  Be sure to read all the way to the end for instructions.  Let’s begin with my review of this stellar book. It is Book One in the author’s new American Heiress Series.

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To begin with I love the inspiration for this story.  A real life what if!  So many times I have wondered about how some situations might have turned out differently.  Author took one with her creativity turned it into a wonderful Christian novel.  This historical romance is filled with everything readers enjoy.  I found romance, humor, animals, inspiration, action, adventure, and children along with a nice Christian message.

Author Turano has an enchanting style of writing.  She is a witty and extremely talented storyteller.  Her characters are well described and easily relatable.  The main and even secondary ones were well rounded.  Some were charming and lovable and others downright villains.  Reading this book transported me back to 1885 and dropped me onto a farm.  Within the first chapter I became invested in the book and did not want to stop reading.  I was hooked.  Poor Isadora being pursued by a repulsive older man.  Yes, I could feel her disgust and outrage!  Her emotions transferred to me.

The conversations between characters were plentiful and always a favorite part of any book for me.  Dialogue flowed smoothly without sounding forced.  The descriptions were historically accurate and I even learned a thing or two.  The farm setting was adorable.  This book had me smiling from ear to ear.

This 385 page paperback was extremely well written, well researched, and well planned. Parts of the storyline took me by surprise.  I love twists and turns in fiction.  It keeps me from being bored.  Flights of Fancy also had many moments that made me giggle.  The humor in this is literally laugh out loud great.  Yes, I was well entertained and also inspired.  The lessons of God’s Grace and plans for us, the importance of praying, and of becoming a better person were woven perfectly throughout the story.

Definitely this gets a recommendation from me.  Anyone would enjoy reading this sweet book.  Historical fans, romance fans, inspirational fiction fans all would be captivated.  I certainly was.  This would be another good Book Club read. There is so much to discuss over coffee or tea with friends.  It earned 5 out of 5 stars from me.

A reader copy was provided but I was under no obligation to write a review.  All thoughts are my own, honest ones.

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My Rating: 5-Stars-300x57

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Title: Flights of Fancy

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Gilded Age

Release date: January 1, 2019

Publisher: Bethany House

Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high society world she’s always known and finds herself to be an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.

Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely on his own merits. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he’s unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.

Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing, but when mysterious incidents on the farm and the truth of Isadora’s secret threaten those they love, they’ll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happy-ever-after.

About the author:

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One of the Funniest Voices in Inspirational Romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today Best-Selling Author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publisher Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. When she’s not writing, she spends her time outside of Denver, CO.

Q & A With Jen Turano

“Flights of Fancy” is the first book in the American Heiress Series. What inspired you to write this series?

The inspiration for this entire series started off with a What If? All of my proposals for new series start off that way, and this time it was – What if Consuelo Vanderbilt had balked when her mother insisted she marry the Duke of Marlborough – and then that led to – What if she’d run away until her mother came to her senses? Just like that, an entire series was born – a bit of a different take on American heiresses because in all three books, my heiresses might decide to go a tad…rogue. We start off with Miss Isadora Delafield – who does run off to avoid marriage to a duke, then we get to meet Miss Poppy Garrison, who is an unexpected heiress but who can’t quite seem to get a handle on the expected social decorum of the day, and then the final book revolves around Miss Beatrix Waterbury – who gets banished to Chicago after she annoys her mother one too many times, and once there, well, gets up to a bit of mischief.

How do you come up with the names of your characters?

I find most of my names as I research the New York Four-Hundred, although I normally take a first name here, a last name there so I’m not stepping on any toes by writing about an actual historical figure – except for some of the main figures in New York society back then, such as Mr. Ward McAllister – who was the social arbiter of the day, or Mrs. William Astor, who was the queen of that society. What I don’t do is simply make up names, no matter how outrageous they may appear. And, no matter how I may love a certain name, if the character decides it doesn’t suit them, that’s it, it’s out and I’m back to the drawing board.

How do you picture your character? Do you use Pinterest, magazines, movies?

Odd as this may seem, I don’t use pictures for my characters. They start off in my mind as a blurry figure, and then, they develop from there – I like to keep my descriptions of them somewhat vague on the pages so that the reader can imagine them exactly the way they’d like them to be.

What are some of your favorite resources for historical research?

I’ve been building up a research library over the past few years and now have over 200 books dedicated to the Gilded Age. My favorites are – “A Season of Splendor” by Greg King, “Society as I Have Found It” by Ward McAllister, “The Gilded Age in New York – 1870-1910” by Esther Crain, and “ ‘King Lehr’ and the Gilded Age” by Elizabeth Drexel Lehr.

The setting for “Flights of Fancy” is a bit of a departure for you since it’s set in and outside of Pittsburgh. Any reason for that?

My mom was born in Pittsburgh, and unfortunately, her father, a prominent attorney back in the day, died when she was only four. I thought it would be cool to set a story in Pittsburgh, which would then allow me to really dive into some research. And get this – while I was doing that research, I found this obscure journal called “Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. In that journal was a bit about my great-grandfather, Fred, his wife, Susie, my grandfather, and his brother and sister, but I’d never heard about this brother, who apparently died quite young. One of the most fabulous research tidbits I’ve uncovered to date.

What are you working on now?

I’ve just recently turned in the content edits for the second book in this series, “Diamond in the Rough,” and I’ve also turned in a novella about the Harvey Girls that will be coming out in a novella collection in Fall, 2019. With those out of the way, I’m now starting the third and final book in the American Heiress series, Miss Beatrix Waterbury’s story, but I’m having a bit of a struggle with the hero at the moment – he was supposed to be Edward, but he doesn’t want to be an Edward – I think he wants to be Norman – but, time will tell on that one – don’t hold me to the name – it’ll depend on if he changes his mind or not – pesky characters.

You seem to enjoy adding animals in many of your stories. Will we find any animals in “Flights of Fancy?”

Since Miss Isadora Delafield ends up on a farm, I do believe you will find a few animals, such as an adorable cow by the name of Buttercup, a few goats that seem to have a great liking for laundry, and…there might be some chickens.

Thanks for stopping by today, everyone! Always enjoy visiting with all of you – in fact, that’s the best part of my job!

All the best,

~ Jen ~

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, January 10

Among the Reads, January 10

Through the Fire, January 10

To Everything A Season, January 10

Reflections From My Bookshelves, January 11

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 11

Blogging With Carol, January 11

Southern Gal loves to Read, January 11

Back Porch Reads, January 12

KarenSueHadley, January 12

Godly Book Reviews, January 12

Daysong Refections, January 12

Livin Lit, January 13

The Christian Fiction Girl, January 13

The Becca Files, January 13

Texas Book-aholic, January 13

Rebekah’s Quill, January 14

Blossoms and Blessings, January 14

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, January 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 14

All-of-a-kind Mom, January 15

Just the Write Escape, January 15

Stories By Gina, January 15

God’s Little Bookworm, January 16

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, January 16

Splashes of Joy, January 16

Janices book reviews, January 16

Happily Managing A Household of Boys, January 17

Mary Hake, January 17

Maureen’s Musings, January 17

Bibliophile Reviews, January 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 18

Baker Kella, January 18

Simple Harvest Reads, January 18 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 19

Captive Dreams Window, January 19

Robin is Bookish, January 19

Carpe Diem, January 19

Have A Wonderful Day, January 20

Life with the Tribe, January 20

Inklings and Notions, January 20

Rachel’s Back Talk, January 21

Inspiration Clothesline, January 21

amandainpa, January 21

A Baker’s Perspective, January 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 22

Pause for Tales, January 22

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, January 22

Raining Butterfly Kisses, January 23

Live Love Read, January 23

A Rup Life, January 23

Bigreadersite, January 23

Giveaway!!

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To celebrate her tour, Jen is giving away a grand prize of a trunk filled with all of Jen’s full-length novels released to date!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Giveaway

 

Atoning for Ashes by Author Kaitlin Covel

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Don’t you love finding a new author that has penned a book that is so captivating it grabs your attention within the first few pages?  Me, too!  Even better, how about if that novel pulls you so deeply inside that you just have to finish it in one sitting?  Now you know it is a fantastic book, a page turner.  That’s right.  That’s what we are discussing today.   Let the hubby fend for himself and the dishes pile up, I am reading author Kaitlin Covel’s “Atoning for Ashes” Christian historical romance and cannot be bothered.60889CEE-D8F5-41D3-9181-9A24CAF92CBF

Author Covel is a delightful find for me.  She is an exquisitely talented wordsmith that weaves a mesmerizing tale.  Her characters are well rounded, flaws and all, and relatable.  We became fast friends.  Emotions were transferred from her characters to me through the author’s extraordinary writing ability.  At times I was a nervous wreck and others giving advice to fictional characters or rejoicing with them.

Everything in her book was well researched, well organized, and extremely well written.  I loved how she surprised me sometimes with various twists and turns.  The author’s style of writing is nothing short of poetic.  Even the conversations flowed smoothly.  Covel writes English Regency romance as if she has experienced it first hand and passes the experience along to readers.  This is a book to get lost in, but then some dark things happen.  It is grabbed my attention early and held it all the way through until the end.

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Even though it is a God glorifying book, it tackles some adult issues.  Expect fornication, attempted rape, alcoholism, pregnancy outside of marriage, murder, abuse, and struggles of self worth among the more difficult subjects in Atoning for Ashes.  On the other side, look for redemption, forgiveness, grace, restoration, hope, love, trust, and family to shine brightly.

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There are too many favorite quotes to list.  I adore Christian books that do not shy away from discussing God and His mercy.  It is especially refreshing reading about grace and redemption.  If it is a Christian novel, please don’t make me hunt for the lesson and inspiration.  This one did not make me search.

Now for something that did not sit well with me.  First let me say that I am a grandmother so age may play into this, but I did not like the use of the word hell.  If you are talking about the place where Satan inhabits, then it is fine, but if you are frustrated, don’t use it in a Christian novel.  This seemed out of place in Christian fiction to me.  Just my opinion.  It might not bother you.

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I would highly recommend this jewel of a Christian romance fiction that has mystery, intrigue, inspiration, and action.  Because of the adult content I would say an older teen (18) or young adult should be the youngest age to read this.  A mature women’s group would certainly find a lot to discuss using this.  Even with the one thing that I did not like, it earned a 5 out of 5 stars from me.   I expect we will be hearing a lot about author Kaitlin Covel in the months to come.  Watch for her.  Mark your calendars for when this sure to be best seller comes out next month.  You will be glad to have read the debut from this budding new author.  I absolutely was.

i received an advanced reader copy but was under no obligation to write a review.  All opinions are my own, honest ones.

My Rating: 5-Stars-300x57

 

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About the Book:

Josie Chadwick dreams of marrying for love in Cornwall, England, but with her father’s debt threatening to destroy all she holds dear, her romantic options are dwindling. When her elder sister Delia is disowned, Josie finds herself heiress of Chadwick Park, torn between dreams and duty. After sacrificing her heart to atone for Delia’s sin, Josie clings to the hope she will learn to love a distant husband, whom she fears is incapable of requiting her affection.

Charles Radcliffe’s heart has been scarred and hardened by rejection. He fears hurting his new bride, but his fears of betrayal and rejection are stronger, making it impossible for him to trust her love―let alone the love of her God.

As Josie and Charles face their new life together, ominous events warn of dark family secrets that could shatter them both. More than a loveless marriage is at stake if they cannot stand as one. Will they learn to trust God and each other before it’s too late?

Preorder your copy today! Releasing on February 14th.

Purchase Link:https://www.amazon.com/Atoning-Ashes-Novel-Kaitlin-Covel/dp/1632694840/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kaitlin Covel has a thirst for adventure much like the heroines of her stories and resides in her beloved state of Maine. She is an old-fashioned romantic, and if she could time travel to any historical period, it would be the Regency Era. Kaitlin is a certified Nutritional Therapist Technician, but writing is her passion. Her debut novel, Atoning for Ashes, releases on February 14th, 2019 from Deep River Books.

Visit her official website at http://www.kaitlincovel.com.

Premeditated Serendipity Book Review & Giveaway Celebrate Lit Tour

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

It has been a long time since I have read a fiction book on Prophecy.  What about you?  In author Chautona Havig’s upcoming release Premeditated Serendipity, I found a delightful contemporary Christian romantic fiction that dealt with just that.  Prophecy.  I was thrilled.  Then I started reading the book and was mesmerized.  It grabbed my attention and drew me in quickly.

Author Havig has such a pleasant style of writing that reading one of her books is easy.  I was immediately caught up in the story and invested in the character’s’ lives.  They were well defined and relatable.  I found myself thinking Kelsey is so much like this friend or Uncle Mel is a real doll.   Conversations between everyone was smooth and natural.  It did not sound stiff.
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The author has used this book for an opportunity to discuss some topics we all face.  Forgiveness, being a busy-body, redemption, being hurt at church, faith, hope, trust, and love.  It had humor, sweet moments, and some other places that made me want to yell at the characters.  My emotions ran all over the place with the characters.
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This is a captivating novel.  Once started I did not want to put it down. I loved everything about it.  The writing, the storyline, the inspiration and encouragement, that it was a God glorifying, and the lovely characters.  Would I recommend this?  You betcha, I would!  Any woman would thoroughly enjoy this story.  It would make a great small group book, too.  You will want to discuss it with someone else.  Doesn’t that usually happen when you read a great book?  It does with me.  I rated it a 5 out of 5 stars.
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I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit but was under no obligation to review it.  These are my own, honest opinions and thoughts.
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About the Book

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Title: Premeditated Serendipity

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian romance

Release date: November 16, 2017

…make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you. ~ I Thessalonians 4:11

That’s all Reid wanted to do–just serve the Lord for a year before concerning himself with anything else. Yeah, the idea came from an odd “prophesy” one of the watchmen of Fairbury’s new Prayer Room spoke over him. Sure, he didn’t know if such “prophecies” were even Biblical–arguments on that score abounded. But since the words she spoke were pure Scripture, and since yielding to them couldn’t be wrong, he thought, “Why not?”

Was it always easy? No. People made judgments about him that weren’t accurate. Shy? Nope. Stuck up? Not hardly. Committed to a celibate life?

Good news, girls–just for the year.

But when the local florist hears Reid’s story and sees a few things that give him a glimpse into the man’s heart, he decides on a little premeditated serendipity to move things along, unaware of the serious havoc he’s about to wreak.

Premeditated Serendipity

Take a few Bible verses, stir in a little godly interference, give a pinch of meddling, and mix well. Bake in the oven of misunderstanding until true feelings rise and come out clean.

Part of the Out of the Blue Bouquet Collection

Click here to purchase your copy of the Out of the Blue Bouquet Collection

About the Author

39a3760d-495c-41cf-ba18-6812180f068c  Author of the Amazon bestselling Aggie and Past Forward series, Chautona Havig lives and writes in an oxymoron where she uses story to connect readers with the Master Storyteller.

Guest Post from Chautona

What Important Life Lesson Do Simple Daisies Teach Us?

It all began with a barrel of daisies. There I was, writing a simple scene with a character walking up the street of my fictional town of Fairbury, and this man appeared in front of a florist’s shop—The Pettler. He handed my character a daisy, and I soon learned that he did this for everyone—handed out a free daisy to anyone who passed.

6Since then, in almost any book that takes place in Fairbury, someone receives one of those daisies. So, when Amanda Tru told me about a collection featuring novellas about floral fiascoes, I knew it was time for Wayne Farrell of The Pettler to make a solid showing in a book.

I just wasn’t ready for it to be his story.

However, as I wrote about Reid and Kelsey, Wayne kept creeping in more and more. A backstory emerged. His faith bloomed. Yes, his heart has a few weeds that need to be pulled, but those weeds provided the conflict for this story.

And one thing that happened is he planted a seed in my own heart. I sat there thinking about what those daisies meant to him when the old “He loves me, he loves me not” ditty came to mind. I imagined that a florist would likely love or hate that. I mean, you don’t want people to have negative connotations with flowers, but on the other hand, people buying daisies to pluck… that’s good business.

Thinking of it in terms of Jesus changed everything, though. Suddenly, I had his story. Because, like Wayne shares with Reid in Premeditated Serendipity. When you pluck a daisy thinking of the Lord, there is no not. It’s just, “He loves me. He loves me. He loves me.” You can cross out every not. (I even have a short video on this.)

Because, as John 3:16 reminds us, “For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

He loves us. Period.

Note: for Wayne’s full story, check out Tangoed in Tinsel, part of the Under the Christmas Star set—the CrossRoads Collection 3.

Blog Stops

Real World Bible Study, January 5

Cultivating Us, January 6

Back Porch Reads, January 7

Aryn, the Libraryan, January 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 9

Texas Book-aholic, January 10

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 11

Bibliophile Reviews, January 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 13

Mary Hake, January 13

Janices book reviews, January 14

Carpe Diem, January 15

A Baker’s Perspective, January 16

Bigreadersite, January 17

Multifarious, January 18

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away a grand prize of a bouquet sent to anyone the winner wants in the U.S.!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d8a5/premeditated-serendipity-celebration-tour-giveaway

Between Two Shores by author Jocelyn Green

Posted on by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

In her book Between Two Shores, author Jocelyn Green has written a hauntingly beautiful novel.  This 400 page historical romantic fiction is in 1759 but goes back a few years to when the main character, Catherine Stands-Alone, is just ten years old.  Using the backdrop of the French and Indian Seven Years War, author Green spins a captivating tale of faith, hope, finding one’s place, loyalty, bravery, courage, and love.

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Catherine is part Mohawk and part Canadian- French.  Her character is well defined and relatable. At times I hurt with her as her emotions seeped from the pages into me.  Other times I would get frustrated with her obstinance.  Yes, I wanted to give her some advice.   She just wanted to love and be loved.  Don’t we all?
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The other characters were equally well created.  They were well rounded with lovable and dislikable traits.  The scenery was vividly described which took me right there.  I could hear the animals and see the water.  The trading post was easy to imagine.
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Author Green has a way with words.  I was immediately interested in the story, and this is before Chapter 1.  By the time I finished the Prologue and Chapter 1, I has deeply invested in the lives of the characters.  The story was well researched and provided historic information on a subject which was not familiar.  I love a novel that teaches me something.  It also contains some twists and turns along the way.
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At the end of the book are discussion questions.  I love, love, love it when an author includes those whether for personal growth or group study.  There are also author notes explaining which events and people are factual.  Again, I love this.
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Would I recommend this book?  You betcha!  Any history lover will devour this jewel in one sitting.  It is an interesting, adventurous, historical, romance that has inspiration and encouragement.  This would make a great small group book especially with the discussion guide.  The book stayed with me long after I finished the last page.  It would have been nice to have a group of friends to chat with about this brilliant book.   It receives a 5 out of 5 stars from me.  I received a copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All opinions are my own, honest ones.

About the Author:

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Jocelyn Green is a former journalist who puts her investigative skills to work in writing both nonfiction and historical fiction to inspire faith and courage.

The honors her books have received include the Christy Award in historical fiction, and gold medals from the Military Writers Society of America and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

Complex and nuanced characters, rich historical detail and twisting plots make her novels immersive experiences. Her fiction has been praised by Historical Novel Society, Romantic Times, Library Journal, historians specializing in her novels’ time periods, as well as popular and acclaimed authors Laura Frantz, Lori Benton, Jody Hedlund, Sarah Sundin, Joanne Bischof, Julie Lessman, and more.

Jocelyn loves Broadway musicals, the color red, strawberry-rhubarb pie, Mexican food, and well-done documentaries. She lives in Iowa with her husband, two children, and two cats she should have named Catticus Finch and Purrman Meowville.