Beyond Ivy Walls by extraordinary author Rachel Fordham is a Christian historical romance. It reminded me of an interpretation of Beauty and the Beast. This is such a beautiful story and drew me in quickly.
Set in early 1900s Monticello, Iowa this is the story of Sadie West. Due to a family tragedy, she has left her home and gone to work in a feather duster factory. It is also the story of Otis Taylor. He is returning home to handle the family estate after the death of his brother. The way the two meet is so imaginative.
The author has such an inviting style of writing. I became invested in the lives of the characters as well as the book. The characters were crafted with great care. They had depth, issues, and were believable. Some of them were absolutely lovable while others were despicable. The secondary characters were lovely, too. There were a few twists, a sweet romance, and history that provided knowledge on feather dusters. What do you know about feather dusters? After reading this lovely novel, you will know much more.
I highly recommend this exquisite tale. It will give you all kinds of feels. This would make a nice choice for a reading group to dissect. There is so much to discuss and many life lessons as well as faith ones to glean. I plan on buying a few copies as gifts. It gets a 5 star rating from this reader. I absolutely loved it! A copy was provided by NetGalley but these are my honest thoughts.
About the Book
Iowa, 1903. All of Monticello believes Otis Taylor has been away fostering his musical genius. But the truth is that his father exiled him long ago, rejecting Otis’s appearance and the scars that came with it. Now that he is the last living Taylor, Otis has covertly returned to settle his family’s affairs and rid himself of his past for good. However, he soon discovers that he may not have been the only abandoned Taylor and begins a tireless search for his missing toddler niece.
At twenty-three years old, Sadie West left her family farm and found employment at the Hoag feather duster factory. It isn’t a romantic job, but she’s hardly had a glimmer of romance since her beau went off to college, leaving her with no promise of a future together. Desperate to save money and help her family make ends meet, she trespasses and finds shelter in an abandoned building–and is thrown in the path of the town’s mysterious bachelor.
Otis’s wounds are deep, but as Sadie’s friendship with him grows, she begins to fall for the man beneath the mask. Locating his long-lost niece, however, is more difficult than either could have imagined, and Sadie West may be the key to Otis Taylor finally finding his way home.
About the Author
Rachel Fordham is the author of Where the Road Bends, A Lady in Attendance, A Life Once Dreamed, The Hope of Azure Springs, and Yours Truly, Thomas. Fans expect stories with heart and she delivers, diving deep into the human experience and tugging at reader emotions. She loves connecting with people, traveling to new places, and daydreaming about future projects that will have sigh-worthy endings and memorable characters. She is a busy mom, raising both biological and foster children (a cause she feels passionate about). She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington. Learn more at rachelfordham.com; Instagram: @rachel_fordham; Facebook: @rachelfordhamfans.
Today I have another five star book for you. It wraps up a trilogy written by the extraordinary wordsmith, Amanda Cabot. I would recommend reading the other two books first, but this could be read as a stand along with little trouble.
Into the Starlight by author Amanda Cabot is a Christian historical romance novel. This three-hundred-and-forty-three-page paperback is the third book in the Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing series. It concludes the series showcasing the three Vaughn sisters. At the beginning of the book is a map of the town to help readers.
This is a sweet family book with no vulgarity or profanity, but it does contain a mystery and some twists. There are many surprises hidden within the pages of this novel. This is the story of Joanne, the middle sister. She returns to Sweetwater Crossing from Europe a widow after having a serious illness. It is also the story of Doctor Burke Finley. He and Joanne are determined to solve the mystery of his uncle.
This novel took me to 1880’s small town Texas and gave me all of the feels. The characters were expertly crafted with a depth that made them believable. Through the author’s smooth writing, I felt at home in Sweetwater Crossing and found many friends. The story was fabulous. It tugged at my emotions and kept me invested. There were many twists and turns to keep me on my toes. A deeply buried secret had me turning pages into the wee hours of the night. This is an exciting story.
I appreciated the faith element and message. It was woven throughout the book. Scripture, prayers, sermons, and trust in God were all included. I did not like that they talked about praying for dead people or that when referring to God the pronouns were in lower case.
The writing is wonderful, the storyline is amazing, and the twists are surprising. There is so much to like in this excellent book. I highly recommend it. It receives a 5 star rating from this reader. A copy was provided by the publisher, but these are my honest words.
Today’s selection just might be my favorite book that I have read so far this year. High praise, I know, but it is well deserved. Let me tell you why . . .
Saved by the Matchmaker is Book Two in the A Shanahan Match series by author extraordinaire Jody Hedlund. It is a Christian historical romance series. While each book may be read as a standalone, characters are shared within the first two books.
I was intrigued with the cover and title of this phenomenal book that is set in 1849 St. Louis, Missouri. Enya Shanahan’s story continues as her father and oldest brother seek an annulment and then arranged marriage for her. Matchmaker Bellamy is back and endearing as ever.
There are so many facets to this captivating story. I was quickly engaged with the story and characters. Enya is a beautiful red-headed spitfire. Captain Sullivan O’Brien is large in stature and respected by others. He is a bit of a mystery. The characters are exquisitely crafted. Each one has many layers that unfold as the story does. I enjoyed the Irish brogue in the dialogue.
This story was filled with twists and turns, danger, adventure, and romance. It had me on the edge of my seat at times and giggling or tearing up at others. The beautiful writing took me to 1800s Missouri and Louisiana by way of the Mississippi River. I loved it and the Shanahan family.
I highly recommend this fabulous marriage of convenience novel. It gets the highest rating possible from me, 5 stars. Pick up a copy and put dinner in the crock pot before you start reading. This book will grab your attention immediately and refuse to let go! An advanced copy was provided by the author, but these are my honest words.
“To Speak His Name” by author Tara Johnson is a Christian historical romance novel and Book One in The Wings of the Morning series. I was captivated from the very beginning of this riveting book. It pulled on my heartstrings and emotions.
I tend to shy away from books on slavery, which this one is. It is hard for me to understand the abhorrent way most slaves were treated. While the story did not gloss over the horrific things that were done, it did not go into excruciating detail. This book grabbed my attention from page one and absolutely refused to let me go.
Avalina was a wee child when she was stolen from her home in Ireland. Tragic circumstances turned her into a mute. She is a beautiful young girl with a sweet, kind spirit. However, she is stranded and marked as a slave on the island of Barbados.
Josiah Holland is the son of a South Carolina plantation owner. His father deals in crops and the sale of slaves. Josiah has been away at school and no longer agrees with his father on many things, especially the treatment or sale of slaves. He and Avalina meet when he travels to Barbados with his father for business with Avalina’s master. The connection they make is immediate and powerful. They are drawn to each other.
Tara Johnson has a fabulous style of writing. Her story flows like a river taking readers on a ride to a time and place faraway. There are many twists, turns, surprises, bumps, and smooth patches in this saga. Characters are finely crafted, believable, and engaging. They grow and mature in body and spirit. The Christian message is present even throughout trials and perilous times. Life lessons abound in this tale that will make readers ponder it long after they have finished the book.
I highly recommend this phenomenal book. It would be great for a book club to delve into. There is so much to discuss. Any historical romance fiction lover will devour it. I gladly rate it 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: To Speak His Name
Author: Tara Johnson
Genre: Historical Romance
Release date: March 4, 2024
Avalina is a woman trapped in silence. Stolen from her home in Ireland and sold as a slave to a Barbados plantation owner, the trauma of her past has left her mute, wrapped in a prison of loneliness and isolation amid an island of beauty. Though she longs to be free from the cruelty of her overseer, her heart yearns for a greater freedom…something just beyond her grasp.
Josiah Holland has been born into a South Carolina slave-holding family but all it takes is one trip to the island of Barbados to open his eyes to the ugly cruelty that abounds beyond the confines of his plantation. With the aid of fiery abolitionist Benjamin McGee, Josiah forges a new future, fighting the very ideals he was once a part of.
When Avalina and Josiah’s lives entwine, will their spark engulf them in destruction, or ignite a revolution?
Tara Johnson is an author and speaker, and loves to write stories that help people break free from the lies they believe about themselves.
Tara’s debut novel Engraved on the Heart (Tyndale) earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and was a finalist in the Carol and Christy awards. Tara has been published by Tyndale House, Annie’s, and Guideposts. In addition to being published in a variety of digital and print magazines, she is a certified body language expert and has been on radio, television and podcasts. She is a history nerd, especially the Civil War, and adores making people laugh. She, her husband, and children live in Arkansas.
More from Tara
Barbados Sweet Bread Recipe
INGREDIENTS
3⁄4cup brown sugar
1⁄3cup shortening (or coconut oil)
1⁄3cup butter
2cups flour
1pinch salt
2 1⁄4cups grated coconut
1⁄4cup raisins, chopped
1⁄4cup dried cherries, chopped
1tablespoon grated nutmeg
1tablespoon almond extract
1 1⁄3cups evaporated milk
3tablespoons water
1tablespoon butter (for pan)
2tablespoons turbinado sugar
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350*F and lightly grease a bread pan. The original recipe calls for 2 bread pans, but the bread doesn’t rise at all so it bakes nicely in one pan.
In a mixer cream together the brown sugar, shortening and butter.
Stir in almond extract, evaporated milk, and water, until a firm dough is formed. (You may need to add additional water.).
Split the dough evenly between the two pans, and use a knife to cut a diagonal criss-cross pattern on the top of each loaf. Sprinkle 1 tbsp turbinado sugar over the top of each loaf.
Bake for about 1 hour, until a skewer inserted into the center of the loaves comes out clean (Or a digital thermometer reads 190*F.) Cool completely in the pans before removing.
The Story Behind To Speak His Name
By Tara Johnson
Who doesn’t love a toe-curling romance? I confess, when I began writing my upcoming story To Speak His Name, romance was the farthest thing from my mind.
This novel was prompted by two unique nuggets. First, I have always been fascinated with how those who have never heard of Jesus come to a saving knowledge of Him. How does the Holy Spirit reveal such marvelous truths to a soul who knows nothing of the spiritual world?
I began meditating on Psalm 19: 1-3: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” At the same time, I picked up a small nonfiction book about the Irish slave trade, and what I learned was astonishing.
The Irish slave trade began when King James II sold 30,000 Irish prisoners as slaves to the New World. From 1641 to 1652, over 500,000 Irish were killed by the English and another 300,000 were sold as slaves. Ireland’s population fell from about 1,500,000 to 600,000 in one single decade. Families were ripped apart and 52,000 Irish (mostly women and children) were sold to Barbados and neighboring islands.
My imagination quickly took flight. I pictured a young Irish girl named Avalina, stolen away from her home, shipwrecked and found wandering on a sandy beach in Barbados.
Oh, one other thing…Avalina is mute.
She is taken in by a cruel man and forced to work as a slave on his plantation, surrounded by strange people in a strange world who are steeped in polytheism and superstition. The years pass and, with her voice locked away in silence, she wonders if there isn’t something more to life than mere existence.
Enter Josiah Holland.
I never conceived having the son of a slave trader as my hero, but once I wrote the first scene with Josiah, I knew he would be the one to set Avalina’s heart on a path toward freedom. Just as the famed hymnist and former slave trader John Newton found redemption in the arms of Jesus, so Josiah turns away from the world he knows to embrace a broken woman and an uncertain future.
Is Josiah perfect? No. He struggles to please his demanding family. He grapples with his motives and his stained past, yet he is beautifully vulnerable.
When I finished penning the final scene, it hit me: Josiah is a picture of Christ. He redeems Avalina and carries her from the Land of Darkness into a kingdom of Light. He shows her kindness and compassion when all others treat her with disdain. What a lovely picture of grace.
Trail of Promises is book two in author Susan F. Craft’s the Great Wagon Road Series. This historical Christian romance is poignant wagon adventure from New York to South Carolina. I was invested within the first few pages.
Set in 1753, this is the story of Tessa Harris and Stephen Griffith. Unexpected circumstances have placed them together in this suspenseful adventurous tale. There are many dangerous things awaiting them as they traverse the wagon trail. The author researched well.
Filled with bits of history, this is an exciting pre-revolutionary marriage of convenience novel. The author has crafted two Christian characters that work well together. They encourage and support each other well. God’s plan and help is nicely included in the storyline.
I highly recommend this captivating book. It will keep you flipping pages to see what happens next. Be sure to read the Author’s Notes. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest thoughts.
About the Book
Book: Trail of Promises
Author: Susan F. Craft
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: June 25, 2024
A marriage of convenience will protect her reputation on the long trail ahead, but he’s barely more than a stranger…
Tessa Harris is a woman without options. When she’s stranded nearly two hundred miles from her destination, her only companions are a former British Cavalry officer and his two young brothers. Society dictates they cannot travel without a chaperone, but can she trust this handsome stranger to protect her if they choose to marry? And if so, should she show her feelings or guard her heart? She’s learned the hard way how painful it is to love a man who doesn’t reciprocate.
Stephen Griffith has enough responsibility caring for his young brothers, and now he shoulders the massive responsibility of keeping his new wife safe as they cross the wilderness toward a new life. And though he tries to keep her at arm’s length, reminding himself their marriage may only be a temporary arrangement, he cannot seem to shake the feelings growing for her.
When they fall into the hands of outlaws, Tessa and Stephen must overcome their hardest obstacle yet. Only God can bring them safely to the end of the trail where enduring love awaits.
Susan F. Craft retired after a 45-year career in writing, editing, and communicating in business settings.
She authored the historical romantic suspense trilogy Women of the American Revolution—The Chamomile, Laurel, and Cassia. The Chamomile and Cassia received national Illumination Silver Awards. The Chamomile was named by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance as an Okra Pick and was nominated for a Christy Award.
She collaborated with the International Long Riders’ Guild Academic Foundation to compile An Equestrian Writer’s Guide (www.lrgaf.org), including almost everything you’d ever want to know about horses.
An admitted history nerd, she enjoys painting, singing, listening to music, and sitting on her porch watching geese eat her daylilies. She most recently took up the ukulele.
More from Susan
Tessa Harris and her father, Thomas, are portrait artists, limners, who travel from town to town seeking commissions.
Limners were among the first to record glimpses of life in colonial America. By the early 1700s, wealthy colonists hired limners to paint portraits of their families. These limners, mostly self-taught, generally unknown by name, turned out naive portraits in the Elizabethan style, the Dutch baroque style, or the English baroque court style, depending upon the European background of both artist and patron.
Rather than a true portrait, the paintings were most often idealistic and did not give a true representation of the personality of the sitter and were often two dimensional. Artists focused on the material wealth of the subject, giving much attention to their clothing and accessories. Some artists painted only the faces of their subjects, explaining that they need not bother with tedious sittings and that they would paint the bodies and clothing later. They would show their subjects English and French prints from which to choose whatever costumes and backgrounds they preferred.
Like most artisans of their time who found it difficult to support themselves with paintings only, limners also worked in pewter, silver, glass, or textiles or took jobs doing ornamental paintings of clocks, furniture, signs, and carriages. Many painted miniatures—tiny watercolor portraits—on pieces of ivory, often oval-shaped and commonly worn as jewelry. Limners also painted on paper and canvas and earned, on average, $15 per portrait.
Limners Samuel McIntire and Duncan Phyfe became celebrated painters of furniture. Famous colonial portrait artists included Joseph Blackburn, Peter Pelham, John Smibert, John Singleton Copley, John Trumbull and Charles Wilson Peale. An American artist, Benjamin West, became painter to the king and president of the Royal Academy in London. American artists flocked to his studio to learn under his tutelage, including Gilbert Stuart, who painted a famous portrait of George Washington.
In 1754 in British colonial New York, an artist took out the following ad in the Gazette and the Weekly Post: Lawrence Kilburn, Limner, just arrived from London with Capt. Miller, hereby acquaints all Gentlemen and Ladies inclined to favour him in having their pictures drawn, that he don’t doubt of pleasing them in taking a true Likeness, and finishing the Drapery in a proper Manner, as also in the Choice of Attitudes, suitable to each Person’s Age and Sex, and giving agreeable Satisfaction, as he has heretofore done to Gentlemen and Ladies in London. He may at present be apply’d to at his Lodgings, at Mr. Bogart’s near the New Printing-Office in Beaver-Street.
I pray that my Great Wagon Road series honors the Lord and the gifts He has given me and that you will love my characters as much as I do. Soli Deo Gloria.
12 Ways to Age Gracefully: How to Look and Feel Younger by author Susan U. Neal, RN, MBA, MHS, is a Nonfiction, Christian Living, Health book. The author emphasizes faith and inspiration in her advice. I really appreciated that. She offers practical tips and counsel on a multitude of things in a clear manner.
Covering topics of eating right, exercising, brain health, hormones, stress, physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health, and life balance, there is something for everyone in this educational book. The author has included science for more in depth information. Her style is open, upfront, and easy to understand.
There is a lot of information to absorb in the healthy book. It needs to be read slowly. Concluding each chapter are summary, life application, and personal reflection questions. The author suggests scripture memorization and prayer, which I agree with very much. Her advocation of Christian yoga gave me pause. I have never heard of that. It sounds like an oxymoron to me.
Overall, I enjoyed the author’s thoughts and gleaned useful information. I would recommend this book. Mature women would benefit most from reading it, but younger ones may want to take a look at what’s ahead for them. It gets a 4 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: 12 Ways to Age Gracefully: How to Look and Feel Younger
Author: Susan U. Neal
Genre: Nonfiction, Christian Living, Healthy Living
Release date: May 28, 2024
Embrace the Youthful Spirit at Any Age
As you face the mirror each day, do you meet an older version of yourself? It’s a familiar journey, one where we acknowledge that we’re not as young as we once were, yet not quite ready to embrace being old. But what if there was a way to traverse this path with grace and vitality?
The good news is you can slow time down. By making the right choices, you can look and feel younger. You don’t have to spend a fortune on products either; simply learn the tools needed to move gracefully and joyfully through your senior years.
By making simple lifestyle changes, you’ll look and feel better. Discover how to choose vitality over disease; joy over depression; youthfulness over listlessness. 12 Ways to Age Gracefully, will empower you to:
boost your energy levels,
improve senior brain health,
learn how to feel better about yourself,
develop better stress management, and
fulfill your God-appointed purpose with renewed vigor.
What path will you choose? Discover the secrets to not just feeling better but also looking fantastic as you do so!
Susan Neal, an RN with an MBA and MHS, combines her passion for health and her faith to guide others toward wellness. As an acclaimed author and health coach, her works including the transformative 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates aim to uplift the health of the Christian community for God’s service. To help fulfill that mission, she wrote, Eat God’s Food: A Kid’s Guide to Healthy Eating.
More from Susan
Welcome to the Journey of Graceful Aging with 12 Ways to Age Gracefully
As we embark on this exciting blog tour for my newest book, 12 Ways to Age Gracefully: How to Look and Feel Younger, I’m thrilled to share the passion and purpose behind this project. This journey is about more than just sharing information; it’s about embracing each year with joy and vitality. This isn’t just a book tour; it’s a movement towards embracing a more vibrant, healthful approach to our advancing years.
Inspiration Behind the Book
The inspiration for 12 Ways to Age Gracefully stems from my personal journey of losing my health. After facing significant health challenges a decade ago, I’ve been on a quest to inspire others to improve their health and optimal weight. This book is my way of sharing those solutions, offering guidance on how to maintain vitality, strength, and joy as we age.
When a person integrates the holistic practices in this book, they not only combat the physical signs of aging but also enhance their overall well-being. This book is a culmination of years of research and personal trials that has been put into practical, actionable strategies that anyone can adopt to enrich their lives.
What Makes This Book Unique?
What sets 12 Ways to Age Gracefully apart is its holistic approach, blending scientific insights with practical wisdom along with spiritual considerations. Each chapter is crafted to help you implement changes that have profound effects not just on your physical health, but on your mental and spiritual well-being too.
This book isn’t just a guide; it’s an invitation to reevaluate lifestyles and make decisions that can profoundly impact health and happiness. To add a practical component to the book, each chapter concludes with a list of Personal and Practical Applications for the reader to evaluate and incorporate into their daily routines.
A Fun, Interactive Element
To make this journey interactive and truly beneficial, 12 Ways to Age Gracefully introduces a “21-Day Age Gracefully Challenge.” This challenge encourages readers to apply one tip from the book each day, helping to form habits that lead to long-lasting health improvements. It’s a great way for readers to engage actively with the content and see real changes.
Join Us on This Tour
Throughout this blog tour, hosted on Celebrate Lit, we’ll share more behind-the-scenes details, stories from readers who are already experiencing the benefits of the strategies in the book, and additional tips and surprises along the way.
I invite you to join in, leave comments, and share your experiences. And you can find out more about healthy living at my website. Aging gracefully is more than just a concept—it’s a practical, joyful path that we can choose every day. Let’s walk this path together, learning and growing as we go!
Blessings,
Susan Neal
—
This blog post is your gateway into a world where aging is not feared but embraced with energy and enthusiasm. Follow along on the tour for inspiration, community stories, and practical advice that can transform the way you view aging. Let’s age not just gracefully, but joyfully and purposefully!
Psalms in Rhyme for Little Hearts by author Donna Wyland is a charming Christian children’s book. Beautiful illustrations are done by Courtney Smith. I loved this book and will definitely be giving it as a gift many times.
Psalms are written in rhymes to draw the attention of children. This helps them memorize the psalms, too. There are twelve psalms written this way with a short prayer following each one. After these, Psalms from the ESV (English Standard Version) translation are presented. I was happy to see Psalm 23 was not one that was changed into a rhyming one.
This precious book is especially for children ages 4 to 8. The illustrations are cute and engaging. It is important to start little ones early hearing and reading God’s Word. I think this is a fabulous way to expose them to Psalms. It is great for parents, grandparents, daycares, and churches to have.
I highly recommend this excellent Christian children’s book. It would make a perfect gift for any occasion or “just because”. This receives a 5 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by CelebrateLit, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Psalms in Rhyme for Little Hearts
Author: Donna Wyland
Genre: : Picture Book
Release date: 2023
The sky is like a large blue tent
stretched high above the sun,
that floats and falls from end to end
and warms till day is done.
~ Psalm 19:5-6
Young hearts will cherish the sweet rhyme contained in Psalms in Rhyme for Little Hearts as they are gently guided to a closer relationship with God. From beginning to end, the colorful childlike illustrations bring the psalms to life and inspire children to hide God’s Word in their hearts.
Uniquely created for children ages 4 – 8, this book of scriptural poetry will inspire children to sing praises to God and help them understand and remember God’s constant presence and powerful promises. And, for parents who want to lead their growing children to the original Bible psalms, they are included at the end.
Whether for morning devotions or nighttime prayers,
Psalms in Rhyme for Little Hearts will bless children seeking to know the Lord
and provide a foundation for intimate spiritual time
with parents, grandparents, and others.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
DONNA WYLAND is an award-winning author, busy mother, grandmother and friend. She is the author of ‘Twas the Night Before Jesus, a best-selling children’s picture book and is a contributor to many inspirational essay collections. Donna lives and writes at her home in Southwest Florida and her condo overlooking the ski slopes in Steamboat, Colorado.
More from Donna
“More than 30 years ago I discovered the meaning of the Book of Psalms. Whether I was struggling or celebrating, God led me to individual psalms that encouraged and comforted me and gave me the strength to persevere. It is my heart’s desire to see children learn the power and peace of the psalms early in life so they, too, will turn to God’s Word when they need hope and comfort, or they are searching for the right words to praise Him for His blessings and favor. This book of rhyming psalms protects the biblical meaning of each psalm while putting the message in a child’s vocabulary with rhyme to help them remember.”
Mary’s Calico Hope by author Anne Blackburne is Book 5 in The Heart of the Amish Series. The Contemporary Amish series is written by multiple authors. Each book may be read as a standalone or together in the series.
This is the story of Mary Yoder. She is unmarried, twenty-nine, and has mobility issues due to a childhood accident. Rueben King is the new doctor in town. He is Mennonite. When he meets Mary sparks begin to fly.
The author has done a great job creating believable characters. Mary has a cheery attitude despite her situation. She lives alone with her calico kitten and has found a way to be independent and live alone. The doctor being Mennonite allowed for comparison between them and the Amish. I enjoyed this storyline and learned a lot while reading this captivating tale.
The Christian messages tucked inside this interesting story are wonderful. The life lessons are as well. If you are an animal or cat person, the escapades of Hope, Mary’s cat, will make you smile. There is so much to like in this novel.
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of Amish fiction. Expect some twists and turns to keep you on your toes. This book receives a 5 out of 5 star rating from this reader. A copy was provided, but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: Mary’s Calico Hope (The Heart of the Amish: Book 5)
Author: Anne Blackburne
Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction
Release date: June, 2024
Mary Yoder Is Content Despite Challenges Thrown Her Way
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.
If God wills it, Mary Yoder will do it, even if that means using crutches for the rest of her life. She was badly injured in a buggy accident as a child. Still, she is content living in the Dawdi Haus connected to her parents’ farmhouse and with her work weaving baskets and raising specialty roosters whose feathers she uses to make excellent trout lures. She is truly happy at twenty-nine, but. . .she wouldn’t mind finding a husband—if the Lord wills it. Along comes Reuben King, a Mennonite doctor. They are attracted to one another, but how could they ever be together? She’s a baptized Amish woman, so it seems impossible. Also, he wants her to have surgery to improve her mobility and lessen her day-to-day pain. She’s sick and tired of surgeries! But if God wills it, she’ll do it. And just maybe there will be a way for these two unlikely souls to connect.
Anne Blackburne lives and works in Southeast Ohio as a newspaper editor and writer. She is the mother of five grown children, has one wonderful grandchild, and a spoiled poodle named Millie. For fun, when she isn’t working on Amish romance or sweet mysteries, Anne directs and acts in community theater productions and writes and directs original plays. She also enjoys reading, kayaking, swimming, searching for beach glass, and just sitting with a cup of coffee looking at large bodies of water. Her idea of the perfect vacation is cruising and seeing amazing new places with people she loves.
More from Anne
Hello from Southeastern Ohio, where the sun is shining and it’s good to be alive!
Less than a year ago I wrote a kick-off post for the launch of my debut novel, Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise, which was also featured in a Celebrate Lit Book Tour in December 2023.
As a green newbie, I didn’t really understand what this meant, but I was (and am!) very happy for any help with my writing career. Well, the amazing bloggers who work with Celebrate Lit did a bang-up job promoting my book, and it is doing very well. So thanks to all of them, and to all who have read Ruth’s story!
Now, here I am again! I can hardly believe that my second book, Mary’s Calico Hope, is published and available to readers, and that once again I’m blessed to have the help of the Celebrate Lit folks in launching my book.
Mary Yoder will be familiar to anyone who read my first book. She appears several times in that story; you may remember her as the quiet young woman with a great attitude despite the fact that she has been using crutches to get around since a childhood accident injured her spine and legs.
Mary is the heroine of my second book, Mary’s Calico Hope. In fact, Mary is something of a heroine to me. I love her joy in living and her faith that God will get her through any challenge, even if she can’t begin to see how He’s going to do it.
We all face challenges, and would all benefit from a little more faith, and not just when times get tough, am I right?
I am so happy to bring you Mary’s story and can’t wait for you to experience her happy-ever-after. (Which of course is guaranteed, since we’re talking about a romance novel!) But how will she get there? Ah, that’s the question!
Thank you for taking the time to learn about Mary’s story! This book is my second in Barbour Publishing’s new series, “The Heart of the Amish”. It’s actually the fifth book in that series, which also contains great reads from authors Mindy Steele and Lisa Baker Jones.
I’m currently writing my third book in the series, which will feature a young woman you met in both Ruth and Mary’s stories, Elizabeth Miller. Look for Lizzie’s Little Mouse next winter.
Oh! I forgot to mention, each of my heroine’s received a tiny kitten from an elderly friend, Lydia Coblentz. Ruth had Ginger Snap. Mary has her calico kitten, Hope. And Lizzie’s kitten is a little gray one that reminds her of—you guessed it! A mouse!
I hope you’re having as much fun reading about these remarkable young women—and their kitties! —as I’m having writing about them. Thanks for being part of our journey! Without you, it wouldn’t be possible.
As for me and mine, we are all well and enjoying spring in southeast Ohio. In other words, enjoying the sunshine, but carrying a sweater and an umbrella, just in case!
Texas Forsaken by author Sherry Shindelar is a Christian historical novel. This hefty book is 430 pages and the beginning of the author’s Lone Star Redemption Series. Since it is a poignant story of heartache, sadness, hope, and joy, readers may need tissues while reading it.
Set in 1860s Texas on the brink of the Civil War, this is the story of Eyes-Like-Sky. It is also the tale of Garrett, the Cavalry officer that assists her. Both are exceptional characters with a deepness to them. It was easy to engage with them.
The settlers and Indians are not at peace with each other. This was a violent time in history where attacks were made, people killed, and some abducted. The author mentions such without going into great detail.
The author has a nice writing style. The Christian element is present and illustrated by families praying and thanking God. A visiting preacher comes to spread the Word. Research has definitely been done and applied to make readers feel whisked back to this rough time and place. The language sounded authentic. A few times, however, I was uncertain if a character was taking the Lord’s name in vain. That really bothered me.
I recommend this historical fiction for lovers of that era and the conflict. Because of the time period and location, it was a bit violent and stressful for me to read. Others might like the danger and adventure. It gets a 4 star rating from me. A copy was provided by CelebrateLit, but these are my honest words
About the Book
Book: Texas Forsaken
Author: Sherry Shindelar
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: May 21, 2024
The man who destroyed her life may be the only one who can save it.
Seven years ago, Maggie Logan (Eyes-Like-Sky) lost everything she knew when a raid on a wagon train tore her from her family. As the memories of her past faded to nothing more than vague shadows, Maggie adapted—marrying a Comanche warrior, having a baby, and rebuilding her life. But in one terrible battle, the U.S. Cavalry destroys that life, and she is taken captive again, this time by those who call themselves her people. Forced into a world she wants nothing to do with, Eyes-Like-Sky’s only hope of protecting her child may be an engagement to the man who killed her husband.
Enrolled in West Point to escape his overbearing father, Captain Garret Ramsey has graduated and finds himself assigned to the Texas frontier, witnessing the brutal Indian War in which both sides commit atrocities. Plagued by guilt for his own role, Garret seeks redemption by taking responsibility for the woman he widowed and her baby. Though he is determined to do whatever it takes to protect them, is he willing to risk everything for a woman whose heart is buried in a grave? Or is there hope she might heal to love once more?
Originally from Tennessee, Sherry loves to take her readers into the past. She is an avid student of the Civil War and the Old West. When she is not busy writing, she is an English professor working to pass on her love of writing to her students. Sherry is an award-winning writer: 2023 Genesis finalist, Maggie finalist, and Crown finalist. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband of thirty-eight years. She has three grown children and three grandchildren.
More from Sherry
The story of Cynthia Anne Parker, the most famous captive of the nineteenth century, haunted my heart for a couple of decades. Abducted from one world, adopted into another, and then stolen back, Cynthia Ann’s story of love and unrepairable loss captured my heart. All the more so since it was fact, not fiction.
I longed to give her a second chance. So I developed a character who was similar to Cynthia, started the narrative at the moment of crisis, and wrote a different trajectory. I couldn’t give Cynthia a happy ending, but I could give Eyes-Like-Sky a story of love and hope taking root in the midst of devastating loss.
Cynthia was taken captive by Comanches at age nine during an attack on her family’s fort in the Texas frontier in 1836. Her father and several extended family members were killed, and her brother John, her cousin Rachel, and a couple other family members were captured along with her.
Her Aunt Elizabeth was rescued a couple months after the attack. Her cousin Rachel, who had been badly abused by the tribe, was ransomed a couple of years later and died within a year of her return. John adopted the Comanche lifestyle and lived with the tribe for years before eventually leaving the tribe to farm in Mexico. But Cynthia became Comanche and became an integral part of the tribe for over twenty-four years.
She married an influential war chief, Peta Nocona, and had three children with him, including Quanah Parker, who eventually became a powerful Comanche chief. Several times over the years, Indian agents and traders attempted to ransom her, but she refused to go, and the tribe rejected their offers.
In December 1860, Texas Rangers, along with U.S. Cavalry troops, attacked her village and captured her and her baby girl, Prairie Flower (Topsanah), killing everyone else in the camp. (There has been significant historical debate about whether her husband was present at the time. Some accounts claim he died fighting to protect her. Other evidence points to him having been away on a hunting trip at the time of the attack and dying a couple years later from an old battle wound.)
Eventually, one of Cynthia’s relatives claimed her and took her to live with family, but she refused to accept this new life that was being forced upon her. Repeatedly, she tried to escape to the open plains, desperate to find her husband and her sons. One of her uncles eventually agreed to help her look for her people, but they’d have to wait until the Civil War ended.
Prairie Flower died, word came that Cynthia’s son Pecos had passed away, as well, and the Civil War dragged on. Cynthia lost hope of ever being reunited with the two remaining members of her beloved family, Nocona and Quanah. Overcome by sadness and longing, she sank into a deep depression and died of a broken heart.
Cynthia Ann’s story, the story of a woman torn between cultures, perplexed, intrigued, and haunted me. My heart ached for her loss, and questions flooded my mind. Some stories are like that. They stay with you, and this one was all the more indelible because it was true and filled with unknowns.
As I put pen to paper to begin Texas Forsaken, I sought to create an indelible story of heart-wrenching trials, forgiveness, and second chances. A story of love and hope born anew. A story of redemption.
The Sisters of Corinth by extraordinary wordsmith Angela Hunt is Book Two in her series The Emissaries. This Biblical Fiction series is set in New Testament times. The Sisters of Corinth can easily be read as a stand alone even though it is the second book.
Everything about this book is captivating, beginning with the cover. It is hauntingly beautiful. This is the story of stepsisters Prima and Mariana. Reminiscent of Cinderella, one is loving and kind, while the other is self-centered and cruel. One sister worships Jeshua, and the other one worships the pagan gods of Rome.
Characters are beautifully crafted with precision and finesse. I was immediately engaged with them and their story. The exceptional care given to details took me out of modern times and placed me in 60 AD Corinth. The danger to Christians was real, and I could feel it. The author wove an exciting story that pulled on my heartstrings. There were many twists and turns.
The author has done a remarkable job with this brilliant tale. It made me uncomfortable in places where the temples to the pagan gods were mentioned or certain things were done. No details were given just insinuated. Even though I know those things happened, I hate thinking about that evil.
I adore the author’s style of writing and her love for Jesus. Her book is captivating and flows smoothly like a river. It was well researched and all things sounded authentic. She included a beautiful inspirational lesson. The spiritual messages to trust God in all things and that He loves us shine brightly throughout the entire book. I really enjoyed reading this book.
After the story there are author notes, reading group questions, author information, upcoming book notes, and references. Before the story begins is an Introduction section. Be sure to read this information. I highly recommend this book to lovers of Biblical Fiction. It would be perfect for a reading group. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by CelebrateLit, but these are my honest words.
The Sisters of Corinth Book Tour and Giveaway
About the Book
Book: The Sisters of Corinth (The Emissaries: Book 2)
Author: Angela Hunt
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Release date: May 21, 2024
“Angela Hunt takes her craft to new heights–and depths–as she fully immerses us in the lives and struggles of first-century followers of Yeshua.”–Tamera Alexander, bestselling author on The Woman from Lydia
When the new provincial governor arrives in Corinth, the esteemed Chief Magistrate Narkis Ligus, father to Mariana and Prima, is delighted. He sees a golden opportunity to propel himself to greater power and fortune by uniting his and the governor’s households through the marriage of one of his beautiful unwed daughters to the governor’s firstborn son.
Yet complications quickly arise in Narkis’s own family. Mariana, his stepdaughter, holds steadfast faith in Yeshua, rendering her hesitant to marry a man devoted to the Roman gods, despite Narkis’s urging. On the other hand, Prima, his daughter by birth, yearns for a life of wealth and status and is willing to go to great lengths to secure a marriage that fulfills her desires–even if it means betraying Mariana to do so.
Angela Hunt is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 160 books, with nearly 6 million copies sold worldwide. Angela’s novels have won or been nominated for the RWA RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Christian Book Award, and the HOLT Medallion. Four of her novels have received ForeWord Magazine‘s Book of the Year Award, and Angela is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from both the Romantic Times Book Club and ACFW. Angela holds doctorates in biblical studies and theology. She and her husband make their home in Florida with mastiffs and chickens.
More from Angela
Hello!
Thank you for helping me kick off the book tour for THE SISTERS OF CORINTH. This book is the second in my Emissaries series, but don’t worry—it reads like a stand alone.
The series features Gentiles who became believers in Christ through the ministry of Paul. The first book was about the woman called Lydia who lived in Philippi, and this book is about two step-sisters who lived in Corinth, the “Vegas” of the Roman Empire. What happened in Corinth stayed in Corinth, if you get my meaning, and there was a LOT going on in that pagan city.
I couldn’t help but think of Cinderella’s story as I wrote the opening of this book. The novel begins when the two sisters hear about the new governor coming to Corinth. He has a handsome and eligible son, and Narkis, the head of their family, is determined that one of his daughters should marry him. Prima is like her father, power-hungry and pretentious, while quiet Mariana is a believer in Yeshua. There’s a great deal of primping and preparing, scheming and scowling as the banquet draws near, and you’ll never guess which daughter the young man chooses—or maybe you will.
I hope you enjoy THE SISTERS OF CORINTH and thank you so much for taking part in this book tour. I am so grateful!
To celebrate her tour, Angela is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of The Woman from Lydia and The Sisters of Corinth and a $15 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Abba's Prayer Warrior Princess 