11.28.2017

The Engagement Plot ~ Review

The Engagement Plot
By Krista Phillips

Hanna Knight thought she'd be living a happily-ever-after after when she is William Preston picks her as his choice in The Price of Love. But when he makes a comment that trashes her reputation and subjects her to national ridicule Hanna wants nothing to do with him.

But with his job on the line, William has no choice but to repair the damage he has done and ask for Hanna's forgiveness. But Hanna's not sure that she's ready to help William, but when a snowstorm lands them in the headlines yet again Hanna agrees to pretend that she and William are engaged.

Scandal seems determined to dog them as they try to present the appearance of a happily engaged couple. Which isn't that hard as they are both still drawn to the other. But a new scandal is lurking just below the surface, one that could cost Will more than his job or Hanna. Can Hanna and Will get beyond the past and accept help where they least expect it?

The Engagement Plot is a house built on sand that is just waiting for the first little wave to wash out the nonexisting foundation. The hoopla and pressure of living under the ever-watching eye of the public has created a false environment for finding a love worth having. Hanna and Will will have to decide what is important before they can move forward either together or alone. And they will have to return to their faith before that can happen. And they just might need a little help to get there.

This is a fine book to just read but I have to admit reality tv is not my thing (I avoid it totally). And Hanna's shock at the behavior of those involved in the show and the fallout from her appearance should not have been surprised in the least. "Um, hello, reality television." But on the positive Hanna and Will both came to realize that they needed to get their priorities reassessed and determine just what was really important to them. If you like contemporary Christian romance fiction with a lot of dramatics give this book a try. For me, there was too much kissing and toeing the line when it comes to standing true to one's commitments, but then I've been called a Puritan when it comes to dating do's and don't's.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was


About the Book:
Six months ago, William stole Hanna’s heart and shattered it in front of millions of people on a reality TV dating show. When all seems lost, it’s only with help from above that Hanna and Will may find their happily-ever-after.

11.27.2017

Out of the Ordinary ~ Review

Out of the Ordinary
Apart from the Crowd #2
By Jen Turano

Let me just start out by saying this is a fun book to read. Gertrude is a delight whom any reader would love to call a friend. This is the second book in the Apart from the Crowd series and just as much fun to read as the first Behind the Scenes.

Miss Gertrude Cadwalader finds herself in the most unusual situations and they are not of her own doing but rather the ill-advised works of her employer Mrs. Davenport. Once again Gertrude finds herself at the mercy of Mrs. Davenport's lack of fashion design and the unlikely victim is Harrison Sinclair's fainting couch aboard his yacht. And Gertrude's predicament allows Mrs. Davenport to partake in her favorite pastime that which involves her reliving others of their possessions.  What follows is a series of unfortunate and unexpected occurrences that finds Gertrude soon to be on the wrong side of the law.

Harrison is determined to right the wrongs and rescue Gertrude from the tangle she finds herself in but his efforts find him misspeaking and hurting Gertrude and her feelings. What follows is a hilarious attempt to undo Harrison's whoops moment. And with the "help" his good friend Asher Rutherford Harrison and Gertrude's potential romance may be stymied before it ever gets a chance to begin. And sweeping a woman off her feet takes on a whole new meaning and should be avoided if you value your life. Yes, it was that bad.

This book is a perfect mood lifter with its hilarious missteps. Gertrude and Harrison are perfect for each other with their quirky personalities, but finding this out might mean ditching their well-meaning friends who seem determined to help them. And Harrison's sisters are quite the threesome who have their own strong opinions on romance and just how it should be achieved or not depending on the sister.

This series is worth reading and if you have yet to read the first book in the series that is fine as you can easily go back and read it at a later date. Out of the Ordinary can be easily read without the backstory that was established in Behind the Scenes.  The author has developed a cast of characters that one looks forward to visiting again in future books.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher Bethany House through their blogger program but was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:
"With all the charm of a Regency romance, 
the humor of a drawing room farce, and the 
swoon-worthy delight of a fairy tale, Turano's
 first Apart from the Crowd historical 
absolutely sparkles."
--Publishers Weekly on Behind the Scenes

Working as a paid companion may be quite commonplace, but Miss Gertrude Cadwalader's eccentric employer makes her job unpredictable, to say the least. She finds herself carrying out an array of highly unusual tasks, including wearing peculiar outfits and returning items the woman pilfered. But when the wealthy Mrs. Sinclair catches Gertrude sneaking around the Sinclair yacht with some of the missing items in her possession, she immediately jumps to the wrong conclusion.
Shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair is caught in the middle of a misunderstanding between his mother and Gertrude, but he can't help coming to his friend's defense. Even as he hopes their friendship might become something more, Harrison is unprepared for the outlandish escapades that seem to follow the lovely, anything-but-ordinary Gertrude at every turn.

11.25.2017

Child of the River ~ Review

Child of the River
By Irma Joubert

I finished reading Irma Joubert's The Crooked Path and decided I had to read the Child of the River to which is referenced as sharing the story of Persomi and Boelie. Well, what could I do but pick up this book and learn more about these characters? And I was not disappointed - reading the book in an afternoon.

This book is one that has several parts that focus on different stages of Persomi Pieterse's life. Her childhood which was a struggle to rise above the social station she found herself in while dealing with a less than ideal family life (talk major dysfunctional issues). Through hard work, Persomi managed to work her way through high learning while forming friendships that would be with her for life. Then her adult years are shared and her fight for what she feels is right while trying to determine whom she really is.

This short synopsis sounds boring right - but this story is anything but boring. Growing up in South Africa is anything but boring. And during this time the world finds itself in yet another world conflict. A conflict which South Africa should not be caught up in due the geographic location but Persomi's older brother Gerbrand has joined the military to fight with the Allies in the hopes of improving his situation in life. Her friend Boelie is determined to keep South Africa for those who are Afrikaner descent. But Persomi is of the opinion that war and discrimination are wrong. These feelings along with her childhood help her determine her chosen profession - a lawyer.

But standing up for right in the face of laws that try to keep people down based on their skin color or the country of their ancestry is a fight that seems impossible. But impossible has never stopped Persomi and she is determined to prove that everyone has an intrinsic worth.

In this volatile environment with its strict and unbending beliefs can she hope to find the love she seeks? Or will the secrets and scars of the past keep her separated from those whom she calls friend?

This book covers approximately 30 years from the late 1930s to the late 1960s. Unlike Irma Joubert's other two books The Girl From the Train and The Crooked Path, the story stays centered in South Africa. I found the story both moving and interesting. The historical aspects are interesting and the author's attention to detail is excellent. I highly recommend reading all three of these books you will not regret the time spent getting to know this land and the people who call it home.

About the Book:



A compelling coming of age story with an unlikely 
and utterly memorable heroine, Child of the River 
is a timeless tale of heartbreak and triumph set in 
South Africa at the dawn of apartheid.


Persomi is young, white, and poor, born the middle child of illiterate sharecroppers on the prosperous Fourie farm in the South African Bushveld. Persomi’s world is extraordinarily small. She has never been to the local village and spends her days absorbed in the rhythms of the natural world around her, escaping the brutality and squalor of her family home through the newspapers and books passed down to her from the main house and through her walks in the nearby mountains.
Persomi’s close relationship with her older brother Gerbrand and her fragile friendship with Boelie Fourie—heir to the Fourie farm and fortune—are her lifeline and her only connection to the outside world. When Gerbrand leaves the farm to fight on the side of the Anglos in WWII and Boelie joins an underground network of Boer nationalists, Persomi’s isolated world is blown wide open. But as her very small world falls apart, bigger dreams become open to her—dreams of an education, a profession, a native country that values justice and equality, and of love. As Persomi navigates the changing world around her—the tragedies of war and the devastating racial strife of her homeland—she finally discovers who she truly is, where she belongs, and why her life—and every life—matters.
The English language publication of Child of the River solidifies Irma Joubert as a unique and powerful voice in historical fiction.
International bestselling author IRMA JOUBERT was a history teacher for 35 years before she began writing fiction. Her stories are known for their deep insight into personal relationships and rich historical detail. She is the author of eight novels and a regular fixture on bestseller lists in The Netherlands and in her native South Africa. She is the winner of the 2010 ATKV Prize for Romance Novels.

11.21.2017

The Crooked Path ~ Review

The Crooked Path
By Irma Joubert

First off I have to say Irma Joubert has a way of writing that touches the soul of the reader. Her writing is alive with the nuances of life - its joys and it pains.

Once again we are taken into a world that is at war and how this affects and shapes the lives of those who are caught up in its destructive forces. In Italy the Romanelli family is about to have all that they have known changed when Hitler's Germany makes its presence known. Military service is a requirement and two of the Romanelli brothers are pressed into service. But the eldest brother Marco hides in the mountains with the family of the woman to whom he is engaged. The years take a toll on the Romanellis and Marco's years of deprivation at the hands of Germany have cost him much. When the dry warmth of South Africa is offered as an option to the restore his precarious health Marco goes joining his younger brother Antonio in this foreign land.

Lettie Louw has always felt that she is a lesser person than her friends. She's never been quite good enough and she's known that love was never meant for her. These feelings pushed her to excel in in her studies and become a doctor. Her skills have her assistance being sought in the care of Marco Romanelli. Marco's health slowly improves under Lettie's direction. But his health will never be fully restored and it is with this understanding that Marco and Lettie open their hearts to the possibility of just what the future holds. The path that has lead them to this point was crooked and the path before them seems equal to what lay behind them.

Life is journey with no guarantees and The Crooked Path fully explores this as life moves on even as heartbreak and joy make their marks on those around them. This is also a story about the value of friends and family in being there for us at the momentous and the ordinary.

This is truly a beautiful and moving story one that will bring tears as the inhumanity of war makes itself known and bring a soft smile at the power of love to heal wounds (and create new ones). Life comes in stages and presents different options that at a different time we may or may not respond in the same manner. This book brought to mind Ecclesiastes 3:1, 6, and 8:
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: ...  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;... A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." KJV

I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book by the publisher through BookLook Bloggers with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:
From the bestselling author of The Girl From the Train, comes another compelling coming of age story of delayed love, loss, and reconciliation in WWII-era South Africa.
Lettie has always felt different from and overshadowed by the women around her– this friend is richer, that friend is more beautiful, those friends are closer. Still, she doesn’t let this hold her back. She works hard to apply her mind, trying to compensate for her perceived lack of beauty with diligent academic work and a successful career as a doctor. She learns to treasure her friendships, but she still wonders if any man will ever return her interest.
Marco’s experience in the second world war have robbed him of love and health. When winters in his native Italy prove dangerous to his health even after the war has ended, he moves to South Africa to be with his brother, husband to one of Lettie’s best friends. Marco is Lettie’s first patient, and their relationship grows as she aids him on the road back to restored health.
In the company of beloved characters from The Child of the River, Marco and Lettie find a happiness that neither of them thought possible. With that joy comes pain and loss, but Lettie learns that life—while perhaps a crooked path—is always a journey worth taking.

11.20.2017

365 Classic Bedtime Bible Stories ~ Review

365 Classic Bedtime
    Bible Stories
Inspired by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut's Story of the Bible
Illustrations by Alessia Girasole

Looking for a new Bible bedtime devotional for the upcoming year? One that you can share with your little reader? Well, this one might be what you are looking for. The stories start with Creation and continue through Revelation. Each page is one day and is a summarization of a Bible passage. The Bible passage from which each story is taken is referenced before the story is related.

The illustrations are throughout and should capture children's attention. My only complaint with the illustrations is the lack of skin pigmentations. This area of the world was a major trade route so there should have been more racial diversity.

There is an index at the back broken down into Old Testament and New Testament so that one can search for a person, place, or thing based on the Testament.

The book is hardcover with what appears to be a stitched binding. There is a red ribbon place marker attached to the spine so that one's place can be easily marked through the year. This book is aimed more towards younger children, I'm thinking 3 - 8 years of age. This is a time to share with your children so be sure to read the Bible references with your children to add more depth to the story.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:
Your children or grandchildren will delight in this fully-illustrated storybook that brings 365 read-aloud classic Bible stories to life for impressionable young hearts.

Beginning with the creation story, "God Creates the Earth," and ending with "In Eternity with God,” your children will develop faith in an almighty God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, while journeying alongside Bible characters like Samuel, Jonah, Esther, David, John the Baptist, Mary, Joseph, and many more.

11.19.2017

Colors of Christmas ~ Review

Colors of Christmas
By Olivia Newport

Colors of Christmas is a two-in-one book. Two short stories with Christmas as the common theme. Christmas is supposed to be a happy time of the year but this year things are just not quite right.

First up is Christmas in Gold which finds Astrid moving out of her home and into an assisted community living facility. Christmas will be very different this year with all that she has been used to no longer an option. Christmas will no longer be the family gathering in her home. Rather it will be in her son's home.

But when the plans for Christmas are put in doubt Astrid makes plans with those she has come to know in her new home. And Astrid can tell that her therapist could use her friendship. And this year the greatest gift Astrid can give is friendship and hope.

Wondering why the title Christmas in Gold? This has to due to Astrid's memories of a cherished Christmas from her childhood one which was marked by special ornaments.

The second story is Christmas in Blue - Angela has lost her dearest friend and Christmas this year just won't be the same. And somehow the town's Christmas celebration has become her responsibility. But nothing seems to be going easy, in fact, it all keeps going wrong. With Christmas just days away help is nigh on impossible to find until an unexpected offer arrives. Soon what was going to be a blue Christmas becomes a Christmas celebration that will gladden any heart no matter what color Angela finds to create A Christmas to Remember.

These stories are both contemporary settings that end on an up note. These are stories that focus on the season and the importance of friendships in our lives.  If you are looking for short but delightful Christmas reading this is an option.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:
Christmas in Gold
When eighty-year-old Astrid moves into an assisted living community and meets a young woman on the brink of despair, she resolves to stir up Christmas hope one more time.


Christmas in Blue
Angela just wants Christmas to be over. Instead, she finds herself in charge of the town’s celebration, and everything goes from bad to worse. Can she rescue Christmas for the town—and herself?

11.18.2017

The Darkest Summer ~ Review with Giveaway and Free E-Book

The Darkest Summer
By Rebecca J. Greenwood

Lady Cora Winfield is expected to marry well and of a man on her mother's approved list of eligible suitors. Unfortunately, most who meet her mother's criteria aren't men who appeal to Cora. When the Duke of Blackdale, Adam Douglas first sees Cora he is drawn to her. But meeting Lady Cora is nigh on impossible with her pre-approved suitors and the constraints of proper society.

But Cora's delight in nature, even when dictates of society suggested other activities would be preferable, could not be doused. And this very passion provides the duke with a means of connecting with the lady who has made such an impression upon him. But can he win the heart of such a lady - one who

When his suit is rejected in a most cruel manner, the Duke of Blakedale determines to capture the lady of his heart. But will Cora agree to be his bride when her desires are not taken into consideration? And her mother is not about to allow her only child to be whisked away against her wishes.

With the weather against them and the certainty of pursuers, Lady Cora is about to go on a journey she never expected and one that will forever alter her. After all, can a lady's reputation remain unblemished when she is soon to become the talk of London society?

This is a summer that no one involved in this dash to Scotland and Gretna Green will ever forget...

This is a delightful story that will enamor fans of Regency fiction. Cora is a character with whom the reader will wish to form a friendship with. And the Duke of Blakedale is one who earns the reader's empathy as he deals with his past. And Cora's mother the Dowager Countess of Winfield, well, what can I say, other than she wants her only child to be very close once she is wed and a Scottish Duke is not to her liking at all.

Sit back with a cup of tea, a cookie or two and enjoy a Regency escape with The Darkest Summer!

I was proovided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.


About The Darkest Summer:

In this riveting retelling of the classic myth of Hades and Persephone, Lady Cora Winfield is captivated when she first meets Adam Douglas, Duke of Blackdale. Despite their attraction, Cora’s mother refuses to allow the duke to marry her. Taking matters into his own hands, the duke abducts his chosen bride and Cora is swept into the adventure of her lifetime. Amidst danger and thrilling uncertainty, Cora must face the reality that she is falling in love with her captor.


Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Darkest Summer by Rebecca J.  Greenwood

The Darkest Summer

by Rebecca J. Greenwood

Giveaway ends November 27, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
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Added bonus prequel is FREE!
The Darkest Hour
A Darkest Season Novella
Rebecca J. Greenwood

Available for free on Instafreebie in exchange for signing up for the author’s mailing list.




About the Book:
When dutiful Lady Hester Douglas, over thirty and long on the shelf, receives word that her brother Adam, the Duke of Blackdale, has survived the Battle of Waterloo, she abandons propriety and heads to Brussels to be by his side. Her widowed minister, Mr. Alasdair Gilchrist, escorts her on the journey from Scotland into a Europe recovering from years of war.
Once she reaches her injured brother, Hester must fight to keep Adam alive and tightly guard her heart’s deepest secret—she’s been in love with Mr. Gilchrist for years.
Will the pain of being with the minister, the man she loves and can never have, distract her from her purpose? Or will she overcome the barriers of age, rank, and station, and seize the love she’s dreamt of?
The Darkest Hour is a standalone inspirational Regency romance novella and a prequel to The Darkest Summer.

Author bio:

Rebecca J. Greenwood is an author, artist, and designer with a love of stories, especially Regency romances. She grew up in Texas as the oldest of six and studied visual art with a music minor at Brigham Young University. Rebecca lives in Utah with her husband, where she listens to audiobooks, cooks experimentally, has an interest in alternative health, and constantly has a new project in mind. Visit rebeccajgreenwood.com to experience more of her art, writing, and upcoming projects.


Author’s links: