Summer of Joy ~ Review

Summer of Joy
By Ann H. Gabhart

1964 is drawing to a close and Jocie Brooke has an English teacher who seems to have it out for her and she has no idea why.  Christmas is just around the corner and Jocie wants to have some special touches added to the Christmas program, but you can't mess with tradition in Hollyhill.

Wes, still recovering from his and Jocie's tangle with the tornado, is the understanding and sympathetic ear always willing to help Jocie through her problems.  But the past is about to come for a visit to Hollyhill and Wes and Jocie are about to have their lives turned upside down yet again.

But there are also periods of joy as her father and Leigh move closer to marriage and all of Hollyhill is looking forward to the big news if and when it happens.  And then there is Stephen Lee, Tabitha's sweet baby is the family's pride and joy - even Aunt Love's!

And Hollyhill is a typical small town with the gossip that spreads and if you've read the previous Hollyhill novels you will just get a real laugh out the juice bit of gossip Zella finds herself caught up in.  Get ready to enjoy some small town charm, as you get swept up in the simple innocence of what was.  And get ready for a Summer of Joy - 1965 looks to be a pretty good year, though Jocie does have a few bumps along the way.   I also like that the book doesn't shy away from the difficult issues that both the country and the individual characters are facing.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher, Revell, in exchange for my honest review.

About Summer of Joy:

As summer draws to a close Jocie's world seems serene--but is it just the calm before a storm?
Unbeknownst to Jocie Brooke and her family, two people are making their way to the small town of Hollyhill, Kentucky. One everyone thought was gone for good and the other no one's ever heard of. Still, one thing is sure--they promise trouble. The past is coming to call, threatening to destroy strong relationships that everyone has simply taken for granted.

The summer of 1964 may be winding down, but the controversy in this little community where nothing ever seems to change is just heating up.

Bestselling author Ann Gabhart invites you to Hollyhill for a story both exciting and enduring that will stick with you long after you turn the last page. 


Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several novels, including Angel Sister, Small Town Girl,Scent of Lilacs, and Orchard of Hope. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Find out more at www.annhgabhart.com.

CSFF March Blog Tour ~ Draw of Kings Day 1

Welcome to the first day of March's CSFF Blog Tour.

This month's book is A Draw of Kings by Patrick Carr.  This is the third book in The Staff and The Sword series.




But before taking a look at book 3 I'd like to recap the series:

A Cast of Stones
The Staff and The Sword Book 1
By Patrick W. Carr

A Cast of Stones is Errol Stone's story.  It opens with a young man who is a drunk and has been since he was 14 years old.  A tragic lost destroyed him and his image of himself and he turned to ale.  But when a simple task of delivering a message turns into a life and death struggle Errol's life is about to change forever.

In a series of events that threaten to end his life early Errol manages to survive.  But the question top-most on the minds of those most closely related to this lost young man is why would anyone be targeting him. Of what importance is Errol Stone an orphan with no skills but drinking ale?

But each experience strengthens Errol and allows him to grow as a person.

I was struck by the lust of power that drives the story.  The old statement power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely (and great men are almost always bad men.) seems to hold true for many of the characters.

The Hero's Lot
The Staff and The Sword Book 2
By Patrick W. Carr

What draws us to certain people and others just repulse us? It is a question that seems to follow Errol Stone.  For some reason unknown to Errol and those closest to him, he has enemies throughout the kingdom of Illustra.  But why would a young man who grew up in a small backwater town attract the attention of so many?

This what one hopes to discover at some point in this delightful attention grabbing series.  And of course one hopes that Errol will be able to marry the young woman who has captured his heart, but where matters of politics and power are concerned nothing is certain.  Especially when our hero has been accused and convicted of a crime so that his life might be saved only to be sent on a mission sure to result in the forfeiture of his life.  Alas Errol's troubles only continue to grow just as he continues to grow as person.

Time is short as the king's life draws to an end, but Errol's time is even shorter as a new compulsion is yet again placed on him to do the bidding of the church.  With his life and the lives of those nearest to him and the future of the very kingdom in the balance Errol must succeed or he will die.

To purchase from Amazon click the following: A Draw of Kings 

And be sure to visit the Author's Website 

See you tomorrow for Day 2!

Be sure to check-out all of the tour participants over the tour March 17 -19.

 Gillian Adams  Jennifer Bogart  Keanan Brand  Beckie Burnham

Mike Coville  Pauline Creeden  Vicky DealSharingAunt 

Carol Gehringer  Victor Gentile  Rebekah Gyger  Nikole Hahn 

Jason Joyner  Carol Keen  Krystine Kercher  Jennette Mbewe 

Amber McCallister  Shannon McDermott  Shannon McNear  Meagan @ Blooming with Books

Rebecca LuElla Miller  Joan Nienhuis  Nissa  Writer Rani  Nathan Reimer 

Audrey Sauble  James Somers  Jojo Sutis  Steve Trower  Shane Werlinger

Phyllis Wheeler  Nicole White  Jill Williamson

CSFF January Blog Tour ~ Outcasts Day 1

Welcome to Day 1 of the first CSFF blog tour of 2014!

Outcast by Jill Williamson is kicking-off the year.

But before delving into the second book of The Safe Lands trilogy 

I'm going to recap the series so far...

Captives 

The Safe Lands 1
By Jill Williamson
Levi is the favored son of Justin of Elias. He is to marry for love. He is a hunter. He can go on scavenging trips to Denver City. And he has earned the respect of his father, something that his younger brothers cannot do no matter how hard they try.

Mason has decided that trying to earn his father's respect and trust is an impossible task 
though he tries his best to please him. 

But Omar is determined to win it no matter what the cost, but does he know how 
much he is going to pay?

The Safe Lands was designed to protect the people from a plague, but what was to be a safety has turned into an even greater danger. The city is the plague and there is no way to stop it or to save the city without drastic measures. And Omar and the people of Glenrock may be the Safe Lands last hope.

Omar in an act of betrayal destroys Glenrock and rips Jemma and Levi apart just days before their marriage. Can Levi find a way to get within the city and free those who have been taken against their will? 

The ease of life in the Safe Lands is a powerful draw, but is the loss of their freedom and the chance of becoming infected a reasonable trade? But the Safe Lands is home to people whose wild ways may have lead to the plague's spread through what was suppose to be a fortress of safety from the plague. 

Mason has been put in a position within the Safe Lands where he is able to study the problem of the plague up close. Can he use the skills he developed in Glenrock and stop the plague? Can he bring hope where there is none or will it merely be false hope?

As Mason struggles to cure the plague and to save the people of Glenrock from forced surrogacy, Levi is working on a plan of escape. Meanwhile Omar is falling into all that the Safe Lands has to offer in an attempt to hide from his guilt over what went wrong with his grand plan. 

Captives has a belief in something more than self and learning to accept the person God made you to be. Captives will tug at your heart as you experience the unhappiness that fills the Safe Lands. 

This is definitely for the older YA reader (16+).

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Pick-up your copies of Captives  and Outcasts today at Amazon.

Come back for Day 2 and 3 of the Outcasts CSFF January Blog Tour for more Outcasts fun! 

Something special is planned for Day 3... so be sure to check it out!

Be sure to visit all the CSFF Blog Tour stops Jan 20 - 22, 2014.

Red Bissell  Thomas Fletcher Booher  Beckie Burnham  Pauline Creeden  April Erwin 

Victor Gentile  Ryan Heart  Timothy Hicks  Jason Joyner  Julie Bihn  Carol Keen 

Shannon McDermott  Meagan @ Blooming with Books  Melanie @ Christian Bookshelf Reviews

Rebecca LuElla Miller  Joan Nienhuis  Nissa  Jalynn Patterson  Writer Rani  Chawna Schroeder 

Jacque Stengl  Jojo Sutis  Steve Trower  Phyllis Wheeler  Deborah Wilson

The Blessed Child ~ Review

The Blessed Child
By Ted Dekker and Bill Bright

Jason Marker is about to flee Ethiopia when war spreads south into the country.  But a favor to to his interpreter has Jason heading to the Ethiopian Orthodox monastery known as Debra Damarro.  But the EPFL is just minutes away and Jason has even less time to get Caleb, a young orphan and Leiah, a Red Cross nurse out of the monastery.

What happens during their escape is something that Jason and Leiah are totally unprepared for.  A soldier whom they believes has been shot and wounded or even killed sits up after Caleb examines him.  But the surprises with Caleb don't end in Ethiopia.  And neither does the danger.

But once in the US, Caleb is placed in the custody of Father Nikolous of the Holy Ascension Greek Orthodox Church in Burbank, Nikolous tries to use Caleb's gift for his own purposes - monetary gain.  But Nikolous's promotion of Caleb brings out the crowds who are seeking a show or healing.  Unfortunately someone else has been made aware of Caleb's existence after a chance encounter that should never have taken place.

Caleb is the key to a new understanding of God and His kingdom and he is the threat that could destroy a man destined for great power!  Blessed Child is classic Dekker at his best.  Originally published in 2001 Blessed Child still has a powerful message that will touch your heart.

What is chance?  What is destined by God?  Open your mind to see with your heart and walk further into the Kingdom.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description

“Whoever said that a straightened hand was more dramatic than a healed heart anyway?”

A young orphaned boy was abandoned in the midst of an invasion and raised in an Ethiopian monastery. He has never seen outside its walls—at least, not the way most people see. Now he must flee those walls or die.

But the world beyond is hardly ready for a boy like Caleb.

When relief worker Jason Marker agrees to take Caleb from the monastery, he unwittingly opens humanity's doors to an incredible journey filled with political intrigue and peril. Jason and Leiah—the French-Canadian nurse who escapes the monastery with him—quickly realize Caleb's supernatural power to heal. But so do the boy's enemies, who will stop at nothing to destroy him. Jason and Leiah fight for Caleb’s survival while the world erupts in debate over the source of his power.

In the end nothing can prepare them for what they discover.

November CSFF Blog Tour ~ The Shadow Lamp Day 1

Today is the first day of CSFF's November 3-Day blog tour.  To kick off the tour I decided to recap the the first three books in Stephen R. Lawhead's Bright Empires series.  This is a series that should appeal to a wide range of readers, but especially fans of Star Trek and the Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis series and the time paradox shows.  These books have a complexity that is brilliant - time and space and their relationship is taken to a new dimension.

The Bright Empire series by Stephen R Lawhead opens with The Skin Map.  In this we are introduced to Cosimo "Kit" Christopher Livingstone who is about to begin the adventure of a lifetime.  Kit is about to follow his great-grandfather Cosimo Livingstone on a search for the Skin Map, a search that will span centuries and dimensions.  A search that could destroy everything in the omniverse if they accidently change history in just one dimension.

But what is this Skin Map and why is it so sought after?  The skin map was created by Arthur Flinders-Petrie as a series of various symbols tattooed upon his body that were turned into parchment upon his death.  The greatest of his various mapped symbols lead to the greatest of treasures - the Well of Souls.

But nothing is ever easy and Kit, his great-grandfather and the Questors are not the only ones seeking the map.  Burley and his men are seeking it too and he plans to use the power he would gain in untold evil.

But due to his inexperience Kit, Cosimo and Sir Henry have a secondary quest, to rescue Kit's girlfriend Wilhelmina "Mina" from whatever time/dimension she was pulled into.  But nothing ever goes as planned and the three are separated.  The Skin Map is filled with unexpected twists and turns up until the very end so that you are left wondering what comes next in The Bone House book 2.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Bright Empire series by Stephen R Lawhead continues with The Bone House.  

With the unexpected deaths of Cosimo Livingstone and Sir Henry at the hands of Archelaeus Burleigh, Kit  must rely on the Ley traveling skills that Mina has developed since she was transported to 17th century Prague.

But with time/dimensional travel there are a variety of trips covered in The Bone House including Kit's visit to Egypt in 1822 where he meets up with Doctor Thomas Young, where both are on a mission that was brought about by Mina. While Kit is in Egypt with Dr. Young, Mina and Giles are with Dr. Young in Edinburgh.

Arthur Flinders-Petrie's life is further revealed as are the exploits of his great-grandson Douglas Flinders-Petrie to obtain the Skin Map that Arthur created. 

When Mina, Kit and Giles finally arrive at Mina's new home in Prague, they are shocked to discover the one man that they are trying to avoid is there!  Burleigh is in Prague and all too soon discovers that Kit and Giles did not die in the Egyptian tomb they were imprisoned in.  In their attempt to escape Burleigh, Giles is injured and Kit manages to make it to the Ley line that Mina had directed them to.  But Kit finds himself in the Stone Age where he makes a discovery he was not expecting the Bone House.

 The Bone House is filled with trips that span the centuries and the globe will leave you anticipating what will come next in The Spirit Well book 3.

                                                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Bright Empire series by Stephen R Lawhead continues with The Spirit Well.  

The Bone House left us with Kit having discovered what he believes to be the Spirit Well, a conclusion he came to after observing Arthur Flinders-Petrie enter a deep water filled environment with a dead woman who is restored to life.

Mina, after being warned by Haven of Burleigh's suspicions, has left Prague in the hopes of somehow locating Kit.  When she can find no sign of him, Mina goes to Spain in the hopes that Brother Lazarus can help her in her quest.

Meanwhile we are introduced to Cassandra Clarke who, while on a dig in Arizona, discovers by accident the Ghost Walk.  But when she determines to study this phenomenon she jumps to other places and becomes lost to her time and place, ending up in 1950s Damascus.  There she finds the Zetetic Society who are seeking to achieve God's purpose for His creation - unity and harmony as the Creator intended and to be fully realised at "the end of time and the beginning of eternity.

In the Spirit Well we discover the circumstances that resulted in the creation of the Skin Map and its separation as well as Burleigh's discovery of the ley lines. 

The Zetetic Society is searching for Sir Henry, Cosimo, and Kit.  The three have disappeared as has Sir Henry's portion of the map.  The society feels that discovering them is of the highest priority and assign this task to Cassandra.

Treachery and betrayals abound as many search for the greatest discovery of Arthur Flinders-Petrie.  A discovery that Kit has discovered, but can he find his way back?

As is often mentioned by various characters throughout the series There are no coincidences.  There is a purpose behind everything that happens in our lives though we may not be able to ascertain it at the time.

The Spirit Well is filled with trips that span the centuries and the globe will leave you anticipating what will come next in The Shadow Lamp book 4.   

Get ready to go on an adventure that will test your ability to adapt and prepare to grow your mind!  The unknown is greater than you ever imagined!

All 4 books are available for purchase at the following:

The Skin Map  The Bone House  The Spirit Well  The Shadow Lamp 

Visit Stephen Lawhead online or on Facebook 

Come back tomorrow for more from November's CSFF blog tour and The Shadow Lamp.  In the meantime be sure to check-out all the other blog participates below who will be posting throughout the tour November 11 -13.

Julie Bihn  Red Bissell  Thomas Clayton Booher  

Thomas Fletcher Booher  Beckie Burnham 

Jeff Chapman  Karri Compton  Theresa Dunlap  

April Erwin  Timothy Hicks  Christopher Hopper

Becky Jesse  Becca Johnson  Jason Joyner  

Carol Keen  Rebekah Loper  Shannon McDermott 

Meagan @ Blooming with Books  Rebecca LuElla Miller  

Mirriam Neal  Writer Rani  Nathan Reimer

Chawna Schroeder  Jojo Sutis  Rachel Starr Thomson  

Robert Treskillard  Steve Trower  

Rachel Wyant  Phyllis Wheeler  Deborah Wilson

Scent of Lilacs ~ Review

Scent of Lilacs
The Heart of Hollyhill #1
By Ann H. Gabhart

Scent of Lilacs takes place in during the summer of 1964 in Hollyhill where nothing ever happens.  But this year is different, this year God has answered Jocie Brooke's dog prayer and her sister prayer!  A stray mutt from no one knows where has followed Jocie home.  Jocie feels that Zeb is God's answer to her years of praying for a dog.  The night after her dog prayer has been answered, Jocie's sister returns home

Seven years have passed since Jocie's mother and older sister Tabitha slipped away in the night.  Adrienne had married David Brooke thinking he was her ticket out of Hollyhill, but God had other plans for David that didn't include leaving Hollyhill.  David, who had taken over the weekly paper The Banner,  felt called to be a preacher.  But Adrienne didn't feel called to be a preacher's wife or even a mother left both David and Jocie behind, the only farewell a note having been written by then 13 year old Tabitha.

But Hollyhill is not just a quiet laid-back community, and like most communities a place where secrets are hidden just beneath the surface, if you care to look.  Jocie has questions and the answers she is about to unearth have the power to heal or to wound.  But Jocie wants to know the truth about who she is and about her family.

Hollyhill and the Brooke family are about to discover just how powerful truth is and the importance of forgiveness.  Sometimes family is not determined by the bonds of blood but by the bonds of love.  In a way the Scent of Lilacs can be viewed as a picture of the family of God.  We are all brought and bought into His family by the power of His love for each and every one of us.  But He doesn't force us into His family - it is a choice we each must make for ourselves.  Life has times of trial and storms but our Father is there for us, holding out His hand ready to steady and help us over the rough patches.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher Revell Books for the purpose of this review, but all opinions expressed are my own.

Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The Orphan King/Fortress of Mist ~ CSFF February Blog Tour Day 2

"Since dawn, three ropes had hung black against the rising sun."

What has been the fascination of humankind to observe and make sport of the execution of another?  I've always found the idea of going to a execution and watching another die in such a manner to be distasteful.  But I know of others who want these type events to be televised and looking back on history it is obviously a choice many have made.

If we look back to the Bible the crucifixion of Jesus and the two criminals was an event not to be missed.  What is it in us that makes many of us delight in another's pain and humiliation?

I believe that it has to do with what Thomas is struggling with in this series.  We have a problem with trust.  There is always someone out there ready to undermine us for their own gain.  But this is not so.  Jesus didn't come to undermine us.  He came that we might be raised up and perfected in His sacrifice.  Through Jesus life became something more than it had been.  Life was restored but only if we can accept that it is not a gift of fallen man but a gift to fallen man.  We must search out the answers to our questions to find life because we all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God and the gift of God is eternal life but we must accept it.

To learn more about Sigmund Brouwer's work visit his website.
To purchase The Orphan King or  Fortress of Mist click on the title.

Visit all the tour stops during this 3 day CSFF tour which runs from January 18th - 20th.
Gillian Adams  Julie Bihn  Thomas Fletcher Booher  Beckie Burnham
Janey DeMeo   Theresa Dunlap  Victor Gentile  Nikole Hahn
Jeremy Harder  Ryan Heart  Janeen Ippolito  Becky Jesse
Jason Joyner   Carol Keen  Emileigh Latham  Rebekah Loper  
Shannon McDermott   Meagan @ Blooming with Books  Megan @ Hardcover Feedback 
Rebecca LuElla Miller   Anna Mittower   Eve Nielsen   Nathan Reimer 
James Somers  Steve Trower  Phyllis Wheeler  

The Dopple Ganger Chronicles: The First Escape

The First Escape byG.P. Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Is escape possible or will evil prevail? 


Book one in the Dopple Ganger Chronicles is The First Escape. 
This series by G.P. Taylor gets it's name from the three main 
characters - twin sisters Sadie and Saskia Dopple and their friend Erik 
Morrisey Ganger. All three live at Isambard Dunstan's School for 
Wayward Children. What appears to be a normal day goes from bad to 
worse as an eccentric, wealthy woman adopts Saskia, but not Sadie! 

While Saskia discovers a mystery that threatens her life, Sadie and 
Erik face dangers of their own as they escape from Isambard's and search 
for Saskia. Will the three be able to reunite or will evil prevail? 

The First Escape affirms the value of family and hints at a 
higher power by talking of an unseen, always present Companion. When 
The First Escape ends you are left wanting more! 

The First Escape is reminiscent of both Oliver Twist and A 
Series of Unfortunate Events: A Very Bad Beginning but not as dark. The 
blended style of story-telling (text, picture text, and graphic dialog) 
helps move the pace in an enjoyable manner that should hold the interest 
of the reader with a short attention span. Don't deny yourself the 
pleasure and enjoyment of G.P. Taylor's adventure!