A Place in His Heart ~ Review & Giveaway

A Place in His Heart
The Southold Chronicles
By Rebecca DeMarino

Mary Langton wants to marry for love, but she's been disappointed once and had her heart broken.  But when she meets Barnabas Horton she feels she may have found the man she is intended to marry.

But Barnabas's heart has been broken as well.  His wife Ann has died leaving him to care for his two young boys alone.  After a chance encounter shows Mary's caring ways with his two sons, Barnabas considers the possibility of marrying again, not that he could ever love again - not after Ann.

When Mary and Barnabas marry, Mary and her family are stunned to learn that Barnabas is contemplating leaving England behind for the freedom to worship freely in the New World.

Can a marriage survive when placed upon such a shaky foundation?  Mary and Barnabas are about to find out.

A Place in His Heart takes place over a 10 year time period starting in 1630.  This is a journey of faith, trust, family, and love.  There are struggles and heartbreaks along the way, but determination and the desire to serve God are key to this book.  Mary and Barnabas have to discover for themselves what love truly is and what trust in God means.

I found several interesting facts in this book, including a way to grow corn, beans, and squash in ones garden that I'd like to try next year.  Rebecca DeMarion's debut has me looking forward to the second book in the Southold Chronicles.  Take a step back in time and have an enjoyable reading experience.

About the Book:
She could cross an ocean, but could she ever win his heart?

Anglican Mary Langton longs to marry for love. Left at the altar and disgraced in her small hamlet, she is being pressured to marry the eligible son of the London milliner. Puritan Barnabas Horton still grieves the loss of his beloved wife, but he knows his two young sons need a mother.

With tender hearts, Mary and Barnabas take a leap of faith and wed. But when Barnabas's secret plans to move his family to the New World to escape persecution come to light, Mary's world is upended. How could she possibly leave her papa and her dear sister?

And will she ever reach the secret places of her husband's broken heart?  

Rebecca DeMarino is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and The Southold Long Island Historical Society. She was a 2011 Genesis Award semi-finalist and lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Tom. A Place in His Heart isbased on DeMarino's ancestors, who came to Long Island in the mid-1600s to establish a life--and a legacy--in the New World. Learn more atwww.rebeccademarino.com.

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Quantum Breach ~ Review

Quantum Breach

by Denver Acey

Quantum Breach opens with action as someone (we don't know who) is keeping track of Tanner Zane. And then it happens Tanner and his parents are taken hostage.  Tanner is being forced to use skills from his past.  A past that he thought was hidden and long forgotten.  But someone knows and they are going to force him to breach - hack a secret government lab.  And quantum computing's most powerful secret is at stake!

But with the lives of his parents at stake Tanner Zane has no choice but to do what his captors demand of him.  He knows these men will do anything to get him cooperate, but Tanner is willing to take a risk to thwart them.  And Tanner's old skills are about to play another role - one that his captors don't know he possesses. 

With unexpected twists and turns one is taken on a journey with Tanner as he faces his fears and uses his skills to trap his captors in their own game.  But the bigger question is will the man behind this group be discovered or will he get away with the misdeeds he is behind.

Fans of thrillers and suspense will be on the edge of their seats throughout.

I was provided a digital copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my participation in this blog tour and for my honest review.
  

About  the Book:
Tanner Zane is an upstanding Mormon with a secret criminal past—extensive computer hacking. When kidnappers force him to breach a top-security government facility, Tanner engages in an intense game of intellectual cat-and-mouse with his captors. This thrilling tale will change the way you reveal information online!

About the Author:

Few people understand the terrifying, yet realistic threat of computer hacking like Denver Acey. Acey has spent his entire professional career in the information technology industry where he has witnessed and even thwarted actual cybercrime. From his top-secret job working for the US government to securing computer networks at Fortune 500 companies, Acey is personally familiar with hackers and their unscrupulous activities.

But over the years, Acey has become increasingly frustrated with Hollywood’s inaccurate portrayal of cybercrime. Hackers are more intelligent and more sophisticated than simple teenagers, who guzzle down Mountain Dew while playing video games. Cybercrime is a billion-dollar business that encompasses organized crime and foreign governments. For these elite hackers, the fruits of success are iconic trademarks, innovative patents, and government secrets.

Because of his unique background, Acey decided to write a book to dispel hacking myths while highlighting the tenacity of cybercriminals. Utilizing actual computer hacking concepts and scenarios that he has experienced firsthand, Acey illustrates  — in a simple way for even the non-techie to understand — how vulnerable we all are to cybercrime.

The Advocate ~ Review

The Advocate
Randy Singer

He defied an emperor

and inspired a faith

I've read Randy Singer in the past and have enjoyed his legal thrillers, so I was intrigued by the premise of The Advocate.  A young man determined to bring justice to an empire that willingly sacrifices the blood of the "guilty" for pleasure.

When an incident in school teaches fourteen year old Theophilus the true horrors of crucifixion he determines to become a champion of the accused innocents of Rome.  

But Theophilus's chosen path is not one of ease.  In fact it takes him to one of the most troubled regions within the empire - Judea.  And during his assignment in Judea, Theophilus has a front row seat at the trial of Jesus, a rabbi accused of threatening the power and supremacy of Rome!  This is one encounter Theophilus will not be forgetting and it will set the stage for what is about to come.

 As Rome falls further into the decay brought about Caesars who are more deranged than their predecessor Theophilus comes to an understanding of the message that the Nazarene brought.  But this understanding could very well cost him his life.

If you like historical fiction that brings you into the story with all the detail you will love this book.  Randy Singer has created an incredible and moving experience that will give you a greater appreciation of the days of Jesus and the persecution the early believers faced in the first century.

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

About the Book:
At the trial of Christ, Theophilus, brilliant young assessore raised in the Roman aristocracy, stands behind Pontius Pilate and whispers, “Offer to release Barabbas.” The strategy backfires, and Theophilus never forgets the sight of an innocent man unjustly suffering the worst of all possible deaths—Roman crucifixion.

Three decades later, Theophilus has proven himself in the legal ranks of the Roman Empire. He has survived the insane rule of Caligula and has weathered the cruel tyrant’s quest to control the woman he loves. He has endured the mindless violence of the gladiator games and the backstabbing intrigue of the treason trials.

Now he must face another evil Caesar, defending the man Paul in Nero’s deranged court. Can Theophilus mount a defense that will keep another innocent man from execution?

The advocate’s first trial altered the course of history. His last will change the fate of an empire.

Undetected ~ Review

Undetected
By Dee Henderson

Gina Gray is smart and can come up with solutions to problems that were thought to have no possible solution.  She has the ability to see simplicity in the complex, but when it comes to personal relationships Gina is at a loss.  And her latest break-up has her seeking her seeking her brother's help.  Asking Jeff to help her find someone who won't be threatened by the way her mind works seems like a huge favor to ask of someone, but Gina needs help and she trusts Jeff.

Mark Bishop loves his life as a commander aboard the USS Nevada - a ballistic missile submarine in the US Navy.  Mark still misses his wife, though it has only been a few years since she died.  But he needs to move on, he knows Melinda would have wanted him to.  But the life of a Navy Commander is demanding and can put an extra strain on a marriage.

When his best friend Jeff Gray approaches him about going out with his sister Gina, Mark turns him down because Gina is 10 years younger than him.  But when he starts working with Gina on her newest discovery, he realizes he may have made a mistake.  Is it too late to remedy the situation or will Jeff's second choice for Gina steal her heart before Mark can reveal his?

I really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at the life of a submarine crew.  It was an interesting and intriguing setting for the rest of the story.  Sometimes (for those not involved in this life) the strains that this puts on their personal  life are fully appreciated and understood.

Dee Henderson does a wonderful job weaving an engaging and entertaining story.  This can be a stand-alone story though there are a couple of characters from Unspoken who make a quick appearance in the story.  If you like intense and exciting books that will capture your attention from cover to cover you don't want to miss Undetected!

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

About

When asked what he does for a living . . .
Commander Mark Bishop is deliberately low-key: "I'm in the Navy." But commanding the ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada, keeping her crew trained and alert during ninety-day submerged patrols, and being prepared to launch weapons on valid presidential orders, carries a burden of command like few other jobs in the military. Mark Bishop is a man who accepts that responsibility, and handles it well. And at a time when tensions are escalating around the Pacific Rim, the Navy is glad to have him.

Mark wants someone to come home to after sea patrols. The woman he has in mind is young, with a lovely smile, and very smart. She's a civilian, yet she understands the U.S. Navy culture. And he has a strong sense that life with her would never be boring. But she may be too deep in her work to see the potential in a relationship with him.

Gina Gray would love to be married. She has always envisioned her life that way. A breakup she didn't see coming, though, has her focusing all her attention on what she does best--ocean science research. She's on the cusp of a major breakthrough, and she needs Mark Bishop's perspective and help. Because what she told the Navy she's figured out is only the beginning. If she's right, submarine warfare is about to enter a new and dangerous chapter.

30 Days to a More Beautiful You ~ Review

30 Days to a More Beautiful You
A Devotional for Girls
By Kylie Bisutti

30 Days to a More Beautiful You is a devotional to help girls navigate the idea of what is true beauty.  The world is pushing the idea of selling our appearance to calculate our true worth when God is telling us just the opposite.

As a former Victoria's Secret Runway model Kylie has some unique insights into why the world wants us to define our worth by the amount of skin we show and how much we are willing to give away of ourselves.

By buying into the world view of beauty we are selling ourselves short and we won't find true contentment.  We'll be insecure because outer beauty can so easily change, but if we focus instead on our inner beauty we will transform our heart and soul.

30 Days to a More Beautiful You offers 30 days of verses and personal insights into how we've allowed ourselves to be confused and how we can rise above it and find our true worth and beauty in God and not the world.  This devotional would be a perfect gift for any young lady who is trying to discover who she is.  I think that ages 12 and up would benefit from the insights they can glean from it.  I also think parents of younger girls could use this as a guide to help steer their daughters to understanding where their true beauty can be found.

I was provided a copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book
Despite what the world leads us to believe, true beauty has nothing to do with outward appearances. The more we focus on what we look like on the outside, the more insecure we become.

Fortunately, God doesn’t measure our worth by how we look. We have value simply because we are His children. The more we focus on getting our hearts right with the Lord and honoring Him, the more secure and confident we will become—and the more we will exude true beauty.

In 30 Days to a More Beautiful You, former Victoria’s Secret Runway Angel Kylie Bisutti gives a complete inner-beauty makeover with succinct devotional readings designed to transform your heart, body, mind, and soul and put you on the path to becoming a happier, healthier, more beautiful you.

The perfect gift for every young woman, this devotional will forever change the way you define the word 
beautiful.

A Woman of Fortune ~ Review

A Woman of Fortune
Texas Gold #1
By Kellie Coates Gilbert

Having read a previous book by the author (Mother of Pearl) I was curious to check-out Kellie's newest offering.

Claire Massey's life is about to come crashing down around her and the worst part is it is all of her husband's own making.  For years Claire has been the envy of Texas.  She lives in the best house.  She has the most expensive cars.  And if her shoes are a shade off from her dress, she'll get another pair and cost is of no concern.

Claire's daughter Lainie is about to marry the rising star of the Texas political scene.  And Lainie is convinced that the spotlight that she's standing in is her right by birth, after all she knows she's something special and everyone deserves to know it too.  Claire's sons are opposites - Garrett is following in Daddy's footsteps. Garret never stepped out of line and never an embarrassment to his family.  Max lived a little fast and was a source of disappointment to his father.  Max wasn't involved in the family business - instead working for a local newspaper.

Tuck Massey was a loving and devoted husband and father.  But when he is accused of fraud in his cattle brokerage his family is about to fall hard.  But could the man that Claire has loved for more than 30 years even be capable of such deception?

This book looks at the strength of family bonds.  And it is interesting to see how all the Massey's react to this sudden change in their social and financial standing.  And when another crisis occurs they all realize just how important family truly is.

Kellie Coates Gilbert has a way of writing about a family caught in the middle of an unexpected crisis. Through it her characters come to discover who they truly are and what truly matters to them.  Happiness is not a given in life, but it is a possibility if one isn't afraid to work through periods of difficulty.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through their Revell Reads blogger program in exchange for my honest review.

Book Trailer 

Backyard Horses Books 3 and 4 ~ Review

Chasing Dream

Backyard Horses #3

By Dandi Daley Makall

Ellie is determined to prove to everyone what a fabulous horse that Dream is.

But for some reason all of Ellie’s ideas seem to backfire.  And added to this is

the concern that Dream is somehow getting out of her backyard pasture.  How can a horse get loose and still have all the gates locked and the fences up?

But when Ellie’s dreams of making Dream into a star interfere with her promises to friends and family and even threaten Dream’s life Ellie is racked with guilt.

When Dream pulls through her bout of colic, which could have killed her, Ellie learns that family and friends are there for you when you need them the most.

Night Mare

Backyard Horses #4

By Dandi Daley Makall

When a school blogging project puts Dream in the spotlight, Dream’s former owner comes forward to reclaim the wayward fence-jumper.  With no way to fight against this claim, Ellie is sure to lose her dream and Dream!

But when her brother’s newest fish dies Ellie learns a lesson in pushing through each day and being glad with what she does have.

But before you tear up too much there is a happy ending for Ellie and Dream, not to give anything away!  Ellie's Night Mare may turn into a happy Dream!