All for a Story ~ Review

All for a Story
By Allison Pittman

Monica Bisbaine is determined to live life her way.  And her way is having as much fun as she can, flirting with any man who is within a mile of her, and having a boyfriend who's married.

But Max Moore, her new boss at Capitol Chatter, has other plans when he takes over.  He wants to find the good in Washington D.C. and he wants it reported.  And when one of Monica's articles brings both her and the paper to the notice of local gangsters, Max is determined to bring new values to the paper.  His first assignment for Monica join the Anti-Flirt Society and report on their efforts.

But Monica isn't changing her ways without a fight and she's determined to bring Max down (to the fun and illegal life of speakeasies and liquor).  But Monica is about to be broken and see herself in a new light.

About the Book:
Monica Bisbaine loves being a modern girl in the Roaring Twenties. Her job writing a gossip column allows her access to all the local speakeasys in Washington, D.C., where she can dance the night away—and find fodder for her next article. But when the owner of the Capitol Chatter newspaper passes away, Monica wonders what will happen to her job, and the lifestyle she loves.

Max Moore may hold the title of editor-in-chief for evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson’s paper, The Bridal Call, but Aimee calls all the shots. So when Max learns that his great-uncle has passed away, leaving him all his earthly possessions, Max resigns and heads to D.C. Determined to take over the Capitol Chatter, infuse it with his values, and turn it into a respectable paper, Max is soon bumping up against the equally determined Monica Bisbane.

Under Max’s direction, Monica embarks on her most challenging assignment yet: infiltrating and reporting on the Anti-Flirt Society. Though reluctant at first, as Monica meets and mingles with the young women of the club, she begins to question the innocence of her flirtatious lifestyle. And when romance begins to blossom between Max and Monica, she must choose where her loyalties lie: with the young women of the society or the alluring pull of the speakeasy and its inhabitants.

The Healing Quilt ~ Review

The Healing Quilt
Return of the Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club
By Wanda E. Brunstetter

Emma is bored, she's not made for a life of leisure, searching the beach for shells.  She misses her students and her quilting classes.  When her husband Lamar suggests starting up classes in Florida, Emma agrees.

But this may be her most difficult class yet.  One young woman, Erika, is paralyzed, wheelchair bound teen who sees no future for herself.  Kim, a waitress, is determined not to fail yet again.  Mike, who is at loose ends, is filling in for his wife.  Jennifer is a soon-to-be mother whose husband is out of work.  And then there is Noreen a widow at loose ends and BJ who is keeping his declining health a secret.

But 6 weeks of caring instruction and fellowship just might be what everyone needs.  And Emma is always willing to offer a listening ear and a word of encouragement and prayer.

It is interesting that when each person looks outside of their own concerns that their attitudes improve and they actually are happier.

There are several former students who play important roles throughout, sharing what Emma had given them.  And there is even romance in store for one former student and a current one.

This is a feel good book.  There are problems, but they aren't drag you down depressing,  If you want an enjoyable week-end read this is one you'll want to pick-up and then share with a friend.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

Join retired Amish newlyweds Emma and Lamar Miller in Florida for the winter as they lead another quilting class with a new group of unlikely students: Jennifer, a pregnant new mom; Mike, a charter boat owner; Erika, a wheelchair bound teen; Kim, a waitress; Noreen, a newly-retired widow, and BJ, an artist facing illness. When old friends visit from Indiana, will romance also become a subject of class discussions?

CSFF August Blog Tour ~ Merlin's Nightmare Day 3

~ Welcome to the Third and Final Day 
of the CSFF August Blog Tour ~

This month's featured book is Merlin's Nightmare

which is the concluding book in The Merlin Spiral series

Merlin's Nightmare
The Merlin Spiral #3
By Robert Treskillard

Merlin has kept his identity a secret.  For years he has hidden his face from the public eye, wearing a mask that covers his scars.  Scars that would reveal his identity to Vortigern should even a whisper touch his ear.

And if Merlin was revealed, Arthur's identity would be revealed as well.  An identity that Arthur is unaware of.  Even his name is hidden from him, as he has been called Artorius for as far back as his memory will take him.

But Arthur and Merlin's safety and indeed all of Britons is about to be threatened in a way that Merlin hoped and prayed would never come. His half-sister Ganieda, known as Morgana, is about to strike, bringing with her, her beloved wolves.  But her wolves are no longer the beasts that hunted Merlin in his youth. These wolves have been perverted through the darkness of the Druid power that Morgana wields.  (Think wolf/human cross and you get the picture - though not the total evilness behind it)

Morgana is manipulating both Merlin and Arthur towards her ultimate goal - a goal that no one saw coming... And Morgana is willing to sacrifice all those she controls to obtain her goals.  Love is an unknown in her heart and it obvious that her hate for Merlin has grown in intensity in the years since their last encounter.

There is loss that will test both Merlin and Arthur and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out in the new upcoming series from Robert Treskillard The Pendragon Spiral.  A little hint  "HC SVNT DRACONES!" "Here be Dragons!" Highlight the blank section for a translation if you want your hint in English rather than Latin!

I highly recommend this book and the entire series for fans of any of the following: Merlin, King Arthur, Historical Fiction, Action, and Fantasy Fiction.

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

Click to learn more about Robert Treskillard or purchase Merlin's Blade, Merlin's Shadow, or Merlin's Nightmare.

Be sure to come back next month for Rebels and be sure to visit the other tour participants who will be sharing their thoughts throughout this 3 day tour (August 25-27, 2014)

Beckie Burnham  Jeff Chapman  Vicky DealSharingAunt  April Erwin

Carol Gehringer  Victor Gentile  Rebekah Gyger  Carol Keen 

Krystine Kercher  Emileigh Latham  Jennette Mbewe  Shannon McDermott 

Meagan @ Blooming with Books  Rebecca LuElla Miller  Mirriam Neal  Joan Nienhuis 

Nissa  Writer Rani  Nathan Reimer  Audrey Sauble  Chawna Schroeder 

Jojo Sutis  Robert Treskillard  Phyllis Wheeler  Elizabeth Williams

CSFF August Blog Tour ~ Merlin's Nigtmare Day 2

~ Welcome to Day 2 of the CSFF August Blog Tour ~

This month's featured book is Merlin's Nightmare

which is the concluding book in The Merlin Spiral series

In Merlin's Blade Merlin vowed his fealty to Uther High King of Briton and to his son and heir Arthur.

And in Merlin's Nightmare Merlin's vow is tested.  He has vowed to serve Arthur as king, and yet he is torn.  Does he reveal to Arthur his long hidden identity?  Or does he keep this knowledge secret and allow Arthur to continue to see him as his father?

Merlin knows that Arthur's destined to fight for his throne and yet he wants to keep him safe - hidden from those who think him long dead.

Fealty what is it?

An oath of fealty, from the Latin fidelitas (faithfulness), is a pledge of allegiance of one person to another. From Wikipedia

Fealty is sworn by subjects before their king in Merlin's Blade. Yet we take such a vow before our Heavenly King. But what does such a vow mean?

Do we, like Merlin, vow to serve our King and His Son? Or are we making a vow that is only half-hearted. We don't really mean it and don't want to offer the King too much out of fear that He will demand more than we are willing to give?

Have we made a vow to serve our own interests?  Placing our wants and desires above everyone and everything?

To whom do you pledge your life? Has your heart made an oath of fealty? Have you pledged to the Deceiver, to self, or to the King? The choice is yours. Choose wisely, your eternal soul depends on it!

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

Click to learn more about Robert Treskillard or purchase Merlin's Blade, Merlin's Shadow, or Merlin's Nightmare.

Be sure to come back for Day 3 of Merlin's Nightmare and be sure to visit the other tour participants who will be sharing their thoughts throughout this 3 day tour (August 25-27, 2014)

Beckie Burnham  Jeff Chapman  Vicky DealSharingAunt  April Erwin

Carol Gehringer  Victor Gentile  Rebekah Gyger  Carol Keen 

Krystine Kercher  Emileigh Latham  Jennette Mbewe  Shannon McDermott 

Meagan @ Blooming with Books  Rebecca LuElla Miller  Mirriam Neal  Joan Nienhuis 

Nissa  Writer Rani  Nathan Reimer  Audrey Sauble  Chawna Schroeder 

Jojo Sutis  Robert Treskillard  Phyllis Wheeler  Elizabeth Williams

CSFF August Blog Tour ~ Merlin's Nightmare Day 1

~ Welcome to Day 1 of the CSFF August Blog Tour ~

This month's featured book is Merlin's Nightmare

which is the concluding book in The Merlin Spiral series

Day 1 is a look back at the first 2 books in this series...

Merlin's Blade

Into everyone's life comes a time when they must make a choice and to stand beside that choice. Merlin's time has come....

A stone of incredible power has been brought forth. The evil it's unleashing will change the life of a young man, a village, and an island nation. The future of Britain lies with a stone, a sword, and the blind son of a smith. Merlin's Blade will entrance you, as it draws you in. Be prepared as you enter a world of deep held beliefs and even deeper superstitions. Enter the world of Merlin before Arthur took the throne or even held the sword!

Fealty is sworn by subjects before their king inMerlin's Blade. Merlin vows to serve both his King Uther and his son - Arthur. Merlin's vow was sincere, unlike Tregeagle the Magister of Bosventor who made a half-hearted vow, fearing that Uther would demand more than he was willing to give - after all the villagers owed him more than the King. And at the heart of this lack of fealty is the Druid stone that is enchanting the region. And the people are willing to sacrifice their souls, friends, and family to satisfy a longing or greed that they refused to suppress when offered to them by the stone and its dark powers.

But through faith in Jesu, prayer, and the disability that has been his for 7 years Merlin is able to withstand the evil. As Merlin struggles with how to free his family, friends, village, and king from this insidious delusion he becomes the man he was meant to be. And the struggle to defeat the druid hold and the seductive power of the stone could very well cost Merlin his life.

Merlin's Blade is a fascinating look at Merlin and the faith that he claimed as his own and the strength it gave him to withstand the evil of the Druid stone.

Merlin's Shadow

I found the encounters that Merlin and his sister Ganieda had with the wolves interesting. The wolves hunt

Merlin, yet befriend Ganieda. When Merlin is forced to defend his life against an attack, Ganieda blames her brother for the wolf's death. What is Ganieda's connection to these wolves who seem intent on destroying her brother? Merlin's Shadow continues with Ganieda's relationship with the wolves and in particular Tellyk.

But with the death of her mother and father Ganieda has become embittered against her older half-brother Merlin. And with the twisted manipulation of her grandfather Ganieda bitter resentment becomes all out anger and hatred. But now, thanks to Tellyk, Ganieda has the means to exact her revenge and anyone and everyone who is willing to aid Merlin in his mission to protect young Arthur is in danger. Something evil survived the destruction of the Druid stone and Ganieda has the power to use it and she will....

Click to learn more about Robert Treskillard or purchase Merlin's Blade, Merlin's Shadow, or Merlin's Nightmare.

Be sure to come back for Day 2 of Merlin's Nightmare and be sure to visit the other tour participants who will be sharing their thoughts throughout this 3 day tour (August 25-27, 2014)

Beckie Burnham  Jeff Chapman  Vicky DealSharingAunt  April Erwin

Carol Gehringer  Victor Gentile  Rebekah Gyger  Carol Keen 

Krystine Kercher  Emileigh Latham  Jennette Mbewe  Shannon McDermott 

Meagan @ Blooming with Books  Rebecca LuElla Miller  Mirriam Neal  Joan Nienhuis 

Nissa  Writer Rani  Nathan Reimer  Audrey Sauble  Chawna Schroeder 

Jojo Sutis  Robert Treskillard  Phyllis Wheeler  Elizabeth Williams

Books to end your summer with...

Are you looking for some good reads to end the kids summer vacation with?  Check-out these books which are on the bookshelf at your local library or bookstore waiting to be read.

PERIL in the PALACE
The Imagination Station
By Paul McCusker and Marianne Hering

Kids can take another adventure into the past with Patrick and Beth thanks to The Imagination Station.  This time they are journeying to China where they befriend Marco Polo.  But they are about to discover new dangers when they offend Kublai Khan with their message of Christianity.

Beth and Patrick find themselves in trouble almost from the start when they are captured by Mongul warriors almost as soon as they step out of the Imagination Station.  If not for the efforts of Marco Polo both children would have been charged with crimes.  

When Patrick tries to answer Kublai Khan's questions about God, he receives scorn and is faced with proving God's power over Khan's shamans.  But Kublai Khan is not easily swayed in his beliefs.

Patrick and Beth manage to escape but they don't return to the workshop at Whit's End...


About the Book:
The place? China in 1271. The quest? The golden tablet of Kublai Khan. The problem? Just about everything! 
The Imagination Station adventures continue as cousins Patrick and Beth are kidnapped by Mongol warriors. Only the friendship of fellow traveler Marco Polo saves them from harm. They are brought to the Mongol palace, where the Kublai Khan dislikes both their gifts and their message about Christianity. The tension grows when the Mongol magicians challenge the cousins to a spiritual power showdown. As war breaks out, Beth and Patrick are locked in a secret room to prevent their escape. 

How do the cousins get the golden tablet they need to save Mr. Whittaker’s friend Albert? How do they escape the city and find the Imagination Station? Enter the perilous palace and find out!


RUNAWAY
Starlight Animal Rescue
By Dandi Daley Mackall

Dakota Brown's known to be a runner.  She's been in the system since she was 9 and before entering it her home life was less than ideal.

But there is something different about this foster home.  First it's in the middle of nowhere, and it has a really lame name Nice.  Why anyone would want to live in someplace called Nice is totally beyond Dakota's comprehension.  Then it is also home to Starlight Animal Rescue, not that there is anything wrong with animals, though Dakota isn't a fan of cats.  But there are horses... And when Dakota and her caseworker Ms. Bean arrive they are definitely not on their best behavior trying for a good first impression, which is a shocker for Dakota.

But when Dakota finds a horse that needs her she is torn.  Should she continue her plans to runaway to California?  Or could she actually finally find a home with the Coolidges? And will Dakota discover what she truly wants before she ruins her chance to be part of a loving family?


About the Book:
I've run away seven times—never once to anything, just away from. Maybe that's why they call me a “runaway,” and not a “run-to.” 
Meet 16-year-old Dakota Brown. She used to love all things “horse” until she lost everything, including hope. The minute she sets foot on her foster parents' farm—Starlight Animal Rescue—she plans her escape. But can an “impossible” horse named Blackfire and this quirky collection of animal lovers be the home she's always dreamed of? 
Starlight Animal Rescue: Where problem horses are trained and loved, where abandoned dogs become heroes, where stray cats become loyal companions. And where people with nowhere to fit in find a place to belong.

WILD THING
Winnie the Horse Gentler
By Dandi Daley Mackall

Winnie Willis has a way with horses, but since her mother's death she hasn't had one of her own.  And that's just as it should be - after all she's the reason her mother died.  And the last two years Winnie's just been existing - until she meets Wild Thing.

Wild Thing is a wild Arabian that no one can touch, but Winnie feels a connection with this wild mare.  And Winnie is determined to get Wild Thing as her very own and away from the Spindells.

But Winnie's plan to raise money to buy her dream horse might backfire when Wild Thing is put up for sale before Winnie has raised a single penny.  Will Winnie learn that she is loved and that God hasn't abandoned her?  Or will she lose herself to her fear and the pain of her past?

About the Book:
Twelve-year-old Winnie Willis has a way with horses. She can gentle the wildest mare, but other parts of her life don't always come as easily. Along with her dad and sister, Lizzy, Winnie is learning how to live without her mom, who was also a natural horse gentler. As Winnie teaches her horses about unconditional love and blind trust, God shows Winnie that he can be trusted too. Readers will be hooked on the series' vivid characters, whose quirky personalities fill Winnie's life with friendship and adventure. 

In #1 Wild Thing, Winnie's fearful heart finally begins to trust God again as she tries to gentle the horse of her dreams, Wild Thing.

A Bouquet of Love ~ Review

A Bouquet of Love
Weddings by Design volume 4
By Janice Thompson

A Bouquet of Love is the fourth book in the Weddings by Design series.

Cassia Pappas and the majority of the Pappas family have just moved to Galveston from Santa Cruz, California, to open a Gyro shop.  But as they say the best made plans of mice and men soon go awry and Cassia's father choice location is across the street from Parma John's.

Parma John's means that the Rossi family and the Pappas family are about to go to war for Parma John's costumers.  Of course the Rossi family has no idea about the whole war over customers thing that is brewing across the street.

Cassia meanwhile has a dream that doesn't include throwing sandwiches together for the rest of her life - she wants to open her own flower-shop, creating arrangements and getting lost in the heavenly scent of said flowers.  But with a father who can't see past his own dreams how is her going to come true?

With the help of Bella Neeley (who is with the enemy as she is married into the Rossi family) Cassia just might might see her dream come true.  And there just might be a romance in her future too.  And Alex Rigas from the local nursery just could be Cassia's at first sight guy.

A Bouquet of Love brings all your favorite Wedding by Design characters back for more romance and family troubles.  Not everyone loves the Rossi family and a feud is brewing on the horizon unless Cassia and her new friends can show her father that Galveston can support both businesses.

This is an enjoyable delight to read and I love Cassia's choice in songs to hum and the trolleys just suit the whole Meet Me in St Louis movie reference that is found throughout.  If you love light-hearted reading with happy endings you won't be disappointed.

I was provided a copy of this title through Revell's blogger program in exchange for my honest review.

She didn't expect to fall in love--but roses aren't the only thing blooming on Galveston Island

Cassia Pappas has found herself in a nearly impossible situation. She wants to spend her time immersed in her new job at a Galveston Island floral shop, arranging blooms and brightening occasions with her lovely creations. But her boisterous Greek family--especially her father--has other ideas. They've all relocated to Galveston to open up a new family restaurant located on the Strand--directly across the street from iconic pizza place Parma John's--and they want Cassia's full participation.

To make matters worse, as Cassia is trying to develop a strong professional relationship with Galveston's premier wedding coordinator, Bella Neeley, her own father is intent on stealing all of the Rossi family's faithful customers. Not exactly the best way to get into this former Rossi's good graces!

Still, at least Alex, that hot delivery guy from the nursery, is always hanging around the flower shop . . .


Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson offers an inside look at the wedding business, drawing on her own experiences as a wedding planner. She is the author of the hugely popular Weddings by Bella series and the Backstage Pass series, as well as Picture Perfect, The Icing on the Cake, and The Dream Dress. She lives in Texas. Learn more at www.janiceathompson.com.