To Capture Her Heart ~ Review and Giveaway

To Capture Her Heart
The Southold Chronicles 2
By Rebecca DeMarino

Take a step back in time to Long Island when much of the the land was still untamed and wild.  This is a continuation of the story (A Place in His Heart) that introduced us to the Horton family and their struggles to find religious freedom and a place in the New World.

The New Haven community is thriving but prejudices still persist as national loyalties and religious beliefs are expressed among those who call Long Island home - English, Dutch, and the various native peoples.

It is in this world that life unfolds for those who have come to call this land home.  And sometimes life is difficult as rivalries threaten the peace that is sought.  But more than anything this is a story of a young woman caught between several worlds.  The world which she was raised to, the world of the English, and that of the Dutch.  Which world will Heather Flower call home?  Will she follow her heart or her head?

This is fascinating look at the foundations of what we now have and how the decisions that were made more than 300 years ago affected all who called this small area of land home.  It is interesting to see how the British and Dutch were both attempting to influence the tribes and their dealings with each other.

I really enjoyed this latest book in the Southold series and am looking forward to the next one for which a short expert is provided at the back of the book.  This is a delightfully attention capturing story that you will enjoy from cover to cover.

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


About the Book:
In an uncertain time, she faces a choice that will change her life forever

It is 1653 and Heather Flower, a princess of the Montaukett tribe, is celebrating her wedding feast when a rival tribe attacks, killing the groom and kidnapping her. Though her ransom is paid by an Englishman, she is bound by her captors and left to die--until she finds herself rescued by handsome Dutch Lieutenant Dirk Van Buren.

Still tender from her loss, Heather Flower begins to heal in the home of the Hortons, English friends of her people. Torn between her affection for Dirk and her longtime friendship with Ben Horton, Heather Flower must make a difficult choice--stay true to her friend or follow her heart.

Exploring a unique slice of history, Rebecca DeMarino transports you to the wild land that would eventually become Long Island, New York.

"A masterful weaver of history and heritage, Rebecca DeMarino laces tender love stories with vibrant threads of history and hope, wooing the heart and waking the soul in this rich New World saga."--Julie Lessman, award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and The Heart of San Francisco series

Rebecca DeMarino is the author of A Place in His Heart, book one of The Southold Chronicles, a series inspired by her ninth great-grandparents, Barnabas and Mary Horton.She inherited her love of baking and gardening from her mother; a love of horses, reading, and writing from her dad; and the wanderlust gene from both parents. Rebecca lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Tom. Learn more at www.rebeccademarino.com.

Grand Prize: $75.00 Gift Card of choice (Amazon, Target, iTunes or Google play), Signed copy of To Capture Her Heart & A Place in His Heart.
Runner Up Prize: $25.00 Gift card to Barnes & Noble, Signed copies of To Capture Her Heart & A Place in His Heart
Second Runner Up Prize: Signed copies of To Capture Her Heart & A Place in His Heart

To Capture Her Heart Book Launch

Gollywood, Here I Come ~ Review

Gollywood, Here I Come!
By Terry John Barto
Illustrated by Mattia Cerato

Gollywood, Here I Come! will appeal to young readers with the brilliant and colorful illustrations throughout.  This is a simple story that lacks the conflict that is found in many stories published today.

Anamazie is baton-twirling, singing, acting star who is about to be discovered and make it big in Gollywood.  Not winning the Gobbleville's Got Talent contest may be the best thing that could ever happen Anamazie.

Look closely at the illustrations and the story and you'll find several tongue and cheek references for well-known Hollywood icons - like The Turkey and I instead of The King and I.

This is a fun little book that will entertain young readers.  I would recommend this for the 6 and under age range.

The story's main message  “You can do anything if you work hard and never give up.” is a common theme in much of today's media which though offering a positive message can be a bit misleading especially to those who don't achieve these goals.  Perhaps those sharing this story with young readers could focus on also on being happy for our family and friends who do succeed in achieving even if we don't come in first.

I was provided a copy of this book by the author through TBCN/BookFun in exchange for my review.


ABOUT THE BOOK: (34 pages)

"Growing up in the small town of Gobbleville, Anamazie studies acting, singing, and dancing while basking in the local spotlight as a star baton twirler. Opportunity comes knocking when she is discovered by a talent scout and is cast in a major motion picture.

Gollywood Here I Come! taps into pop culture trends of TV shows like “America’s Got Talent” and the public’s fascination with celebrities. At its heart, the story leaves young readers with the positive message, “You can do anything if you work hard and never give up.”"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Before writing his debut children's book, Terry John Barto directed and choreographed more than 200 regional theater productions. In addition, he was the creative mind behind numerous television and cruise ship live shows throughout the world. When Terry John Barto was employed as the creative director for Wings of Dreams Productions, he worked with many diverse ideas and turned them into screenplays for animated films. He also used his experience to help artists develop popular action figures and dolls for several large retailers. Terry lives in Los Angeles, California and enjoys Pilates, Yoga, and hiking with his dachshunds, Hunter and Mazie.

Gollywood, Here I Come! is a children's books about movie stars, who happen to be turkeys. At its heart, the story leaves young readers with the positive message, "You can do anything if you work hard and never give up."

Your Core ~ Review

Your Core
By Callie Grant
Illustrated by Missi Jay

Everyone and everything has a core.  This delightfully illustrated board book will take young readers on a journey of discovery.  What does it mean to have a core and how does the human core differ from that of an apple or the Earth?

Recommended for ages 0 - 5, you can introduce the spiritual aspects of God at the earliest possible age.  Take this journey together with your little one today and lay a foundation on which to build.

I was provided a copy of this book by the author though TBCN/Bookfun in exchange for my honest review.


ABOUT THE BOOK: (22 pages)
Balls have a core. Apples do, too. The Earth has a core. So do you! Everyone has an inner place made by God for welcoming Him and meeting with Him. Graham Blanchard’s newest Absorb book, inspired by Ephesians 3:14-19, appeals to the youngest readers with simple text and engaging scenes to convey an often difficult concept to grasp—even for many adults. In the Graham Blanchard book collection, Absorb books connect information about God with a child’s inner life. Children assimilate on a personal level who God is and how they are made to be with Him, trust Him and love Him.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Callie Grant founded Graham Blanchard to create children's books for growing up in God, by working with an extensive network of artists, parents, pastors, teachers, and children. The company is the culmination of her experience in the publishing industry paired with a strong calling to help families know God's love and nurture their faith through reading together. Her previous titles, under the name Callie Gregory, include Jeeves, I'm Bored: 25 Internet Adventures for Kids, and Jeeves, I Need Help: Tips and Tricks for Kids on the Net. For more information about Grant and Graham Blanchard, visit grahamblanchard.com

The Haunting of Springett Hall ~ Review

The Haunting of Springett Hall
A Novel
By E.B. Wheeler

She doesn't remember her past, only the blackness.  He knows only as far back as two days ago.  Something or someone has drawn them to Springett Hall. If only they could remember...

The Haunting of Springett Hall is a story of second chances. A second chance at life.  A second chance at love.

Lucy Tregarrick's dissatisfaction with the life she had has lead her to the situation in which she now finds herself.  She has failed at something, if only she could remember what she was attempting before she lost her life.  Philip Ketley is the only resident of Springett Hall who can see Lucy.  Is he the key to helping Lucy overcome her failures?

And what is it about Springett Hall that is so disturbing to all who are in residence at this estate?  What evil lurks between the walls and how is this all connected to Lucy?

This is a story of love and loss.  A story of redemption.  A story that will leave you wondering what will happen next.  If you like spooky you need to pick-up The Haunting of Springett Hall and get lost between the pages.  Perfect reading right before bed, especially after taking a peek at the moon...

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

About the book:

Eighteen-year-old Lucy doesn’t know how she became a ghost, but the more she remembers of her life in Victorian England, the more she wants to forget. Her only hope of changing the mistakes of her past is to enlist the help of a servant named Philip—the one living person who can see her. This impossible romance story is filled with delightful period detail and plenty of mystery.

About the author:

E.B. Wheeler grew up in Georgia and California, where she became fascinated by stories of the places around her. She studied English and history at Brigham Young University and earned an MA and MLA from Utah State University. After several years teaching and writing about history, she decided to pursue her other dream of writing fiction. “The Haunting of Springett Hall” is her first novel. She currently lives in northern Utah with her husband, daughters, various pets, and a garden full of antique roses.

Day of Atonement ~ Review

Day of Atonement
A Novel of the Maccabean Revolt
By David A. deSilva

I have to admit the Maccabean Revolt has always fascinated me. This is the empty space between the Old and New Testaments and to a young child somewhat confusing.  Why is there a gap in the story?  Raised within the Protestant church this wasn't touched on. And High School Ancient World History just briefly flew by it.

My father had a New Jerusalem Bible that contained the Apocrypha which I read at 12 years of age. I have to admit it was somewhat confusing.  Thanks to Day of Atonement I now have an understanding of this era that has been forgotten by most of the non-Jewish world.

Jerusalem is in a period of upheaval as those who live within this City of God fight for political and spiritual dominance.  Some still hold the Law of Moses in high regard while those with wealth are determined to follow the path of the Greeks who have surrounded the lands bringing with them their wealth and culture.

I'm amazed at the similarities between this world and our own at this time.  Peace has been fleeting throughout our history and the time of the Maccabean revolt is no different as brother challenges brother. A city is torn apart as territories are fought for and land and people of the One God are again caught up in their unwillingness to hold firm to the promises and laws of God.

Day of Atonement is a lesson in both history and human nature.  We, as a world, are for the most part unwilling to follow God's teachings especially if it might prevent us from finding enjoyment in something He has forbidden us from taking part in.

If you are interested in well-written historical fiction or have a curiosity about the Maccabean revolt pick-up a copy of this book and peruse it's pages, you may find yourself surprised by what you find.

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

About the Book:

In the blank pages between Malachi and Matthew, the course of an entire nation was changed . . .

His brother, the high priest Honiah, enjoyed the authority of the high priesthood, and all important decisions needed his approval. But it was Jason who was shaping the future of Jerusalem and, with it, all Judea. He breathed in again, imagining that he could feel the wave of destiny impelling him forward toward his vision as he exhaled . . .

The Greeks have taken over the world, but Jerusalem is still the same backwater city Jason has always known. He wants to help his hometown rise to a new age of prosperity and influence. If that means stretching the terms of the city's divine covenant, so be it. But how far is he willing to go to achieve Greek greatness for this Jewish city? It will take the willingness of a handful of Jews to die rather than violate the covenant in order to turn the tide back to God.

Written by an internationally recognized expert in the period between the Testaments, Day of Atonement invites readers into Judea during the tumultuous years leading up to the Maccabean Revolt. It was this pivotal decade that reminded Jews of the centrality of the covenant to their national security and taught them that the covenant was worth dying for. The story is so foundational, it is still told every year at Hanukkah. The lessons learned during this turbulent time also shed light on just what was at stake in the ministry of Jesus, whose radical message seemed to threaten the covenant once again.

Day of Atonement joins the perennially successful novels Pontius Pilate and The Flames of Rome by renowned historian Paul Maier on Kregel's premier list of captivating and historically accurate biblical novels.


"David deSilva combines his superb historical knowledge with deep religious understanding and literary sensitivity to create a story that does more than reconstruct the circumstances leading to the Maccabean rebellion. Day of Atonement compellingly explores issues that continue from antiquity to the present: the relationship between faith and politics, the struggle between national identity and cultural assimilation, the zeal of the martyr, the power of faith."
—Amy-Jill Levine, professor of New Testament and Jewish studies, Vanderbilt University

"Moving from the Mediterranean coast to Jerusalem, I pass Modein in the low foothills. Here I contemplate, and mystically relive, some dramatic events in our history. I look back westward to the coastal plain and imagine the foreign armies being defeated by Judas Maccabeus. Looking ahead to the Judean hills rising to the east, I often ponder the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple and the inauguration of Hanukkah. All these events spring to light in deSilva’s magisterial novel, crafted after decades of walking these hills and reading the historical accounts. History without imagination is dull; with informed sensitivity ancient heroes take on flesh. Echoing now is Ari’s question: 'Where are heroes like that now?'"
—James H. Charlesworth, director and editor of the Princeton Dead Sea Scrolls Project

"When it comes to the history of Israel or early Christianity, historically sound novels are few and far between. Sometimes a good writer doesn't know his religious history well enough; sometimes a good historian is not a skilled enough writer to pull off page-turner that both educates and entertains. David deSilva's new novel reflects a high level of skill on both counts. Applying his considerable expertise in intertestamental literature, deSilva provides us with a winsome tale about how Hellenized Jews sought not merely to recover their land from foreign rulers but to 'plunder the Greeks' when it came to art, education, and language. Highly recommended."
—Dr. Ben Witherington III, Amos Professor of NT for Doctoral Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary.

To the Sea ~ Review

To the Sea
By Callie Grant
Illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau

To the Sea is a fun board book that has a delightful rhythm and cadence.  This flow of words, like the sea, will capture the attention of young readers as they learn about the sea.

The joys of the sea are explored and discovered during a day spent at the beach  A sand castle, waves, seagulls, fish. What will you discover between the pages of To the Sea?

This is a fun book that can be shared with young readers who are either still into picture books or are starting to read on their own with an occasional word assist from mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa.

 I was provided a copy of this book by the author through TBCN/Bookfun in exchange for my honest review.

ABOUT THE BOOK: (24 pages)
  As children imagine the sights, sounds, feelings, and tastes evoked in To The Sea, they can take part   in one boy’s adventurous day there, with its surprises and rewards. In Graham Blanchard’s Learn,     Absorb & Praise™ Collection, To The Sea is a Praise book, which wonders at the amazing       

  miracles found in everyday life and praises the God who made them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
   Callie Grant founded Graham Blanchard to create children's books for growing up in God, by    

   working with an extensive network of artists, parents, pastors, teachers, and children. The company    is the culmination of her experience in the publishing industry paired with a strong calling to help    

   families know God's love and nurture their faith through reading together. Her previous titles, under    the name Callie Gregory, include Jeeves, I'm Bored: 25 Internet Adventures for Kids, and Jeeves, I    Need Help: Tips and Tricks for Kids on the Net. For more information about Grant and Graham   

   Blanchard, visit grahamblanchard.com.

I Hope You Dance ~ Review

I Hope You Dance
A July Wedding Story: A Year of Weddings Novella
By Robin Lee Hatcher

Grant Nichols is determined to not fall in love and get marries anytime soon.  But he hasn't met Skye Foster yet and she just might be the woman to break through his defenses.  

Skye can't wait to find the man who is meant for her.  She has her life all envisioned and a houseful of kids is on her happily ever after must have.  Unfortunately she doesn't have any idea where to find her Mr. Right.  

When Skye agrees to help Grant master a couple of dances for his friend's upcoming wedding, she may have gotten more than her feet had bargained for (especially given Grant's ability for stepping on said feet).  Grant seems perfect other than his dancing abilities which Skye is determined to perfect.  But can any guy be truly perfect?

Can Skye and Grant overcome their biggest differences?  Or will their romance end on the dance floor? 

If you want a quick read that's short and sweet you will enjoy I Hope You Dance.  This would be a fun read to take on a week-end get-a-way if you don't want to do any serious reading.  I personally think the romance moves a little fast for my personal tastes, but this is a novella and there are constraints on fleshing out a story because this is, after all, a short story.

I was provided a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

Meet the people who make it all happen—the planners, the photographers, the musicians who have helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples—as they find their own happy endings in the second Year of Weddings novella collection.

Can two left feet lead to one perfect romance?

Grant Nichols is a genius in the kitchen and a klutz on the dance floor. But his friend’s wedding is shaping up to be a shindig the likes of which Kings Meadow has never seen—including dancing. Lots of dancing. Then he learns that a local dance teacher, Skye Foster, is offering dance lessons for the wedding party. The first lesson is free, so what does he have to lose?

A former rodeo queen, Skye Foster teaches children ballet and tap during the day, but with the popularity of ballroom dancing and her own love of Country Swing, she’s been teaching adults in the evenings.

Grant comes from a family of ten siblings. He was the second oldest and believes he's had his fill of little rug rats. He’s happy with his bachelor state, despite the fact that he’s given up his ladies’ man lifestyle. Even he admits to his wilder nature and has been trying to clean up his act, with God's help.

Skye, on the other hand, loves being around kids. She would love to find the right guy and settle down to have half a dozen children of her own.

Grant and Skye are no match on paper. But when they step onto the dance floor, they create a melody all their own.

About the Author:

Robin Lee Hatcher is the bestselling author of 70 books. Her numerous awards include the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. Robin and her husband currently reside in Idaho. For more information, visit www.robinleehatcher.com.