St. Patrick's Day Reading Suggestions

Do you need some Celtic reading suggestions for St. Patrick's Day? 

Here are a few titles that might you enjoy reading

Ellis Island series by Cindy Thomson

	Grace's Pictures
	Annie’s Stories
	Sofia's Tune

Pangur Ban Celtic Fantasies series by Fay Sampson

	Pangur Ban The White Cat
	Finnglas of the Horses
	Finnglas and the Stones of Choosing
	Shape-Shifter: The Naming of Pangur Ban
	The Serpent of Senargad
	The White Horse is Running

The Green Hills of Snowdonia series by Michael R. Phillips

	From Across the Ancient Waters
	The Treasure of the Celtic Triangle

Caledonia series by Michael R. Phillips

	Legend of the Celtic Stone
	An Ancient Strife

The Red Door Inn ~ Review

The Red Door Inn
Prince Edward Island Dreams #1by Liz Johnson

Marie Carrington is running away.  She has been hurt and the person who should have been her champion has other plans for her pain.  And she doesn't trust people.  But for some strange reason she trusts Jack Sloane, a total stranger who took the time to care. 

Seth Sloane has been burned before by a woman and he can't see that Marie is any different.  And he is convinced that she is out to ruin his uncle Jack, just like the gold digger that ruined him.

Jack sees two hurting people who just need time to heal and a place of shelter until they do.  And he has just the place to do this - a run down inn that he wants to restore, fulfilling his late wife, Rose's dream.

There is a magic about Prince Edward Island that begins weaving its spell on these two hurting people. And as they restore the Red Door Inn they are also restoring their own lives. Could PEI become more than a temporary escape?

But when an unexpected set-back bring the past to their doorstep Marie and Seth must confront the issues that are between them if they ever hope to move forward together.

This is the first book in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series and I'm interested to see where this series goes.  The characters are likable with their own unique quirks. And I'm hoping that the Red Door Inn will play an important, if not starring, role in the future books.

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

About the Book:

"The Red Door Inn took my breath away! Highly recommended!"--Colleen Coble, author of The Inn at Ocean's Edge and the Hope Beach series

Marie Carrington is broke, desperate, and hoping to find sanctuary on Prince Edward Island while decorating a renovated bed-and-breakfast. Seth Sloane moved three thousand miles to help restore his uncle's Victorian B and B--and to forget about the fiancée who broke his heart. He wasn't expecting to have to babysit a woman with a taste for expensive antiques and a bewildering habit of jumping every time he brushes past her. 

The only thing Marie and Seth agree on is that getting the Red Door Inn ready to open in just two months will take everything they've got--and they have to find a way to work together. In the process, they may find something infinitely sweeter than they ever imagined on this island of dreams.

Whose are You? ~ Review

Whose Are You?
By James Bars and Blake Bars

All too often we try to label ourselves.  We create labels based on ethnic backgrounds, occupations, personal beliefs, etc.  But these aren't who we are or even what we are.  Often we get so caught up in this self identification that we lose sight of who we truly are and to whom we belong.

Whose Are You? takes us on a journey through time, examining the discontent that lead to the first turning from God.  Since the darkness came into the world we are often left in moments of insecurity, wondering who we are and where we belong.  But we can have this assurance, we have been given a way to discover this truth.  And Whose Are You? will help one find this truth that has been recorded and given to us in the Bible.

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

About the Book:

Join us as we travel back through the travail of millenniums to a galaxy far, far away. Witness the birth of darkness. Be there as our Liberator begins His counter-intuitive and radically irreligious war for universal dominion and each living souls’ allegiance. 

Discover the Spirit, the Way and the true story behind the veil of History. 

The vital messages contained within this riveting work will help enable you to walk through the valley of decision and perpetually surrender to the True Force of life. 

You will know Whose You Are and be shown the Way to eternal victory as your mind and heart are awakened to the well-hidden truth of what is really happening in and around you even as you read this sentence. 

There exists a deadly conspiracy, the magnitude of which is beyond unenlightened human comprehension, yet to the chosen – it has been revealed. 

“Many are called but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 NKJV 

Answers are available to these crucial questions: 

Have I been chosen? Why am I here? Who am I? Whose am I? 

Come with us and perhaps a clearer dawn will shine 

upon your own journey homeward.

Guardians of the Heart ~ Review

Guardians of the Heart
Secrets on Sterling Street #2
By Loree Lough

Nell Holstrom is everyone's favorite person. She's always willing to offer a helping hand and an encouraging word.  She's been on her own since the death of her father in the family's gold mine. But when she needs to find a new place of employment she applies at the old Stone Hill Inn.

Asa Stone is attempting to restore his late grandparent's inn, but he needs help.  And Nell's go-get-it-done work ethic is just what he needs to get Stone Hill Inn open.  Asa is not an easy person to work with as he deals with the demons in his past.  Guilt has been Asa's constant companion for years and he can't imagine life without it.

But when nature turns against them Nell turns to what she left behind - a mine that slowly stole her whole family from her.  But Nell is determined that Asa is just the man that she needs to get the mine back in operation and find the gold her father was convinced was there.

Will the secrets of his past keep Asa from seeing himself as worthy of Nell?  Or will his guilt drive him once again from the only home he has ever known?

Guardians of the Heart is set in 1880s Denver and will appeal to anyone who likes a book that leaves you with a feel good feeling after the story is finished.  Historical fiction fans will enjoy this set back in time.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through TBCN/BookFun in exchange fror my honest review.

About the Book:
Nell Holstrom wanted no part of her grandfather's barren gold mine that had taken the lives of her mother, father, and younger brother; even if there may still be hidden wealth inside. Instead, she went to Denver and took a job as housekeeper at the old Stone Hill Inn. Asa Stone was barely more than a boy when his father dragged him and his brothers to fight with Colonel John Chivington. But Asa refused to participate in the raid on the peaceful Cheyenne and Arapahoe; and when the smoke cleared, his father and brother lay among the slaughtered. Besieged by guilt, Asa wandered the West for years before returning to Denver to rebuild the old inn he'd inherited. Together, Nell and Asa work hard to restore Stone Hill. But when disaster hits the inn, Asa retreats into despair and Nell is forced to return to her family's mine. Asa faces the hard fact: He'll never be the man Nell deserves. Can he overcome the dark secrets of his past? And will Nell still love him when she learns the truth?

About the Author:

Once upon a time, best–selling author Loree Lough literally sang for her supper, performing before packed audiences throughout the Midwest. Now and then, she blows the dust from her 6–string to croon a tune or two for her grandkids or to sing at weddings or funerals, but she mostly just writes. Over the years, her stories have earned hundreds of industry and Readers' Choice awards and 4– and 5–star reviews. Loree has nearly five million copies of her books in circulation, and in March 2014, she added her hundredth published book to the shelves. She has written fiction and nonfiction for kids and adults (2,500–plus articles and 68 short stories), and four of her novels have been optioned for movies. To date, there are almost 66,000 letters in her "Reader Mail" file, and she has answered every one, personally. (A carton of books is on its way to Corinna P. of San Antonio, Texas, for writing the 65,999th letter. Corinna said she plans to donate the books to her local library!) Loree loves sharing learned–the–hard–way lessons about the craft and the industry, and her comedic approach to teaching makes her a favorite (and frequent) guest of writers' organizations, book clubs, private and government institutions, and college and high school writing programs in the U.S. and abroad. A writer who believes in "giving back," Loree dedicates a portion of her income to Soldiers' Angels, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and several other worthwhile organizations (see the "Giving Back" tab at her Web site, http://www.loreelough.com, for a complete list). She splits her time between a tiny home in the Baltimore suburbs and an even tinier cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, where she continues to perfect her Critter Tracks Identification skills. She shares her life with her real–life hero, Larry, who rarely complains, even when she adds yet another item to her vast collection of "wolf stuff."

The Postcard ~ Review

The Postcard
The Amish of Jamesport #2
By Laura V. Hilton

Rachel Miller dreams of traveling outside the Amish community she calls home.  But that seems unlikely especially as the man she is engaged to has no plans to travel once they are married. Obadiah is everything Rachel thought she wanted, until she began corresponding with David Lapp.

Hoping to encourage David as he healed from a buggy accident, Rachel struck up a unique friendship with a person she had never met and never would.  But Rachel's letters offered David more than encouragement.  Her letters offered him a hope of something more.  With nothing more than a few belongings David left behind all that he knew in hopes of winning Rachel's heart.

But he is too late.  Rachel is promised to another, though she is drawn to David even before she knows that this is the man to whom she has been corresponding for more than a year.  When David is offered a teaching position at the school across from her home Rachel's heart is thrown into turmoil.

The path to love is never easy and Rachel has some serious soul searching to do.  But when tragedy strikes the decision may no longer be up to her.

Fans of Amish romance will delight in this book.  This is the second book in the series but if you have not read the first one you won't feel lost, as this book could easily be a stand-alone book.

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


About the Book:

An Amish girl who longs to travel...

Rachel Miller dreams of traveling beyond her mundane existence in Jamesport, Missouri. To satisfy her wanderlust, she sends letters to the people reads about in the Budget, the Amish newspaper, and asks that they consider mailing her a simple postcard in return....


About the Author:
Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. She is a pastor's wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools three of her children. Her two oldest children are homeschool graduates and are in college. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts, and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love. Surrendered Love and Awakened Love. A nonAmish book Swept Away will release November 2014 from Abingdon Press. She is contracted for another three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport, releasing in November 2014 (The Snow Globe), June 2015 (The Postcard), and November 2015 (The Birdhouse). A Christmas Amish book, A White Christmas in Webster County, will release in September 2014. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Laura is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites.

Return to the Dinosaur Planet ~ Review

Return to the Dinosaur Planet
The Young Scientifics #1
By Cousin Summers

Peter Baker dreams about making a dinosaur find so great that he'll become famous.  But his summer plans get waylaid when his dad takes a job at a Natural History Museum and his mom goes to Africa to work on a remote dig.

Summer is looking not to exciting when he just happens to meet Casey Tucker.  Not only is Casey 12 just like Peter he spends his days at the museum too.  But endless exploring is out as Peter has to keep an eye on his little sister Pearl and Casey is helping take care of Jim Dandy, a monkey on loan from NASA.

Determined to make the most of the summer that they have, Peter and Casey steal away to do some exploring.  What follows was an adventure that they never expected.  An adventure that will take them through space and time.

This middle grade adventure will delight boys who are looking for something good to read.  Parents and grandparents will take comfort in the clean reading that this book offers, while kids will enjoy the adventure.  Think Journey to the Center of the Earth but better.

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


About the Book:
PETER BAKER has a dream of being the youngest boy scientist by producing his own documentary show called Dinosaur Planet (and getting famous). Which shouldn't be hard because his parents are dinosaur hunters, and he's been working on dinosaur digs ever since he can remember.

But his plans get ruined when his father takes a job at a museum and his mother leaves for Africa. Now, he will not get to work on a dinosaur dig this summer, and must keep an eye on his younger sister every day, too.

Then he meets Casey Tucker, and his zoologist aunt. Here is a boy whose responsibility is to entertain a monkey from NASA (vacationing at the zoo) for several hours a day. But Casey's secret mission is to search for a legendary scientist that went missing years before, while working on a classified space project. At first, it's only fun and games. But it isn't long before the friends discover...

How dangerous some games really are.

About the Author:
Cousin Summers (the Mysterious) has lived up in a lighthouse on Summers Island for longer than anyone can remember. But it doesn't matter that no one remembers when the stories started. The important thing is the lighthouse is where they all come from. You might be wondering where the mysterious part comes in. It is because Cousin Summers is a shy person (and busy, too), who spends so much time writing stories up in the lighthouse that a lot of rumors have started. Which is all we need to say about that, because we know where rumors come from. Sometimes there's a little truth to them, too. Either way, you will have to decide for yourself. What is known for certain is that Cousin Summers (the Mysterious) does not mind sharing the island with readers who find their way there. Oh, yes, and you will occasionally see Miss Lilly there (the light housekeeper who only does light housework). She can answer questions you might have about Cousin Summers, but you have to be polite. Then there's the Captain, who has lived long enough to know something about everything. He talks to anyone who will listen, regardless of whether they are polite or not. There are others on the island, too. But that's enough for now.

Interview with Jody Hedlund

Today we are pleased to host author Jody Hedlund. But before we get to the interview lets introduce you to Jody.

Jody Hedlund is a best-selling and award-winning author who loves fairy-tales and happily-ever afters. She makes her home in Midland, MI with her husband and five children. When she's not writing another of her page-turning stories, you can usually find her sipping coffee, eating chocolate, and reading.

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1. You’ve based A Daring Sacrifice a little bit on the Robin Hood story. What drew you to this medieval tale? 

I've always loved tales about underdogs rising up against injustice. The story of Robin Hood encompasses such an element, where the poor are unfairly cast from their homes, forced into hiding, and must rely upon their fearless leader to fight for their rights. 

Instead of a nobleman leading and fighting for the needs of the underdogs, I decided to add a twist and have my heroine, a displaced noblewoman, be the leader of a band of poor outcasts. As a skilled archer, she's gained a reputation as the "Cloaked Bandit" doing her best to protect and provide for the people she's grown to love.

2. What's the story about and who are the main characters? 

The feisty heroine of the story is Lady Juliana Wessex who has been living in the forest, hiding from her tyrannical uncle who believes she was killed along with her father. Little does he know that the Cloaked Bandit, who has been robbing him and other noblemen at knife-point and with a well-placed arrow, is really Juliana, the rightful heir to Wessex. 

The dashing hero of the story is Lord Collin Goodrich who is one of the three knights that vied for Lady Rosemarie’s hand in An Uncertain Choice. After returning home from his failed attempts to win Lady Rosemarie’s hand in marriage, he’s bored, lonely, and ready for another adventure. 

During a hunting expedition, adventure lands behind him on his horse in the form of a quick and daring thief. Compassionate at heart, Collin lets the thief and his accomplice escape and even aids them by giving them more than they ask for. Sensing all is not as it seems with the young thief, Collin tracks the duo and discovers Lady Juliana, the beautiful red-headed neighbor he’d once known in childhood. 

Collin challenges Juliana to stay on his estate for a week, in order to prove to her that members of the nobility are not all evil and hopefully convince her to give up her dangerous thieving ways. In return, Juliana challenges him to come live among the poor peasants for a week. Accepting the duel brings about more challenges than either anticipated, especially as they learn they must sacrifice more than they’d ever imagined. 

3. A Daring Sacrifice ends with one of the knights in mortal danger, a cliff hanger for the next book in the series. Can you tell us a little bit more about the third book? 

For Love and Honor is the third book in the series and gives the final knight his happily-ever-after. However, as you know from the cliff-hanger at the end of A Daring Sacrifice, he has to work extremely hard to gain his true love as well as save his life and those of the people he loves. 

I had a lot of fun writing the heroine of the third book. She’s a little quirky and not quite as beautiful (aka more normal!) as the ladies in the first two books. She’s also hiding a secret, a “blemish” on her skin that could brand her as a witch if anyone ever sees it. During the Middle Ages, the time of the Inquisition and extreme religious intolerance, even the slightest mole, birth defect, or blemish could easily lead to accusations of witchcraft. The times were dangerous, and of course, I just love putting my characters right into the middle of the worst possible danger. Cue: evil cackle. 

4. How is writing for a YA audience different than writing for an adult audience? What are the similarities? 

The Differences: 
While many of my adult readers have enjoyed my YA books just as much if not more than my adult novels, I do get adult readers now and then who are surprised, maybe even disgruntled, with the fact that my YA books are slightly different than my adult novels. And I try to gently remind them, that they’re supposed to be different. 

First, my YA books are shorter, crisper, and less historically detailed. In fact, I’d almost go as far as saying that my YA are more fairy-tale world than true historicals. They contain enough detail to give a “flavor” of another place, but not too much to bog down younger readers. 

Secondly, my YA books are more plot driven than character driven. I’ve included battle scenes as well as some of the seat-of-your pants danger that appeals to the modern teen reader. I plunge my characters into desperate, life-threatening situations which, in the era of books like The Hunger Games, is appealing to modern readers). 

A third difference is in how I'm approaching the heroine and the romance. My YA heroines are a bit younger and so they are more of a coming of age story where the heroine must grapple with some "growing up" issues. I’ve also tried to keep the romance very sweet and tender (as opposed to my adult novels that while clean, are more passionate in nature). 

The Similarities: 
Whether my adult novels or YA, I simply want to tell a compelling story. I hope that I’ve been able to entertain and perhaps even inspire in both of my markets. 


5. What three tips do you have for beginning writers? 

       1. Write the first book for yourself without worrying about rules or publication. There’s something about that first book (or first few) that helps unleash the creative side of story-telling. 

      2. Finish a book. There’s nothing like the experience of completing a book from first page to the last to help a writer move out of the wannabe category. 

      3. Study basic fiction-writing techniques. Check out fiction “how-to” books from a local library. Take lots of notes. Then put it all into practice by writing another book or two. 

6. Where is your favorite reading spot? 

Of course, I listen to audio books all the time—whether I’m exercising, driving my kids to activities, cooking, doing laundry, etc. So I read everywhere. 

However, the one time a day that I actually read a paper copy of a book is at night. I always read every night in bed before going to sleep. I love being able to hold the book in my hands as I snuggle under my blankets into my pillows. 

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Connect with Jody: 

On Facebook: Author Jody Hedlund 

On Twitter: @JodyHedlund 

Her website: jodyhedlund.com 

On Pinterest: pinterest.com/jodyhedlund