The Seeker by Ann H. Gabhart*Book Review

A CAPTIVATING STORY OF LOVE THAT BLOOMS
DESPITE DESPERATE CIRCUMSTANCES

Price: $14.99
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3363-6
ISBN-10: 0-8007-3363-0
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5
Number of pages: 416
Carton Quantity: 40
Publication Date: Jul. 10
Formats: Paperback


ABOUT THE BOOK:
Author Ann H. Gabhart weaves a striking story about life, love and fateful decisions in her new book The Seeker.

Set during the 1860s, The Seeker introduces readers to Charlotte Vance, a pampered Kentucky gentlewoman who knows what she wants. But when the man she planned to marry joins the Shakers—a religious group that does not allow marriage—she is left dumbfounded. And when her father brings home a new wife who is young enough to be Charlotte’s sister, it is more than she can bear.

With the country—and her own household—on the brink of civil war, Charlotte hatches a plan to avoid her new stepmother and win back her man by joining the Shaker community at Harmony Hill. Little does she know that this decision will lead her down a road of unforeseen consequences.
In this moving and well-researched story, Gabhart brings alive the strikingly different worlds of the Southern gentry, the simple Shakers, and the ravages of war during the 1860s to deliver a touching story of love, freedom, and forgiveness.


She joined the Shakers to escape her troubles …
But unforeseen consequences threaten all she holds dear



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Living just thirty miles from a restored Shaker village in Kentucky, Ann H. Gabhart has walked the same paths that her characters might have walked in generations past. Her thorough research provides a convincing and colorful backdrop for her Shaker novels. Gabhart is the author of several novels, including The Outsider and The Believer.

MY REVIEW:
The Seeker by Ann H. Gabhart is a very sweet love story. Even though Charlotte and Adam don’t spend much time together in the story it is full of sweetness and love. I really loved the part of The Seeker where Charlotte and Adam wrote letters to each other for a year. She was in the Shaker village and Adam was away drawing pictures of the war. The Shakers don’t allow any kind of love or sharing sweet words in letters. The only reason Charlotte was allowed to receive his letters were so the Shakers would know how the war was going. Even though I saw the love shining through in the letters. Another part I really liked was how Charlotte showed love to her young step brother.
I also like how Charlotte loved the slaves in her home as family. She did many things for them and helped them in any way she could.
This book is full of freedom, slavery, love faith, loyalty, valor, sacrifice and forgiveness. A book that tells of the Civil War, that will open your eyes to what war is really about. Death and life, sadness and love.
This is a good book and I recommend it. It is very long, over 400 pages, but that’s what I love. So buy yourself a copy or go to the library, but it would be so nice to have your own.

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“Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

I received my free copy from Donna Hausler from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group for my review.

Winner of Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr

to

Debbie at

twoofakind12{at}yahoo{dot}com

She is the winner of

Delia Parr's "Hearts Awakening"

Congrats I'm very happy for you!

Author Interview & Book Giveaway/Laura Frantz/Courting Morrow Little

Courting Morrow Little is a super book. I loved it and so will you. Here is the link for the review I did of this great book. http://thelifeandtimesofwanda.blogspot.com/2010/07/courting-morrow-little-by-laura-frantz.html

Here is my interview with Laura Frantz. She's a very special lady. Drop by her blog site and leave her a message.



How long did you write before you were published?
40 years. I began at age 7 so it was a very long journey. I never set out to be published – I just wrote for the sheer joy of writing. In fact, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be published even when my current editor contacted me. But I’m so glad my books are out there now as I’m hearing from readers (and reviewers like you) and that blesses me so much!

Tell us about Courting Morrow Little, the featured book.
Morrow is a young woman on the 18th-century Kentucky frontier who struggles with the trauma of her past – an Indian raid – and must come to terms with forgiveness, all the while being pursued by several suitors and nearly missing the love of a lifetime.

Is there any person who has been a strong influence in your writing journey?
My granny was such a huge part of my life - she passed away shortly before my first book, The Frontiersman’s Daughter, was published. I dedicated the book to her. She was almost 100 years old and had come from Virginia to Kentucky as a young woman. She always felt I had a writing gift and needed to use it. My brother (a missionary in Spain) and my parents have been so supportive, too. Everyone needs people who believes in them and prays for them. It makes all the difference!

What message(s) do you want to be clear to your readers?
That God loves them just as they are and has a plan for their life. Also, that the valleys of our lives are for our good and He will bring blessings from them. Like Morrow, the darkness and difficulties we encounter holds untold blessings in the end if we walk through them with Him.

What are some of your likes and dislikes? Your hobbies, interests? Where do you like to vacation?
Oh, great questions! I love to cook and garden, take walks and read. Writing letters is also a favorite pastime. As for vacations, I love historical places in any country – from Virginia’s Colonial Williamsburg to the Russian royal palaces in St. Petersburg, etc. Kentucky, of course, has such a rich history and I never tire of being there.

Tell us a little-known fact about yourself that readers may not know.
I traveled quite a bit in my younger days. I attended college in a British castle and turned 21 in Russia where I saw the Bolshoi Ballet perform Swan Lake. Now I’m a homebody living and writing in a little house in the big woods!
How very interesting!

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel?
I really have to pray about the use of my time – it’s such a gift. And writers have many distractions such as marketing and blogging, twittering and Facebook if they choose to go that route and connect with readers, etc. I don’t ever keep a word count as that’s too much like counting calories to me. I tend to be a very s…l…o…w writer. The Frontiersman’s Daughter took 5 years to write and Courting Morrow Little took 2 years. But I seem to be getting faster as I go.

What are you currently reading?
Delia Parr’s Hearts Awakening. In my mailbox this week I received Ransome’s Crossing by Kaye Dacus and She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell. Never enough time to read all the good books I’d like to!
I just read two of those books. Really great authors also.

Do you grow flowers or vegetables? What are your favorite flowers?
I grow both though my husband is the master gardener since my writing kicked inJ. My very favorite flower is the Cecile Bruner climbing rose that is overtaking our little greenhouse wall. The fragrance is so sweet and the tiny buds so beautiful! I also love Lily of the Valley and lavender.

What are you writing now?
I’m on deadline now for my third Kentucky novel, tentatively titled, The Colonel’s Lady, due out next summer. It involves a Revolutionary War hero and a spinster. I’ve enjoyed the story so much and almost hate to finish and turn it in!
We can't wait to read your next book!

How do readers find you on the internet?
I love to hear from readers at my combined blog/website: http://laurafrantz.net
I’m also on Facebook and Twitter which you can link to from my website/blog.
Bless you for such a fun interview! I am so appreciative of the chance to meet new readers and give away one of my books!

Thank you so very much Laura. It was very special to have you join us.
Many blessings and great success in your writing!





All you have to do to win this book is be/become a follower and leave a comment, also leave an email address to enter!
This giveaway is for U.S. residents only. The deadline for entry is August 10, 2010. A winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator and the winner will be notified by email.

WINNING READINGS

I wanted to tell you about a great blog that I use often. When I have a giveaway on my blog I give the information to Jane or Megan at http://winningreadings.blogspot.com Winning Readings has two bloggers. And then they put a post up on their blog to tell about it. That way my giveaway is seen by many more people and that also gets more people to see my blog and become followers. So it’s a win-win situation for me. I’m very fortunate to be able to have Jane/Megan to help me.
Right now, but that changes a lot, Winning Readings has 406 followers. So I just wanted to post this to thank Jane/Megan for all they do.

Jane has another blog besides Winning Readings and it is http://moziesme.blogspot.com/

I'm the mom of three-year-old Esmé, and we both love to read!
We blog about our day-to-day adventures as MoziEsmé.

Here is a little about Megan and her other blog is
http://inspiredbyfiction.blogspot.com/

Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. He has given me a wonderful husband and two children. He also allowed me work at a Christian-run bookstore for 8 years, before giving me the privilege and challenge of being a stay at home mom.

Jane and Megan have been such an inspiration and help to me in many ways. They both are always willing to help. I appreciate your time and talent Jane and Megan. Thanks very much.
Check out their blogs and get involved.

CHRISTIAN BOOK GIVEAWAYS

I wanted to tell you about a great blog that I use often. When I have a giveaway on my blog I give the information to Carman at Christian book giveaways
http://christianbookgiveaways.blogspot.com/
And then she puts a post up on her blog to tell about it. That way my giveaway is seen by many more people and that also gets more people to see my blog and become followers. So it’s a win-win situation for me. I’m very fortunate to be able to have Carman to help me.
Right now, but that changes a lot, Christian book giveaways has 117 followers. So I just wanted to post this to thank Carman for all she does.

Here is a little about Christian Book Giveaways and Carman.

Christian Book Giveaways
This blog is for people who are tired of searching lots of sites to find Christian Fiction book giveaways. I wanted to make a place where you could easily find giveaways that interest you. Enjoy!

I'm a Junior in high school, who loves to read. I am blessed with amazing friends, family, and a relationship with Jesus Christ! I am also greatly blessed to have been homeschooled my whole life. ~ If you would like for me to review your book, I would be happy to.

Carman’s other site is a book review site at this link.
http://continuousdelights.blogspot.com/

I really like Carman a lot. She has been a great help to me. Thanks Carman!

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz* a review

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz
Life and Love on the American Frontier

Price: $14.99
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3340-7
ISBN-10: 0-8007-3340-1
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5
Number of pages: 368
Publication Date: Jul. 10
Formats: Paperback

ABOUT THE BOOK
In Courting Morrow Little, Frantz introduces readers to Morrow Little, who is haunted by the memory of the day her family was torn apart by raiding Shawnee warriors. Now that she is nearly a grown woman and her father is ailing, she must make difficult choices about the future. Several men--ranging from the undesired to the unthinkable--vie for her attentions, but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to a forbidden love that both terrifies and intrigues her. Can she betray the memory of her lost loved ones--and garner suspicion from her friends--by pursuing a life with him? Or should she seal her own misery by marrying a man she doesn't love?

Caught between the wilderness and civilization, Morrow Little must find her way to true love.

This sweeping tale of romance and forgiveness will envelop readers as it takes them from a Kentucky fort through the vast wilderness of the West.





ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laura Frantz credits her 100-year-old grandmother as being the catalyst for her fascination with Kentucky history. Frantz's family followed Daniel Boone into Kentucky in 1792 and settled in Madison County, where her family still resides. Frantz is the author of The Frontiersman's Daughter and currently lives in the misty woods of Washington state with her husband and two sons.




MY REVIEW
Morrow Mary Little written by Laura Frantz is one excellent book. The cover of the book is beautiful and I love the name Morrow. This book is a great historical romance. I was gripped from the very beginning when 5 year old Morrow lost her mom, little sister to death from the Shawnee Indians and her brother was kidnapped. So Morrow and her Pa try to go on and live their lives. Morrow is plagued with being terrified of Indians. Five years after the deaths and kidnapping an Indian Chief and his sick son come to their cabin. The son is deathly sick. Follow Morrow as she rides a roller coaster of emotions. From fear, faith, forgiveness, betrayal, love, fighting between Indians and white man, surviving many difficulties.
Halfway through the book you feel like things are just right, all is going well, but then Laura Frantz brings more problems and different things that happen that will make you want the story to never end. Courting Morrow Little is full of redemption and forgiveness. If you find it hard to forgive someone something you need to read about Morrow and how she comes to forgive and love.
There is so much more to this story, but I want you to read it for yourself.
Another book that is on my favorite list of the year.
This is a new author to me and one that I will read all of her books from now on. Laura Frantz is a very talented lady whom you need to keep a lookout for.
A great 5 star book that I highly recommend.
Laura Frantz has graciously agreed to giveaway one of her books “Courting Morrow Little” to one of you lucky followers. I will have a wonderful interview with Laura and that giveaway up soon.



“Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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I received my free copy from Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing Group for my review.

www.RevellBooks.com

Somewhere to Belong by Judith Miller* a review

ABOUT THE BOOK
Johanna Ilg has lived her entire life in Main Amana, one of the seven villages inhabited by devout Christians who believe in cooperative living, a simple lifestyle, and faithful service to God. Although she's always longed to see the outside world, Johanna believes her future is rooted in the community. But when she learns a troubling secret, the world she thought she knew is shattered and she is forced to make difficult choices about a new life and the man she left behind. Berta Schumacher has lived a privileged life in Chicago, and when her parents decide they want a simpler life in Amana, Iowa, she resists. Under the strictures of the Amana villages, Berta's rebellion reaches new heights. Will her heart ever be content among the plain people of Amana?


Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Bethany House; Original edition (March 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764206427
ISBN-13: 978-0764206429
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1 inches

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Judith Miller is a award-winning author whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her novels, many of which have appeared on the CBA bestseller lists. Judy and her husband make their home in Topeka, Kansas.
http://www.judithmccoymiller.com/


My Review:
Somewhere to Belong by Judith Miller is a good book, but not one of my favorites. The book is written from each girls' standpoint, which I find interesting.
This story is about two girls who have very different lives, but who find themselves thrown together. Each takes a different path, but they end up finding out that secrets hurt everyone involved.
Somewhere to Belong by Judith Miller is the first book in the Daughters of Amana series. I like the cover as it shows the dress of the Amana people.
Johanna grew up in a very religious community, almost like the Amish. She has always wanted to see what lies beyond their community. Berta moves to Amana, when she is 17, she's the spoiled daughter of a Chicago doctor and his wife. She wants anything but to be here in this quiet, silly community. Johanna has the job of teaching and training Berta on all of the rules and ways of her people.
Berta is very unruly, disrespectful and hard to get along with, but Johanna becomes her friend.
There is a love interest for both girls, but I find it unlikely that a young girl like Johanna at first doesn’t think about boys or marriage. She thinks it’s best to be single.
The first part of the book was very slow and it took some getting into, but it was an enjoyable read that is if you like this kind of lifestyle you would like the book. I don’t like a group of Christians telling you how you have to live and work or you’re not living your life right. A nice book for a rainy day when you have nothing else to do.

This book was sent to me by Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review program. I was sent a free copy of this book to review.

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