Friday, July 27, 2012

Lone Star Trail by Darlene Franklin*A Review



ABOUT LONE STAR TRAIL
The six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896 begins with Lone Star Trail.  Although a series, each book can be read on its own.


Judson "Jud" Morgan's father died for Texas' freedom during the war for independence. So when the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas (the Verein) attempts to colonize a New Germany in his country, he takes a stand against them.

After Wande Fleischers' fiancé marries someone else, the young fraulein determines to make a new life for herself in Texas. With the help of Jud's sister Marion, Wande learns English and becomes a trusted friend to the entire Morgan family.

As much as Jud dislikes the immigrant invasion, he can't help admiring Wande's character. She is sweet and cheerful as she serves the Lord and all those around her. Can the rancher put aside his prejudice to forge a new future?  Through Jud and Wande, we learn the powerful lessons of forgiveness and reconciliation among a diverse community of believers.

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers; New Edition edition (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802405835
ISBN-13: 978-0802405838
Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin has recently returned to cowboy (and cowgirl) country--Oklahoma. The move was prompted by her desire to be close to her son Jaran, daughter-in-law Shelley, three beautiful granddaughters, and a long-awaited baby boy.. Her daughter Jolene has preceded her into glory.

Darlene loves music, needlework, reading and reality tv. Talia, a Lynx point Siamese cat, proudly claims Darlene as her person.

In the two years since Darlene has been writing full time, her writing career has exploded to where now she has seventeen books published/under contract. Several of those will also be repacked (Maple Notch Brides), reprinted (Beacon of Love with Thorndike Press), and put into e-book format (Lone Star Trail).

Dressed in Scarlet (from Snowbound Colorado Christmas) and A String of Murders both finaled in the Book of the Year contest sponsored by American Christian Fiction Writers.

Now that Darlene has moved away from Colorado, several books set in Colorado are coming out this year (a fact she finds amusing). All three are contemporary romances. Plainsong and Knight Music continue the story begun in her first book, Romanian Rhapsody; and First Christmas (from Christmas at Barncastle Inn) takes places in a Vermont B&B that specializes in recreating Christmases of the past.

Lone Star Trail is the first book in the Texas Trails series, written with Susan Page Davis and Vickie McDonough. Darlene is pleased to have her first "trade book" come out with Moody Publishers.


MY REVIEW
  This is the first book I’ve read by Darlene Franklin. The Lone Star Trail is book one in the Texas Trails Morgan Family series. I wanted to start at the beginning to see if I should read the rest of the series. I wasn’t that happy with Lone Star Trail. It is a fine story, but for me just lacked excitement until the very end where it got really good. I just didn’t think the story flowed together well enough. I love western books and the hardships that came with being some of the first people in the West, but this book just didn’t get it for me.
  What I did like about the book is the character that played the mother Mrs. Morgan. She was a strong woman who did the right thing and told her children just what she believed. I liked the settings and description of the area and homes also.
I don’t think I will read anymore of Darlene Franklin’s books unless she has a super good one. This is an O.K. book and you may love it.


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Thank you to Moody Publishers for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Mary's Blessing by Lena Nelson Dooley*A Review


ABOUT MARY'S BLESSING
McKenna's Daughters (Book 2)
When her mother dies, Mary Lenora must grow up quickly to take care of her brothers and sisters. Can love help her to shoulder the burden?

Mary Lenora Caine knows she is adopted. As she was growing up, her mother called her “God’s blessing.” But now that she’s gone, Mary no longer feels like any kind of blessing. Her father, in his grief, has cut himself off from the family, leaving the running of the home entirely in Mary’s hands.

As she nears her eighteenth birthday, Mary can’t see anything in her future but drudgery. Then her childhood friend Daniel begins to court her, promising her a life of riches and ease. But her fairy-tale dreams turn to dust when her family becomes too much for Daniel, and he abandons her in her time of deepest need.

Will Daniel come to grips with God’s plan for him? And if he does return, can Mary trust that this time he will really follow through?

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Realms (May 15, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616386177
ISBN-13: 978-1616386177
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 650,000 books in print. She is a member of ACFW and president of the local chapter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not at the same time. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat. And the high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially her fans. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

Her book LOVE FINDS YOU IN GOLDEN, NEW MEXICO, won the Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Fiction.

MY REVIEW
  This is only the second book I’ve read of Lena’s and love it as much as the first. Lena Nelson Dooley is a fantastic author and one I will read again and again.
  This book Mary’s Blessing is incredible. I love the title of the book and the cover. Such a beautiful picture of Mary.
 Mary has had a hard life. She was adopted and that makes her wonder why her natural parents didn’t love her. She felt very loved until her foster mother and two older foster sisters died. Then at a very young age she had to take over the house and caring for the younger siblings.
  Mary and Daniel have known each other for all of their lives and now he wants to call, but can he take on a ready made family and an ailing father?
How deep is Daniel’s love.
  Mary’s Blessing is full of love and hardship, also heartbreak. In all of this Mary knows her family comes first. Will Mary and Daniel ever get to share their love and hearts? What becomes of the family?
These and many more of the questions get answered in this wonderful book.
This book is full of love, romance and life’s difficulties and answers.
I recommend this book for all of romance lovers out there.

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Thank you to Charisma House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Monday, July 16, 2012

Rearview by Mike Dellosso Ebook Review- 7 Hours series


ABOUT REARVIEW
In each installment of 7 Hours, a character is visited by the enigmatic Thomas Constant, who makes a heart-stopping statement: “You are about to die. But you may choose from one of three options: Live seven more hours, travel back in time and relive seven hours, or accept the inevitable and die now. ”Professor Dan Blakely has it all . . . until a false accusation leaves him in financial ruin with nothing to fall back on and little hope. In a moment of desperation, he decides to do the unthinkable. But when he loses control of his SUV and careens down the side of a mountain, his plans take another turn. Trapped beneath the frame of his mangled vehicle, Dan is visited by a mysterious stranger who offers him three choices. Filled with regret, Dan makes a decision . . . but little does he know that his troubles have only just begun. The clock is ticking. What will you do with the time you have left?

File Size: 259 KB
Print Length: 88 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (April 27, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B007TWKYXU
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

ABOUT MIKE DELLESSO
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Mike now lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jen, and their four daughters. In addition to his novels of supernatural suspense he writes a bi-weekly column for his local newspaper and is an adjunct professor of writing at Lancaster Bible College. He received his BA degree in sports exercise and medicine from Messiah College and his MBS degree in theology from Master's Graduate School of Divinity.





MY REVIEW
 This is the second book I’ve read by Mike Dellesso and it is just as fantastic as the first.
  I really am intrigued about the idea of this series called 7 Hours and wanted to read all of the books. Also it is in my favorite genre, suspense/mystery.
  From the very first page until the last I was spell bound and wanted to read it at one time, but life always gets in the way. So with interruptions it only took me a couple of days to read.
   Besides being suspenseful this book is a very tender story of love and family life. We never know how one word from us can change someone else’s life., as it did in this book.
   I love the title of the book Rearview and how it is explained in the story.  The characters, events and dialogue in Rearview all work together brilliantly and make this book one very interesting, exciting read that will leave you wanting more.
I highly recommend this book and it is one of my favorites for the year 2012. A fantastic book.


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Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Dark Hearted, Book Two of the COIL Series by D.I. Telbat*A Review


ABOUT DARK HEARTED
“Dark Hearted, the second book in D.I. Telbat's COIL Series, ranks right along with the first...captivating from the beginning... Whether bringing you to tears or keeping you on the edge of your seat, each chapter will have you breathless for more.”—Allison H., U.S.

"Dark Hearted…is what I would consider the perfect suspense book…this is book two of what looks to be a great Christian influenced series. What makes a book great is the amount of involvement the reader has with the characters…a fast paced book with adventure on every page so much better than a movie."—Marsha Randolph (read full review at No Wayz Tired, http://marsharandolph.wordpress.com/)

Dark Hearted, Book Two of the COIL Series by D.I. Telbat, continues with the suspense that began in book one, Dark Liaison, A Christian Suspense Novel.

The Commission of International Laborers' mission is interrupted, and they are once again targeted by a dark enemy bent on hatred and racism. COIL founder, Corban Dowler, has developed commando-style teams, using non-lethal weapons, to extract threatened servants of the Lord from danger zones worldwide. Corban now musters all of his resources to search for his abducted operatives, and hopes to stop the evil intentions of the one they know as Abaddon.

A biochemical weapon is about to change the world, and COIL may be the catalyst—unless their brazen courage and boldness in Christ can change the tide. Where death seems indestructible, Corban Dowler's operatives carry God's love and determination into the midst of the darkness.

Encrypted data finds its way to Corban from Karol Ngolsk in Romania, offering a glimmer of hope. Corban then leads the COIL team through a maze of intrigue and surprises, abductions and persecution, joy and sorrow, love and death—from the grim forests of Europe, to the blistering desert of Africa. Though killing is not COIL's way, the dark hearted one has no such qualms…

Dark Hearted by D.I. Telbat, cover art by Sean Johnson, a 75,000-word Christian fiction, action-suspense novel, continues the adventure as COIL carries on with the Lord's work to protect and rescue His people. And we learn again that…there is no redemption without sacrifice.

File Size: 393 KB
Print Length: 275 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Telbat's Tablet; 2 edition (May 29, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B0087G478K
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Not Enabled
Lending: Enabled

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David I. Telbat is a Christian author who writes in many genres, but especially Christian action-adventure, espionage, and suspense. For his writing, David draws from his experiences in travel, athletics, sportsmanship, the church, and family. David wrote his first novel at age 14, and hasn't stopped since!

Telbat's Tablet, David's website (http://ditelbat.com), offers free weekly Christian action, adventure, and suspense short stories to entertain. He also shares his author reflections, occasional writing tips, and a list of his publishing credits and honors. The credits include both print and digital publications, anthologies, and a 2nd place People's Choice Award with print magazine, The Storyteller.

D.I. Telbat's novel, Dark Liaison, Book One in the COIL Series, is available as a Kindle book from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and from other retailers (soon). His newest suspense novella, Jaguar Dusk, is now serialized and is being posted as free weekly chapters from his Telbat's Tablet site.

Getting into trouble with the law as a young man became a turning point in David's life. The Lord used that experience to draw David into a personal relationship with Him. Re-focusing his life for Christ, David now seeks to honor God with his life and his writing.

Because of his interest in the Persecuted Church and Christian missions, many of D.I. Telbat's stories are about persecuted Christians, their hardships, and their sacrifice to serve the Lord. Several of his novels include battles in the spiritual realm, as well as espionage.
http://ditelbat.com/


MY REVIEW
  Dark Hearted, the second book in D.I. Telbat's COIL Series is just as fantastic as book one. I love the mystery and intrigue involved in this story.
  We got to meet some new characters and revisit some old from book one. The descriptions of people and places are just fantastic. I love how they describe and talk about the guns.
  There were only a few things in this book that I didn’t like, but hate to mention them because this book is so very interesting and  full of suspense that I want everyone to read it. I feel I must say it though. To me I didn’t think it was believable that the group was working on a very important time involving case, but just because of a delay in the plans they went off to another country to help out some Christians for a few days.
  The only other thing I didn’t believe was that the COIL group let a reporter come along and help out the group. She could have been a spy or gotten them in serious trouble. Also she had some experience, but not enough to let her into the group. That is only my way of thinking.
  All in all I love this book. Dark Hearted is full of all kinds of tension and dangers and keeps you reading and wishing for more. Another wonderful book to read and read again. Highly recommended.

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Thank you to the  Author/Publicist  for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Monday, July 9, 2012

The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis* A Review


ABOUT THE FIDDLER
Come home to Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania--the beloved setting where Beverly Lewis' celebrated Amish novels began--with new characters and new stories of drama, romance, and the ties that draw people together.

Amelia "Amy" DeVries, a 24-year-old violinist, is disillusioned with life and love. She takes a side trip through the Pennsylvania mountains. She drops her cell phone in water and it can’t be used.  She doesn't know, nor care, where she will end up.

When her car breaks down deep in the mountains, Amy realizes the flaw in her "no cell phone" plan. She abandons her car and walks the winding roads, searching for help. Following the smell of woodsmoke and the sound of music, she finds a rustic log cabin. There she meets a young Amishman--and through him a community--that will change her life forever.


Price: $15.99
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0977-2
ISBN-10: 0-7642-0977-9
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5
Number of pages: 336
Carton Quantity: 32
Publication Date: Apr. 2012

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is The New York Times bestselling author of more than ninety books. Her stories have been published in eleven languages worldwide. A keen interest in her mother's Plain heritage has inspired Beverly to write many Amish-related novels, beginning with The Shunning, which has sold more than one million copies and was recently made into an Original Hallmark Channel movie. In 2007 The Brethren was honored with a Christy Award. She has been interviewed by both national and international media, including Time magazine, the Associated Press, and the BBC. Beverly lives with her husband, David, in Colorado. Visit her Web site at www.beverlylewis.com for more information.


MY REVIEW
  Beverly Lewis always writes such fantastic books. The Fiddler is another of her series Home to Hickory Hollow. We meet many new characters and revisit some of our old favorites.
  The theme of this story is to do with your life what God and you want to do. In both Amy/Amelia and Michaels lives they want to please others, like their parents and friends so they keep hanging on to the parents dream of what  their child should do with there lives. Amy and Michael aren’t happy, but love their parents so very much. Will they sacrifice their own dreams and live their lives for others?
  Things start to change when they have a chance meeting and they can talk to each other like old friends and share their hearts.
  One of the old characters from this series is called the Wise Woman/Ella Mae whom I really love. She really has the wisdom because she refers everything to the Lord and Bible.  She has such a kindly way about her and she loves and cares for everyone she meets.
  This is a wonderful story to add to your Beverly Lewis collection.

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Thank you to Bethany House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255


Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert* A Review


ABOUT Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert

A young architect at a prestigious Chicago firm, Bethany Quinn has built a life far removed from her trailer park teen years. Until an interruption from her estranged mother reveals that tragedy has struck in her hometown and a reluctant Bethany is called back to rural Iowa. Determined to pay her respects while avoiding any emotional entanglements, she vows not to stay long. But the unexpected inheritance of farmland and a startling turn of events in Chicago forces Bethany to come up with a new plan.

Handsome farmhand Evan Price has taken care of the Quinn farm for years. So when Bethany is left the land, he must fight her decisions to realize his dreams. But even as he disagrees with Bethany's vision, Evan feels drawn to her and the pain she keeps so carefully locked away.

For Bethany, making peace with her past and the God of her childhood doesn't seem like the path to freedom. Is letting go the only way to new life, love and a peace she's not even sure exists?

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (May 8, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307730387
ISBN-13: 978-0307730381
Shipping Weight: 0.5 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katie Ganshert was born and raised in the Midwest, where she currently writes inspirational romance novels set in present-day America. When she's not busy plotting ways to get her hero and heroine to fall in love, she enjoys watching movies with her husband, playing make-believe with her wild-child of a son, and chatting with her girlfriends over bagels and coffee. She could talk books all day and is often spotted around town pushing a stroller, walking her dog, and reading--all at the same time.



MY REVIEW
  Wildflowers from Winter  by Katie Ganshert is such a wonderful book. I love the title and cover, because it really goes along with the story.
  This book tells us that even when you go through horrible tradgeies and hardships God can still work in your life if you let Him.  You may still hate what happened or what you are going through, but you can see His hand and feel His love.
  Bethany and Robin were such close friends in high school and they both needed each other badly, but after college and careers they drifted apart mainly because of Bethany’s feelings about God.
  In Wildflowers from Winter Bethany gets called back to her little hometown that she would love to forget because her grandfather had a heart attack and also her former friend’s husband was dieing.  She wants to pay her respects and be gone from past memories and failures. Little does Bethany know of the things that will happen and change her circumstances.
  I really like this book because it shows us that even when horrible things happens God will help us and also things in the past can be forgiven and forgotten. This is a sweet story that I recommend.


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Thanks to WaterBrookMultnomah for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Reunion by Lauraine Snelling*A Review


ABOUT REUNION
Publication Date: July 17, 2012
Keira Johnson, a 50-year-old mother of two grown sons, believes she lives a good Christian life without secrets-- until she discovers a life-jarring fact her late mother kept hidden all her life. Kiera was born out of wedlock, and the man she had always known as her father had adopted her as an infant.

Meanwhile, Keira's beloved 17-year-old niece, Kirsten, has just discovered an unwanted pregnancy. Her boyfriend, Jose, is bound for college and Kirsten does not know what to do. As the family comes together for a reunion, Keira and Kirsten struggle with their fractured pasts and jumbled present. Will truth and honesty be the catalysts that allow the entire family to find peace?

Inspired by events in Lauraine Snelling's own life, REUNION is the author's finest novel to date.

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: FaithWords (July 17, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0892969091
ISBN-13: 978-0892969098
Shipping Weight: 0.5 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lauraine Snelling, an award-winning author of fifty-plus books with sales of over 2 million copies, also writes for a wide range of magazines and teaches at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California.






MY REVIEW
Reunion by Lauraine Snelling is a book that makes you feel like family. It has a love and quality to it that just makes you think of home and peace. Even though Reunion is full of suspense and trials it still brings through that sense of peace and acceptance that only family and close friends can bring you.
   Keira and Kristen have big problems and hurts in their lives, but family is there to help and encourage. There are so many possibilties and outcomes to problems that only if you seek God will you make the right choice. You can’t make it alone in life without the help of the Lord and Reunion puts that very clearly. I love the cover and title of this book. Really quite beautiful and tells you what’s really important in life-family. You won’t get done reading this book without falling in love with all of the characters and feeling like you belong. Really love Reunion by Lauraine Snelling and I highly recommend it.

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I received my free copy from Sarah Reck at Faith Words/HachetteBookGroup, for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255