If the Shoe Fits BY Sandra D. Bricker A REVIEW

If the Shoe Fits
A Contemporary Fairy Tale
Sandra D. Bricker

Julianne used to believe in fairy tales; she's been watching for Prince Charming to come charging in on his white steed ever since the day her mother read her Cinderella for the first time. But she's never come close to finding the perfect man-instead she's always tripping over her childhood best friend, Will. And who finds their Prince Charming on a 10-speed bicycle on the other side of the cul de sac? Well... Julianne does. Only she doesn't have a clue.
She and Will are attorneys now, and they've joined up in private practice in a beautiful Cincinnati office building that overlooks the Ohio River. And then one day Julianne is on her way to court, and runs right smack dab into Prince Charming. But when she looks again, all she finds is a metaphoric sign she is certain came straight from Heaven: The Prince's toolbox has fallen off the back of his truck, and a work boot along with it. What better way for God to grab the attention of a Cinderella-in-training than to show her a glass slipper...errrr, work boot?...waiting to be reunited with its owner?
So she sets out to track down the mysterious Prince Charming. He's the most gorgeous guy she's ever seen...and a caring animal rescuer, too. Surely he must be the soul mate God has prepared her for.
But, Julianne's prince is starting to look less and less charming all the time. No matter how she tries to romanticize him, he just keeps tumbling down off that dumb pedestal. And with the Bar Association dinner coming up that will honor her for her outstanding charity work over the year, Julianne wants so much for her friends and colleagues to see her with someone besides her best friend Will. To make matters worse, Prince Charming has no designs on wearing a penguin suit and attending a stuffy old dinner. With her pride pressing in on her like sticks from a cactus, Julianne sinks to the bottom of the proverbial barrel and actually offers to pay Paul to be her date.
Julianne is on a collision course with God's perfect plan for her life...if only she could open her eyes and see it before it's too late.

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: River North; New Edition edition (May 15, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802406289
ISBN-13: 978-0802406286
Product Dimensions: 0.7 x 5.5 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
"I'm going to be a writer when I grow up!" Sandra D. Bricker declared these words to her father on a Sunday afternoon in Slidell, Louisiana. She was 5 years old, and was referring to being able to string her cursive letters together to write her full name for the first time, but the declaration proved somewhat prophetic.

By the time she reached high school and her first article was published in The Cincinnati Enquirer, Sandie knew writing was what she wanted to do. For more than a decade, Sandie lived in Los Angeles and, while writing in every spare moment, she studied screenwriting and worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she walked away from that segment of her life and moved cross-country to take on a new role: Caregiver.

"I guess most people would see my career as a publicist as a sort of dream job. But giving it up turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me!" she declares. "Not only was I given the gift of getting to know my mother as an adult woman before she passed away, but I was also afforded the blessing of being able to re-focus on writing novels in an effort to pursue my dream of a writing career."

That career weaves a web that draws in every age of reader. Sandie's interest in telling a story knows no boundaries. Three novels for middle readers carved out the beginning of the journey; then Avalon Books followed up with two hardbound romance novels in 2001: unWANTED: Husband (romantic comedy) and Change of Heart (romantic suspense). The response was tremendous, and Sandie was asked to pen a sequel to Change of Heart ... and so Sins of the Past was released in December 2003. Next up was another romantic comedy; Wish I Weren't Here was released in February 2005.

"I'm a Christian woman, first and foremost," she says. "So the last couple of years has been a bit of a dream-come-true. Summerside Press chose me as one of two authors to launch their new Love Finds You line in October 2008 with Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas, a romantic comedy for the inspirational market. So the best of all worlds, as far as I'm concerned!"

More hilarity continued to follow from this award-winning author.

Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida (Fall 2009) and Love Finds You in Carmel, California (Fall 2010) for Summerside Press, and The Big 5-OH! (Spring 2010) and Always the Baker, Never the Bride (Fall 2010) for Abingdon Press.

Future books will include sequels, The Big 4-OH! and The Big 3-OH! for Abingdon Press.

After spending nearly 15 years dealing with her celebrity clients' fans, Sandie finds it amusing that she is suddenly the one getting fan mail! "When people were actually buying my books at a recent signing, I found myself wanting to go around and invite them all to dinner or offer to bake them cookies. Hey! In fact ... maybe I'll do that very soon."

MY REVIEW
  If the Shoe Fit’s a Contemporary Fairy Tale by Sandra D. Bricker is a fun, frolicking modern day story. Julianne and Will are attorneys and best friends. She is always looking for her Prince Charming, but can’t see Will as him since she has known him forever. Will has loved Julianne since forever, but doesn’t tell her.
  So with this story line they have many adventures and quite a bit of heart ache. Also lots of humor thrown in. I really love this story. When she sees a man on the highway save a dog from death she “falls in love.” Then when he drops his toolbox and work boot she has to find him. Enjoyed the book and characters. So will you. If you are looking for a light-heart

ed, tender love story you will love this one. Highly recommend.

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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

That Certain Summer by Irene Hannon A REVIEW

ABOUT THAT CERTAIN SUMMER
Karen and Val are family--yet they're anything but close. Karen has carried the burden of responsibility for her aging mother ever since her gorgeous sister left town years ago to pursue a career in theater. But Val had darker reasons for leaving town--as well as a secret to keep--and coming home has never been an option . . . until their mother suffers a stroke.

Reunited in their hometown, Karen and Val must grapple with their past mistakes, their relationship with each other, and their issues with a mother who is far from ideal. When a physical therapist raising his daughter alone and a handsome but hurting musician enter the picture, the summer takes on a whole new dimension. As their lives intersect and entwine, can each learn how to forgive, how to let go, and how to move on? And strengthened by the healing power of faith, might they also find the courage to love?

With her trademark compelling characters and heartwarming hope, fan favorite Irene Hannon offers her readers an inspiring true-to-life tale of complex family relationships, transgressions revealed and forgiven, and the complicated process of finding love.

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Revell (June 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800722493
ISBN-13: 978-0800722494
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of over forty books, including more than two dozen contemporary romance novels. Her romance fiction has won a coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, and an RT Reviewers' Choice Award from RT Book Reviews magazine. Her popular Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice suspense series have also won their share of awards, including the RITA, National Readers' Choice, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers' Choice, and RT's Reviewers' Choice. In addition, Booklist included one of her novels in its "Top 10 Inspirational Fiction" list for 2011. She lives in Missouri.
For more information about her and her books, Irene invites you to visit her website at www.irenehannon.com.

MY REVIEW
  That Certain Summer by Irene Hannon is a really, really fantastic book. It was a joy to read and I’m so glad I got the chance.
  It’s about two sisters who never got along because they always seemed to be competing. After they grew up and were forced to work together and really get to know each other and finally forgive themselves for their pasts do they become real sisters.
  This book talks about forgiving ourselves for past mistakes, becoming the person God wants you to be and going forward with our lives.
  The characters in That Certain Summer are very strong, likable and compelling. You will come to love them and their family and friends.
This book is about four main characters, the sisters Karen and Val and two men Scott and David.  Very interesting how their lives connect and become intertwined. I highly recommend this book and I will be giving it a 5-star rating.

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

The Dance by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley * A Review

ABOUT THE DANCE
The Restoration Series (Book 1)
Jim Anderson is a successful businessman, and his wife, Marilyn, is the perfect wife. And why wouldn't she be? He gives her everything she needs. That's why Jim never expected to come home one day and find Marilyn gone.
After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn has had enough of feeling unloved and neglected. She wants to experience some measure of happiness before she's too old to enjoy it, even signing up for dance lessons, something Jim would never do. What will it take for Jim to finally become the man Marilyn needs him to be?

Combining the literary talents of bestselling author Dan Walsh and the relationship expertise of bestselling author Gary Smalley, The Dance is the first novel in The Restoration Series. Readers will get caught up in these flawed but sincere members of the Anderson family as they rediscover genuine love and start a transformation that ultimately affects all of them.

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell (April 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800721489
ISBN-13: 978-0800721480
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of 7 novels, published by Revell and Guideposts, including The Unfinished Gift, Remembering Christmas and The Reunion. He has won 3 ACFW Carol Awards (Book-of-the-Year), and his novels have been named finalists for RT Reviews Inspirational Novel of the Year in 2011 and 2012.

For those who haven't read Dan's books, reviewers often compare him to Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans. His latest project is partnering with Gary Smalley on a 4-book fiction series. The first book is called, The Dance, and will release in April 2013. Dan served as a pastor for 25 years and now writes fulltime. He and his wife Cindi have been married 36 years and have 2 grown children, both married, and 1 grandson. They live in Port Orange, FL. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter, or read his blog. There are buttons to connect to these, as well as preview all his books, on his website at http://danwalshbooks.com.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships and has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, and TODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of many books, including the Baxter Family Redemption series with Karen Kingsbury. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 40 years and live in Missouri.


MY REVIEW
  I’ve read all of Dan Walsh’s books and some of Gary Smalley’s and found this book very interesting, but found some of it not realistic.
The Dance is about a couple who have been married for 27 years and the wife isn’t happy, because she doesn’t feel loved or appreciated. The husband just is interested in himself and work. I can understand and believe that, but in The Dance all of the blame is on the husband and the wife seems to be the perfect one. I know in a marriage if there are problems it’s because of both parties. You can’t blame everything on one person.
  I think Marilyn the wife should have stood up for herself and tell her husband I want a job and I want to do some fun things and if he didn’t want her to she could have told him her reasons and talked about it. I think in a marriage you can’t give hints you just have to come out and say something.
  Really I enjoyed The Dance and look forward to book 2, but I don’t see one person in a marriage to be the whole problem. I recommend this book and think it’s worth reading.

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

Sisterchicks in Gondolas by Robin Jones Gunn* A Review

Sisterchicks Take the Boot! (and we don’t mean shoe thievery)

Jenna and Sue have been sisters-in-law for nearly thirty years but inseparable friends for only the last five. When Jenna is invited to a week’s stay at a fifteenth century restored palace on a quiet canal in Venice , Sue is her travel companion of choice. The catch? They must cook for a group that is staying at the palace for a retreat. It’s the first time Sue has been this far from home, and both women are coming out of a valley season of life where they operated each day in long shadow s of fear. Entering into the lilting gondola-paced Italian lifestyle and discovering corners of Venice most tourists never see, they welcome a new time of refreshing. And over boiling pots of pasta, they dare each other to dream again.

Ciao bella!

SISTERCHICK n.: a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you’re being a brat.

When Jenna is invited to Venice for a week of cooking for a small retreat group, she knows just who to take along: her sister-in-law Sue. With her Dallas drawl and wild tangle of red hair, Sue desperately needs her own retreat from the pressures of the past two years…and blessedly for their guests, Sue actually knows how to cook (unlike Jenna)!

With about six words of Italian between them, a map, and a keen appetite for gelato, they puzzle out the lovely city together. During their stay, Jenna and Sue become victims of grace in ways they never expected—starting with their accommodations: a restored fifteenth-century palace on a quiet canal complete with a stairwell perfect for mattress sledding!

Coming out of a time of dark shadows in their lives, these two friends dive into a new season of refreshing and realize that sometimes when serving God, the most important thing to do is just show up…and watch for goodness and mercy to follow close behind. Come join Jenna and Sue over boiling pots of pasta in this lilting gondola-paced adventure!

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Multnomah Publishers (May 1, 2006)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1590525051

ISBN-13: 978-1590525050

Product Dimensions: 0.9 x 5.2 x 8.1 inches

Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces

Robin Jones Gunn was born in Wisconsin and lived on a dairy farm until her family moved to southern California when she was five years old. She grew up in Orange County and spent her summers at Newport Beach with friends from her church youth group. After attending Biola University and Capernwray Bible School in Austria, Robin and Ross were married and spent the next two decades working together in youth ministry.
It was the young teens at Robin’s church who challenged her to write stories for them. She hadn’t thought much about being a writer, but took their request to heart and set her alarm for 3am, three days a week. With two small children it was the only time she could find to write the first story about Christy Miller. After two years and ten rejections the novel Summer Promise was accepted for publication in 1988. Robin hasn’t stopped writing since. Over 4 million copies of her 75 books have sold and can be found in a dozen translations all over the world.
Robin and her husband now live in Hawai’i where Ross is a counselor and Robin continues to write to the sound of tropical birds chattering in the palm trees outside her window. Their children are grown but manage to come to the islands with their families every chance they get. Robin's awards include: three Christy awards for excellence in fiction, a Gold Medallion finalist, Mt. Hermon Pacesetter and the Mt. Hermon Writer of the Year award. Robin travels extensively and is a frequent key-note speaker at various events around the world.  She serves on the Board of Directors for Media Associates International and Jerry Jenkin’s Christian Writer’s Guild.

MY REVIEW

Sisterchicks in Gondolas is one fantastic book. If you have read other sisterchick stories you will just love this one also, even if you haven’t read any before you will love this book. It is full of love, humor, friendship, travel and just plain fun.

Sam, head of an international missionary based in Europe, invites Jenna to cook at a leaders' retreat in Venice; he also gives her a second free ticket so she can bring a friend. She asks her sister-in-law of three decades Sue who has been her best friend of about the last five years to accompany her.

Then all of the fun begins, as they eat gelato in Campo Apostoli, making new friends, renewing old friendships and just enjoy the quiet, easy lifestyle of Gondolas. They find courage to live life to the all-embracing; something neither has tried in a long time out of fear of failure and self pity and ridicule.

I really love the Sisterchicks series and you will too!

　

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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

 

The Reunion by Dan Walsh* review and giveaway

THE GIVEAWAY IS FROM DAN'S SITE, SO YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LINK TO WIN. 

ABOUT THE REUNION

There are people in this world we pass right by without giving a second thought. They are almost invisible. Yet some of them have amazing stories to tell, if we'd only take the time to listen . . .

Aaron Miller was an old, worn-out Vietnam vet, a handyman in a trailer park. Forty years prior, he saved the lives of three young men in the field only to come home from the war and lose everything. But God is a master at finding and redeeming the lost things of life. Aaron is about to be found. And the one who finds him just might find the love of his life as well.

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800721217
ISBN-13: 978-0800721213
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 8 ounces

ABOUT DAN WALSH

I was born in Philadelphia in 1957 (guys don't care if you know) to a mostly
blue-collar, hard-working Irish family. My Dad was the first person on either side of the family to earn a college degree. It took him nine years, working during the day, going to college at night, using the GI Bill from his war days in Korea. In the mid-sixties, General Electric hired him as an engineer for the Apollo space program. We packed up and moved to Florida, which is really where I grew up.
I spent my childhood years playing basketball and surfing. In the spring of my senior year in high school I met the woman who would become my wife, Cindi. We dated for a brief period. I asked her to marry me and, to my great surprise, she said yes. We were married near the end of 1976. We have two children, now grown.
The desire to write novels first began in high school. But I didn't have the time to pursue this passion until 2007. To find out more, visit my website at www.danwalshbooks.com
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For the for the next week, starting today and running till next Monday, September 17th, Dan Walsh is celebrating the release of his new novel, The Reunion, with a 10-book giveaway contest! Five winners will each receive a signed copy of The Reunion, as well as his third novel, The Deepest Waters. (He’s  including this book because it was named a finalist for an ACFW Carol Award for book-of-the-year). Click on the link below to see how easily you can enter the contest!

http://danwalshbooks.com/the-reunion-book-giveaway-contest/

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MY REVIEW

 Dan Walsh’s books get better and better, and The Reunion is just a magnificent story. The characters are so well defined and the scenery is so real it is almost as if you are there, but the best part of this book is the story. Dan is such an excellent story teller that you will simply read this book all the way through without stopping.
  Aaron is so caring and loveable, but he doesn’t see himself that way. So many things happened in his past and he would love for things to be different.
  The title of this book is so fantastic and describes the book completely, and I love the cover. The Reunion is such a touching, tender story that tells about how even when we are doing things right we really can struggle with how things are in our lives, but it also gives us hope.
  The Reunion is a book that I will put on my favorite books of 2012 and I know you will love it also. I highly recommend The Reunion as a keeper and a book you will love to reread again and again.


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

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