The Covered Deep by Brandy Vallance A REVIEW

ABOUT THE COVERED DEEP
SOME DREAMS ARE WORTH SEARCHING FOR
Bianca Marshal is looking for a man who can quote both Jesus and Shakespeare. Not surprisingly, that man is hard to find in the small Appalachian town where she lives. Her mother insists that Bianca lower her standards. One the eve of her twenty-fifth birthday, even Bianca wonders if her mother is right.

Still set on experiencing love, or at least a little adventure, Bianca wins an essay contest that propels her into a whirlwind search for the perfect hero. Via the opulence of London and the mysteries of Palestine, Bianca's true love will be revealed—but not without a price that might be too heavy to pay.

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Worthy Publishing (October 14, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 161795375X
ISBN-13: 978-1617953750
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pound

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brandy Vallance fell in love with the Victorian time period at a young age, loving the customs, manners, and especially the intricate rules of love. Since time travel is theoretically impossible, she lives in the nineteenth century vicariously through her novels. Unaccountable amounts of black tea have fueled this ambition. Brandy's love of tea can only be paralleled by her love of Masterpiece Theater Classics, deep conversations, and a good book. Brandy is the 2013 Operation First Novel winner and the 2012 winner of the ACFW Genesis Contest for historical romance. You can connect with Brandy via her website www.brandyvallance.com, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, YouTube, or Twitter @BrandyVallance.

MY REVIEW
  The Covered Deep by Brandy Vallance is a very good book for a first time author. I really enjoyed the book and felt it was full of such love, but also had a lot of secrets and sadness.
  When Bianca and three others won a trip to the Holy Land it wasn’t what it seemed. To the four of them it just seemed like a wonderful opportunity, but to the one who made the trip possible it was just a set up to see how two of these people who are Christians would act when they are confronted with the most horrible things. It is such a tricky, hateful plan.
   I didn’t like the parts when they were in the Holy Land and they couldn’t even enjoy it, because they were thinking of their own problems and didn’t think about such History and beauty they were missing out on.
  It was also a very tender story, but full of such secrets and lies. For a first time author this was a wonderful book. I look forward to reading more of Brandy Vallance’s books.
Even though this book has lots of troubles and secrets taking away from the Holy Land I still think it is worth reading.
Really did enjoy it.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I receive books free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Book Review Blogger program/BookLook. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express are my own. This is true of any book I review for any publisher or author; I will not review books where a positive review is required and I will always express my own opinions of each book received and read.

A Place in His Heart by Rebecca DeMarino A REVIEW

ABOUT A PLACE IN HIS HEART
Anglican Mary Langton longs to marry for love. Puritan Barnabas Horton still grieves the loss of his beloved wife, but he knows his two young sons need a mother. And yet these two very different people with very different expectations will take a leap of faith, wed, and then embark on a life-changing journey across the ocean to the Colonies. Along the way, each must learn to live in harmony, to wait on God, and to recognize true love where they least expect to find it.

This heartfelt tale of love and devotion is based on debut author Rebecca DeMarino's own ancestors, who came to Long Island in the mid-1600s to establish a life--and a legacy--in the New World.

Series: The Southold Chronicles (Book 1)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell (June 3, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800722183
ISBN-13: 978-0800722180
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 8 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
When Rebecca DeMarino traveled to Horton Point, Long Island, with her mother, Helen Jean Horton Worley, in 1999, passions collided: her love of faith, family, travel, history, and writing. Rebecca's debut novel, A PLACE IN HIS HEART, is a historical romance based on Mary and Barnabas Horton, Rebecca's ninth great-grandparents. Set in 1600's Southold, Long Island, book one of The Southold Chronicles will be released by Revell in June, 2014. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and when not writing, she enjoys family and genealogy, travel, reading, running, baking and gardening. Rebecca is represented by Greg Johnson of WordServe Literary Agency.

MY REVIEW
  A Place in His Heart by Rebecca DeMarino has a good story line that could make a great story but I feel this book is really not that good.
   How can anyone be as cold hearted and mean as Barnabas is. I know he lost his first wife and loved her dearly, but to me he seems to keep holding on to her even though he married Mary. He doesn’t even try to Mary first in his life. His first wife is still there commanding everything they do. Barnabas’ oldest son acts the same way, but Mary keeps on even though her heart is so sad and breaking. To me it seems like Barnabas is only thinking of himself. In a marriage you have to put God first than the other person.
  I think this book was cruel and hurtful to second marriages. If every man was like Barnabas no one would get married a second time.
  So I didn’t like this story, but I read it all, because that was what I was suppose to do to review it.

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I received my free copy 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

Love’s Awakening by Laura Frantz A Review

I WILL HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR AND GIVEAWAY THIS WONDERFUL BOOK. IT WILL BE COMING SOON.

ABOUT LOVE'S AWAKENING
Ellie Ballantyne, youngest child of Silas and Eden, has left finishing school. But back at her family home in Pittsburgh, Ellie finds that her parents are away on a long trip and her siblings don't seem to want her to stay. When she opens a day school for young ladies, she begins tutoring the incorrigible daughter of the enemy Turlock clan. The Turlocks are slaveholders and whiskey magnates, envious of the powerful Ballantynes and suspicious of their abolitionist leanings. As Ellie becomes increasingly tangled with the Turlocks, she finds herself falling in love with an impossible future--and Jack Turlock, a young man striving to free himself from his family's violent legacy. How can she betray her family and side with the enemy? And will Jack ever allow her into his world?

Series: The Ballantyne Legacy (Book 2)
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 15, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800720423
ISBN-13: 978-0800720421
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning historical novelist, Laura Frantz, was born into a family who followed the legendary frontiersman, Daniel Boone, to Kentucky during the turbulent 18th-century and still resides there today. Passionate about all things historical, she writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Celtic themes. Her family lineage is Scottish and Irish.

According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." She is known for the depth of her characterization and research. The author is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California.

Readers can find Laura Frantz at www.laurafrantz.net

MY REVIEW
   Ellie and Jack’s love story is sweet. At the beginning of this novel I couldn’t see any way for them to get together even though they both feel attraction for each other.  Laura Frantz is an excellent story teller and she really is a history author. So many facts and places that happened in history.
  I also like how this book also tells of Ellie’s brothers and sister and how they like or love others. I love the way Ellie and her family love music and play often together.
  Chloe is Jack’s young sister whom no one seems to love except Jack. I really feel for Chloe and want her to have a happy life. Jack is such a good brother to her even though Jack thinks of himself to often.
   This is a very good story, but also very sad. If you love Historical novels Love’s Awakening is for you. I recommend it.

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I received my free copy 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 Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson*A Review

ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS PONY 
It is 1937, and Lucy Turnbull knows better than to wish for a pony this Christmas. Her mother has assured her in no uncertain terms that asking for a pony is the same as asking for the moon. Besides, the only extra mouths they need at their boarding house are the paying kind. Then an interesting pair of strangers comes to town, and Lucy's world changes forever.

From the Inside Flap
Lucy was about halfway to town when she heard a car coming down the road behind her. It was making a lot of noise, and when she looked, smoke was billowing all around it. She stepped to the side of the road as the pale yellow car slowly sputtered and clunked past her. It looked like a pretty car. Too bad it didn't work right.
When Lucy got to town, she noticed the pale yellow car parked in front of Hempley's Garage, and a man in a brown suit was talking to Mr. Hempley. But it was the lady getting out of the car who really captured Lucy's attention. Wrapped in a royal blue coat with a big silver fur collar, she had shining hair almost the same color as the pale yellow car and cut short with bangs that curled like a fringe around her pretty face.
As Lucy got closer, she could see the lady's rosy cheeks and lips of scarlet red. She looked just like a real movie star!
"Hello, doll." The lady smiled down at Lucy.
"Hello," Lucy managed to say back to her.
"Is there a place I can buy a soda around here?" Her voice sounded as sweet as sugar and honey.

Hardcover: 169 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800719271
ISBN-13: 978-0800719272
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus. She also writes many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon. Visit Melody's website at www.melodycarlson.com.


MY REVIEW
  This is my first Christmas book of the season and I knew anything Melody Carlson writes would be fantastic and I was right.  The Christmas Pony is a very sweet, touching, romantic story.
  Lucy was eight years old, but had many thoughts and wishes. Would they all come true and if not which ones. She wished and prayed for a pony, more boarders to help them make it through the winter and to see Mama smile again.
  Ponies cost so much to buy, feed and take care of. Boarders didn’t come much in the winter or around Christmas since they stayed close to home. Also Mama didn’t smile anymore before Lucy’s Dad died three years ago.
  The characters are very realistic and they feel like family. Lucy, her Mom and Grandma are very poor, but a loving family whom tried very hard to keep the farm going.
  The newcomers whose car broke down while Lucy was in town are very out of the ordinary and different. They are George and Veronica. When they come to stay as boarders until the car can be fixed many things happen and things become interesting.
 This story is told by Lucy and it would many very fascinating reading for all, but I believe younger girls would really love it.
 I highly recommend The Christmas Pony for everyone. Very sweet, appealing book.

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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