Review ~ Bountiful Blessings: A Creative Devotional Experience by Susie Larson, Carolyn Williams (Illustrations)

 

Paperback

Published January 2nd 2018 by Bethany House Publishers

Rest in God's Blessings as You Color
This beautiful coloring book is for readers who want to unwind with a reminder of God's love and purpose for them. We often live our lives worried about to-do lists and responsibilities, forgetting how God feels about us and who we are in him. Because of this struggle, author Susie Larson began posting nightly blessings on Facebook to encourage her fans and friends, and since then, thousands have responded and forwarded the blessings along to others.

The left hand pages of this book contain a blessing packed with biblical promises as well as a related Scripture to point you back to God's timeless truth. The right hand pages contain beautiful, intricate illustrations for you to color that bring God's wonders into focus.

Read, rest, and create as you soak in the wonder of God's love for you.

My Review

3 STARS

In Bountiful Blessings: A Creative Devotional Experience by Susie Larson, a super easy-to-read and understand devotional, I found the Scripture quotations to be my favorite aspect of the book. The blessings are written in an Irish style and are like having a sugary snack while you read your favorite book—not a lot of nutrition to nourish the body but just enough to make you hungry for something meatier. It’s good for a short respite with its beautiful illustrations by Carolyn Williams that will provide hours of coloring enjoyment.

I received a paperback copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. No compensation has been received.

~Happy Reading~

COVER REVEAL + Pre-Order Link

From author Dawn Crandall: This ebook-only novella collection will only be available until the first week of July, and then it will be "unpublished" from sell sites. ***The ebook edition of the collection will remain on the buyer’s device after the ebook is disbanded. 

And then all of the novellas and short stories in the collection will be published separately from their respective publishers in PRINT and ebook! Look up each of the authors (author post is here) for more information about these upcoming novellas! I'll have posts about them in the near future too!

All proceeds from the sale of this collection will be donated to the LiveStrong Foundation.
Enjoy seven romances through the ages in this Timeless Love limited time ebook. An open invitation to fall in love with the writing styles of a few new-to-you multi-published authors of your favorite Christian romance eras.

Isn't this cover gorgeous?! You know you don't want to miss out on this one!
I already PRE-ORDERED my copy for ONLY 99 cents!!!
AMAZON
(as always, double check the price before you order!)

~Happy Reading~

Reblogging ~ Dawn Crandall: Timeless Love: Details about the Genres, Eras and Settings...

Dawn Crandall: Timeless Love: Details about the Genres, Eras and ...: Here are a few more sneak peaks at the beautiful graphics on the seven separate novella covers before tomorrow when we reveal the full covers...

Review ~ Winning Miss Winthrop (Regency Brides: A Promise of Hope #1) by Carolyn Miller

Paperback, 320 pages

Expected publication: March 27th 2018 by Kregel Publications

Catherine Winthrop has cried out to God too many times to count. Years ago, the man who stole her heart rejected her--and she's never recovered. Now tragedy has brought him back into her life. This time it isn't her heart he's taking, it's her home and her family's good name--and she has no one to share her grief. 

Jonathan Carlew's life may look enviable from the outside--wealthy, handsome, landed--but the mystery surrounding his birth has shadowed his entire life. Now as he ascends to the barony, fresh challenges await, including a scheming mama who wants him to embrace power, even at the cost of losing love. How can he remain the kind, honorable man he strives to be and still meet the demands of his new society responsibilities? 

These two broken hearts must decide whether their painful past and bitter present will be all they can share, or if forgiveness can provide a path to freedom for the future. 

Set in the sumptuous salons of Bath, Regency England's royal breeding ground for gossip, Winning Miss Winthrop is the first volume in Carolyn Miller's new series. Fans of the wholesome and richly drawn first series won’t want to miss this new set of characters. 

Carolyn Miller lives in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn's previous novels have won several contests, including the 2014 RWA "Touched by Love" and 2014 ACFW Gensis contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy.

Purchase Links:

Amazon

CBD

My Review 

"...trials are merely opportunities for faith to grow."

Having fallen in love three years before, Mr. Carlew, a member of the merchant class with a questionable background, and Miss Winthrop, a baron’s daughter, were thwarted in their romance. Due to unanticipated circumstances, they are thrown in to close proximity. Indicative of classic Regency, copious misunderstandings persist between them. Will the interference of their mother’s cause them to remain estranged? Or will Jonathan and Catherine, through many trials, discover that loves flame has not been extinguished?

While I enjoyed this novel, my attention wandered. Jon and Catherine did not sizzle. And I’m a fan of more dialogue. I felt like I was hearing second hand about their past. But, it was delightful to see Lavinia and Nicholas from The Elusive Miss Ellison appearing throughout the book. Catching up on their life was a highlight for me. Catherine’s Aunt Drusilla and General Whitby are lovable characters that found a place in my heart.

Miller is a gifted writer who knows the Regency period. The descriptions of the unusual weather taking place were vivid, making me cringe at the thought of all that mud! The masquerade ball was most expressive, drawing me right into the scene. Undertones of Persuasion are recognizable which makes me positive historical fiction lovers and fans of Jane Austen will undoubtedly enjoy a few hours of escapism with Winning Miss Winthrop. I look forward to the next book in the series because Miller is more than proficient at conveying the Regency Era and all it entails, and it is my favorite historical period to read about.

I was provided an electronic copy of the book from the publisher through Netgalley. I was not obligated to write a review. No compensation has been received.

Review ~ A Light on the Hill (Cities of Refuge, #1) by Connilyn Cossette

Paperback, 352 pages

Published February 6th 2018 by Bethany House Publishers

After being branded during the battle of Jericho, Moriyah has had no prospects for marriage--until now. She hopes to please the man, but things go horribly wrong and she is forced to flee for her life. Seeking safety at one of the Levitical cities of refuge, she is unprepared for the dangers she faces, and the enemies--and allies--she encounters on her way.

About the Author

Connilyn Cossette is the CBA-Bestselling author of the Out from Egypt Series from Bethany House Publishers. There is not much she enjoys more than digging into the rich, ancient world of the Bible, discovering new gems of grace that point to Jesus, and weaving them into an immersive fiction experience. Connect with her at www.ConnilynCossette.com

Purchase Links:

Amazon

CBD

My Review

4 STARS!!!

A Light on the Hill  was an enjoyable read with some weighty moments that slammed me for a loop. Cossette has woven together a resplendent story of what it would have been like to flee for your life to a city of refuge in biblical times. It is extremely detailed, which I must confess bogged me down a few times, and I found myself skimming more than usual. In spite of that, I was mesmerized by Moriyah and the situation she is in. From the moment she meets Darek, their attraction to one another is palpable; their restraint admirable.

The history following the fall of Jericho is compelling. I felt the pull to stay in the story and experience the landscape in a new and terrifying way. The pagan temple practices were horrific and you know a scene is well-written when it literally makes you want to close your eyes. That is one thing I love about this authors writing skill. It is possible to be repulsed and fascinated at the same time with what she is describing. Do not let that be a deterrent for you, dear readers! History comes alive on the page! I highly recommend this book. It is a haunting yet beautiful rendering of Biblical historical fiction.

I was gifted a copy of the book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. No compensation has been received.

~Happy Reading~

From God's Holy Word

Joshua 20:2-9 "Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state their case before the elders of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled."

So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh. Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentally could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.

In Christ Alone, My Hope is Found!

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me."

Rebecca Reviews ~ A Light on the Hill (Cities of Refuge, #1) by Connilyn Cossette

Paperback, 352 pages

Published February 6th 2018 by Bethany House Publishers

After being branded during the battle of Jericho, Moriyah has had no prospects for marriage--until now. She hopes to please the man, but things go horribly wrong and she is forced to flee for her life. Seeking safety at one of the Levitical cities of refuge, she is unprepared for the dangers she faces, and the enemies--and allies--she encounters on her way.

About the Author

Connilyn Cossette is the CBA-Bestselling author of the Out from Egypt Series from Bethany House Publishers. There is not much she enjoys more than digging into the rich, ancient world of the Bible, discovering new gems of grace that point to Jesus, and weaving them into an immersive fiction experience. Connect with her at www.ConnilynCossette.com

Purchase Links:

Amazon

CBD

Rebecca’s Review

4 STARS!!!

" . . . a light in a dark place to those who are weary and in need of rest."

Moriyah has suffered unspeakable tragedies in her young life; kidnapped by Midianite traders, taken to Jericho and forced to serve a pagan goddess, brutally branded as a temple priestess; finally being rescued and returned to her father in Shiloh. Shame and humiliation prompt Moriyah to hide her marred face beneath a veil, in an attempt to hide her scar. Taken by surprise when her father announces that he has arranged a betrothal, she dares to hope for her future. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes and Moriyah must test the new Hebrew justice system in ways that she never could have imagined.

"Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 'Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, Designate the cities of refuge, . . . . .that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there' . . . . " Joshua 20: 1-3 Forced to flee her beloved home, Moriyah is eventually accompanied by an unlikely ally, whose strength and courage mirror her own while they run for their lives to Kedesh, a city of refuge.

This fascinating story takes its readers on an extraordinary journey to little known places, revealing the early application of God's laws through His chosen leaders, whose own lives were a human reflection of his eternal glory, justice and mercy.

I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

Rebecca is a graduate of Bryan College with a degree in Christian Education, and is currently serving at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gastonia, North Carolina as the Director of Children's Ministry. With nearly 28 years of experience in her field, she has had many opportunities to use her love of reading and writing in creative ways across the generations. A wife, mother of four "nearly" grown children, and grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren, Rebecca has been able to return to her love of reading and more recently reviewing, with a renewed passion for the "beauty of story".

~Happy Reading~

Review ~ His Risk (The Amish of Hart County #4) by Shelley Shepard Gray

Published March 6th 2018 by Avon Inspire 

Paperback, 288 page

New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray brings us another compelling suspense in her Amish of Hart County series, this time featuring an undercover English DEA agent who will do anything to protect the Amish girl he loves.

Calvin Fisher left the Amish community at fourteen and never looked back. Only his brother’s illness can bring him back to Hart County.  Now, as Calvin works to make amends, he meets Alice, a local nursery school teacher, and falls hard for her. But he has a secret that could threaten the happiness he’s finally found.

Alice shouldn’t like—or want—Calvin. He’s English, has a questionable past, and an even more questionable job. Still, she can’t help being intrigued. Though Calvin assures Alice that he’s worthy of her, she’s torn between surrendering to her growing feelings and steering clear of him.

When a sudden surge of criminal activity alarms the community and even targets Alice, Calvin fears that his double life has put everyone he loves at risk. As for Alice, she can’t help but wonder if the brave and honorable man she’s lost her heart to is far more dangerous than she could ever imagine.

Purchase Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
CBD

I started writing about the Amish because their way of life appealed to me. I wanted to write stories about regular, likeable people in extraordinary situations-and who just happened to be Amish.

Getting the opportunity to write Inspirational novels is truly gratifying. With every book, I feel my faith grows stronger. And that makes me feel very special indeed.

Connect with Shelley:

Website

Facebook

My Review

4 ½  STARS!!!

I like a good story with a male POV included. Shelley Shepard Gray has written a vivid character when it comes to Calvin Fisher. He had a hard life growing up and left home at fourteen, making a lot of unwise choices afterward that have led him to living a double life. He takes a huge risk returning to Horse Cove, Kentucky when he finds out his brother is sick. Trying to make up for the past, he hopes his presence in his Amish brother’s home will not put his family and Alice Yoder in harm’s way.

Alice is a nice girl with grit. She may look meek and mild on the outside, after all she is a preschool teacher, but she is not afraid to speak up when necessary. She needs a little excitement in her life and Calvin is going to do just that. Whoa there, not that way! This is Inspirational fiction, after all. J

Needless to say, since His Risk is a romantic suspense novel (emphasis on the suspense) there was danger involved. I was hanging on every word Gray wrote. She has crafted some absolutely amazing characters! I was a fan of Calvin from the beginning but then I met West and, oh my, I can’t even talk about him. He turned out to be my favorite character.

My heart was pounding so hard throughout much of this story. I felt like I was living within the pages. I loved hearing from more than two or three characters. It is brilliant and gives much more depth and dimension to the story than if it had just been Calvin and Alice’s POV. And because Alice’s friend, Irene, has such an active role in the story, hopefully we will get to see what happens to her later on in another book.

There are twists and turns I did not expect. Some I was happy about. Others…not so much. It is not like most Amish books I have read but still a fabulous book and I highly recommend it. His Risk will stay on my keeper shelf and be re-read many times. It is that good!

I was gifted a copy of the book from the author and publisher. I was not required to write a review. No compensation has been received.

~Happy Reading~

Review ~ On Love's Gentle Shore (Prince Edward Island Dreams #3) by Liz Johnson

Paperback 336 Pages

Published July 4th 2017

From the Back Cover

"A beautiful, haunting tale. With characters you'll want for friends, a charming island setting, and a love story that will leave a smile, this is a story to be savored long after the last page is turned."--Catherine West, author of The Things We Knew


Natalie O'Ryan had no plans to return to Prince Edward Island. But when her fiancé books their wedding in her hometown and schedules a summer at Rose's Red Door Inn, she sets out to plan the perfect wedding. Yet she can't possibly plan for a run-in with Justin Kane--the best friend she left behind all those years ago after promising to stay.

Justin has never forgotten Natalie. He'd been prepared to follow her off the island until tragedy struck, leaving him to run the family dairy farm. He's done the best he can with the life that was thrust upon him--but with Natalie back in the picture, he begins to realize just how much joy he's been missing.

After Natalie's reception venue falls through, she must scramble to find an alternative, and the only option seems to be a barn on Justin's property. As they work together to get the dilapidated building ready for the party, Natalie and Justin may discover that there is more between them than broken promises and an old friendship.

Short Review

5 STARS!!!

Wow! When I started reading this book, I didn't realize it was third in a series so I had a bit of a challenge to figure out the who's who but once I did, I was hooked! There are many layers to this story and its characters that are beautifully revealed throughout the whole book. A tome it is not, so the few hours it took to read it sped by. Yes, I read it in one sitting! Liz Johnson is a new-to-me author and I can assure you I will be looking for her books from now on. She writes realistic scenarios making it easily relatable. If you enjoy contemporary romance with a firm Christian foundation, this is a book you should read.  

~Happy Reading~