Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Rebecca Reviews ~ A Daring Venture (Empire State, #2) by Elizabeth Camden


Paperback, 340 pages
Published June 5th 2018 by Bethany House Publishers
 As a biochemist in early 1900s New York, Doctor Rosalind Werner has dedicated her life to the crusade against water-borne diseases. She is at the forefront of a groundbreaking technology that will change the way water is delivered to every household in the city--but only if she can get people to believe in her work.

Newly appointed Commissioner of Water for New York Nickolas Drake is highly skeptical of Rosalind and her team's techniques. When a brewing court case throws him into direct confrontation with her, he is surprised by his reaction to the lovely scientist.

While Rosalind and Nick wage a private war against their own attraction, they stand firmly on opposite sides of a battle that will impact far more than just their own lives. As the controversy grows more public and inflammatory and Rosalind becomes the target of an unknown enemy, these two rivals will face higher stakes than they ever could have known.


About the Author 

Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida. Her novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband near Orlando, Florida.
 
Read more about Elizabeth and her fabulous novels on her website @ http://elizabethcamden.com/meet-elizabeth/




Rebecca's Review

4.5 STARS!!!

"Glass, china, and reputations are easily cracked and never well mended."

"Salmonella enterica, the bacteria that caused typhoid, was surprisingly pretty . . . . Her mission in life was to find a way to kill it." Working tirelessly to prove that minuscule amounts of chlorine in the public's drinking water could save countless lives from water-borne diseases, Dr. Rosalind Werner has also worked tirelessly to guard her reputation in Jersey City, New Jersey. Following a disappointing court case regarding her team's ground-breaking research, Rosalind comes face to face with Nicholas Drake, a man poised to be appointed Commissioner of Labor for the State Water Board of New York; and Nick's plan to provide purer drinking water does not include chlorine.

"Dr. Werner, 'When I saw this box, I thought it was as pretty as a moonbeam, and it made me think of you'."

Nicholas Drake makes no attempt to hide his unabashed admiration of the lovely scientist who has made it her mission to change his mind about chlorine. He might be a outrageously rich former plumber, but common sense tells him that the city's water problems can be solved by better filtration. When his whirlwind attraction to Rosalind hits a snag, the two manage to smooth over their differences and simply enjoy each other's company. Regrettably, secrets and vendettas blindside them both, widening the chasm between them. "They had both burned their bridges with each other and his sadness was overwhelming."

Stepping into one of Elizabeth Camden's stories is like entering an enchanted forest and wanting to get lost; her characters are amazing, her settings are are detailed but fascinating, and her story threads pull at heartstrings that you didn't know she could play. Enjoy the forest!

This book was provided courtesy of Bethany House Publishers. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.

 
Senior Reviewer, Rebecca Maney
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~

 

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Review ~ Jane by the Book by Pepper Basham

Four years ago, Jane Warwick escaped the shame and heartbreak of being jilted at the altar by becoming a housekeeper at the secluded Inn at Simeon Ridge. Predictable and quiet, the inn helps Jane find a place to heal and celebrates her strengths, where she is promoted to head housekeeper. But an unexpected visit to Bath, England, upsets Jane's plans and sends her out of her comfort zone, directly into the harrowing path of historical detective author, Titus Stewart.

The only plans Titus sticks to are family holidays and the ones that send him careening into his story worlds, but when an uptight and nervous innkeeper stumbles into his life - and his latest novel - nonfiction begins to take on a much more interesting gleam.

As the unlikely pair delve into the mystery behind a one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old letter, will they both uncover a romance that stands the test of time?



 About Pepper

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes novels inspired by her love for history and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her Penned in Time series has garnered recognition in the Inspys, Grace Awards, and the ACFW Carol Awards. Her contemporary romance novel, A Twist of Faith, received 4-stars from Romantic Times, and her most recent historical release, The Thorn Healer, received a Top Pick from RT with 4 ½ stars. Her newest contemporary romance, Just the Way You Are, releases in April 2017 and also received a Top Pick from RT! You can get to know Pepper on her website, Facebook,  Instagram or over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley. 


Jane by the Book is part of a collection of eight novellas right now available for pre-order and it's ONLY .99!!! That's right. 99cents, Y'all, so hop on over and pre-order your copy today before the price goes up, up, up!

Purchase link:
*Amazon 

*I am not affiliated in any way with Amazon and make NO money if you use the link to purchase the book. 




My (Short) Review

Lighthearted, witty, and charming, Jane by the Book is Basham’s latest rom-com that had me smiling and chuckling during my reading experience. I finished Jane and Titus's story with a deep sigh of satisfaction and perhaps...an audible awwww! 😊

I received an electronic copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a review. 
All opinions are my own.

~Happy Reading~


Thursday, July 5, 2018

Giveaway ~ Farm to Table Linen Tea/Dish Towel

I'm always coming across the cutest decor items on sale. I can't remember where I picked up this gray linen tea/dish towel with white transfer lettering but I know there are some of you out there who decorate farmhouse style in your home.


If you are interested in this cozy tea/dish towel, please follow along through GFC in the right sidebar, and leave a comment below telling me your best bargain find, along with your email address. If you have your settings as a 'No Reply' blogger, please make sure you leave your email, otherwise I have no way to contact you if you win! Due to postage costs, this giveaway is open to US ONLY (48 contiguous states). A winner will be chosen on 7/10.


~Romans 15:5,6~
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.   


For the Sake of the Gospel

Graphic created with Picmonkey
integrity 

[in-teg-ri-tee]
noun
  1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
  2. the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.
  3. a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of a ship's hull.

Proverbs 11:3 ~ The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.


A short devotional from Truth for Life with Alistair Begg ~ Walk in the Truth 

(Click above link for FREE download from Truth for Life)

Have a blessed day, my friends!

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Review ~ The Captured Bride (Daughters of the Mayflower #3) by Michelle Griep

256 Pages, Barbour Books
Mercy Lytton, a scout with keen eyesight raised among the Mohawks, and Elias Dubois, a condemned traitor working both sides of the conflict, must join together to get a shipment of gold safely into British hands.
A brand new series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.

A War-Torn Countryside Is No Place for a Lady
Mercy Lytton is a lady like none other. Raised amongst the Mohawks, she straddles two cultures, yet each are united in one cause. . .to defeat the French. Born with a rare gift of unusually keen eyesight, she is chosen as a scout to accompany a team of men on a dangerous mission. Yet it is not her life that is threatened. It is her heart.  Condemned as a traitor, Elias Dubois faces the gallows. At the last minute, he is offered his freedom if he consents to accompany a stolen shipment of French gold to a nearby fort—but he is the one they stole it from in the first place. It turns out that the real thief is the beguiling woman, Mercy Lytton, for she steals his every waking thought.   Can love survive divided loyalties in a backcountry wilderness?

Purchase Link



My Review

In this third installment of The Daughters of the Mayflower series, Griep excels at descriptive prose with scenes that are vivid and detailed. Seriously! She is amazing at creating word pictures. And my emotions were tugged even though I didn’t feel any connection to Mercy. Action and mild intrigue kept me turning pages, but I felt lost and confused most of the time. Maybe it’s because I don’t know much about the French and Indian War but whatever it was, it made the story hard to get through. I liked Elias’s character and the mystery surrounding his identity. I feel like an epic fail at articulating my thoughts on this one. The story was okay but not as enjoyable as some of the authors other works. Please don’t skip reading The Captured Bride based on my opinion! I am definitely in the minority on this one. :)

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

~Happy Reading~

 
*I am not affiliated with CBD and receive no monetary gain if you purchase the book through the link provided above. It is only provided as a courtesy.