A Hero's Promise by Roseanna M. White

About the Book
Twenty-year-old Julienne Lane eagerly awaits the return of her fiancé and naval officer, Jack Arnaud, but she has not been idle. She and her best friend, Freeda Payne, have been working hard to support the abolitionist movement. Their efforts have been clouded in secrecy, but when Freeda shows up in Julienne’s cellar with a runaway slave, the need for secrets becomes imperative. When Jack returns home, will Julienne threaten his career in the Navy by including him in their plans, or will she hide news of the slave from him and put his trust to the test? Moreover, why does her fiancé appear to be hiding a secret of his own?
Despite a harrowing tour of duty in the North Atlantic, Jack’s hopes for rest and recuperation are put on hold. His wedding to Julienne is in two days, but a more pressing matter comes to his attention from his associates in the Culper Ring. Should he ask his beautiful fiancée to postpone the wedding for the third time in two years? How will he and the Culper Ring foil the malicious plans they have uncovered? And why does Julienne blush so brightly when he asks her about the cellar? The clock is ticking. Danger looms. Can justice prevail? Will their love survive?

My Thoughts
This novella is extremely short so this review will be as well! I loved seeing little Jack as an adult and I loved the relationship between him and Lenna! I also enjoyed seeing the Lane's  and it was cool how Jack's father found love again. It was pretty cool how the author was able to pack so much in to such little space and I loved it! My only complaint is that I wish it was longer just because I love this author's writing so much! I can't wait for Circle of Spies!

Meet the Author
Roseanna M. White grew up in the mountains of West Virginia, the beauty of which inspired her to begin writing as soon as she learned to pair subjects with verbs. She spent her middle and high school days penning novels in class, and her love of books took her to a school renowned for them. After graduating from St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, she and her husband moved back to the Maryland side of the same mountains they equate with home.

Roseanna is the author of two biblical novels, A Stray Drop of Blood and Jewel of Persia, both from WhiteFire Publishing (www.WhiteFire-Publishing.com), and Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland, a historical romance, with Summerside Press. She is the senior reviewer at the Christian Review of Books, which she and her husband founded, the senior editor at WhiteFire Publishing, and a member of ACFW, HisWriters, HEWN Marketing, and Colonial Christian Fiction Writers.

Friday Memes 2/28

Hosted by: Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

The Question:

Have you stopped accepting books from either authors or publishers to try to catch up? If not, do you think you would ever do that?

My Answer:

I haven't done that nor do I think I ever will! I typically have little to no spending money so reviewing books is the only way I can get all of the books I want to read and if I stopped I would miss out on so many books! Yes I have been swamped with books (like right now for instance) but I am a fast reader so it doesn't take me too long to catch up as long as I'm in a reading mood!

Hosted by: Rose City Reader

"Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name."

"They're ready for you, Miss Rourke." Ciddah looked up at the enforcer and took a deep breath. She hugged her CompuChart and stood from her seat on the bench, wobbling on her stilettos.
Captives by Jill Williamson

My Thoughts
Pretty good beginning! It's a prologue so it doesn't suck you into the story right away but you can definitely tell that it is set in the future!

Dating, Dining, and Desperation by Melody Carlson

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Dating, Dining, and Desperation B&H Books (March 1, 2014) by Melody Carlson
MY THOUGHTS:
I enjoyed the first book of this series last year, and it was really fun to dive back into Daphne's life in Appleton!
Daphne was again a great character and I really liked how she is more down to earth and the fact that even though she has a deadline on finding a groom she isn't being obnoxiously forward and is instead trusting that it will all work out according to God's plan.
It was great to see all the characters from the previous book again and the new ones like Sabrina, Daphne's new southern belle neighbor, and Mabel, the girl Daphne takes under her wing, were fantastic as well!

And while I think I liked the first one a little bit more I did still really enjoy this book and can't wait to see what happens next in Daphne's life!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past eight years, she has published over ninety books for children, teens, and adults--with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards.
She has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Daphne Ballinger has learned to accept her deceased, eccentric aunt’s strange request that she marry in order to inherit her estate, along with taking over her aunt’s hometown paper’s advice column. But knowing and accepting that God’s will be done becomes harder when a new neighbor, a divorced socialite, learns of Daphne’s predicament and takes on the task of finding her the perfect man, even if it includes speed dating. When God does open Daphne’s heart, it is instead to take in a young girl left parentless and in the care of her dying grandmother. It may be a temporary arrangement until the girl’s uncle returns from the Marines, but God uses Daphne to speak His heavenly love and protection into the life of the child -- whom Daphne soon discovers has a very handsome and single uncle.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Dating, Dining, and Desperation, go HERE.

Thrive by Mark Hall

About the Book
Taking the Next Step in Your Faith Life to GROW DEEP AND STRONG The only way to be the hands and feet of Jesus is to love him and serve others out of our love for him. But to do that we must first be deeply rooted in our life with God. In Thrive, Mark Hall, lead singer for the popular band Casting Crowns, shows us what it really looks like to walk with Jesus. In part 1, Digging Deep, Hall demonstrates how to truly engage with the Word and a community of faith, worshiping and pursuing God wholeheartedly as our hearts and minds are transformed. In part 2, Reaching Out, we see the fruits of our engagement with the Word and the community, the grateful giving back of service and love. Using relatable stories, grounded teaching, and great application, Hall helps everyone who wants to take the next step of faith and see their life grow deep and strong.

My Thoughts
I always enjoy Mark Hall's books and this one was no different! I love how he writes in a way that is really clear and easy to understand but is in no way “dumbed down”. I also really likes how he'll incorporate some of Casting Crowns songs into what he's talking about, it gives me a whole new look at the songs and makes me appreciate them so much more!
There were many great parts of this book and I really think there is something for every Christian, in here. The author not only points out some truths that we often miss but he also shares practical ways to live them out! I highly recommend this book!


Meet the Author
Mark Hall is a true storyteller and a teacher with a heart for ministry. He is lead singer and songwriter for the Grammy Award-winning band Casting Crowns, whose first three albums have sold nearly four million copies. He has been in ministry nearly twenty years and has served at Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia, for the last eight years. Mark admits he'd be overwhelmed by life's demands were it not for his wife of nineteen years, Melanie, who also serves as Casting Crowns' road manager. Even on tour, Mark and Melanie homeschool their four children: John Michael, Reagan, Zoe, and Hope.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Waiting on Wednesday #101: Silenced

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're
eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Silenced by Dani Pettrey
Bethany House-May 6, 2014

About the Book

Jake Knew Something Was Wrong. 

But He Never Guessed How Wrong. 

A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route brings her face-to-face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something darker? When the case is handed to overburdened sheriff Landon Grainger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again--but he could never prepare for where the mystery will take him.

Kayden's climbing expertise soon leads her and Jake to the realization that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is onto them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine. 

Why I Want It

I have absolutely loved all of Dani Pettrey's books and I am dying to read Jake and Kayden's story! It has been slowly coming throughout the other books and I cannot wait to see it all play out!

A March Bride by Rachel Hauck

About the Book
Susanna has found her true prince, and their happily ever after is just around the corner. But when Nate asks her to give up something precious to her, Susanna can’t help but wonder if it’s a sign that their love is not meant to be.
Susanna Truitt (Once Upon A Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She’ll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, Susanna’s heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God's plan for her.
Nathaniel would do anything for his bride-to-be. But he knows his position requires that she give up a lot to be with him. Her life will never be her own---right down to her very identity. When she travels home to St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, right before the wedding, Nathaniel fears she won’t return. Gathering his courage, he devises a plan to win his bride all over again, and together they seek out a kingdom to treasure above all.

My Thoughts
I read and loved Once Upon A Prince last year and so I was super excited when I found out that this novella was about the couple from that book's wedding! I once again really like Nathaniel and Susanna and I really enjoyed seeing how the next part of their story played out!
I loved how the author did a great job of creating a problem for the couple to work through in this story without it being ridiculous or annoying to readers.
I really don't want to spoil anything so I'm going to keep this short, but I did really love this novella!!

Meet the Author
Rachel Hauck is the author of the best selling and RITA finalist, The Wedding Dress, as well as the ACFW Book of the Year winner Sweet Caroline, and RITA Finalist Love Starts With Elle. Hauck penned the critically acclaimed Songbird Novels with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, .
Her current release, Once Upon A Prince, received a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly and Booklist.
She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their mini schnauzer, Miss Indpendent.
Rachel earned a degree in Journalism from Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan.
She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now serves on the Executive Board. She was named ACFW Mentor of the Year in 2012.
Visit her web site at www.rachelhauck.com to sign up for her newsletter, read her blog, and to follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Top Ten Authors I Would Love to Meet

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

#1. Julie Lessman-I have corresponded a bit with her and she is one of the kindest and most genuine people I know and I would love to meet her!
#2. Melissa Tagg-She seems so fun and is really hysterical and I think she'd be a great person to spend time with!
#3. Susan May Warren-She has long been my favorite author and I have read all of her books and it would be really cool to talk to her!
#4. Jen Turano-Her books are so good and funny and she seems like a really nice person!
#5. Jenny B. Jones-Her books are hysterical and she sounds like she is too and since I love to laugh I think we could have fun!
#6. Mary Connealy-A great and funny author who seems really down to earth and easy to talk to!
#7. Ronie Kendig-Her books are simply amazing and it would be so cool to meet her!
#8. Jocelyn Green-A great author who seems really nice and genuine!
#9. Dani Pettrey-Another fantastic author whose books are pure awesome and I would just really like to meet!
#10. Jody Hedlund-I love her books and she sounds like such a wonderful person!

Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck

About the Book
Regina Beswick was born to be a princess. But she's content to be a small-town girl, running a classic auto restoration shop, unaware a secret destiny awaits her. One that will leap from the pages of her grandmother's hand-painted book of fairytales. Tanner Burkhardt is the stoic Minister of Culture for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg. When he is tasked to retrieve the long-lost princess, he must overcome his fear of failure in order to secure his nation's future---and his own. Yet lurking in the political shadows is a fierce opponent with sinister plans to abolish the throne forever. Overwhelmed with opposition, Regina must decide if she's destined to restore old cars or an ancient nation. Together---with a little divine intervention---Regina and Tanner discover the truth of her heritage and the healing power of true love.
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/tk6Wt

My Thoughts
After adoring Once Upon a Prince last year, I was extremely excited to read this sequel, and to my great delight it did not disappoint and I loved this one too!
I loved Regina and how down to earth she was! It was so cool how she didn't let discovering she was a princess change who she was and instead did everything she could to stay as normal as possible! I also loved how gracious she was and how she handled the different situations that came her way.
Tanner was also great and I definitely identified with his fear of failure. I loved watching him grow through the course of this book.
I enjoyed seeing Nathaniel and Susanna from the first book again, and the new characters that were introduced in this one were great too. Everyone from Reggie's dad and Al to her staff in Hessenberg were fantastic!
I thought the author did a fantastic job of making everything seem so real even though it was a fictional place. I especially liked all of the “historical” parts that made it so much more authentic!
In short I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it!

Meet the Author
Rachel Hauck is the author of the best selling and RITA finalist, The Wedding Dress, as well as the ACFW Book of the Year winner Sweet Caroline, and RITA Finalist Love Starts With Elle. Hauck penned the critically acclaimed Songbird Novels with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, .
Her current release, Once Upon A Prince, received a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly and Booklist.
She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their mini schnauzer, Miss Indpendent.
Rachel earned a degree in Journalism from Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan.
She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now serves on the Executive Board. She was named ACFW Mentor of the Year in 2012.

Visit her web site at www.rachelhauck.com to sign up for her newsletter, read her blog, and to follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of her latest "swoon"-worthy romance,  Princess Ever After, with a fun $200 "Princess" prize package giveaway and a Facebook "Princess" party on March 6th. Grab your tiaras and RSVP today!

  One winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa cash card (buy your very own "princess ever after" gown or tanks of gas for your "royal" ride)
• Princess Ever After, Once Upon a Prince, and The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 6th. Winner will be announced at Rachel's "Princess" Facebook Party on March 6th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of "royal" book chat, princess-themed trivia, laughter, prizes, and an exclusive look at the next book in the Royal Wedding series!

So grab your copy of Princess Ever After and join Rachel and friends on the evening of March 6th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 6th!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #111

 Hosted By: Book Journey

Here is what I finished last week:

I had a great week of reading and I really liked/loved all of these books!

What I am currently reading:

I've barely started this but I can't wait to dive in!

What I hope to read this week:

Hoping to read more than this but haven't figure out which books are next!

Blog Posts
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #110
The Rancher's Courtship by Laurie Kingery
Top Ten Reasons I Love Being a Book Blogger/Reader
Hill Country Cattleman by Laurie Kingery
Waiting on Wednesday #100: Vow Unbroken
The Preacher's Bride by Laurie Kingery
Widow of Gettysburg by Jocelyn Green

Friday Memes 2/21
It Had to Be You by Susan May Warren

Stacking the Shelves 37
The Icing on the Cake by Janice Thompson
The Dream Dress by Janice Thompson

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!

Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by!

The Dream Dress by Janice Thompson

About the Book
A seamstress at a swanky bridal boutique, Gabi Delgado dreams of doing more than ripping out seams and fitting dresses to doe-eyed brides. She wants to see her own dress designs gracing the young women of Texas. When Jordan Spencer, the editor of Texas Bride magazine visits the shop to do a feature, Gabi is devastated to lose her job in his very influential presence. Convinced she'll never get her dreams off the ground now, Gabi needs lots of encouragement--especially from her friend Bella Neeley--to take a chance and start her business. And as she gets to know Jordan, she discovers that she may have to take a chance on love as well. Could it be that she'll have to design her own wedding dress soon?
As always, Janice Thompson delivers fun, laughter, and romance as she takes readers back to Galveston, Texas, to spend more time with their favorite quirky characters along with fabulous new ones.

My Thoughts
Another fun book from Janice Thompson! From the brief moments we saw Gabi in the previous book I knew I was going to like her story and I did! Having watched Say Yes to the Dress several times I had an idea of what went on behind the scenes of a wedding gown boutique but it was cool to get an even closer look at the craziness that the alterations specialist has to put up with!
Gabi was a great character and I loved how humble she was about her abilities and how dedicated she was to her work!
And I really liked Jordan! It was great how he didn't exploit the not so great things he learned even though he as a reporter he could have. I also really liked how he was constantly encouraging Gabi.
Gabi's mom and Mimi were fun new characters and I loved seeing all the characters from the Weddings by Bella series and the previous to books in this series again.
The Fred and Ginger references were fun and there were quite a few funny moments!
A great ending to another fun series!

Meet the Author
Janice Thompson also writes under the name Janice Hanna. She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published over eighty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children's books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. Janice currently serves as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She was thrilled to be named the 2010 Barbour/Heartsong Author of the Year, with three books on the top ten list for that house. Janice is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online course, "Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer" (www.freelancewritingcourses.com) has been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all. You can find out more about Janice at www.janiceathompson.com or www.freelancewritingcourses.com. Her Facebook page can be located here: https://www.facebook.com/JaniceHannaThompson

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Icing on the Cake by Janice Thompson

About the Book
Scarlet Lindsey's aunt Wilhelmina may be Texas's most popular cake baker extraordinaire, but she's also getting on in years. When Scarlet decides to take on the role of cake decorator at her cranky aunt's bidding, it's just the beginning of a series of misunderstandings and mishaps that will lead her to compete in a cake challenge on national television--and might even lead her to finding true love.
Fan favorite Janice Thompson is back with more wit, more weddings, and more of what her readers love best--bridal business drama. Bella and the gang are all here and readers will fall in love with the newest quirky characters straight from the creative mind of a fantastic storyteller.

My Thoughts

 I loved this book! Scarlet was fantastic and I felt I really could relate to her!It was great to see her become comfortable in her own skin! Having grown up on old TV show reruns I loved all of her I Love Lucy references and she just generally amused me.

Armando was great too. I hadn't had a very high opinion of him in all of the other books but he won me over in this one! It was awesome to get a look into what made him the way he was and I loved watching as he matured through the course of the book.

The baking aspect was fun and it was cool to get a behind the scenes look at all that goes into making a wedding cake!

I again thoroughly enjoyed having the characters from the Weddings by Bella series and Picture Perfect show-up and Scarlet's family was fun including her Auntie Willy!

All in all a great second book in a fun series!

Meet the Author
Janice Thompson also writes under the name Janice Hanna. She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published over eighty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children's books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. Janice currently serves as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She was thrilled to be named the 2010 Barbour/Heartsong Author of the Year, with three books on the top ten list for that house. Janice is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online course, "Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer" (www.freelancewritingcourses.com) has been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all. You can find out more about Janice at www.janiceathompson.com or www.freelancewritingcourses.com. Her Facebook page can be located here: https://www.facebook.com/JaniceHannaThompson

Stacking the Shelves #37

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

*Sorry for the bad lighting (I had to do it in our basement) and my quiet voice, it was late and my fam was asleep so my voice just automatically hushed itself!

Books to Review
The Dream Dress by Janice Thompson (Revell)
A Heart's Rebellion by Ruth Axtell (Revell)
Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck (Litfuse)
Dancing With Fireflies by Denise Hunter (Litfuse)
It Had to Be You by Susan May Warren (Tyndale)
All In by Mark&Parker Batterson (Zondervan)
A Match Made in Texas by Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, &Carol Cox (Bethany House)
A Draw of Kings by Patrick W. Carr (Bethany House)
Uncompromising by Hannah Farver (MP Newsroom)
If the Shoe Fits by Sandra D. Bricker (MP Newsroom)
Widow of Gettysburg by Jocelyn Green (MP Newsroom)
Vow Unbroken by Caryl McAdoo (Author)
Dating, Dining, and Desperation by Melody Carlson (CFBA)
Echoes of Mercy by Kim Vogel Sawyer (Blogging for Books)
Outcasts by Jill Williamson (BookLook)
Thrive by Mark Hall (BookLook)

Books I Was Given
A Captain for Laura Rose by Stephanie Grace Whitson
She Shall by Praised by Ginny Aiken
Once Upon A Winter's Heart by Melody Carlson
Love Finds You In Bridal Veil, Oregon by Miralee Ferrell

Books I Won
Beowulf by Ronie Kendig (signed copy) from Kara@A Book Lover's Heart

Books I Bought
A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell
Partials by Dan Wells

Kindle Books
For Review
Worth the Wait by Laura Jackson (Author)
The Language of Souls by Lena Goldfinch (Blog Tour)
Aire by Lena Goldfinch (Blog Tour)
Song Stone by Lena Goldfinch (Blog Tour)
Haunting Joy by Lena Goldfinch (Blog Tour)
Plots and Pans by Kelly Eileen Hake (NetGalley)
The Paris Connection by Cerella Sechrist (Blog Tour)
First Kisses by Linda Goodnight, Debra Clopton, Camy Tang, Janet Tronstad, Margaret Daley and Lacy Williams (Blog Tour)
Raptor 6 by Ronie Kendig (NetGalley)
Other
What Did Jesus Really Mean When He Said Follow Me? by David Platt
Georgia on Her Mind by Rachel Hauck
Dangerous Deception by Anne Patrick
Almost Perfect by Martha Rowe Sconnely
Leavesly by Reni Huang
The Icing on the Cake by Janice Thompson
The Wishing Well by Holly Zitting
Moonlight Masquerade by Ruth Axtell
Stallions at Burnt Rock by Paul Bagdon
Critical Pursuit by Janice Cantore
She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell
Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer
Plots and Pans
Bellflower by Amber Stokes
A Bid For Love by Rachel Ann Nunes
Child of the Loch by Elizabeth Delana Rosa
The Eyes Have It by L. M. Reed,
Raw Deal by Dayo Benson
Mark of the Mage by R.K. Ryals
The Key by Jennifer Anne Davis
Throwing-Stones by Stephanie Morrill
Waiting For Rachel by Kimberly Rae Jordan
The Human Factor by Steve Stroble
Your Heart's Desire by Sheri Rose Shepherd
A Highlander for Christmas by Jamie Carie
Kissed by a Cowboy by Lacy Williams
Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr
A Heart's Home by Laura J. Marshall
Real Men Don't Text by Ruthie&Michael Dean
Gone by Christine Kersey
The Woodlands by Lauren Nicolle Taylor
Exploring the Faith of America's Presidents by Kendra Hazlett Armstrong & Deborah Sprinkle
Water Walker (Episode 1 of 4) by Ted Dekker
All God's Children by Anna Schmidt
Peril by Jordyn Redwood
Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano
The Summer I Gave Up Boys by Kassandra Kush
Land by Theresa Shaver
The Albino Redwoods by Heather Nelson
The Soul of the Sun by Genevieve Crownson
The Watchmaker's New Order C. E. Rowland
Gathering Water by Regan Claire

Mindspeak by Heather Sunseri

It Had to Be You by Susan May Warren

About the Book
Eden Christiansen never imagined her role as her younger brother Owen’s cheerleader would keep her on the sidelines of her own life. Sure, it feels good to be needed, but looking after the reckless NHL rookie leaves little time for Eden to focus on her own career. She dreamed of making a name for herself as a reporter, but is stuck writing obits—and starting to fear she doesn’t have the chops to land a major story. If only someone would step up to mentor Owen . . . but she knows better than to expect help from team veteran and bad-boy enforcer Jace Jacobsen.

Jace has built his career on the infamous reputation of his aggressive behavior—on and off the ice. Now at a crossroads about his future in hockey, that reputation has him trapped. And the guilt-trip he’s getting from Eden Christiansen isn’t making things any easier. But when Owen’s carelessness leads to a career-threatening injury and Eden stumbles upon a story that could be her big break, she and Jace are thrown together . . . and begin to wonder if they belong on the same team after all.

My Thoughts
As with every other book of Susan May Warren's I loved this story! I fell in love with the Christiansens in Take A Chance On Me and couldn't wait to join their family once again, so I dove into this book as soon as I could!
Eden was such a fantastic heroine! I loved how much she cared for everyone around her and it was great to watch her figure out what she was meant to do! Also I really like the name Eden!
And Jace was awesome! I loved how even though everyone saw his as this tough, reckless guy, he really was amazingly caring and wonderful once you got to know him. It was so cool to see as Eden first discovered for herself what a great guy he was and then helped him realize it!
I really enjoyed the rest of the characters too! It was great to be with the Christiansens again, even though Owen was a bit hard to handle at some points! And Jace's friend Sam and Sam's daughter Maddy were so sweet and their story about broke my heart!
It was really fun getting a look into the world of hockey since I know next to nothing about the sport. And Eden's career writing obits was interesting too. I had never really thought about that job and it was cool to think about! I also really enjoyed the angle of finding the family of a John Doe!

So as you can probably tell I thought this book was amazing and highly recommend it though you should read Take A Chance On Me first! I cannot wait till When I Fall In Love comes out!

Meet the Author
Growing up in Minneapolis and attending the U of MN, I learned to love city life, although I'm a woodsy girl at heart. Or maybe I'm an adventurer -- having lived and traveled all over the world, including Siberia Russia as a missionary for eight years. Probably that's why my characters can't sit still, and seem to get into one scrape after another -- they're too much like me! I love God, my family, my country, my church, and feel privileged every day to be able to write stories, that I hope inspire and entertain!

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Friday Memes 2/21

Hosted by: Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

The Question:

This annoys me, what about you? When I click on a blogger's name and it goes to their profile and I see more than one blog listed, how do you know which one to visit? I usually don't visit.

My Answer:

I really don't see this as a problem! If they have more than one blog I either look at them all or pick the one that sounds like it's what I'm interested in!

Hosted by: Rose City Reader

"Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name."

When a seamstress uses the phrase "coming out of the closet," It takes on a whole new meaning. I still remember the day I spilled the beans to my grandmother, Mimi Carmen, that I wanted to be a designer.
The Dream Dress by Janice Thompson

My Thoughts
Light humorous beginning that is exactly what I expected from a Janice Thompson book!

Widow of Gettysburg by Jocelyn Green

About the Book
When a horrific battle rips through Gettysburg, the farm of Union widow Liberty Holloway is disfigured into a Confederate field hospital, bringing her face to face with unspeakable suffering--and a Rebel scout who awakens her long dormant heart.
While Liberty's future crumbles as her home is destroyed, the past comes rushing back to Bella, a former slave and Liberty's hired help, when she finds herself surrounded by Southern soldiers, one of whom knows the secret that would place Liberty in danger if revealed.
In the wake of shattered homes and bodies, Liberty and Bella struggle to pick up the pieces the battle has left behind. Will Liberty be defined by the tragedy in her life, or will she find a way to triumph over it?

Widow of Gettysburg is inspired by first-person accounts from women who lived in Gettysburg during the battle and its aftermath.

My Thoughts

 After thoroughly loving Jocelyn Green's debut novel I could not wait to get my hands of her second! And I loved this one too!

Almost every time we here the name Gettysburg our minds immediately turn to the bloody battle fought there and we often forget that it was just an ordinary town before that dark time. I really liked how this author reminded us of that and really brought this time in history to life.

Being extremely squeamish this book was a little harder to get through due to the fact that a large portion of it took place in a make-shift “hospital” where amputation was the most common treatment. There were several times I had to put the book down to just breathe and calm my stomach before picking it up again! And that is a testament to how amazing this book is! Normally if there was something that made my stomach churn I'd just stop the book but I loved this one so much that I powered through! And the author did do a great job of showing the horrors without getting ridiculously graphic!

Liberty was a great heroine and I loved how she didn't let the color of a person's uniform or skin keep her from helping them! Silas was also a well written hero! And I loved how Charlotte from the first book made an appearance!

So yeah I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend I to history lovers!

Meet the Author

Award-winning author Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage in her readers through both fiction and nonfiction. A former military wife herself, she offers encouragement and hope to military wives worldwide through her Faith Deployed ministry. Her novels, inspired by real heroines on America's home front, are marked by their historical integrity and gritty inspiration.

Jocelyn graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.A. in English, concentration in writing. She is an active member of the Evangelical Press Association, Christian Authors Network, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Military Writers Society of America.

She loves Mexican food, Broadway musicals, Toblerone chocolate bars, the color red, and reading on her patio. Jocelyn lives with her husband Rob and two small children in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com or join her at facebook.com/jocelyngreenauthor.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Preacher's Bride by Laurie Kingery

About the Book
When her little brother died, Faith Bennett lost her trust in God. She's kept this secret from the good people of Simpson Creek, yet she can't deceive Gil Chadwick. She'll be Gil's friend, but without a faith to match his, she can never be the handsome new preacher's bride.
Though Gil cherishes Faith's friendship, he wants a wife. And in kind, upright Faith, he's found her. The secret heartaches of his past fade as he watches her nurse his father. When danger finds her, he'll risk everything to save her. For where there's Faith, there's love…and the promise of a new beginning together.

My Thoughts
After loving the previous four books in this series I was quite excited to finally read Faith and Gil's story!
Gil was awesome! I loved how kind and caring he was and how he was able to find the right words to say in difficult situations. Faith was great too and it was really cool how she was constantly finding ways to help others. I felt really bad for Faith going through losing her faith in God and not feeling that she could talk to anyone about it.
The story, like all the others, was really well written with some great twists and I really enjoyed it!

Meet the Author
Laurie Kingery is the author of twenty-three historical romances. She won the Reader's Choice Award for THE RAVEN AND THE SWAN in 1994,and has been nominated for an ACFW Carol Award. Laurie lives in Ohio with her husband Tom (whom she met on eHarmony!). She has two children, seven grandchildren, and two dogs. She is a  veteran RN of an inner-city emergency room. A Christian since her teenage years, she is a member of Quest Community Church of New Albany.

Waiting on Wednesday #100: Vow Unbroken

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're
eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Vow Unbroken by Caryl McAdoo
Howard Books-March 4, 2014

About the Book

A spunky young widow hires a farmhand with a bad reputation to help her get her cotton to Jefferson to meet the wagon train, and sparks fly—but can she love a man who doesn’t love the Lord?

Susannah Abbot Baylor reluctantly hires Henry Buckmeyer to help her along the Jefferson Trace, the hard stretch of land between her Texas farm and the cotton market, where she is determined to get a fair price for her crop. It’s been a rough year, and she’s in danger of losing the land her husband left to her and the children, but she’ll need help getting both of her wagons to Jefferson safely. She knows Henry’s reputation as a layabout and is prepared for his insolence, but she is not expecting his irresistible good looks or his gentle manner. Soon they are entwined in a romantic relationship that only gets more complicated when Susannah learns that Henry doesn’t know God the way she does. Dangers arise on the road—but none as difficult as the trial her heart is going through.

Will Susannah and Henry’s love overcome their differences? And will she get her crop safely to the cotton market with enough money to save the farm? In this heartening and adventurous tale, a young woman’s fortitude, faith, and heart are put to the ultimate test.

Why I Want to Read It

This sounds like a really good read!

Hill Country Cattleman by Laurie Kingery

About the Book
A Match Made in Texas
To escape a scandal in England, Violet Brookfield is sent to her brother's ranch in Texas. Soon she discovers that the vibrant new world and rugged trail boss Raleigh Masterson are perfect material for the Western she's writing. And when her time is up, she'll return to the nobleman she left behind.

Violet is the most elegant female ever to set foot in Simpson Creek, and Raleigh is sure she'll never stay. He has no business falling for the beautiful aristocrat. But soon Violet makes a place for herself in the Hill Country—and in his heart. Now if only he can convince her that she belongs there forever….

My Thoughts
This is the sixth book of the Brides of Simpson Creek series and it was just as good as it's predecessors which I loved! When I first found out who this book was about I got super excited and I'm happy to say it lived up to my expectations! The hero is the Collier's (from book four The Rancher's Courtship) foreman and the heroine is Nick Brookfield's (from book one Mail-Order Cowboy) sister, and together they created a perfect story of a love that can bridge social gaps. Raleigh has recently had an experience that shook him so much that he completely turned his life away from the not-so great things he'd taken part of and fully to God, which served to make him a wonderfully flawed but worthy hero that I couldn't help falling in love with. And as for Violet she was not at all as prissy as I expected but was actually rather down to earth and had a couple surprises up her sleeve that left me loving her too! It was also fun seeing all the couples from the other books! The villain of the story was well-written and I enjoyed watching his plans foiled! In the end I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait for the next installments in this series!

Meet the Author
Laurie Kingery is the author of twenty-three historical romances. She won the Reader's Choice Award for THE RAVEN AND THE SWAN in 1994,and has been nominated for an ACFW Carol Award. Laurie lives in Ohio with her husband Tom (whom she met on eHarmony!). She has two children, seven grandchildren, and two dogs. She is a  veteran RN of an inner-city emergency room. A Christian since her teenage years, she is a member of Quest Community Church of New Albany.

Top Ten Reasons I Love Being A Book Blogger/Reader

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top 5 Reasons I Love Being a Book Blogger
#1. Free books!
#2. I've made some great friends!
#3. I have the chance to connect with authors!
#4. I get to gush about books!
#5. It's fun!

Top 5 Reasons I Love Being a Reader
#1. I can travel to any time and anywhere!
#2. I learn so much!
#3. It's a quiet escape!
#4. I am never bored!
#5. Books are amazing!

The Rancher's Courtship by Laurie Kingery

About the Book
Though Caroline Wallace can't have a family, she can still have a purpose. Becoming Simpson Creek's new schoolmarm helps heal the heartache of losing Pete, her fiancé, to influenza. Then Pete's brother arrives, trailing a herd of cattle and twin six-year-old girls.

Jack Collier expected Pete and his bride to care for his daughters until he was settled in Montana. But bad weather and worse news strand Jack in Texas until spring. It's little wonder Caroline grows fond of Abby and Amelia. But could such a refined, warmhearted woman fall for a gruff rancher…before the time comes for him to leave again?

My Thoughts
I made the mistake of not writing this review until six months and over a hundred books after reading this book, but I shall try to do my best anyway! I fell in love with the idea of this series when the first book was being released. The thought of mail-order grooms was just to good to pass up so I started in and I have loved each and every book of this series. Since the series is set in a small town you get to know some of the characters from future books before you actually get to their story so as I experience Caroline's story I couldn't wait to see how it would turn out. Jack and Caroline were both really great characters and their story was definitely unique and they had a lot of obstacles to overcome before a relationship could happen. I loved how the story played out though and Jack's twins added a splash of fun to the book. I would highly recommend this book but you definitely should read the series in order, #1-Mail Order Cowboy #2-The Doctor Takes a Wife #3-The Sheriff’s Sweetheart #4-The Rancher's Courtship #5-The Preacher's Bride #6-Hill Country Cattleman

Meet the Author
Laurie Kingery is the author of twenty-three historical romances. She won the Reader's Choice Award for THE RAVEN AND THE SWAN in 1994,and has been nominated for an ACFW Carol Award. Laurie lives in Ohio with her husband Tom (whom she met on eHarmony!). She has two children, seven grandchildren, and two dogs. She is a  veteran RN of an inner-city emergency room. A Christian since her teenage years, she is a member of Quest Community Church of New Albany.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #110

 Hosted By: Book Journey

Here is what I finished last week:

I loved both of these! I didn't get as much read as I wanted to since we were decently busy and the Olympics took up a bit of my free time! I did manage to be much better about reading during the replays and commercials though!

What I am currently reading:

Loving all three of these!

What I hope to read this week:

Not sure which of these I'll actually start but they are the next on my review list! I'll also probably pick another kindle book to read during the Olympics since I'm nearing the end of my current one!

Blog Posts
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #109
The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson
Top Ten Books That Will Make You Swoon
Stranded by Dani Pettrey
Waiting on Wednesday #99: A Sensible Arrangement
A January Bride by Deborah Raney
Romance-ology 101 by Julie Lessman

Friday Memes 2/14
A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant
Picture Perfect by Janice Thompson
You're Already Amazing by Holley Gerth

Hope you have a great reading week, thanks for taking the time to check out mine!

Leave your link below and I'll be sure to stop by!

You're Already Amazing by Holley Gerth

About the Book
Women feel enormous pressure to be perfect. To have the perfect body, to be a perfect woman, to have the perfect career, and to have the perfect attitude. All the time. Under all that pressure and all those expectations are women carrying burdens they were never meant to carry and suppressing the dreams they were always meant to live.
In You're Already Amazing, popular blogger and cofounder of (in)courage helps women understand and embrace the fact that they don't need to do more, be more, and have more--because they're already amazing just the way God created them to be. As a licensed counselor and certified life coach, Holley knows what readers need to hear. Like a heart-to-heart talk over coffee, reading this joy-filled book encourages women to forget the lies and expectations the world feeds them, instead believing that God made them for a purpose and that he loves them right now, at this moment, and always. Holley takes readers on a journey of the heart to discover their strengths and embrace all God created them to be.

My Thoughts
This book was awesome. I loved the way it was written almost as if the author was actually having a conversation with you. There were so many amazing truths in this book, some that I'd heard before and some that I hadn't, but all were ones that I think every woman should hear. So many times I've been inclined to compare my spiritual walk and the way I think or feel to the Christian women around me and often I feel like since I don't do it like them then I must be doing it wrong. But in reality God made me the way I am and He wants me to worship Him the way He created me to. I really liked the way this whole book was laid out and there are things I read that will stick with me. In short I recommend this book to pretty much all women! There are things in here that we all need!

About the Author
Holley Gerth is a best-selling writer, licensed counselor, certified life coach and speaker. She is co-founder of (in)courage, an online destination for women, which received more than one million page views in its first six months. She also reaches out to readers through her popular blog at www.holleygerth.com and through a partnership with DaySpring. Holley lives in the South with her husband, Mark.

Picture Perfect by Janice Thompson

About the Book
Feisty wedding photographer Hannah McDermott has dealt with her share of difficult brides. But none can compare to the ultimate Bridezilla she's dealing with now. Still, she's trying desperately to impress Bella Neeley, Galveston Island's most sought-after wedding planner, so she can take the top spot in Bella's list of recommended photographers--a spot currently occupied by her arch-rival, Drew Kincaid. What she doesn't count on, however, is falling head over heels for the competition.

My Thoughts
After loving Janice Thompson's Weddings by Bella series I could not wait to read her new wedding series! Sadly it took me until now to finally get around to reading this first one, but thankfully it did not disappoint in the least!
Once again filled with the humor I've come to expect from Janice's books, a fun family dynamic, and a cute love story, this book had all the right ingredients for a great story!
I loved both Hannah and Drew and their romance was sweet even if it seemed that some parts moved a little fast. Their profession of photography was pretty cool and I loved seeing the little moments that they caught through their lenses.
I also loved the fact the Bella, DJ, the Rossi clan, and the Splendora sisters from the first series were in this book a lot! I knew that they were going to be in it but I thought it was going to be a lot minor than they were! I enjoyed their big family antics once again and it was especially fun when you mixed their big Italian family, the Splendora crew, and Hannah's Irish family!

So needless to say I loved this book and I immediately was ready to dive into book two!

Meet the Author
Janice Thompson also writes under the name Janice Hanna. She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published over eighty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children's books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. Janice currently serves as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She was thrilled to be named the 2010 Barbour/Heartsong Author of the Year, with three books on the top ten list for that house. Janice is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online course, "Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer" (www.freelancewritingcourses.com) has been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all. You can find out more about Janice at www.janiceathompson.com or www.freelancewritingcourses.com. Her Facebook page can be located here: https://www.facebook.com/JaniceHannaThompson