Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Until I Found You Bethany House Publishers (May 6, 2014) by Victoria Bylin
MY THOUGHTS:
This is the first book I've read by Victoria Bylin and I'm sure it won't be the last! I loved this book! The premise wasn't overly attention grabbing but I'd heard good things and decided to give it a shot! And I am so very glad I did!
Nick was my favorite character! He made such a fantastic hero! He had a bit of a troubled past but God changed him completely and made him into a man worth admiring! I really appreciated his appropriate perspective on his sinfulness and the fact that it was God alone who saved him. I also loved the way he handled Kate's journey to God, never forcing it, and letting her find her own path. And speaking of Kate, I did like her character as well! I could see a bit of myself in her fears since I have similar ones and it was cool to watch her as she learned to trust God with them.
Nick and Kate's relationship was sweet though it did have it's ups and downs as every relationship will!
In short I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I will definitely recommend it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A word from the Author:
This may sound crazy, but I was driven to write romance by giant bugs and killer rabbits. I just couldn't take it anymore. My husband and two sons would be camped in front of the television watching a movie about spiders the size of bowling balls, and I'd be wondering when the handsome scientist would get around to kissing the spunky woman with the bug spray. When it didn't happen, I decided to write my own happy endings--without the giant bugs...

Known for her realistic, likable characters and vivid writing, Victoria Bylin writes both western and contemporary inspirational romance. Her books have finaled in the ACFW Carol Awards, the Rita Awards and RT Magazine’s Reviewers’ Choice Awards. She and her husband currently live in Lexington, Kentucky and have two grown sons.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Finding each other was only the beginning . . .

When Kate Darby swerves off a mountain road to avoid hitting a California condor, she ends up trapped in her car, teetering on the edge of a cliff. Terrified, she breathes a prayer that changes her life.

It's Nick Sheridan who comes to Kate's rescue. Nick is handsome and confident, and he seems to develop a habit of rescuing her, but Kate is in town only until her grandmother recuperates from a stroke. She's not planning to get involved with one of the locals.

Nick is a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, a new Christian, and a travel writer. When he sees a car dangling on the edge of a cliff, the daredevil in him jumps into action. He doesn't expect to be swept off his feet by the car's occupant. He's made a vow--no dating for a year--but keeping that vow is going to be a lot more difficult now that he's met Kate Darby. . . .

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Until I Found You, go HERE.

Friday Memes 5/30

Hosted by: Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

The Question:

How many posts do you normally publish per week?

My Answer:

I always have four posts that I do every week and there's usually at least one review that goes up!

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."

Five and a Half Years Ago
"Will you marry me?" Celia glanced up at Ty and found him gazing down at her. His gorgeous blue eyes regarded her as if she were the most desirable woman on the planet. 
"What did you just say to me?" She had to speak louder than usual to be heard above the happy din of the Las Vegas casino.
Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade

My Thoughts
Cute beginning! Though the Las Vegas part takes a bit of the cuteness out! Should be interesting to see how it all plays out!

The Heart's Pursuit by Robin Lee Hatcher

About the Book
A jilted bride desperate to save her family from ruin.
A bounty hunter seeking vengeance for a ravaged past.
An arduous trek toward justice---or redemption.
Silver Matlock and Jared Newman know traveling together is a bad idea. Bad for Silver's already tarnished reputation in her small Colorado town. Bad for bounty hunter Jared's secret, single-minded mission for revenge. But Silver is determined to track down the rogue who left her at the altar and stole the last remnant of her father's fortune. And Jared's in a hurry to hunt down the murderer who destroyed his family---even if Silver is too distractingly beautiful for comfort.
The pair takes off over mountain and desert, past bleak homesteads and raw mining towns, hot on the trail of the two villains who took what wasn't theirs to take. Soon supplies dwindle, secrets emerge, and suspicion leave Silver and Jared at odds when they need each other most. To confront an enemy deadlier than desert rattlesnakes and rocky cliffs, Silver and Jared must learn to forgive and trust and face the question they haven't dared voice: What happens next?
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/wSpq9

My Thoughts
This book was a fun and quick read. The perfect story for when you're looking for something well-written but light! Jared and Silver were both great characters and their romance was sweet.  I was impressed by how well Silver was able to handle being on the trail and how she never complained. It was fun to join them on their journey and there were surprises on the way that I didn't see coming. I'm having trouble coming up with anything else to say, it was one of those books that was just good in a way that's hard to put into words! I definitely recommend it though!
Tour Page

Meet the Author
Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heart-warming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, two RT Career Achievement Awards, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over sixty novels.

Robin can be found at: website, Facebook, 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.

Robin Lee Hatcher's latest novel, The Heart's Pursuit, is receiving critical praise: "The Old West lives again in this inspirational romantic adventure. . . . Themes of forgiveness, justice and mercy dominate the story and add to the characters' depth. Hatcher treats readers to a rich sensory experience—you can taste the desert dust and smell the smoke and stench of a crowded gambling hall." (Publishers Weekly)

Robin is celebrating the release of her novel by giving away a $200 "Romantic Weekend Getaway."

  One winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa cash card (Get away for the weekend with that special someone!)
• The Heart's Pursuit by Robin Lee Hatcher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 8th. Winner will be announced June 9th on Robin's website.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Robin's blog on June 8th to see if you won.

Passion by Louie Giglio

About the Book
Key messages by today’s leading Christian voices on what it means to possess a passion for Jesus Christ
What exactly is it that instills passion in a person’s soul? What brings the fire to make a difference, the desire for significance, the power to live a life that matters? And who will lead us in this quest toward the future of the Church? In this remarkable book, some of today’s most gifted communicators highlight the dedicated generation that is rising up to show us how to lean toward the centrality of Jesus Christ and His bright light of glory that brings purpose to our own lives and proper glory to God the Father.
Since it first began in 1995, Passion has had the privilege of encountering millions of believers under the age of 25, a sea of men and women whose lives have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Their voice is getting louder as they rise, united as a generation, bringing hope and light to the world.
Author and general editor Louie Giglio has brought together these incredible authors to share their thoughts on what it means to burn with a passion for Christ.  As delivered to Passion Conferences, the book includes contributions from Giglio himself as well as multiple chapters from: Francis Chan, John Piper, Beth Moore, Judah Smith, & Christine Caine

The wave is growing into a global awakening. Join the movement.

My Thoughts
This was a well-written book but it fell a little flat for me. There wasn't a lot of stuff in it that I hadn't read or heard before. That being said it was still a good book that has many great messages in it that will apply to many areas of everyone's lives. I liked the fact that even though there were several authors it flowed rather well and seemed to all fit together. It was also cool too learn a little more about how Passion got started.

Meet the Author
Louie Giglio is the pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and founder of Passion Conferences--a global movement of college-aged people living for the fame of Jesus Christ. Louie's popular books include recently released Passion: The Bright Light of Glory, The Air I Breathe; I Am Not, But I Know I Am; and Indescribable, which he co-authored with Grammy Award-winning recording artist Matt Redman.
A dynamic and effective communicator, Louie is known for his Passion Talk Series DVD messages that include How Great is Our God and Indescribable, with sales over 1.3 million copies worldwide. He also founded sixsteprecords, a label partner with Capitol CMG, which is home to artists Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Matt Redman, Kristian Stanfill, Christy Nockels, and Passion.

Louie holds the Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Shelley reside in Atlanta. For more information about Passion City Church visit passioncitychurch.com, and for more about Passion Conferences visit www.268generation.com.

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 #114: A Place in His Heart

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:

A Place in His Heart by Rebecca DeMarino
Revell-June 3, 2014

About the Book

She could cross an ocean, but could she ever win his heart?

Anglican Mary Langton longs to marry for love. Left at the altar and disgraced in her small hamlet, she is being pressured to marry the eligible son of the London milliner. Puritan Barnabas Horton still grieves the loss of his beloved wife, but he knows his two young sons need a mother. 

With tender hearts, Mary and Barnabas take a leap of faith and wed. But when Barnabas's secret plans to move his family to the New World to escape persecution come to light, Mary's world is upended. How could she possibly leave her papa and her dear sister? 

And will she ever reach the secret places of her husband's broken heart?

Why I Want It

I love marriage of convenience stories so I can't wait to read this one!

Top Ten Books With Guys on the Cover

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

Now before you start thinking I'm boy crazy, let me explain! I don't remember how the conversation started but several months ago my sister and happened to start discussing how few Christian books on my shelves actually showed the hero on the cover, and how few of those weren't cheesy looking. So it randomly popped back into my head this week when I was trying to come up with a topic for this week's top ten freebie week, and I decided to go ahead and do it!

Bourne & Tributary by Lisa T. Bergren

Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin

The Protector by Dee Henderson

Reclaiming Nick by Susan May Warren

Raptor 6 by Ronie Kendig

Over the Edge by Mary Connealy

A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman

Wolfsbane by Ronie Kendig

Here to Stay by Melissa Tagg

A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund

Happy Memorial Day

Today is the day when we honor those who have served to protect our country in the past, those who are serving now, and especially those who have given their lives fighting for our freedom. So I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of the soldiers out there for all they've done and continue to do! This song by Gloriana sums it all up pretty nicely!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #124

 Hosted By: Book Journey

Here is what I finished last week:

A full week of work, a nasty head cold, babysitting, time with friends, and hanging with my sis, made for a very busy week with little to no reading time! I only managed to finish this one since it was due for review otherwise I don't think I'd have done any reading!

What I am currently reading:

A review book, non-fiction read, and a kindle book, all of which I'm enjoying!

What I hope to read this week:

Two review books that are due this week and a book that I'm giving a second chance because I realized that it was the first of a series! I'm really hoping I'm able to get this all done since this week is looking like it's going to be crazy with the holiday, babysitting, three days of work, and other things thrown in!

Blog Posts
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #123
Top Ten About Friendship
Waiting on Wednesday #113: Captured by Love
Daisies Are Forever by Liz Tolsma

Friday Memes 5/23

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!

Friday Memes 5/23

Hosted by: Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

The Question:

 Did you ever make a HUGE mistake when you posted a review? For Example: Did you have the correct book title, but the wrong author in the blog post title? If so, how long until you found your mistake? 

My Answer:

I have on occasion forgotten to put the title on my blog posts, and I think once I put the wrong author but I caught the mistake almost immediately. 

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."

The  August sky radiated a perfect blue as Leona Darby carried her morning coffee out to the deck surrounding her log home in Meadows, a small community in the Southern California mountains.
Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin

My Thoughts
This is a very picturesque beginning! I'm excited to read more!

Daisies Are Forever by Liz Tolsma

About the Book
In the final days of Nazi Germany, the strength of one woman’s heart will determine the fate of a family.
Prussia, 1945
The fall of the Third Reich is imminent. As the merciless Red Army advances from the East, the German people of Prussia await the worst.
Among them is twenty-year-old Gisela Cramer, an American living in Heiligenbeil with her cousin Ella and their ailing grandfather. When word arrives that the Russians will invade overnight, Ella urges Gisela to escape to Berlin—and take Ella’s two small daughters with her.
The journey is miserable and relentless. But when Gisela hears the British accent of a phony SS officer, she poses as his wife to keep him safe among the indignant German refugees. In the blink of an eye,  Mitch Edwards and Gisela are Herr and Frau Josep Cramer.
Through their tragic and difficult journey, the fabricated couple strives to protect Ella’s daughters, hoping against hope for a reunion. But even as Gisela and Mitch develop feelings beyond the make–believe, the reality of war terrorizes their makeshift family.
With the world at its darkest, and the lives of two children at stake, the counterfeit couple finds in each other a source of faith, hope, and the love they need to survive.
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/wAD3T

My Thoughts
After enjoying this author's debut last year, I was excited to read this sophomore release. Sadly I didn't like this one as much as the first. It was an okay read there were just several little things along the way that bugged me a bit. I did love the time period it was set in since WWII is one of my absolute favorite's, and it was interesting to get to see how the end of the war looked from Germany's perspective. There was an interesting mix of characters in this story. Mitch and Gisela were pretty great and their love story was cute. The little girls were cute, the senile old ladies were both funny and annoying, Kurt made me mad, and Audra was okay. There were sweet moments mixed with phony and forced moments, as well as sad ones, scary ones, and happy ones. So while there was definitely room for improvement it was still an enjoyable one time read.


Meet the Author
Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life. She and her husband have a son and two daughters, all adopted internationally. When not busy putting words to paper, Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping with her family. Visit her at www.liztolsma.com Twitter: @LizTolsma Facebook: liztolsma

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.




  Liz Tolsma's latest WWII historical fiction novel, Daisies are Forever, is getting rave reviews. 

". . . compelling and fast-paced tale about the atrocities and tremendous losses. . . ." —Library Journal

"Excellent storytelling, accurate historical reporting and gritty, persevering characters make this WWII-era novel a must-read." —CBA Retailers + Resources

Liz celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX giveaway!
One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 31st. Winner will be announced June 2nd on Liz's website.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Liz's website on June 2nd to see if you won.

Waiting on Wednesday #113: Captured by Love

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:

Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund
Bethany House-July 1, 2014

About the Book

Michigan Territory, 1814

A voyageur and a young woman swept up in a time of upheaval and danger

discover firsthand the high price of freedom.

The British Army has taken control of Michilimackinac Island and its fort, forcing the Americans to swear an oath of loyalty to the crown in order to retain their land. Pierre Durant is a fur trader who returns after being away from the island for years, only to find the family farm a shambles and those he cares about starving and at the mercy of British invaders.

Torn between the adventurous life of fur trading and guilt over neglecting his defenseless mother, Pierre is drawn deeper into the fight against the British--and into a relationship with Angelique MacKenzie, a childhood friend who's grown into a beautiful woman. She now finds herself trapped by the circumstances of war and poverty, and the cruelty of her guardian, Ebenezer Whiley.

As tensions mount and the violence rages on, Pierre and Angelique must decide where their loyalties rest and how much they'll risk for love.

Why I Want It

It's a Jody Hedlund novel, end of story!

Top Ten Books About Friendship

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

This topic was a little harder for me to come up with ten things for, I am not at my house so I can't look at my shelves and my memory is not so great right now. So I ended up doing six series about friends and four of my favorite friendships in books!

Top 6 Series About Friends
All About Us Series by Shelley Adina
Carter House Girls Series by Melody Carlson
The Miracle Girls Series by Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt
Deadly Reunions Series by Lynette Eason
Ladies of Distinction Series by Jen Turano

Trouble in Texas Series by Mary Connealy

Top 4 Friendships in Books

Luca Forelli & Marcello Forelli from The River of Time Series by Lisa T. Bergren

John Brady & Collin McGuire from Julie Lessman's O'Conner Saga

Charity O'Conner Dennehy & Emma Malloy O'Conner from Julie Lessman's O'Conner Saga

Bella Kirkwood & Ruthie McGee from The Charmed Life Series by Jenny B. Jones

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #123

 Hosted By: Book Journey

Here is what I finished last week:

I had a pretty fantastic read-a-thon week! So many great books! Full details HERE

What I am currently reading:

I'm about a third of the way through this, it's pretty interesting!

What I hope to read this week:

My next two review books and non-fiction read. Not sure how much I'll actually get read since I start a week-long temp job today but I will try to get in as much as I can!

Blog Posts
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #122
Bout of Books 10: Day 1: Challenges
Top Ten Books I Almost Put Down But Didn't
Bout of Books 10: Day 1: Update & Day 2: Challenges
Waiting on Wednesday #112: A Moment in Time
Bout of Books 10: Day 2: Update & Day 3: Challenges
Rise & Shine by Sandra D. Bricker
Bout of Books 10: Day 3: Update & Day 4: Challenges
Dangerous Passage by Lisa Harris
Fatal Exchange by Lisa Harris

Friday Memes 5/16
Bout of Books 10: Day 4: Update & Day 5: Challenge
Bout of Books 10: Day 5: Update
Silenced Giveaway Winner
Bout of Books 10: Day 6: Update & Day 7: Challenge
Bout of Books 10: Day 7: Update & Wrap Up Post

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!

Bout of Books 10: Day 7 Update & Wrap Up Post

Books I Read Today: The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Books I Finished Today: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Pages Read Today: 413

Total Books Finished: 8

Total Pages Read: 2,977

My Thoughts
So I didn't quite make my goal of 10 books since I only finished 8 and one third of another. But there was lots of unexpected company and I forgot to factor in my youngest siblings's graduation party, so I am pretty happy that I got as much as I did in! I ended up reading almost all dystopian and it was kinda fun! All in all it was a great read-a-thon!

The Books

Bout of Books 10: Day 6: Update & Day 7: Challenge

Books I Read Today: Remnants: Season of Wonder by Lisa T. Bergren, & The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Books I Finished Today: Remnants: Season of Wonder by Lisa T. Bergren

Pages Read Today: 359

Total Books Finished: 7

Total Pages Read: 2,564

Rename Your Current Read Challenge
Hosted by: Oh Magic Hour

For this, your final mini-challenge of the readathon, I thought it would be fun if we all tried to come up with a new title for our current read, or really anything we’ve read during this Bout of Books 10.0.  For me, a great title can really go a long way toward making me want to read a book and I thought it would be fun to play with that concept a little bit.  Your new title can be something you ACTUALLY think would make a good title, or just something descriptive or something funny!  It’s totally up to you!

I'm reading The Maze Runner by James Dashner and my new name for it would be The Changing!

Silenced Giveaway Winner

The winner of their very own copy of Silenced by Dani Pettrey is...

Aerykah

Congratulations!!

Check your email for a message from me!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by!

Bout of Books 10: Day 5: Update

Books I Read Today: Matched by Ally Condie, Remnants: Season of Wonder by Lisa T. Bergren, and Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Books I Finished Today: Matched by Ally Condie

Pages Read Today: 271

Total Books Finished: 6

Total Pages Read: 2,205