Can't-Wait Wednesday: A Chance at Forever

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. 

A Chance at Forever by Melissa Jagears

Teaville Moral Society #3

March 6, 2018
Bethany House Publishers

About the Book

In early 1900s Kansas, Mercy McClain, determined to protect Teaville's children from the bullying she experienced as a child, finds fulfillment working at the local orphanage and serving on the school board. When Aaron Firebrook, the classmate who bothered her more than any other, petitions the board for a teaching position, she's dead set against him getting the job.
Aaron knows he deserves every bit of Mercy's mistrust, but he's returned to his hometown a changed man and is seeking to earn forgiveness of those he wronged. He doesn't expect Mercy to like him, but surely he can prove he now has the best interests of the children at heart.
Will resentment and old wounds hold them back, or can Mercy and Aaron put the past behind them in time to face the unexpected threats to everything they're working for?

Why I Want It
I've been really enjoying this series and I'm really excited for Mercy's story! This sounds both cute and fun!

Top Ten Books I'm Surprised I Read

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

#1. The Staff and the Sword series by Patrick W. Carr

I'm not really into fantasy and I like a heavy dose of romance in my books so I'm not sure why I read these books but I do remember that they were well written.

#2. Ted Dekker book

Honestly I can't even remember exactly which one it was but my sister made a deal with me to get me to read it-I was not a fan.

#3. Isle of Shadows and City of the Dead by T.L. Higley

These books aren't my normal genre but they weren't bad.

#4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I never enjoyed watch the movie adaptations of Austen's books so I'm not sure why I decided to read this one but I did, and yep wasn't overly impressed

#5. Stress Test and Heart Failure by Richard L. Mabry M.D.

Not sure why a person with a weak stomach decided to read medical thrillers but I did. They weren't awful but I didn't love them.

#6. Fetching Sweetness by Dana Mentink

I'm not a dog (or animal person) so I don't know what possessed me to request this for review but I did so I had to read it. It was okay.

#7. The Difference Between Night and Day by Melissa Turner Lee

Nothing about this book screamed me but I read it and it actually wasn't horrible.

#8. The Merciful Scar by Rebecca St. James and Nancy Rue

The topic this book focused on is one that makes me squeamish just thinking about it so not sure why I thought it was a good idea to read a whole book centered on it.

#9. Miracle in a Dry Season by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Another not-my-typical-book that I don't know why I decided to read.

#10. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Still working through this one-not entirely sure why-lol

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #277

Hosted by: The Book Date

Here is what I finished last week:

Slowed down a little on the reading this week but Hearts Entwined was wonderful! I loved all the novellas! For Women Only was definitely eye opening-even if I don't have a SO.

What I am currently reading:

I just started Keturah and Daring to Hope but they both promise to be amazing reads! Uninvited continues to be good-filled with things I need to hear!

What I hope to read this week:

Just got this beauty delivered to my email since I'm on the release team and I'm looking forward to diving in later this week!

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 Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall

About the Book

Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their deceased parents' New England country inn into a brothel to accommodate the nearby lumberjacks—but when Violet's own reputation is compromised, the inn becomes the least of her worries.
In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance—Vance Everstone.
As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet learns that her brother had staked her hand in marriage in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowen Steele, and Ezra had lost. Now Rowen is determined to cash in on his IOU.
With danger stalking her and a new fiancé who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust—and who to leave behind.

My Thoughts
At last the famed hero Vance Everstone! I’d wanted to read this series for years but I’m not going to lie, hearing Dawn talk about Vance was the kick I needed to move them to the very top of my TBR. In fact I bought this book immediately after she talked just so I could get it signed. Now while Lawry remains my favorite of her heroes, I definitely see what everyone loved about Vance and he was a close second! What a change he made from when we first met him in TBH, he was practically a new person. And considering the change came from surrendering his life to God he really was a new creation. I loved how he never tried to pretend that he hadn’t been horrible before but instead acknowledged it while giving God the credit for the change in him. And the fact that he carried around his Bible seeming to be reading it every chance he got was endearing and inspiring.
Violet had had a rough couple years, first losing both parents, then having her brother not only desecrate their home but also fall in with the wrong people, putting Violet’s life in danger. But she remained positive through it all and made the best she could of the situation. Something she continued to do as the events of this book unfolded.
When Vance and Violet are essentially forced into an engagement I admired how Vance did everything he could to make it as seamless as possible. And I liked the way the family accepted Violet without question! When Vance tells Violet about his past, the way she forgives him and accepts that he is a changed man was absolutely beautiful!
I was sad to see the series end but when it ends this well you can’t help but smile and now we have a novella to look forward to!

Meet the Author
Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol Award-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles, which consists of four books: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart, The Captive Imposter and The Cautious Maiden which released October 4th, 2016.
Apart from writing, Dawn is also a mom of two little ones and serves with her husband in a premarital mentorship program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do.
Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and an associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter. She is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.

The Captive Imposter by Dawn Crandall

About the Book

For her own protection following the murder of her brother Will, hotel heiress Estella Everstone assumes the alias of Elle Stoneburner and takes a job as companion to an elderly widow. Never did she imagine that her position would lead her back to her beloved Everston, a picturesque resort property tucked away in the rugged mountains of Maine. Living below her station in a guise of anonymity has its struggles, but her spirits are buoyed by a newfound friendship with the hotel manager, Dexter Blakeley. And his distaste for the spoiled socialites who frequent his hotel causes her to take a close look at her own priorities and past lifestyle. When Estella finds herself in need of help, Dexter comes to the rescue with an offer of employment she can't refuse. As the two interact and open up to each other, Estella feels a growing attraction to Dexter; and increasing discomfort over concealing her identity. Yet, in spite of the false pretense she's putting forth, she's never felt freer to be herself than in his presence. But will he still love her when he learns the truth about who she is?

My Thoughts
Estella was an intriguing character in the previous two books of this series and I was excited to get to know her more and see where her story would lead.
I loved how despite the fact that she was using a different name Estella truly got to be herself for once. She didn’t have to impress anyone, she was just a lady’s companion after all, and could just let people see her for who she was, without the Everstone name coloring their opinion. And the person she felt most herself with just happened to be a certain hotel manager!
I really liked Dexter Blakely’s character, he wasn’t afraid of hard work and he was always helping those in need. He was determined not to fall in love after something that happened to his family but Estella kept slipping past his defenses.
Neither of them were looking for love but that just made finding it all the sweeter! Their romance was simply beautiful and I was captivated!
There were also several secondary characters that I loved, Mrs. Granton, Estella’s employer, with her not-so subtle matchmaking, Roxy, Dexter’s sister, with her kindness and friendship, and romantic outlook on life! And the little we saw of Bram Everstone amused me! Lastly we got to see bits of the reforming Vance Everstone which just made me even more excited for book four!!
This whole story flowed flawlessly and I could barely stand to put it down!

Meet the Author
Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol Award-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles, which consists of four books: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart, The Captive Imposter and The Cautious Maiden which released October 4th, 2016.
Apart from writing, Dawn is also a mom of two little ones and serves with her husband in a premarital mentorship program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do.
Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and an associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter. She is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.

The Bound Heart by Dawn Crandall

About the Book

One accidental kiss from Lawry Hampton. That was all it took to throw Meredyth Summercourt's world upside-down. Determined to marry the ever-elusive Vance Everstone, she simply doesn't have the time or the desire to fall for her best friend. But with Vance out of the country, and with Lawry at her side nearly every day, teaching her what the world is like through the eyes of a little orphan girl named Wynn--Meredyth can't deny that what's holding her to Vance is nothing more than a desire to redeem herself from her past. Will she marry Vance once he returns from Europe? Or will she be strong enough to break free from the tangled web she's convinced she deserves, and accept that God's plan for her life includes redemption...and, quite possibly, Lawry Hampton?

My Thoughts
After finishing The Hesitant Heiress I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one and read Meredyth and Lawry’s story! Thankfully my wait consisted of only the time I was a sleep and a bit of time at work until the girls I nanny went back to bed!
I loved both Lawry and Meredyth’s characters in the first book and there were definitely hints of something between them so I was very excited that their story was next.
Lawry was amazing and I couldn’t have loved his character more! I greatly admired his selflessness and heart for the unfortunate and his steady unconditional love of Meredyth even to the point of walking away when she made her choice had me melting into a puddle!
Meredyth had allowed something to take place years ago and the guilt continued to plague her leaving her believing there was only one way to redeem herself despite the fact that her heart wanted something else. I loved watching how Lawry’s love showed her God’s love until she realized where true freedom lies.
This book had my emotions all over the place, I was sighing, giggling, and squealing, but there were also moments where I swear my heart stopped for a beat and made breathing difficult! I won’t spoil anything but I will say there were surprises that I never saw coming!
And now that I’ve finished all of these books I think this may be my favorite if for no other reason than Lawry!

Meet the Author
Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol Award-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles, which consists of four books: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart, The Captive Imposter and The Cautious Maiden which released October 4th, 2016.
Apart from writing, Dawn is also a mom of two little ones and serves with her husband in a premarital mentorship program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do.
Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and an associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter. She is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.

The Hesitant Heiress by Dawn Crandall

About the Book
After being unjustly expelled from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Amaryllis Brigham sees her dreams of founding a music academy in her hometown of Seattle, Washington, disappearing before her very eyes. Now, the only way to achieve her goal comes with high stakes for someone set on avoiding men as much as possible: Marry within the year to inherit the immense fortune of her estranged grandmother. Amaryllis reluctantly moves in to her aunt's Boston home and rubs shoulders with fashionable society. Despite her own misgivings, she soon finds herself quickly falling in love with the most unlikely of men--Nathan Everstone, the envy of every eligible female, whose father has haunted her dreams for the decade following her mother's tragic death. However, Nathan turns out to be much more than he seems...and everything she never knew she wanted. But just as everything Amaryllis has recently hoped for comes to fruition, it all falls apart when she finds that the real culprit who has been managing her life isn't who she thought at all.

My Thoughts
This book has been on my radar since before its release and it was recommended to me several times but I just never seemed to get around to reading it. Then last year I attended the Christian Fiction Reader’s Retreat, and in addition to several more people insisting I just had to read this series, I got to hear the author talk about one of her heroes (from book four) and from that moment I was sold! I immediately bought the fourth book at the retreat and shortly after getting home I purchased books two and three (I already had book one on my kindle). But sadly despite my enthusiasm for this series, life got quite busy and I had enough trouble keeping up with review books. But then came January and I got bit by the reading bug and I got caught up with review books so of course I immediately started this book. I read one chapter before bed one night and then spent every spare second the next day reading-staying up way later than I should have, I just couldn’t stop it was SO good! It is not often you find a historical book written in first person and it’s not typically my favorite POV but this author not only made it work she made it so perfect I couldn’t have imagined it any other way!
I loved Nathan and Amaryllis’s characters and I especially loved them together! I was greatly amused by how Nathan was trying to make Amaryllis fall in love with him while she was making sure she did nothing of the sort! Their romance was quite the journey and I was sighing and squealing like a schoolgirl through it all! There was also a bit of mystery to figure out and the author always seemed to have a twist right when you thought you knew how things were going to play out!
There was a large cast of characters in this book but they were easily kept straight and I loved all their family and friends. I especially liked Meredyth and Lawry and so I was quite excited to discover that book two was about them!

Meet the Author
Dawn Crandall is an ACFW Carol Award-nominated author of the award winning series The Everstone Chronicles, which consists of four books: The Hesitant Heiress, The Bound Heart, The Captive Imposter and The Cautious Maiden which released October 4th, 2016.
Apart from writing, Dawn is also a mom of two little ones and serves with her husband in a premarital mentorship program at their local church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn't begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream. It didn't take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do.
Dawn is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the secretary for the Indiana ACFW Chapter (Hoosier Ink), and an associate member of the Great Lakes ACFW Chapter. She is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Sea Before Us

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. 

The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin

Sunrise at Normandy #1

Feburary 6, 2018-Revell 

About the Book

In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare for the Allied invasion of France. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a "Wren" in the Women's Royal Naval Service. Dorothy pieces together reconnaissance photographs with thousands of holiday snapshots of France--including those of her own family's summer home--in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that Wyatt will turn into naval bombardment plans.
As the two spend concentrated time together in the pressure cooker of war, their deepening friendship threatens to turn to love. Dorothy must resist its pull. Her bereaved father depends on her, and her heart already belongs to another man. Wyatt too has much to lose. The closer he gets to Dorothy, the more he fears his efforts to win the war will destroy everything she has ever loved.
The tense days leading up to the monumental D-Day landing blaze to life under Sarah Sundin's practiced pen with this powerful new series.

Why I Want It
I absolutely adore all of Sarah's WWII stories, it's my favorite time-period and no one writes it quite like she does! I love the idea behind this series and cannot wait!

Books I Really Liked but Can’t Remember Anything/Much About

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

These books were mostly read during my first year of blogging, I read quite a few books that year (and since) and these ones just didn't stick in my brain beyond the fact that I enjoyed them!

#1. Season of Wonder & Season of Fire by Lisa T. Bergren

#2. To See the Sun by Peggy Blann Phifer

#3. Love Arrives in Pieces by Betsy St. Amant

#4. Driftwood Lane by Denise Hunter

#5. The Reluctant Cowgirl by Christine Lynxwiler

#6. The Paris Connection by Cerella Sechrist

#7. Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska by Tricia Goyer

#8. Dangerous Sanctuary by Lois Richer

#9. Stuck in the Middle by Viginia Smith

#10. Defenders of Hope Series by Amy Wallace

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #276

Hosted by: The Book Date

Here is what I finished last week:

Binge read all four of these in five days and I absolutely adored them all!

What I am currently reading:

Just started For Women Only and Uninvited and plan to read a chapter a day of each until I'm done. I started Les Mis years ago but I finally picked it up again at the start of this year and I've been reading a bit every day!

What I hope to read this week:

Just got this collection for review and I plan to dive in just as soon as I get over my Everstone Chronicles Book Hangover! I love all four of these authors and I'm excited for their stories!

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!

A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White

About the Book
Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I--to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales.
Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won--until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe.
But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't--that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

My Thoughts
From the moment we first met Willa in book one of this series I knew her story was going to be amazing. And I also knew that it was going to take a special kind of man to break through the fortress she had built around her heart. I was definitely right on both accounts.
Willa fiercely loves those close to her but to say she’s selective about who she lets close would be an understatement. She was abandoned as a child and as a result she does everything possible to make sure she never gets hurt like that again. But despite her tough exterior she has a kind heart and will do whatever is necessary to help those she loves.
I absolutely loved Lukas. He’s always been known as a ladies man but we get to watch his transformation into a hero you can’t help but love. And I adored the way he seemed to see through to Willa’s true self and the way he was constantly trying to win her over with his playful flirting!
There were so many layers to both of these characters and it was so much fun getting to know them and watch them fall in love.
I enjoyed seeing more of all the fun members of Willa’s unconventional family and I really loved Lukas’s sister Margot! I was so excited to hear that she’d be getting her own story in this author’s next series.
The setting of this story was also fascinating. It takes place at the beginning of World War I and explored parts of history I hadn’t really heard much about.
In short everything about this book was amazing and beautiful and I was enthralled with every page!

Meet the Author
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two kids, designing book covers, editing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books . . . .to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

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.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Keturah

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. 

Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren

The Sugar Baron's Daughters #1

Feburary 6, 2018-Bethany House Publishers

About the Book

In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father's estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.
Although it flies against all the conventions for women of the time, they're determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, proper gender roles are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined--and that's just the start of what their eyes are opened to in this unfamiliar world.
Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives.

Set on keeping her family together and saving her father's plantation, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

Why I Want It
Lisa T. Bergren's books are always absolutely amazing! This is such a unique setting that I can't wait to see what she does with it!

Top 10 Bookish Resolutions

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

#1. Read 75 books

#2. Read 12 Christian Living Books

#3. Read 2 educational books and/or biographies

#4. Finish 1-2 classics

#5. Read 15 non-review fiction books

#6. Read 5 kindle TBR

#7. Try 5 new-to-me authors

#8. Sort books into shelves on Goodreads

#9. Get better about keeping on a review book schedule

#10. Write more reviews for non-review books

Bout of Books 21: Wrap-Up

I am so happy with how much reading I got done this week so! It was so much more than I thought I would finish and it was a great way to kick of the 2018 reading year! I made a goal of reading 5 books but I ended up finishing a total of 11! Two of them were started before this week since they were ones that I read daily and I also read 24 pages from Les Mis that I've been trying to work through so my total page count was 3,040! I loved so many of these but I think A Song Unheard might be my favorite!

The Books

Bout of Books 21: Day 6 Update

Day Six Update

Books I Read Today: 

Double Shot by Erynn Mangum (98 pages)

Books I Finished Today: 

None

Pages Read Today: 98

Total Books Finished: 10

Total Pages Read: 2,829

My Thoughts on Day Six
I left on a road-trip with my best friend's dad at 6 this morning and we arrived at my bestie's a little before 4. Then we spent the rest of the day just hanging out. Snow-mageddon hit us just before we left so I got to read a little while he attempted to clear the drive-way but that was all I got in.

Oath of Honor by Lynette Eason

About the Book
Police officer Isabelle St. John loves her crazy, loud, law-enforcement family. With three brothers and two sisters, she's never without someone to hang out with--or fight with. And she knows they'll be there for her when things get tough. Like when her partner is murdered and she barely escapes with her own life.
Determined to discover exactly what happened, Izzy's investigation sends her headfirst into a criminal organization, possibly with cops on the payroll--including someone from her own family. With her dead partner's handsome homicide detective brother Ryan shadowing her every move, Izzy's head is spinning. How can she secure justice for her partner when doing so could mean sending someone she loves to prison? And how will she guard her heart when the man she's had a secret crush on for years won't leave her side?

With her signature fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat action, Lynette Eason invites readers into a captivating new series where justice is a family affair.

My Thoughts
This book kept me up way longer than I planned on, I was exhausted but I just couldn’t put it down until I knew how it ended! From start to finish I was sucked into the story, trying to figure out how the pieces fit and who to trust, right along with Ryan and Izzy. There were so many twists and unexpected turns that it wasn’t until just about the last second that I finally put it all together.
I loved both Ryan and Izzy, they were both great cops and even though they faced a devastating loss they found their way through it to make sure justice was found for their brother and partner. They had known each other forever but they were both starting to feel something more and their relationship seemed to develop naturally from the foundation of their friendship.
I loved the closeness of Izzy’s family and I’m looking forward to getting more of her sibling’s stories!

This book was so good with non-stop action and a sweet love story! Definitely a must read for romantic suspense lovers!

Meet the Author
Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, and the Hidden Identity series, as well as Always Watching, Without Warning, Moving Target, and Chasing Secrets in the Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of two ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. She has a master's degree in education from Converse College and lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

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.

Bout of Books 21: Day 5 Update & Day 6 Challenge

Day Five Update

Books I Read Today: 

Latte Daze by Erynn Mangum (297 pages)
The Lawman Claims His Bride by Renee Ryan (282 pages)

Books I Finished Today: 

Latte Daze by Erynn Mangum
The Lawman Claims His Bride by Renee Ryan

Pages Read Today: 579

Total Books Finished: 10

Total Pages Read: 2,731

My Thoughts on Day Five
Another fabulous day of reading! I started and finished two books! I'm sure this will be my last good reading day since I'm road-tripping to see my bestie today (Sat) so the last two days of this read-a-thon will probably only include a little bit of reading if any at all. But I'm definitely happy with how much I've read already so if I don't get any more read that's okay!

Day Six Challenge
Book Spine Poetry

I didn't have a lot of time so I just threw together the first books I saw that went well!

From the start
You're the one that I want
No other will do
I'll be yours
Forevermore

The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz

About the Book
It is the eve of a new age of freedom in the colonies.
But can a proper English lady dare hope for her own independence?
Lady Elisabeth "Liberty" Lawson has nearly everything a lady of her position could want. Daughter of the British lieutenant governor of the Virginia Colony and a darling of fine society in a rugged land, she is anticipating an advantageous marriage. That her betrothed is a rake and love is lacking is of little consequence--or so she tells herself.

Though her own life seems in order, colonial Williamsburg is a powder keg on the verge of exploding, and her fiancé's cousin Noble Rynallt carries the flame of revolution in his heart. Those with connections to the British nobility are suspected as spies, and Liberty soon finds herself left with a terrible choice. Will she stay true to her English roots? Or side with Noble and the radical revolutionaries?

My Thoughts
Yet again this author blew me away! The historical detail is seamlessly woven into every fiber of the story and transports the reader back in time. I have always been a bit enamored with the American Revolution (and one needs only to glance at my the reading and writing habits of my school days to verify that) so it’s always a treat to find beautifully crafted stories set in that era. And this book was nothing if not beautifully crafted! It’s a decently large book at about 400 pages and I finished it in a day, unable to put it down.
And now to talk about the heroine and the hero. Noble lived up to his name in every way-a true hero. The quiet way he was always there to help, seeing need and immediately doing what was necessary and often going beyond, but also knowing when to step back. I don’t think there was a thing about him that I didn’t admire! Elizabeth, or Liberty as she later chose to be called, was definitely admirable too. As the daughter of a staunch Tory father and a Patriot mother she was pulled in both directions, but as events play out she begins to see which cause is the right one. I appreciated how even though she was abandoned by friends and family alike she didn’t wallow in it. Instead she took the skills she had and found a job and even though it was hard and endless she did it without complaint.
Noble and Liberty’s relationship developed slowly but steadily, their paths continuously crossing an unlikely friendship developed into love. A timeless kind of love that just kinda took your breath with its simple beauty

Everything about this book was brilliant the writing, the characters, the romance, the historical parts, and I loved every part of it and highly recommend it to all historical lovers!

Meet the Author
Award-winning, bestselling author Laura Frantz is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century, and writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Frantz lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.
According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California.

Readers can find Laura Frantz at www.laurafrantz.net

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.

Bout of Books Day 4 Update

Day Four Update

Books I Read Today: 

A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White (244 pages)
Cool Beans by Erynn Mangum (298 pages)

Books I Finished Today: 

A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White
Cool Beans by Erynn Mangum
Courtship in Crisis by Thomas Umstattd Jr. (100 pages)
You'll Get Through This by Max Lucado (81 pages)

Pages Read Today: 542

Total Books Finished: 8

Total Pages Read: 2,152

My Thoughts on Day Four
Got a bunch more reading done today, this read-a-thon is going better than I dared hope! Finished a book I started yesterday, read another start to finish, and read the last bit of two non-fiction books that I began before the read-a-thon and have been reading a chapter a day from.

Bout of Books 21: Day 3 Update

Day Three Update

Books I Read Today: 

Engaged in Trouble by Jenny B. Jones (200 pages)
A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White (158 pages)

Books I Finished Today: 

Engaged in Trouble by Jenny B. Jones

Pages Read Today: 358

Total Books Finished: 4

Total Pages Read: 1,429

My Thoughts on Day Three
I read a bit less today than I did on the first two days. The cause of this decline rest with the girls I nanny who decided that sleep wasn't overly necessary today. I also had an evening commitment that took a large chunk of my night . All in all though it wasn't a bad amount for the day!

Bout of Books 21: Day 2 Update & Day 3 Challenge

Day Two Update

Books I Read Today: 

Oath of Honor by Lynette Eason (362 pages)
Engaged in Trouble by Jenny B. Jones (168 pages)

Books I Finished Today: 

Oath of Honor by Lynette Eason

Pages Read Today: 530

Total Books Finished: 3

Total Pages Read: 1,071

My Thoughts on Day Two
Another great reading day! I got almost as much read on day two as day one! I'm glad these first days are going well since I'm sure my reading will drop off for the last bit since I'm travelling out of town.


Day Three Challenge
Book Spine Rainbow

Bout of Books 21: Day 1 Update & Day 2 Challenge

Day One Update

Books I Read Today: 

Crossfire by Susan May Warren
The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz

Books I Finished Today: 

Crossfire by Susan May Warren (139 pages)
The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz (402 pages)

Pages Read Today: 541

Total Books Finished: 2

Total Pages Read: 541

My Thoughts on Day One
Started this read-a-thon with a bang! Knowing my schedule for the rest of the week I'm sure this will be the most I read in one day but it was a good day! Both books I finished (one a novella and one a novel) were completely different but equally amazing! I also managed to read bits from two non-fiction books, a classic, and the Bible to keep up with my daily reading plan but I'm not going to include them in my daily count.


Day Two Challenge
Share Your 2018 Reading Goals

I have several reading goals for this year but I tried to keep them all managable!

#1. Read 75 books
#2. Read 12 Christian Living Books
#3. Read 2 educational books and/or biographies
#4. Finish 1-2 classics
#5. Read 15 non-review fiction books
#6. Read 5 kindle TBR
#7. Try 5 new-to-me authors

Top Ten Books I Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn't Get To...

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

...but totally plan to read in 2018!

#1. Paper Hearts, Change of Heart, and Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh

#2. The Everstone Chronicles by Dawn Crandall

#3. Mitchell's Crossroads by Pepper Basham

#4. The Goodbye Bride, Just a Kiss, Sweetbriar Cottage, and Blue Ridge Sunrise 
by Denise Hunter

#5. Can't Help Falling & Then There Was You by Kara Issac

#6. The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof

#7. High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin

#8. Life After by Katie Ganshert

#9. Forever Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon

#10. Engaged in Trouble by Jenny B. Jones