Christian fiction has added many dimensions to my life. It educates and inspires. It motivates and challenges me in my walk with the Lord, and if that weren't enough it is completely entertaining!!
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. He has given me a wonderful husband and two children. He also allowed me work at a Christian-run bookstore for 8 years, before giving me the privilege and challenge of being a stay at home mom.
Redeeming Love is one of my favorite books, and after reading it a second time, it may be number one. It has such a strong message of God's love and His pursuit of us. He is faithful, but so often we are not!! Redeeming Love starts with young Sarah striving for her father's love. Unfortunately she does not get it from her earthly father, and her entire life is changed. Eventually, and still at a very young age, she is forced into prostitution. Years go by and Michael Hosea sees Angel, the highest priced "soiled dove" in town walking down the street, and he feels God's prompting that she will be his wife. With a past like Angel/Sarah's, can she ever trust or learn to love and be loved. God uses Michael Hosea among others to show her His love and His grace, which is exactly what we all need. With a past like mine, how is it that God has stuck with me through it all. He never gives up on us!
Francine Rivers is a superb writer. The language she uses is lyrical and paints vivid pictures. Her characters are beautifully developed and well-rounded having both flaws and strengths. The story flows well and provides relationships and actions that lead to changes in the characters.There is character growth in a number of the characters, both major and minor. There are a number of explicit scenes that lead me to only recommend it to mature readers, but I highly recommend it. There is an overwhelming theme of God's love and grace. This is a one I will read again and again! If you haven't read it, I strongly encourage you to get yourself a copy and immerse yourself! You will fall in love with your Savior all over again!
The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek is not the type of book that I would usually pick up, but I am glad that I did. Unfortunately, I often judge books by their covers, and this cover doesn't really appeal to me. However, after reading the book, I see that the cover fits the story, and I enjoyed the book. It is a light-hearted, fun story of life in a small town.
When Miss Birdie meets her the new pastor of the Christian Church and sees he is so young and unmarried, she feels it is her duty not only to show him the ropes, but also to find him a wife. One of the few single women in town is Willow Thomas, but Birdie and friend Mercedes (the Widows) decide she is a perfect match for another new bachelor in town, Sam Peterson. A veteran who just lost his leg in Afghanistan, he is not interested in making friends, but the people of Butternut Creek slowly make their way into Adam and Sam's lives and hearts.
The biggest strength of this novel is the voice. It is readable, down-to-earth, and humorous. The small town of Butternut Creek is perfectly quirky and quaint, as are all the town's people. The story is sweet with an clear Christian worldview. I enjoyed it and am excited to see that the second installment of the series just released: The Matchmakers of Butternut Creek.
A retelling of the Taming of the Shrew! Leslie Gould is celebrating the release of Courting Cate with a fun Kindle Fire Giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party (11/20)!
According to her father and sister, it is time for Cate Miller to find a husband, but Cate disagrees. She knows that men are not interested in her, and she does her best to keep it that way with her short temper and stand-offish ways. When Pete Treger moves into town, she seems to have met her match. Everyone believes he's perfect for her, but she remains skeptical until circumstances beyond her control bring them together.
I was entertained from the beginning of the book, but it took a while before I was convinced that the story was not only fun, but also worth it. The theme developed late in the book, but it was solid and powerful. I wanted a little more from the characters, especially with the relationship between Cate and her sister, Betsy. The resolution at the end happened a little too quickly. The story was fun and the romance, sweet. I liked the growth shown in Cate through her trials. Overall, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it (especially to fans of Amish fiction). I did receive a free copy in exchange for this honest review. And now for the giveaway:
One lucky winner will receive:
A Kindle Fire
Courting Cate by Leslie Gould
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 19th. Winner will be announced at the "Courting Cate" Author Chat Facebook Party on 11/20. Connect with Leslie, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at an Amish trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!
So grab your copy of Courting Cate and join Leslie on the evening of the November 20th for a chance to connect with Leslie 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 20th!
I whipped through this book in a day. It is a fast-paced historical romantic suspense. Cara Hamilton once thought she had lost her twin brother forever, but when she receives a message from him in America, she gives up everything and travels across the ocean to find him. Although warned not to trust anyone, she finds herself alone and needing help. An older gentleman reaches out to her on the ship, and after immigration she bonds with a young man. She struggles to know whether to follow her heart or her brother's advice. Centered around relationships, doubts, and hints of danger, the characters are well-developed, but mysteries and questions arise throughout. There is a satisfying ending to this story, but it allows many options for continuing the series. I look forward to reading more.
I did receive a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Elizabeth Ludwig is celebrating her new book with a Kindle Fire Giveaway and connecting with readers at a Facebook Author Chat party on 12/6.
One winner will receive:
A Kindle Fire
No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 5th. Winner will be announced at the "No Safe Harbor" Author Chat Facebook Party on 12/6. Connect with Elizabeth, get a sneak peek of the next book in the Edge of Freedom series, try your hand at the trivia contest, and win some great prizes—gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack (10 copies for your book club or small group)!
So grab your copy of No Safe Harbor and join Elizabeth on the evening of the December 6th for a chance to connect with her 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!
I am a fan of Kristen Heitzmann and have been for some time. The Breath of Dawn introduces Quinn Reilly, an estate buyer and e-bay trader. Quinn finds herself settling in Juniper Falls and making friends, but just when she thinks this could be home, her past catches up to her in a dangerous way. Morgan Spencer, professional problem solver takes interest in Quinn and offers an unorthodox solution. They are soon put to the test as both Quinn and Morgan have to face their pasts in order to move forward.
I was familiar with a couple of the characters from years ago when I read A Rush of Wings and The Still of the Night. It was fun to get reaquainted. The new characters blended perfectly, and both main and secondary characters were well-created. The story was long, but fast-paced. Truthfully, I felt that the supernatural aspect added little to the overall story and could have been left out; however, I did really enjoy the book. Sweet relationships coupled with the danger and drama created beautiful and satisfying character development and growth. The book kept me quite engaged, and I carried my kindle around with me everywhere until I finished it! I would definitely recommend this book as well as this author!
Kristen Heitzmann is the bestselling author of over a dozen novels, including "Freefall", "Halos", "A Rush of Wings", and the Christy Award winner "Secrets". She and her husband, Jim, and their family live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she serves as worship leader in their church.
I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson is a heartwarming story about a young girl who prays for a pony for Christmas, but more than a pony Lucy wants for her mother's smile to return. Her prays are answered one by one as the next day they receive surprise borders and extra income for the holidays. The two borders from out of town add excitement to Lucy's life and by Christmas morning Lucy receives so much more than she had dreamed possible. God answers prays in a wonderful way in this historical Christmas tale. Set in 1937, the characters and setting are instrumental in delivering a sweet tale of Christmas miracles. This is an extremely quick read, and yet it is a complete story. Truthfully, I would love to have read this as a complete novel, rather than a short novella. It is a great way to get in or stay in the Christmas Spirit and a perfect book to whip through on a cold day. This would be good for younger or older readers alike. I enjoyed the story and will be passing it around my family!
I received a free copy in exchange for this honest review.
WOW! What a ride this book was! I cannot stop talking about it!
Soul's Gate centers around four individuals who are called together for a greater purpose. Reese Roth teaches the other three to embrace the true power of the Holy Spirit. They open their eyes to the realities of the spiritual realm in many way, and they begin to use His power to intercede for each other, replace lies, tear down strongholds, fight the enemy, and find freedom. The imagery of bondage and freedom in this book led me to tears multiple times.
The plot is fast-paced and unique with relationships, spiritual warfare, action, and suspense. The characters come to life on the page, especially as you glimpse into their souls. The author's notes at the end of the book discuss the reality versus fiction of the story. Most importantly, the theme and impact are powerful. True freedom is beautiful! That freedom is only found through Jesus and his Holy Spirit in us. The Holy Spirit is alive and powerful. He can erase the lies that we tell ourselves, and He replaces those lies with Truth...the truth that sets us free. Once we are free we can do all that He has planned for us.
Here is the trailer for the book:
I have to say again, "WOW!" This book inspired me to want to know Him more and to serve Him in a powerful way. He wants to use us and bless us in amazing ways, and I want to be used by Him. I highly recommend this book, and I am so thrilled that I received a free e-copy in exchange for my honest review.
Okay, so here is my sob story. I am about half-way through this novel, and I lost it!! That is not something that you want to do with a Steven James thriller! Once you get into it, you are hooked and you have to keep reading. Alas, I was cleaning and set the book aside (so it would be safe), and I haven't seen it since. This is extremely unfortunate because I am very curious how everything will work together.
I read the Patrick Bowers series and reviewed most of them. They are great suspense books. Bishop is my favorite! Placebo is very different but quite entertaining. Admittedly, I skimmed some of the science details, but the plot and characters are unique and well-developed. James is a talented and original author. I would definitely recommend him to suspense and thriller fans.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
