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Book Review: Death by The Book

4 Jun

210969WHEN THE VILLAGE OF FARTHERING ST. JOHN IS Stunned BY A SERIES OF MURDERS, DREW FARTHERING IS DRAWN again INTO THE SLEUTHING GAME.

Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.

Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl’s tearful confession point to the victim’s double life, but what does the solicitor’s murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem–except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.

Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn’t at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seem to be drawing him closer and closer to home?

 

julianna-deeringJULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuts with Rules of Murder (Bethany House, 2013) and will be followed by Death by the Book (Bethany House, 2014).

 

My Impressions:

I love a good mystery, especially one that is reminiscent of the great British offerings of the 1930s. Julianna Deering has created a series that will leave fans of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers satisfied. Death by The Book is #2 in the Drew Farthering Mystery series. (Rules of Murder, book 1, review HERE.) The endearing Drew Farthering, young lord of the manor, is back on the case, assisting the local Detective Inspector with a series of puzzling and seemingly unrelated murders. The only clues are cryptic messages affixed to the bodies with decorative hatpins. A mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, I recommend Death by The Book.

Deering has created a very authentic feeling classic murder mystery. The quaint setting of Farthering St. John and the attention to details of the time, including books read, cars driven and clothes worn, makes the reader feel he has stepped back in time. There is plenty of witty dialog and fun characters as well. The mysterious clues found on the body made me wish I had paid more attention to memorizing Shakespeare. Deering did a great job of incorporating obscure quotes into the action, making this novel really by the book! But what sets Death by The Book apart from other mysteries is the natural expression of faith by Drew and other characters. The clues build for both Drew and the reader allowing both to try their hand at solving the crimes. I must say, I was thoroughly shocked and surprised by just whodunit!

So if you like a great puzzler, then pick up both books. You won’t be disappointed. I am looking forward to book 3, Murder at The Mikado due out later this month.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Bethany House for my review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books That Will Be in My Beach Bag

3 Jun

 

toptentuesday

I am actually going to the beach in two weeks. Yippee! But since I don’t want to look like a lobster after the first day there, I am going to spend some time by the pool before I go. So, my beach bag is already full before I hit the road. Here are the next 10 books that I will be reading, so they will certainly be in the bag. What book will be traveling with you on vacation?

 

 

Hacker by Ted Dekker

Seagrass Pier by Colleen Coble (a definite beach read!)

Seasons of Tomorrow by Cindy Woodsmall

The Last Visitor by E. A. James

The Personal History of Rachel Dupree by Ann Weisgarber

Mom’s Night Out by Tricia Goyer

The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate

A Jane Austen Encounter by Donna Fletcher Crow

Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers

Rope of Sand by C. F. Dunn

952753547842279989684821368184386898The-Last-Visitor-New-Edition-2013-Book-Cover-183x300JaneAusten6408757935678

 

Book Review: All My Belongings

3 Jun

749728A new life and a new identity can’t protect Becca from a past that refuses to go away.

After spending years running from the shame her father put on her family, Jayne is determined not to let him steal her future in the same way he stole her childhood. Changing her name to Becca Morrow, she moves to California and settles into a new life and new job caring for ailing mother of handsome young businessman, Isaac Hughes.

But just as she’s wondering if she and Isaac are headed for a relationship, Becca’s patient passes away under unusual circumstances. Suddenly, her past catches up with her and the unnerving details of her heritage threaten to destroy all sense of home and all hope for love.

Even if she could clear her name, a phone call wraps a suffocating shroud around her heart. Her estranged father needs her help. But can Becca open her new life to the man who ruined her past?

 

 

CRuchti-145Cynthia Ruchti has more than three decades of radio broadcast experience with “Heartbeat of the Home” radio and currently serves as Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers. Find Cynthia on the Web at http://www.cynthiaruchti.com.

 

My Impressions:

I had the chance to talk to Cynthia Ruchti when her first novel, They Almost Always Come Home, debuted. She was my very first interview and was such a joy to speak with. (Read my review/interview HERE.) So I was more than a little excited to read her newest novel, All My Belongings. Filled with great characters and insights that will keep you thinking long after you close the cover, All My Belongings is one I will not hesitate to recommend.

Jayne Denegee has a name that no one will forget. Her father has just been sentenced for the murder of her mother and is facing other charges based on other mercy killings. Feeling like she will always be judged for her father’s sins, Jayne changes her name to Becca Morrow and travels across the country to escape the identity that haunts her. On the recommendation of her dear friend she takes a job caring for the seriously ill mother of real estate agent Isaac. Their relationship quickly changes from employee/employer to something much deeper. But soon the foundation that is built on lies crumbles under the reality of Jayne’s past.

All My Belongings is a story of new beginnings, second chances and search for identity. Both Jayne/Becca and Isaac are looking for who they are apart from their family. But Becca is trying to escape her past, while Isaac is searching for who he really is outside of his adoptive family. There is also the very powerful message of the value of a life lived to the very end. In describing her father, Becca states that “he didn’t understand the value of letting God decide the length of our days”. Ruchti did a great job of portraying the sacredness of life even amidst the suffering that many face. She articulated a truth that is hard to express and even harder to live out.

All My Belongings has a lot going for it. Ruchti’s writing style is fresh and flows across the page. It is at once a romance, a suspense-filled mystery and a thoughtful exploration of life and death in the hands of God. And it has characters you will come to love. Perfect for a book club discussion, I highly recommend it.

Highly Recommended.

Great For Book Clubs.

For more reviews, click HERE.

(Thanks to Abingdon and LitFuse for my review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

 

Cynthia is celebrating the release of her latest novel with a fun giveaway and a live webcast event!

allmybelongings-400-click

One winner will receive:
A $200 Visa cash card
All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti
The giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the All My Belongings LIVE webcast event on June 11th.

Connect with Cynthia for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Cynthia will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books, fun prizes, and gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of All My Belongings and join Cynthia and friends on the evening of June 11th 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 BY SIGNING UP FOR A REMINDER. TELL YOUR FRIENDS VIA FACEBOOK OR TWITTER AND INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 11TH!

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Audiobook Review: Vanished

30 May

721237Reporter Moira Harrison is lost. In the dark. In a thunderstorm. When a confusing detour places her on a rural, wooded road, she’s startled by the sudden appearance of a lone figure caught in the beam of her headlights. Though Moira jams on her brakes, the car careens across the wet pavement–and the solid thump against the side of the vehicle tells her she hit the person before she crashes into a tree on the far side of the road.

A dazed Moira is relieved when a man opens her door, tells her he saw everything, and promises to call 911. Then everything fades to black. When she comes to an hour later, she is alone. No man. No 911. No injured person lying on the side of the road. But she can’t forget the look of terror she saw on the person’s face in the instant before her headlights swung away. The person she hit had been in trouble. She’s sure of it. But she can’t get anyone to believe her story–except a handsome former police detective, now a private eye, who agrees to take on the case.

 

 

irenepicbio(From the author’s website.) Irene Hannon is a bestselling, award-winning author who took the publishing world by storm at the tender age of 10 with a sparkling piece of fiction that received national attention.

Okay…maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. But she was one of the honorees in a complete-the-story contest conducted by a national children’s magazine. And she likes to think of that as her “official” fiction-writing debut!

Since then, she has written more than 45 romance and romantic suspense novels. Her books have been honored with two RITA awards—the “Oscar” of romantic fiction—and she is a six-time finalist. Her books have also won a Daphne du Maurier award, a Carol award, two HOLT Medallions, a National Readers’ Choice Award, a Retailers Choice Award and two Reviewers’ Choice awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. One of her novels was also named by Booklist as a top 10 inspirational fiction books of 2011. In addition, she is a Christy award finalist.

Irene, who holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in journalism, juggled two careers for many years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position with a Fortune 500 company to write full-time. She is happy to say she has no regrets!

In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening and singing. A trained vocalist, she has sung the leading role in numerous musicals, including “South Pacific,” “Brigadoon,” “Oklahoma” “The King and I” and “Anything Goes.” She is also a soloist at her church.

When not otherwise occupied, Irene and her husband enjoy traveling, Saturday mornings at their favorite coffee shop and spending time with family. They make their home in Missouri.

 

My Impressions:

I think I just found the perfect series for my vacation reading/listening, at least if the first book is any indication. Vanished, book 1 in the Private Justice series by Irene Hannon, was just what I needed to get my morning walk started off right — mysterious events, a strong and capable heroine, a hunky PI on the case and a storyline that kept my interest. And while I walked along with the action, I think the next book in the series will be with me in a lounge chair by the pool or on the beach.

Moira Harrison literally runs into a mystery. While the events of the accident are hazy, she knows that a young woman really has vanished. Determined to get to the bottom of just what happened she enlists a private investigator to take on the case. With not much to go on, the two uncover murder and romantic feelings that they can’t deny.

Vanished is fast-paced with lots of twists and turns. The characters are likable and relatable. The reader is let in early on the mystery, but that didn’t lessen the suspense. There is quite a bit of cat and mouse on both sides of the investigation.  If you are a fan of romantic suspense, you are sure to like this one. I listened to the audiobook. It took me a little bit to get used to the narrator’s voice, but the story soon took over. And I am definitely looking forward to reading book 2 — Trapped.

Recommended.

(I purchased the audiobook version from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Simple Faith

28 May

291412After losing her beloved husband and daughter and surviving Hitler’s Sobibor death camp, Quaker widow Anja Steinberg dedicates her life to helping others and keeping her son safe. As a member of the resistance, she helps displaced Allied airmen get back to their units in England. The journey is rigorous and filled with danger and there is no time for romance. Then American Peter Trent parachutes into her life. She must face facts—her heart did not die with her late husband and true love could be hers again. But will a romance hurt Peter’s chance of escape from the Nazis—and endanger her life as well?

 

 

AnnaSchmidtAnna Schmidt is a three-time finalist for the coveted RITA award presented annually by Romance Writers of America. Her novel A SISTER’S FORGIVENESS gives Anna her fourth finalist honor for the Reviewers’ Choice Awards from Romantic Times magazine. She has won that award twice before. Anna is the author of over twenty-five works of historical and contemporary fiction including her most recent series—THE PEACEMAKERS – set in World War II.  All God’s Children was released last fall and tells the story of Beth—an American Quaker trapped in Nazi Germany where she finds herself fall in love with Josef—a young German medical student who is determined to save his beloved homeland from Hitler’s oppressive regime. Publisher’s Weekly had high praise for the novel noting that “The activities of the White Rose resistance group, as well as the prisoner uprising at the Sobibor concentration camp, are more than simple historical context. Schmidt seamlessly integrates these actual events, and the courageous real-life individuals who fought against Hitler’s regime, with her fictional characters and their story, to produce a strong tale of hope and love in the face of insurmountable obstacles.” Her current release is the inspirational historical romance, Simple Faith.

 

My Impressions:

Simple Faith, book 2 in Anna Schmidt’s The Peacemakers series, presents an interesting look at the work of people of faith in the midst of the horror of WWII. Set in Belgium, France and Spain, the novel continues the story of Anja that began in book 1, All God’s Children. It can, however, be read as a standalone. Filled with daring adventure, suspense and romance, Simple Faith is a recommended read for those who like historical romance set during WWII.

Peter Trent is an American airman forced to parachute from the disabled bomber he serves on. Behind enemy lines, Peter struggles to survive his initial landing. Found by the young son of Anja Jensen, Peter is rescued and set into the escape line run by Anja. But the Gestapo is on his trail and determined to find not only Peter, but to bring in those responsible for the running of the escape line. Fighting their growing attraction, Peter and Anja flee Belgium and start on their trek to Spain and freedom. But of course, there are lots of dangers awaiting them and others who fight for freedom.

Simple Faith is foremost a plot-driven romance with elements of suspense and danger for the characters. The romance is somewhat predictable, but the story of the escape lines providing its foundation is fascinating. Like the Underground Railroad used to transport slaves to freedom in the United States, escape lines operated in Europe allowing American, Canadian and British airman to return to England. The sacrifice that the local people made to protect the Allied forces is a story that needed to be told. These people risked everything, including torture and death, to make sure that strangers would live. Another interesting feature of the novel is Anja’s Quaker faith. A pacifist, she looks for the Light in all she meets, including those who are her enemies. She is called to do her part to stop the Nazis.The Society of Friends or Quakers rely on silence to find the will of God and I found this a powerful image of God’s voice to His people. I was surprised, though, that while there were many references to God and the Light, there was never any direct mention of Jesus. There also seemed to be a universalist bent to the faith portrayed by the characters.

If you like a book filled with historical detail, an interesting story, romance and likable characters then Simple Faith is a good book for you.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Shiloh Press and Pump Up Your Book for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

Simple-Faith-banner

For more reviews, click HERE.

Monday, May 5
Book Review at A Simple Life, Really?
Tuesday, May 6
Book Review at The Mary Book Reader
Friday, May 9
Book Review at Found a Christian By His Grace
Monday, May 12
Book Review at My Book Addiction and More
Tuesday, May 13
Book Review at Reviews From the Heart
Wednesday, May 14
Book Review at 2 Kids and Tired
Monday, May 19
Book Featured at The Writer’s Life
Wednesday, May 21
Book Review at Blooming with Books
Thursday, May 22
Book Review at Ashley’s Bookshelf
Book Review at Mary’s Cup of Tea
Monday, May 26
Book Review at Create with Joy
Book Review at Splashes of Joy
Wednesday, May 28
Book Review at By the Book
Thursday, May 29
Book Review at Living Between Books
Friday, May 30
Book Review at Melina’s Book Blog

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Book Review: Life Support

26 May

361130Nurse Lauren Barclay put her life on hold to keep a watchful eye on her troubled sister. It’s why she’s back in Houston. But that means confronting the brooding physician assistant who caused painful turmoil in her family—and left Lauren with memories her heart can’t forget.

PA and single parent Elijah Landry is no stranger to stormy relationships, including one with his father, who is threatening him with a restraining order. It won’t stop Eli from protecting his disabled brother—or from making peace with Lauren. He wants that and so much more.

But as Lauren and Eli draw closer, a powerful hurricane roars toward Houston. Survival instincts take priority and everything changes. Can hope weather the storm?

 

 

homepic2Former ER nurse, wife, Mom and proud grandmother, Candace Calvert believes that love, laughter, and faith are the best medicines. Her popular medical fiction offers charismatic characters, pulse-pounding drama, romance, humor, suspense–and a prescription for hope. Think, “Grey’s Anatomy finds its soul.” She is . . .

A Northern California native who spent several years in Hill Country Texas–where she learned to check her shoes for scorpions and plucked an armadillo from her swimming pool. Thinks cruising is the best way to travel: honeymooned in Venice, swam with stingrays, rode a camel at the pyramids, and sang (badly) with a Newfoundland country band. She’s passionate about cooking, loves bird watching, gardening, and gets goose bumps when her handsome husband hits the low notes at karaoke. She writes inspirational fiction because . . .

God blessed her with a quirky wit, buoyant optimism, and a contagious sense of fun–but she didn’t come to know him until after the Triple Whammy that turned her life into a bad country song. A painful and unexpected divorce, the Northern California floods of 1997, and (just when she was coping like a champ, no problem) an equestrian accident that left her with fractured ribs, a bleeding lung, broken back, neck fractures and a spinal cord injury. She’ll tell you that God took drastic measures to get her attention.

In the months of rehabilitation, Candace healed in body and spirit. And came to fully understand the difference between being a strong woman and a woman of strength. The difference is faith, and that lesson has been her biggest blessing. Her story, By Accident, appears in Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul, and launched her writing career. Now . . .

She is honored to bring readers medical fiction that offers exciting entertainment and a healthy dose of hope.

 

My Impressions:

If you are looking for a romance with fast-paced action and some medical drama to take along on vacation, then Life Support is a sure bet for your reading pleasure. Part of Candace Calvert’s Grace Medical series, it can be read as a standalone. Filled with great characters facing real life situations and problems and seasoned with a good dose of humor, it is a novel I really enjoyed.

Lauren Barclay is an ER nurse in Houston with lots on her plate — a demanding job, an erratic sister and an attraction to a man that should be off-limits. Eli Landry is busy taking care of his daughter and making sure his brother Drew gets the best medical care. But his father, a federal judge, is a big obstacle to what he thinks is best for his brother. Eli also feels the attraction to Lauren and is determined to make things right between them. Add medical emergencies, missing drugs and an approaching hurricane and you have a good mix for this romantic tale.

The strength of Life Support is its strong characterization. Relatable characters with real life situations are well-developed. I especially liked Drew, Eli’s disabled brother. Involved in an accident that left him with brain damage twenty years before, Calvert gives us a look into his thoughts and feelings that is truly unique. I loved that his teenage love for God carried over through his accident and the life that looks very different from his hopes and dreams. The care home that he goes to, Mimaw’s Nest, is also the kind of place I would entrust my loved one to. Are there any really like this out there? I sure hope so. The romance is of course the focus of Life Support. There are obstacles and misunderstandings that have to be overcome, but I liked that the characters were open with their feelings and didn’t shy away from confrontation. No suffering in silence here!

Life Support is a great pick for fans of romance and medical drama.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Tyndale for my review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Praying For Your Addicted Loved One

23 May

Unknown-1Watching someone you love self-destruct hurts.

Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90 provides ninety devotions of strength, hope, and encouragement to families coping with addiction. Realizing you’re not alone in your struggles brings comfort and confidence to face day-to-day challenges.

The overall message of Praying for Your Addicted Loved One conveys hope to families caught in the cycles of addiction. The various stages of the disease: abuse, recovery, and relapse, take their toll on families. Hopelessness grabs a family’s heart and wrings it out with each slip of clean or sober time. The verses in Jeremiah 30 and 31, the foundation of the book, offer promises of restoration and redemption.

90 in 90 reflects the 12 Step model of attending 90 meetings in 90 days. While your loved one attends meetings, you will read a daily devotional to lend spiritual support.

“Today I pray for other lost addicts to find the hope of recovery. I pray the families reading this book will continue to have hope that an addict—any addict—can stop using drugs and find a new way to live. If there is one thing I can say to family members it is, never quit fighting. There is always hope. With hope, I, a once hopeless dope addict, am now a dope-less hope addict.” ~ Josh Cosby

 

UnknownSharron Cosby is a Southern Belle from Alabama. She is wife to Dan, mother to three adult children and Mimi to five grandchildren. After Sharron’s family, the loves of her life are reading and writing. Sharron enjoys a wide range of genres, but her favorite is legal thrillers.

Her first published title is Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90. The book is a 90-day devotional for families in recovery or those wanting to be. It is based on Sharron’s journey through 15 years of her son’s drug addiction and her discovery of God’s promise of restoration in Jeremiah 30 and 31.

 

My Impressions:

I can only imagine the heartbreak that families face when dealing with a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Sharron Cosby has written a highly personal devotional to reach out to those who need hope and healing from God. As the cover of Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90 states — Self destruction hurts everyone. The devotional guide provides insight from Cosby’s own life in dealing with her son’s addiction, scripture for meditation, a prayer that the reader can personalize and space for journaling thoughts, fears and hopes. It is also not a quick fix, but a 3 month journey that can encourage and sustain. Drawn from scripture, including Jeremiah, Psalms, Proverbs and New Testament letters, topics include real life situations and feelings such as Celebrating Milestones, Our Fragile Hope, Shame and Blame and I Need Help. So if you, a family member or a friend need to know they are not alone, pick up Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90.

Recommended.

(Thanks to the author for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Into The Free

22 May

404242Just a girl. The only one strong enough to break the cycle.

In Depression-era Mississippi, Millie Reynolds longs to escape the madness that marks her world. With an abusive father and a “nothing mama,” she struggles to find a place where she really belongs.

For answers, Millie turns to the Gypsies who caravan through town each spring. The travelers lead Millie to a key that unlocks generations of shocking family secrets. When tragedy strikes, the mysterious contents of the box give Millie the tools she needs to break her family’s longstanding cycle of madness and abuse.

Through it all, Millie experiences the thrill of first love while fighting to trust the God she believes has abandoned her. With the power of forgiveness, can Millie finally make her way into the free?

 

 

julie-7-2_06_03_2013Julie Cantrell is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Into the Free, which won Christy Awards for Best Debut Novel and for Book of the Year 2013. Cantrell has served as editor-in-chief of the Southern Literary Review and is a recipient of the Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Fellowship. She and her family live in Mississippi, where they operate Valley House Farm. Her new novel, When Mountains Move, hit shelves September 1, 2013.

 

My Impressions:

Julie Cantrell won 2 Christy Awards for her debut novel, Into The Free. It is easy to see why. Her novel is a moving study of a young girl with so many obstacles to overcome, so many people set against her, yet somehow she manages to hold on to the elusive hope that she can escape and somehow make it into freedom. Not a particularly easy read considering the abuse some of the characters undergo, it is nevertheless a book I would highly recommend to anyone.

Spanning the years of 1936-1943, Into The Free features Millie Reynolds the daughter of a rodeo star who also regularly beats his wife. Mama retreats from the abuse and despair of her life by taking the drugs that the farmhands bring. Millie has learned to disappear, to be quiet and not cause any trouble. Yet she yearns for an escape and watches and waits for the Travelers that appear in the Spring.

Cantrell has a wonderful writing style, creating memorable and well-developed characters and using effective imagery. Millie is a survivor and a character that endures hard situations and hard people while maintaining her sense of self. Cantrell balances the abusive with the redemptive in the characters she creates. And there is a tension between Millie’s desire for the magical freedom that the gypsy boy River represents with the steady, dependable faith of cowboy Bump. The small town of Iti Taloa, Mississippi becomes very real in Cantrell’s hands. Small town gossip and prejudices are present, but so are caring people who seek to shelter Millie. But in 1940s Mississippi there is a limit to what one can do to step into a family’s business.

I read a few negative reviews of Into The Free. Some thought it was too Christian, others not Christian enough. Cantrell is blunt in her portrayal of hypocritical church members. At their best they are unfeeling gossips. At their worst they are abusive and manipulative. But theirs is a Christianity that is in name only. Her portrayal of real faith is beautiful. When Millie visits Bump’s family in the Delta she finds she “can taste the existence of God in every bite of food, smell Him in every whiff of Delta air, feel Him as Bump brushes against my arm and children tug at my dress with question after question about the rodeo, about Bump”. The provision and protection of God takes the shape of Sloth, a character from Millie’s childhood, who shows up to guide and direct her and sometimes to save her.

Into The Free has been in my TBR pile a long while. I am glad I finally took the time to read it. Powerful, beautiful, poignant, it is definitely Highly Recommended.

Highly Recommended.

Great For Book Clubs.

(I purchased this book for my Kindle. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase Into The Free, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Daisies Are Forever

21 May

689124In 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 Joseph 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.

 

LTolsma-178New York Times best-selling author Liz Tolsma is the author of Daisies are Forever, Snow on the Tulips, and the contributing author of A Log Cabin Christmas. When not busy putting words to paper, Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and children, all adopted internationally.

 

My Impressions:

I loved Liz Tolsma’s novel, Snow on The Tulips. It was a beautifully written novel depicting the heroics of real and relatable characters during the final days of WWII in the Netherlands. Daisies Are Forever is a look at WWII with a twist — from the point of view of the Germans as they are facing a certain defeat. Based upon true events, this novel is an interesting look at the trials of a defeated people.

Gisela Cramer is an American living in Germany during WWII. Her parents returned their family to Germany hoping that the economic upswing would benefit their family. Unfortunately, they have been swept up in the war. Mitch Edwards is an escaped POW who has spent five years of the war regretting his actions that placed him and his mates in a German stalag. The two meet up during the desperate escape from the Soviet invasion. Along with Gisela’s two nieces, two elderly women and others they meet along the way, the two travel to Berlin desperate to overcome their past mistakes and rescue those they love.

The look at the German side that Daisies Are Forever presents is definitely a plus in this novel. The author takes experiences from two women, one being her aunt, and crafts a unique perspective on WWII. This look into an unknown piece of history was very interesting. The reader gains new insight into what the people of Germany faced as they endured the daily bombings by English and American Air Forces, the atrocities of the Soviets and the betrayal of their own government. I felt, however, that this strong story line was often sidelined for the romance thread, which I found weak. There is a tug of war for Gisela’s heart that went on too long for this reader. And after all was said and done, one of the major characters just disappears from the action with no explanation. Both Gisela and Mitch struggle with guilt in their roles in the loss of friends and loved ones to the crush of war. By the end of the book, they both acknowledge that they have little power to save others and need to place that firmly in God’s hands.

I think Daisies Are Forever will appeal to most fans of historical romance novels. And while I didn’t like it as much as Tulips in The Snow, I look forward to more books by Liz Tolsma.

(Thanks to Thomas Nelson and LitFuse for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

For more reviews, click HERE.

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

 

 

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

 

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Liz is celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX giveaway!

 

One winner will receive:
A Kindle Fire HDX
Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma

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.

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Book Review: For Such A Time

16 May

211607In 1944, blond and blue-eyed Jewess Hadassah Benjamin feels abandoned by God when she is saved from a firing squad only to be handed over to a new enemy. Pressed into service by SS-Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt at the transit camp of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia, she is able to hide behind the false identity of Stella Muller. However, in order to survive and maintain her cover as Aric’s secretary, she is forced to stand by as her own people are sent to Auschwitz.

Suspecting her employer is a man of hidden depths and sympathies, Stella cautiously appeals to him on behalf of those in the camp. Aric’s compassion gives her hope, and she finds herself battling a growing attraction for this man she knows she should despise as an enemy.

Stella pours herself into her efforts to keep even some of the camp’s prisoners safe, but she risks the revelation of her true identity with every attempt. When her bravery brings her to the point of the ultimate sacrifice, she has only her faith to lean upon. Perhaps God has placed her there for such a time as this, but how can she save her people when she is unable to save herself?

 

Breslin_Kate1-300x225A Florida girl who migrated to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Kate Breslin lives with her husband, John, and a very spoiled cat named Coco. Kate has written several travel articles, published award-winning poetry, and her first manuscript, a Scottish historical romance, was finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest. These days, when she’s not writing inspirational fiction or spending time with her author friends, she’s avidly reading books, watching anything Jane Austen on BBC, or following John’s musical career as his #1 fan. An avid “tree-hugger” she often enjoys long walks in the forests and playing in the garden–growing all kinds of flowers and herbs, especially those that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Kate’s also a traveler – she and John have toured most of Washington state and many places in the U.S. With her intrepid mom as traveling companion, Kate’s also been abroad – Paris, Munich, Rome, Pompeii, Athens, even a day trip to Turkey. Her next story takes place in Western Europe. Could another “research trip” be in the offing . . . ?

 

 

 

My Impressions:

I have read a lot of books this year that have been set in Europe during WWII. Most have been good, but Kate Breslin’s novel, For Such A Time, ranks as one of the best. While the degradation and abuses of the concentration camps are highlighted, Breslin manages to infuse enough hope to make the story sing with the love and faithfulness of God. Certainly a must read for those who love historical novels, I will heartily recommend For Such A Time to all who want a moving read.

Aric Von Schmidt, a camp commandant on his way to Theresienstadt, rescues Stella Muller from execution at Dachau. Her indomitable spirit and beauty touch him in a way that he believed nothing could again. Bitter and hardened to the atrocities of war, he nevertheless reaches out to save her. Stella, though, has a very dangerous secret. Her false papers and her Aryan features label her as a true German. She maintains her identity in order to survive and hopefully to be the salvation of those who have no hope. The ghetto of Theresienstadt holds terror, abuse and despair for all those who enter and only certain death to those who leave. Through Stella’s daring, her uncle’s vision and Aric’s sacrifice, many might be saved from extermination.

For Such A Time is a beautifully written account of the dark history of murder, terror and abuse that the Jews and others deemed undesirable had to endure at the hands of the Nazis. And while I knew the history well, it was still a startling and heartbreaking story that unfolded in the pages of this book. Difficult to read, it was also a wonderful testament to the will to survive and the deep faith in a good and gracious God in the midst of trial. I found the characters well-developed with poignant backstories that, while not lessening their crimes, made them seem terribly human in their motivations. Based on the biblical book of Esther, the novel portrays great courage and faith in God’s deliverance. Unfortunately, the story is fictional. The great escape never occurred. The author shares the facts in the Afterword, making the story all the more tragic.

My favorite part of the book is the verses that Stella finds in her mysteriously appearing Bible. Speaking directly to her plight, she finds comfort where none seems to exist. And her memories of best friend Marta sharing the gospel will encourage the reader in his/her own encounters with those who need to know God’s love.

A wonderful novel that transcends the historical genre, I highly recommend For Such A Time.

Highly Recommended.

Great For Book Clubs.

For more reviews, click HERE.

(Thanks to Bethany House Publishing and TLC Tours for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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