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Book Review: Seasons of Tomorrow (+ Giveaway)

13 Jun

279989As love restores Rhoda, a sudden tragedy is the test of faith she never saw coming.

More settled in her heart than ever before, Rhoda Byler feels a newfound confidence living in the Old Order Amish settlement she helped establish in Orchard Bend, Maine. Time has helped to heal the wounds of Rhoda’s recent severed relationship, and she finds that even her unusual gift of profound intuition is less of a burden as she continues to seek God’s wisdom for her future. She is happy to be working alongside the King family and the love of her life as they tend and nurture the settlement’s orchard.

Yet when Leah King’s involvement with Englischer Landon Olson becomes known outside of the Maine community, her disregard of the Ordnung could threaten all the Orchard Bend Amish are building. In the midst of addressing the discord, a shocking tragedy challenges the young settlement like never before, threatening to uproot Rhoda’s peace and the future of everything she holds dear.

When several members of Orchard Bend Farms are displaced, the estranged King brother is called upon to return. Can those who founded the new Amish community in Maine unite Or will the lingering pain of past hurts and present struggles result in the end of their dreams?

 

cw_bioCindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author who has written a dozen (and counting!) works of fiction and one of nonfiction. She and her dearest Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud, coauthored the nonfiction, Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women. Cindy’s been featured on ABC Nightline and the front page of the Wall Street Journal, and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life. In June of 2013, the Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as the second most popular author of Amish fiction, following Beverly Lewis.

She is also a veteran homeschool mom who no longer holds that position. As her children progressed in age, her desire to write grew stronger. After working through reservations whether this desire was something she should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband was her staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.

She’s won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer’s Choice Awards, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings’ Best Books of the Year. She’s been a finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian Retailers Choice Awards.

Her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity. Though she didn’t realize it at the time, seeds were sown years ago that began preparing Cindy to write these books. At the age of ten, while living in the dairy country of Maryland, she became best friends with Luann, a Plain Mennonite girl. Luann, like all the females in her family, wore the prayer Kapp and cape dresses. Her parents didn’t allow television or radios, and many other modern conveniences were frowned upon. During the numerous times Luann came to Cindy’s house to spend the night, her rules came with her and the two were careful to obey them—afraid that if they didn’t, the adults would end their friendship. Although the rules were much easier to keep when they spent the night at Luann’s because her family didn’t own any of the forbidden items, both sets of parents were uncomfortable with the relationship and a small infraction of any kind would have been enough reason for the parents to end the relationship. While navigating around the adults’ disapproval and the obstacles in each other’s lifestyle, the two girls bonded in true friendship that lasted into their teen years, until Cindy’s family moved to another region of the US.

As an adult, Cindy became friends with a wonderful Old Order Amish family who opened their home to her. Although the two women, Miriam and Cindy, live seven hundred miles apart geographically, and a century apart by customs, when they come together they never lack for commonality, laughter, and dreams of what only God can accomplish through His children. Over the years Cindy has continued to make wonderful friendships with those inside the Amish and Mennonite communities—from the most conservative ones to the most liberal.

Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.

 

My Impressions:

My book club met last night to discuss the fourth and final book in the Amish Vines and Orchards series by Cindy Woodsmall. We have been anticipating Seasons of Tomorrow for months and were not disappointed in the conclusion of this great series. The novel got a unanimous thumbs-up and generated lots of good discussion. We highly recommend all the books in this series.

The King and Byler families have faced numerous hardships and heartbreaks since establishing an Amish community in Maine. Now with a good harvest finally in, perhaps they can relax a bit. But life proceeds and its physical and emotional struggles continue. But there is hope in the new love, new life and strengthened relationships for all the characters in Seasons of Tomorrow.

The characters are what my book club liked most about this series, and Seasons of Tomorrow continued to develop old and new favorites. We all loved the introduction of Esther. She was a breath of fresh air. We also were pleased with the tracks that Jacob, Landon and Leah took. As one of our members stated “it ended exactly the way I wanted it to”. Hope and freedom were expressed as the characters fought to break free from past regrets and guilt to step into futures that pointed towards God’s will for their lives.

Seasons of Tomorrow is set in an Old Amish Order and part of our discussion revolved around the restrictions that the man-made Ordnung placed on church members. That discussion led us into how our own denominations keep believers from the true freedom which is in Christ.

All in all, Seasons of Tomorrow was a sure winner for us. If you have not read any of the books in this series, make sure to start with book 1, A Season for Tending. The books build upon each other and are not intended for stand alone reading.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Waterbrook Press for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine and my book club’s.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

GIVEAWAY:

Would you like a copy of Seasons of Tomorrow? Leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway. The winner will be chosen by Random Number Generator no later than June 23.

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Book Review: Hacker

11 Jun

952753My name is Nyah and I’m a hacker. I know things most people would never believe. Things that shouldn’t exist, but do.

Seventeen year old Nyah Parks is a genius hacker whose world is unraveling. Deeply scarred from a horrific accident that killed her father and brother, and left her mother with irreparable brain damage, Nyah is barely holding the last shreds of her life together.

Now, her mother’s health is deteriorating quickly and Nyah faces the grim prospect of losing her, too. One last ditch hope exists–an experimental brain surgery that could buy her mother more time. But Nyah must scrape together enough money to pay for it before it’s too late.

Desperate and with no other choice, Nyah turns her programming skills to cracking the firewalls of the world’s largest corporations. She exposes their weaknesses, and then offers her services to secure their systems from hackers.

But when the most dangerous job of her life backfires and forces her to go on the run, she encounters an impossible reality that shouldn’t exist, but does.

A hack unlike any other. A hack that will take her beyond the firewall of the human brain itself. A hack, which may be the only way to save her mother now.

What if there was a way to tap into the unseen reality that surrounds us all? Would you hack in? How far would you go to find the answers to your deepest questions? The answer lies deep beyond the firewall.

Tap in, strap in, and experience the mind-twisting ride with Nyah. What you find waiting on the other side of the firewall might forever change the way you see yourself and the world you live in.

 

tedTed Dekker (born October 24, 1962) is a New York Times best-selling author of more than twenty novels. He is best known for stories which could be broadly described as suspense thrillers with major twists and unforgettable characters, though he has also made a name for himself among fantasy fans.

Dekker was born to missionaries who lived among the headhunter tribes of Indonesia. Because his parents’ work often included extended periods of time away from their children, Dekker describes his early life in a culture to which he was a stranger as both fascinating and lonely. It is this unique upbringing that forced him to rely on his own imagination to create a world in which he belonged.

After leaving Indonesia, Dekker graduated from a multi-cultural high school and took up permanent residence in the United States to study Philosophy and Religion. Upon earning his Bachelor’s Degree, he entered the corporate world and proceeded to climb the proverbial ladder. But his personal drive left him restless and, after many successful years, he traded corporate life for wide range of entrepreneurial pursuits that included buying and selling businesses, healthcare services, and marketing.

In the early nineties while visiting a friend who had just written a book, Dekker decided to pursue a long held desire to be a novelist. Over the course of two years he wrote two full length novels before starting from scratch and rewriting both. Now fully enamored by the the process and the stories, he realized that storytelling was in his blood and a new obsession to explore truth through story gripped him anew.

He sold his business, moved his family to the mountains of Western Colorado and began writing full-time on his third novel. Two years and three novels later his first novel was published.

Dekker’s novels have sold over 5 million copies worldwide. Two of his novels, Thr3e and House, have been made into movies with more in production. Dekker resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Lee Ann and two of their daughters.

 

My Impressions:

Ted Dekker is an author that will take you on a thrill ride and make you think along the way. In his newest book, Hacker (part of The Outlaw Chronicles) explores the concept of reality. Is there a reality that exists apart from the physical world? Can we reach it?

Nyah Parks is a prodigy. At seventeen she has finished both college and graduate school and makes her living hacking into corporations and then building systems to keep their data safe. But Nyah’s family was torn apart by an car accident that left her father and brother dead and her mother severely injured. Needing $250,000 to enroll her mother in an experimental program, Nyah attempts the biggest hack of her life. But things go terribly wrong. On the run from ruthless corporate enforcers and the FBI, Nyah turns to her brilliant friend, Austin, for help. His self-experimentation may just be the cure for Nyah’s mom.

Hacker starts out like an adrenaline-pumping thriller but quickly takes a mind-bending turn that is classic Dekker. Austin is determined to hack into his own brain to access the reality he believes exists just beyond the physical world. He believes  without observation nothing exists. Nyah’s fixation on her mother’s injury is shadowed by her belief in the randomness of life. Both are searching and when joined together in their hacking experiments come to see the source of reality and its definite plan, pattern and purpose.

Hacker is a tech-heavy science fiction novel. There are lots of concepts I didn’t really get; but that was okay. I was able to enjoy the ride without having to know just how everything was supposed to work. But I did get the spiritual concepts that Dekker expressed. His subtle introduction of God and His word is very effective for this very science-focused novel. The characters are very interesting and despite their genius IQs, are very  relatable. I think Hacker will appeal primarily to the YA and New Adult demographic. At the end of the book, both main characters learn just what it means to surrender. And the action never really slows. I can really see Hacker being made into a movie.

A  good bet for the young adults in your life and a good choice for a book discussion group, I recommend Hacker.

Recommended.

Great For Book Clubs.

(Thanks to Worthy Publishing and First Look for my review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase a copy of this book, click on the image below.

 

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Book Review: The Wedding Caper

9 Jun

The_Wedding_CaperWhen a $25,000 night deposit mysteriously disappears from the Clark County Savings and Loan, Annie Peterson, has reason to be concerned and to assume the role of amateur sleuth. Her husband’s job at the bank makes him a potential suspect, but knowing him to be a godly man, she can’t imagine it. Then again, there is that matter of the weddings to factor in. Twin daughters Brandi and Candy have just received proposals and two weddings are pending. Sure, Warren occasionally jokes about robbing the bank to pay for the ceremonies, but Annie knows him better than that  . . . doesn’t she?

 

Janice5-241x300Award-winning author Janice Thompson also writes under the pseudonym Janice Hanna. She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published nearly eighty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children’s books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. Janice currently serves as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She was thrilled to be named the 2010 Barbour/Heartsong Author of the Year, with three books on the top ten list for that house. Janice is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online course, “Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer” (www.freelancewritingcourses.com) has been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all.

 

My Impressions:

Sometimes I just need a cozy mystery — a light, quick, entertaining read filled with quirky characters and a puzzle to solve. And since it is June and The Wedding Month, I picked The Wedding Caper by Janice Thompson. This title has been on my Kindle a looong time! It sure fit the bill. This book is good for those times when a little fun is what you need.

Annie Peterson’s twin daughters have announced they are both engaged. A little stunned by the news, Annie quickly gets into planning mode — until her husband comes home with $25,000 in cash to pay for wedding expenses. This would not necessarily be a problem except that the bank where her husband works has just been robbed — of $25,000 in cash! Determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, Annie starts investigating with the help of an online course in investigative skills.

No murders, just a robbery, but a puzzler to be sure. A night deposit with a lot of cash goes missing. And while there is no shortage of suspects, there are no clues. Annie’s investigation is rather informal but she does depend on her online course and her daily devotionals to look at the facts through God’s eyes. That is my favorite part of this whodunit — the way Hanna aligned the tips for investigators with the daily wisdom from God. And while Annie does crack the case, she learns a lot more about how God views the people involved. Perfect for a weekend read, The Wedding Caper has a strong faith message running through it. I look forward to reading more books involving Annie.

Recommended.

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

To purchase this book, click on the image below. It is only $0.99 on Kindle!

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Book Review: The Last Visitor

6 Jun

The-Last-Visitor-New-Edition-2013-Book-Cover-183x300Luther Rawlings, a mild-mannered barber and baseball fan, takes a bus ride that could cost him his life. While Luther fights for his life, Hawk Williams, a friend from Luther’s hometown, takes us through five decades of Luther’s life. The Last Visitor is about “last visits.” It’s about real down-to-earth people, overcoming their faults and shortcomings through the short and final “visits” throughout their lives. So, take a humorous and dramatic journey into this wonderful story in a small American town that is full of surprises where all is not as it seems.

 

EJ_gifE.A. James is an American author of 12 titles, novelist, screenwriter, educator, nonprofit director, and business consultant.

 

 

 

My Impressions:

One of the things I love about book blogging is the opportunity it gives me to read books I would never have found otherwise. When BookCrash contacted me about reading/reviewing E. A. James’ book The Last Visitor, I was definitely interested. It sounded like a book I would really enjoy. For the most part I found the novel touching, with notes of humor and poignancy. It is an exploration of small town America and the relationship between its black and white citizens.

The Last Visitor opens in 1993. Luther Rawlings has just arrived in Los Angeles from the tiny town of Coolidge, Arizona  to see his son graduate from law school. Unknown to him, tensions are running high on the 2nd anniversary of the Rodney King beating. Because he is an old, white man, he is brutally beaten. His life long friend, Hawk Williams, takes over the narrative and describes the life that Luther has lived. Over 60 years of a life well lived is chronicled.

The character of Luther Rawlings is simple and naive. Choosing to expect the best from people, he lives his life focused on God. He also seems unaware of skin color. Befriending both white and black, Luther experiences heartache, joy and love. The other characters that inhabit the town of Coolidge, Arizona, are a bit more colorful. There is Jake, Luther’s friend and employer who never seems without his stogy and his sharp comments. Mama Lucille and Aunt Mabel are the Greek chorus of the Baptist church offering tasty bits of news throughout the preacher’s sermons. Sixty years of Luther’s life is lived against the backdrop of the American experience. Lots of things change in Coolidge and many things stay the same.

The Last Visitor has strengths and weaknesses.  The solid voice of Hawk as he retells Luther’s life hits the mark. The story keeps the reader interested. The story of Coolidge unfolds including the good, the bad and the very ugly. James portrays real faith through Luther’s steadfast adherence to what is right. Hypocrisy in the church is exposed as well. There seem to be a few gaps in the narrative though — Luther becomes a preacher, yet the reader doesn’t really see how Luther progresses to that point. It just happens out of the blue. There also is a continuity problem that a little more editing could have fixed. As stated, the action begins in 1993 with Luther’s son’s law school graduation. However, his son is not even born in 1975! Things like that bother me and get me off track from the story (I am a nerd that way). And since this book is billed as a New Edition, I would have expected the date discrepancy to have been fixed. The narrative is written in Hawk’s voice – an uneducated black man – so the unique language is to be expected. But some of the grammar issues seem to be due to editing rather than Hawk’s style of speaking.

All in all, I enjoyed The Last Visitor. Please note that there are instances of mild profanity.

(Thanks to BookCrash for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase a copy of this book, click on the image below.

My Impressions:

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Book Review: Somebody Like You

5 Jun

737584Can a young widow find love again with her husband’s reflection?

Haley’s three-year marriage to Sam, an army medic, ends tragically when he’s killed in Afghanistan. Her attempts to create a new life for herself are ambushed when she arrives home one evening—and finds her husband waiting for her. Did the military make an unimaginable mistake when they told her Sam was killed?

Too late to make things right with his estranged twin brother, Stephen discovers Sam never told Haley about him. As Haley and Stephen navigate their fragile relation­ship, they are inexorably drawn to each other. How can they honor the memory of a man whose death brought them together—and whose ghost could drive them apart?

 

 

beth-vogt-199x300Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A novelist with Howard Books, her contemporary romance novel, Wish You Were Here, debuted in May 2012, followed by Catch a Falling Star (2013), You Made Me Love You (2014) – an eShort novella – and Somebody Like You (2014). She is also part of the Year of Wedding Series by Harper Collins, writing the A November Bride novella (2014). Beth enjoys writing contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. Find our more about her books at bethvogt.com. An established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth is also the Skills Coach for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people, and their youngest daughter, who’s just entered the teen years.

My Impressions:

I read and reviewed Beth Vogt’s first two novels and liked them very much. (Wish You Were Here Review and Catch A Falling Star Review) But I have to say that Somebody Like You is by far my favorite. Yes, it is a book that will definitely appeal to fans of contemporary romance, but it is also so much more. Vogt has written a book that will have you examining your relationships for the ways you put off for later feelings and actions that should be expressed in the now. It also examines how we choose to please man rather than God. If you like romance, then definitely pick this one up. But if you are looking for a well-written novel that will make you think, laugh and cry, then Somebody Like You is for you!

Haley Ames is just trying to do the next best thing. Sam, her husband of three years was killed in Afghanistan and the grief she feels overshadows everything, including the birth of her first child. Regrets and recriminations are her new norm. Stephen, Sam’s mirror twin, also knows what it means to live with regret. Having cut off ties with Sam over 10 years before, he hopes that by connecting with Haley he can learn who his brother was. But there is a hitch. Haley didn’t know Sam had a brother, let alone a twin. Haley and Stephen begin an unsteady friendship that grows into more. But are those feelings dishonoring to Sam’s memory?

I really liked the characters that Vogt created in Somebody Like You. Haley and Stephen struggle with very real feelings of abandonment, grief, regret and guilt. The way their relationship builds is also very realistic. Both are trying to deal with the loss of Sam, and their feelings for each other complicate matters. I appreciate that Vogt never rushed the romance, but let it develop naturally. Minor characters also added to the story, especially as they provided insight into the situations in which Haley and Stephen find themselves. Vogt injects just the right amount of humor into the novel as well. But my favorite thing about this book is the way Vogt had me examining my own thoughts on relationships. The urgency of the now became a central point. We often say we will make amends or express our true feelings later. But many of us never get a later.

I also liked the natural growth in the spiritual relationships that the characters experienced. At the start of the novel, Haley is barely on speaking terms with God. But His pursuit of her never wavers. Vogt takes what man sees as right and contrasts that with God’s plans. At one point in the novel, God says to Haley “Everyone tries to be right, Haley. But I am the right way. Not your way. My way”. That was something I need to hear again. There are a lot more truths expressed in Somebody Like You, so I think it would be perfect for a book club too.

So what is my final thought on Somebody Like You? Read it! You will definitely be glad you did!

Highly Recommended.

Great For Book Clubs.

(Thanks to Howard Books 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: 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.

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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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