Showing posts with label 5 stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 5 stars. Show all posts

Monday, June 29, 2020

Review & Giveaway: Pillar of Light by Andrew Knaupp and Sal Velluto


My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

In honor of the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, Andrew Knaupp and Sal Velluto, have created a graphic novel adaption of Joseph Smith’s First Vision. “Pillar of Light” teaches youth through a talented blend of imagery and words. Their goal is to inspire young readers to build their testimonies of the Prophet Joseph Smith and provide insights for receiving their own personal revelation. Details from all four wondrous accounts written by Joseph Smith as well as from those who heard him tell his firsthand experience are captivatingly blended together.

My Review

Graphic novels are not my usual reading material, but both the content and the quality of artwork of Pillar of Light caught my attention. It tells of the miraculous vision where God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to a young Joseph Smith, beginning the restoration of the fullness of the gospel. I appreciated the foreword by history professor Steven C. Harper and the way he makes Joseph's dilemma pertinent to young readers. The text combines elements from the various accounts to create a rich retelling. The dynamic artwork brings the setting and characters to life and uses symbolism to depict the intensity of Joseph's experience. I was also very interested in the content at the end, which includes an explanation of the source material, a page about Joseph's mother's near death experience which greatly influenced her religious feelings, and the making of a page from Pillar of Light which shows the author's and artist's process. This book is a wonderfully creative depiction and perfect for children and teens.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Extras

Click the images to view larger






Giveaway






Friday, May 29, 2020

Book Tour, Review & Giveaway: Stay With Me by Becky Wade #SWMPrism

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Stay with Me
(A Misty River Romance #1)
By Becky Wade
Christian Contemporary Romance
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages
May 5th 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

Loving her is a risk he can’t afford . . . and can’t resist.

When acclaimed Bible study author Genevieve Woodward receives an anonymous letter referencing her parents’ past, she returns to her hometown in the Blue Ridge mountains to chase down her family’s secret. However, it’s Genevieve’s own secret that catches up to her when Sam Turner, owner of an historic farm, uncovers the source of shame she’s worked so hard to hide.

Sam has embraced his sorrow, his isolation, and his identity as an outsider. He’s spent years carving out both career success and peace of mind. The last thing he wants is to rent the cottage on his property to a woman whose struggles stir his worst failure back to life. Yet, can he bear to turn her away right when she needs him most?

(Affiliate links included.)

My Review

5 stars / It was amazing

Ah-mazing. This author is seriously skilled at bringing out all the feels! I love that when I read a Becky Wade book I know I will emotionally connect to the characters, and that they don't have to be perfect, but their flaws make them more realistic and relatable. The strong spiritual thread leaves me feeling inspired and uplifted, and the message of redemption and forgiveness is one that everyone can appreciate. There is a perfect balance struck between the introspective angst and the lighter moments that brought a smile to my face as I read. Sam is my favorite in this one with his compassion and kindness, and I loved the way he allowed Gen to bring him out of his darkness. Some of the themes and struggles tackled are pretty heavy, but they are explored with grace that prompts self-reflection in the reader. The history of the earthquake survivors and the mystery of Gen's parents bring even more layers and depth to the story, and I'm so excited for the upcoming books in the series that will feature the Miracle Five.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions expressed in this review are my own)

Other Books in the Series

Take a Chance on Me
(A Misty River Romance #0.5)
By Becky Wade
Christian Contemporary Romance, Novella
ebook, 97 Pages
February 25th 2020

When baker Penelope Quinn steps in to help her brother’s family through a medical crisis, she’s forced into close proximity with charming Air Force fighter pilot Eli Price.

Penelope has one iron-clad dating rule—she does not date airmen. Months ago, she relaxed her rule with Eli and immediately lived to regret it. After a long deployment, he’s now back in Misty River and, to her dismay, she finds him just as tempting as always.

Eli’s spent months thinking about funny, feisty, creative Penelope. He once leveraged his focus and drive to become a pilot, his childhood dream. Now he's set on leveraging that same focus and drive in order to convince Penelope to give him one more chance.

This romantic prequel novella introduces readers to the quaint mountain town of Misty River and a brand-new series from Christy-winning author Becky Wade!

(Affiliate link included.)
Currently FREE

About the Author


Becky Wade is the 2018 Christy Award Book of the Year winner for True to You. She is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market, then put her career on hold for several years to care for her children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. Her humorous, heart-pounding contemporary romance novels have won three Christy Awards, the Carol Award, the INSPY Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award for Romance. Becky lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive:
- A $100 gift card
- A paperback copy of Stay with Me
- A hand-knit scarf
- A pair of earrings
- A package of “Georgia Blues” coffee
- A package of apple oatmeal muffin mix

ENTER HERE

Grab Our Button!






Review & Giveaway: Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey by Abigail Wilson #MiddlecrestAbbey #AbigailWilson #HFVBTBlogTours


Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey by Abigail Wilson


Publication Date: May 26, 2020
Thomas Nelson
Paperback & eBook; 336 Pages
Genre: Historical/Regency/Christian


In this new Regency romance, Elizabeth knows she must protect her heart from the charm of her new husband, Lord Torrington. She is not, however, prepared to protect her life. When the widowed Lord Torrington agreed to spy for the crown, he never planned to impersonate a highwayman, let alone rob the wrong carriage. Stranded on the road with an unconscious young woman, he is forced to propose marriage to protect his identity and her reputation, as well as his dangerous mission. Trapped not only by her duty to her country but also by her limited options as an unwed mother, Miss Elizabeth Cantrell and her infant son are whisked away to Middlecrest Abbey by none other than the elder brother of her son’s absent father. There she is met by Torrington’s beautiful grown daughters, a vicious murderer, and an urgent hunt for the missing intelligence that could turn the war with France. Meanwhile she must convince everyone that her marriage is a genuine love match if her new husband has any hope of uncovering the enemy. Determined to keep her son’s true identity a secret, Elizabeth will need to remain one step ahead of her fragile heart, her uncertain future, and the relentless fiend bent on her new family’s ruin.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

My Review

5 stars / It was amazing

I'm so happy to have found a new author to binge-read! I loved how this had the same kind of Gothic suspense that the Lady Darby Mysteries by Anna Lee Huber have (another binge-worthy series). It's not quite as gritty, but still a wonderfully satisfying read. The characters really came to life and the suspense kept me glued to the pages. The mystery kept me guessing which is always fun, and I felt like I was part of the investigation. It must have been so frustrating back then to not have the kind of advances in technology that we have now for helping solve crimes... but it's not like they knew what they were missing. I guess it's just frustrating for the reader ;)

Elizabeth is a character that I don't think I've ever read in the genre- a lady who has a child out of wedlock but is still able to keep him and move on with her life, however different it may be. She is traveling to take a position as a housekeeper when the story begins, and Lord Torrington throws her life into a spin. I liked how Elizabeth has a maturity about her, and is neither young nor old. She's a perfect partner for Torrington as she supports him and helps the investigation by thinking and seeing things in different ways than him. The more she gets to know him, the more she realizes that he is so much more than his reputation. I really liked how he is open with Elizabeth and finds in her a confidante and friend. It was sweet watching their friendship develop into romance... although at a most inconvenient time. A strong secondary cast of characters gave the story a variety of potential suspects, and the author skillfully brought out their personalities, revealing layer by layer as Elizabeth interacts with them. There are twists and surprises, an exciting climax, and a satisfying wrapping up of all the details. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions expressed in this review are my own)

About the Author


Abigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A registered nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her spare time hiking the national parks, attending her daughter’s gymnastic meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s Fab Five contest and in 2016, ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well as placing as a 2017 finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and children.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads


Blog Tour Schedule


Tuesday, May 26 Review at B**** Bookshelf Review at The Green Mockingbird
Wednesday, May 27 Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit
Thursday, May 28 Review at Gwendalyn's Books
Friday, May 29 Review at Heidi Reads... Review at Amy's Booket List
Saturday, May 30 Feature at Journey in Bookland Feature at What Is That Book About
Sunday, May 31 Review & Excerpt at Robin Loves Reading
Monday, June 1 Review at Probably at the Library Interview at Jorie Loves A Story
Tuesday, June 2 Feature at I'm All About Books Feature at Just One More Chapter
Wednesday, June 3 Review at Rhodie Girl Reads Review at Rejoice in Reading
Thursday, June 4 Review at Jessica Belmont Review at A Chick Who Reads
Friday, June 5 Review at View from the Birdhouse Review at Foals, Fiction and Filigree


Giveaway


During the Blog Tour, we are giving away 5 paperback copies of Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on June 5th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Paperback giveaway is open to the US only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

 




Sunday, May 24, 2020

Review: Reforming Lord Neil by Sally Britton



My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

An arrogant lord cut-off by his family. A penniless widow in desperate need. In their reduced circumstances, can love save them both? 

Lord Neil Duncan, third son of the Marquess of Alderton, finally angers his father enough to be cut off from the family. Neil believes it is only a matter of time before he is reinstated, but time is passing slowly and he needs to eat. His so-called friends have abandoned him, no one else trusts him, and it is not until he comes upon a young widow that he finds someone who needs his help as badly as he needs hers. 

Teresa Clapham has been without a husband's provision and protection for over a year. Supporting her mother and daughter on the pittance her brother-in-law provides has required her to stretch every farthing. When Lord Neil arrives at her doorstep proposing he work for her to earn his keep, she sees possibility in the man everyone else has deemed an arrogant good-for-nothing. 

As Lord Neil works for the first time in his life, Teresa sees in him a tender heart long repressed by his family's expectations - a heart that causes her own to open once more. But her brother-in-law Frederick Clapham is less charmed by Teresa’s new servant. When Lord Neil discovers the secret Mr. Clapham has been keeping, he must decide whether to embrace the man Teresa believes him to be, or fall back on the privileged lifestyle he’s always known.


My Review

Even though Lord Neil played the villain in the first book of the series, Rescuing Lord Inglewood, in the fourth book, Engaging Sir Isaac, he started to grow on me when he proved himself a friend to Millicent. I was thrilled to learn that he'd get his own story where he is the hero! He experiences a jarring transition from total dependence on his father to complete independence- and all the responsibility that comes with it. At first glance he doesn't seem like he would be able to provide for himself, but his newfound humility combined with memories of manual labor as punishments in his youth give him the determination to be useful and no longer a freeloader. I appreciated that while he discovers the satisfaction of a hard day's work, the author realistically portrayed his mental and physical struggles as he becomes accustomed to the lifestyle of a farmhand. The compassion and friendship Teresa and her family offer are priceless to him and his self confidence grows with Teresa's belief in him and reassurances that he is a good man, that this is his true nature despite who he was before. Even with the lovely attraction that blooms between them, Teresa doesn't feel ready for a romantic relationship, especially with someone who is only a temporary presence in her life. She is still working through complicated feelings of grief for her beloved husband, who her brother-in-law claims drained her resources with a secret gambling problem. I loved the protective nature of Neil when he becomes the champion of Teresa against her brother-in-law. His character goes through a complete 180 with what he values in life and that change in perspective opens his future up wide to something he never would have imagined. A wonderful story of redemption and my new favorite villain-turned-hero!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)



Don't miss the previous books in the Inglewood series . . .







Thursday, May 14, 2020

Review & Giveaway: A Proper Charade by Esther Hatch





My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49212054-a-proper-charade
Synopsis

Lady Patience Kendrick was born to a life of privilege, and with the London Season looming, she finds herself facing unprecedented pressure to adhere to the rules of society. Unfortunately, the free-spirited young woman is anything but proper. Patience's elder brother, a former military man, bemoans his sister's antics - but when he accuses her of incurable frivolity, it is simply more than she can bear. Determined to prove her brother wrong, Patience undertakes a drastic experiment: she will disguise herself as a maid and demonstrate her ability to work as hard as anyone.

Taken on as household staff by her brother's former general, Patience soon learns that willingness and ability are two very different things. While her plan sounded promising in theory, the reality is that she is out of her depth - and the irresistibly charming son of the house isn't helping matters. Patience soon finds herself embroiled in a charade far more complicated that she imagined. With both her pride and her heart at stake, she is determined to prove her brother wrong - even as her plans spiral delightfully out of control.


My Review

A Proper Charade is full of delightful characters with endearing mannerisms. Patience is a character I can't help but like. She's impulsive and adventurous, but with a good heart that wants to please her brother and I think prove it to herself that she can be more than what society expects of her.  I most enjoyed that Anthony and Patience were genuine, especially with each other. They are sincerely seeking to find their place in the world without compromising their true selves or being forced to change for someone else or society. Their personalities complement each other- she appreciated how he grounded her, and found her  liveliness engaging. I thought it was admirable that she was not fooled by the other charming and frivolous men in higher society, but saw clearly Anthony's superior character. And the first kiss scene is so fun- definitely not the generic kisses that are often found in the genre. I found it inventive and felt that it also demonstrated their personalities in a creative way.

One thing I really appreciated in the story was that Miss Morgan, who plays the role of villainess, wasn’t overdone. She was portrayed with just the right balance of unlikeable while still being believable that Anthony would be pursuing her for so long without suspecting her true motives. The personalities of the family members and their dynamics were complex without being complicated, and added depth to the story and aided in showing more layers of Anthony and Patience. Overall this story was highly entertaining and had such a satisfying resolution and happy ending. One of my favorites of the year and I'll definitely be re-reading it in the future. Highly recommend!!!


(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)



Don't miss the first book in the series . . .

https://amzn.to/3fm8NYV


Connect with Author Esther Hatch



Giveaway

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Interview with Megan Walker, Author of Lakeshire Park!






Megan Walker was raised on a berry farm in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where her imagination took her to times past and worlds away. While earning her degree in Early Childhood Education, she married her one true love and started a family. But her imaginings of Regency England wouldn't leave her alone, so she picked up a pen and wrote her first novella, A Beautiful Love: A Regency Fairy Tale Retelling which was published in 2019. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband and three children. Lakeshire Park is her debut novel.


Author Interview:


Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Sure! I majored in Early Childhood Education at Brigham Young University, but in between senior semesters I married my husband, who was set to move to Houston, TX, for medical school. So, through BYU, I had the privilege of completing my student teaching through an inner-city school district in Houston, which was an incredible experience that shaped both my teaching and my life. Coming from small town Missouri, I hardly knew how to drive on a three-lane freeway, let alone eight lanes! I’ll always be a country girl at heart. Now we’re living in St. Louis, MO, and I’m happily raising my three children and writing to my heart’s content.

What do you enjoy doing besides writing?

I love the outdoors, playing board games and sports with my family, reading, baking (though I’m not super great at it) and watching movies and TV shows.

What are some things on your bucket list that you have accomplished, and some you look forward to?

Writing a BOOK! and traveling Europe, seeing the pyramids and the Holy Lands. I have lots more traveling to do … one in particular is to take England with my writing partners. We are READY, we just need time and money, haha!

Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters? Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process?

I have two images, but they were strictly for inspiration and not exactly how I picture Amelia and Peter, so I won’t share them. (forgive me!) But yes, I do like to find visual inspiration for my characters. It’s a very loose interpretation though, almost more like finding a face to fit the personality in my head, and then making adjustments so they REALLY ARE how I picture them. 
What are some songs that you listened to or inspired you while writing your book?
Imagine Dragons Walking the Wire is Amelia’s song. Ed Sheeran’s Dive is Peter’s.
What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book?

Don’t ever give up hope. No matter how bad things get, keep going. You never know what tomorrow can bring.

What can we look forward to coming from you in the future?

Right now, I’m working on my second Regency romance novel! My heroine is very different from Amelia, so it’s been fun getting to know her. I’ve also got a novella coming out in August in a series with my writing partners. Stay tuned for details -- I am so excited to share more stories with you!

What is your favorite way to connect with readers?

Facebook and Instagram, though COVID19 is making it hard for me to keep up! I’m going to work harder at posting more, because I LOVE engaging with reader friends. It always brightens my day!!


Thank you Megan! I can't wait to read more of your stories!



My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

(Read my review here)

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttps://deseretbook.com/p/lakeshire-park-ppr?ref=Grid%20%7C%20Search-1&variant_id=180177-paperbackhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Brighton, England 1820

Amelia Moore wants only one thing—to secure the future happiness of her younger sister, Clara. With their stepfather’s looming death, the two sisters will soon be on their own—without family, a home, or a penny to their names. When an invitation arrives to join a house party at Lakeshire Park, Amelia grasps at the chance. If she can encourage a match between Clara and their host, Sir Ronald, then at least her sister will be taken care of.

Little does she know that another guest, the arrogant and overconfident Mr. Peter Wood, is after the same goal for his own sister. Amelia and Peter begin a rivalry that Amelia has no choice but to win. But competing against Peter—and eventually playing by his rules—makes Amelia vulnerable to losing the only thing she has left to claim: her heart.


Praise for Lakeshire Park:

“…readers will find it easy to invest in practical, business-minded Amelia as she learns to follow her heart. This gentle love story is a treat.”—Publisher’s Weekly 

“An immersive drama…Walker effortlessly amplifies the decorum of Regency England with chic wit and delightful characters.”—Booklist

"Charming, beautifully written, and hopelessly romantic. Sure to be a new favorite."—Julianne Donaldson, best-selling author of Edenbrooke