Review: Seasons of Tomorrow by Cindy Woodsmall

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis from goodreads.com

As 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. Though it has been almost a year since one brother left, Rhoda is happy to be working alongside the other brother as they tend and nurture the settlement's orchard. Time has helped to heal Rhoda's wounds, and she finds that even her unusual gift of profound intuition is less of a burden as she continues to seek God's wisdom and purpose for her life.
But when an Englischer friend's grandchild is taken deeper into hiding from her grandmother, can Rhoda's gift make a difference or will it simply be a catalyst to another season of doubt and misunderstanding? As she resolves to stay on course, suddenly a shocking tragedy challenges the young settlement like never before, threatening to uproot Rhoda's peace and the future of everything she holds dear.

My Review

This is the fourth and final book in the Amish Vines and Orchards series. The first three are on my to-read list, but since I had the opportunity to read and review this one, I just started with it. At the beginning there is a synopsis of each of the previous books with pertinent information to help readers understand the relationships and events in this book, which I definitely appreciated... but it also contains spoilers, so if you plan on reading all the books, I'd recommend reading them in order.

The novel is told from several characters' points of view, so there are many themes and story lines to follow. The author weaves them in and around each other seamlessly, and they complement and tie together wonderfully. There is such richness and fullness to her writing- the characters are thoughtful and contemplative with their hopes and struggles, and there is also enough drama and change going on to keep the pace moving forward. While I missed seeing Rhoda and Samuel fall in love (which happens in book three I believe), it was just as sweet to experience their courtship. Jacob's story was probably my favorite, since he was working on overcoming anger, accepting, and forgiving. The friendship he develops with Esther is unique and special, and their banter is enjoyable. Seasons of Tomorrow is a fabulously well-written book, but I would recommend reading the whole series to get the fullest satisfaction of this saga.

(ARC provided via Blogging for Books for unbiased review)

E-book sale! 99 cents for The Ransom by MaryLu Tyndall

I've heard great things about this author and her adventure-filled stories! Download The Ransom by MaryLu Tyndall for only 99 cents!

(E-book deal is for a limited time, so check the price before ordering)

Synopsis from goodreads.com

Port Royal, Jamaica 1692

Living in a city deemed the wickedest in the world is no easy task for Miss Juliana Dutton. To make matters worse, with an ailing father and a drunken fool for a brother, she is forced to take over the running of the family business in order to survive. When a meddlesome suitor threatens to discover her secret and cast them all onto the streets, she agrees to a spurious engagement with the town buffoon, Lord Munthrope. She only hopes the man is trustworthy.

The Pirate Earl, Alexander Hyde, son of the infamous Captain Edmund Merrick Hyde, is the most feared pirate in Port Royal. Disillusioned with the religion of his parents and the pleasures of the world, Alex staves off his emptiness by leading a dual life to hide his deepest secrets.

A long-time enemy is out to destroy Alex and take Juliana for his own. Struggling to maintain her faith in the Divine, Juliana faces her problems bravely, but the harder she tries, the more it seems everything is working against her. Unwittingly, she and her weak fiancé become entangled in the hostility between the Pirate Earl and his enemy, while even more dangerous forces are rising up to destroy them all.

E-book sale! $1.99 for Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio by Serena Miller

I'm so excited to read this book! Several friends on Goodreads gave it 5 stars, and two other books by the same author I loved- The Measure of Katie Calloway and A Promise to Love. Download Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio for only $1.99!

(E-book deal is for a limited time, so check the price before ordering)

Synopsis from goodreads.com

A mysterious outsider casts a long shadow on Ohio's Amish country. Policewoman Rachel Troyer has always looked after her three elderly Amish aunts, proprietors of a farmhouse inn near Sugarcreek, Ohio. The idyllic town is popular with tourists, who come to sample its famous Amish goods. But one thing is clear to Rachel - Joe Matthews is no tourist. When the bearded stranger lands on her aunts' doorstep, begging shelter for himself and his young son, Rachel is suspicious. Will she be able to uncover Joe's secrets despite her aunts' - and her own - growing affection for him?

Author Interview with Amber Perry and Giveaway of So Fair a Lady!!!

I'm so excited to share my very first author interview today! Welcome Amber Lynn Perry, author of So Fair a Lady!  Don't forget to scroll to the end and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of her book!

The cover of your book is gorgeous! What was the process of designing the cover like?

It was SO fun to work on designing this cover. I didn't do the actual designing myself, I hired a company to do that, but I provided the pictures and gave them all kinds of ideas! I was actually the model for the cover--which was GOBS of fun because I love dressing up. ;) The great thing about self-publishing is that you DO have that kind of say in your cover, because from what I understand, if you publish traditionally you often don't have much say at all. 

What inspired you to write and publish So Fair a Lady?

I LOVE America and I love our history!! The freedoms that the people were willing to fight for back then are just as vital today. My goal in writing this story was to not only give people a delightful story, but hopefully to inspire people to gain a greater interest in this great country.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?

Write, and write, and write and write again!! I can't even begin to tell you how many times I wrote and re-wrote scenes, deleted scenes and added new ones, etc. It's hard work! I never would have thought that, but it's so true. 

If you could cast your characters in the movie version of your book, what actors/actresses would you choose?

That is a wonderful question!! For that fun tidbit, I will direct you to my pintrest page where I have posted all kinds of fun and fabulous pictures of characters, and tons more!! Here's the link: http://www.pinterest.com/amberlynnperry/so-fair-a-lady/ 

What are some of your favorite or most influential books that you would recommend to readers?

Wow, as a reader you know how hard it is to pick your favorite books! But I will tell you my top two historical Christian romances: A BRIDE MOST BEGRUDGING and THE MEASURE OF A LADY--both by Deeanne Gist. I'm a HUGE Dee fan, and those books really stuck with me. I'd read them over and over. 

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love music! I taught voice lessons for years and performed on stage in many different productions. Now, as a mom, I love to sing with my children and dance around the house while we dust, fold, etc. Being a mom is such a blessing and I absolutely adore homemaking! (Not to say its always EASY--that's for sure!! LOL But I still love it. ;) )

Thank you so much for joining us today, and thank you for giving away a copy of So Fair a Lady to one of our readers!

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Read my review here

Synopsis 

Boston, MA 1773: Shards of Eliza Campbell's life crash to the ground when she discovers a devastating secret: her father was a spy for the Sons of Liberty. Determined to uncover the truth--at any cost--not even a marriage proposal from the dashing British Officer Samuel Martin can dissuade her. When rescued from British capture by handsome patriot Thomas Watson, Eliza discovers what her father risked his life for and yearns to know more. But will her budding attraction to this courageous patriot damage her already wounded heart?

After years of being blackmailed by Officer Martin, Thomas plans to start a new life in the small town of Sandwich. However, when his actions place Eliza and her sister in danger, he must act quickly to protect them from falling into enemy hands. If the three of them are discovered, their lives will never be the same. Now, not only must he protect Eliza, he must protect his heart from a love that is sure to wound him far greater than any British soldier ever could.

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E-book sale! The Men of the Texas Rangers series $2.99 each!

Download these suspense-filled novels for only $2.99 each on Amazon!

(E-book deal is for a limited time, so check the price before ordering)

Book One

Synopsis from goodreads.com

When a teenager goes missing from the Beacon of Hope School, Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan and school director Kate Winslow are forced into a dangerous struggle against a human trafficking organization. But the battle brings dire consequences as Wyatt's daughter is terrorized and Kate is kidnapped. Now it's personal, and Wyatt finds both his faith and investigative skills challenged as he fights to discover the mastermind behind the ring before evil destroys everyone he loves.

Book Two

 

Synopsis from goodreads.com

A serial killer is targeting illegal aliens in southern Texas. Texas Ranger Cody Jackson is paired with a local police officer, Liliana Rodriguez, to investigate the murders. While the case brings Cody and Liliana ever closer, the tension between Americans and Mexican Americans heightens. As Cody and Liliana race to discover who is behind the murders and bring peace to the area, what they uncover isn t what they expected. Will Cody and Liliana s faith and love be strong enough to survive the storm of violence?

Book Three

Synopsis from goodreads.com


Texas Ranger Brody Calhoun is with his parents in west Texas when an unexpected attack injures the brother of Rebecca Morgan, Brody's high school sweetheart. The local sheriff, a good friend, asks for Brody s help. At first, it seems like an open-and-shut case. As Brody digs deeper, he realizes the attack may be related to an organized crime trial Rebecca will be overseeing. With Rebecca's help, he compiles evidence involving cattle rustling, bribery, and dirty payoffs that shatter the entire community and put Rebecca directly in the line of fire. Brody expects to protect her. What he never expects is to fall for Rebecca all over again, or for a murder to throw the case wide open. Is Brody's faith strong enough to withstand not only deep-rooted corruption and cattle rustling, but also love?

Book Four

Read my 4 star review of Severed Trust here!

Synopsis from goodreads.com

The day Sadie Thompson finds her high school student, Lexie, asleep in class and can't wake her is the day she realizes how entrenched a prescription drug ring is in her school. As Sadie is pulled into doing something about the growing problem, she becomes involved with Ethan Stone a Texas Ranger who suspects the drug ring reaches far beyond the high school. Helping Lexie recover from the overdose, Sadie feels she is making a difference until the 16-year-old's best friend dies from the apparent mixing of various prescription drugs. Lexie doesn't think her friend took her own life, but her relationship with her Uncle Ethan is precarious and she doesn't know if either he or Sadie will help her discover the truth.

Review: Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis from goodreads.com

Tess has taken some ribbing from her fellow officer, Logan, for her quilting hobby. He finds it hard to align the brisk professional officer he patrols with during the day with the one who quilts in her off-time. Besides, he's been trying to get to know her better and he'd like to be seeing her during those few nights a week she spends with her quilting guild. Then one afternoon Tess and Logan visit her aunt in the nursing home, and the woman acts agitated when Tess covers her with the story quilt. Aunt Susan is attempting to communicate a message to them about Tess's uncle. There's a story behind this quilt, they realize, one that may lead them to a serial killer. Will they have a chance to have a future together, or will the killer choose Tess for his next victim before they find him?

My Review

I love Barbara Cameron's Amish stories, so I wasn't surprised that her quality writing carried over to another genre for this suspense novel. The beginning was rather slow as we are introduced to the characters, but quickly picks up the pace as Tess and Logan start investigating their first case together. Much of the conversation between them happens over meals shared- it seems they are always eating! :) I loved the level of anticipation from their relationship progressing as well as the mystery of who-done-it. Subtle clues begin to appear about midway through the novel that reveal the killer to the reader, so the ending is not quite a surprise but suspenseful nonetheless as Tess and Logan get closer to solving the case. This has been my favorite so far of the Quilts of Love series. (Sidenote: the publisher's synopsis above isn't quite true to the story, so don't let it prejudice you towards Logan, who is actually more gentlemanly than it implies).

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

Review and Giveaway: Silenced by Dani Pettrey

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis from goodreads.com

A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route leads her face to face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something sinister? When the case is handed to the overburdened sheriff, he turns to Jake Westin. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again--but he could never prepare for where the case will take him.

Kayden and Jake soon realize that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is on to them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine.

My Review

I'm hooked on this series! I love the McKenna family and their suspenseful stories. Silenced (the fourth in the Alaskan Courage series) can be read as a stand-alone novel, but I recommend reading them in order if you'd like to know the backstory of the siblings from the previous novels. The author has been introducing the connection/relationship between the main characters in each previous novel, so you get a better feel for their history if you've read them first.

I've been looking forward to Kayden and Jake's story since there has been so much tension between them! Kayden has been vocally suspicious of Jake's past since he hasn't shared with the family where he came from. Once she found out his tragic story in Stranded, it set the scene in Silenced for her to reconcile with him and recognize the attraction she has. She has been an abrasive and fiercely protective personality in the previous books, but now we gain more of an understanding of her vulnerabilities and fears. Jake has always known how strong she is, but is waiting for the chance to connect with and get closer to the real Kayden.

The mystery had me as baffled as Jake- the clues and suspects weren't adding up, although any of them could be guilty based on the circumstantial evidence. The author is so skilled at creating anxiety and anticipation while you read as fast as you can to follow the trail with the characters. Jake and Kayden spent quite a bit of time together while investigating the case, but the pacing of the romance slowed as they failed to communicate their feelings- instead, angsting over them with internal dialogue. The case takes a lot of their focus, and when mystery is finally solved, the race is on to catch the villian who always seems to be one step ahead of them...

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

Alaskan Courage series

About the Author

Dani Pettrey is a wife, home-schooling mom, and the acclaimed author of the romantic suspense series Alaskan Courage, which includes her bestselling novels Submerged, Shattered, Stranded, and her latest release, Silenced. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland, where they enjoy time with their daughters, son-in-law, and super adorable grandson.

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E-book sale TODAY ONLY! Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay is on sale for $1.99 TODAY ONLY!

Read my 5 star review here!

(E-book deal is for a limited time, so check the price before ordering)

Synopsis from goodreads.com

Dear Mr. Knightley is a contemporary epistolary novel with a delightful dash of Jane Austen.

Samantha Moore survived years of darkness in the foster care system by hiding behind her favorite characters in literature, even adopting their very words. Her fictional friends give her an identity, albeit a borrowed one. But most importantly, they protect her from revealing her true self and encountering more pain.

After college, Samantha receives an extraordinary opportunity. The anonymous “Mr. Knightley” offers her a full scholarship to earn her graduate degree at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. The sole condition is that Sam write to Mr. Knightley regularly to keep him apprised of her progress.

As Sam’s true identity begins to reveal itself through her letters, her heart begins to soften to those around her—a damaged teenager and fellow inhabitant of Grace House, her classmates at Medill, and, most powerfully, successful novelist Alex Powell. But just as Sam finally begins to trust, she learns that Alex has secrets of his own—secrets that, for better or for worse, make it impossible for Sam to hide behind either her characters or her letters.

Free e-book TODAY ONLY! Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron

Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron is free for download TODAY ONLY! It's part of the Quilts of Love series. I'm currently reading it and will be reviewing it soon!

(E-book deal is for a limited time, so check the price before ordering)

Synopsis from goodreads.com

Tess has taken some ribbing from her fellow officer, Logan, for her quilting hobby. He finds it hard to align the brisk professional officer he patrols with during the day with the one who quilts in her off-time. Besides, he s been trying to get to know her better and he d like to be seeing her during those few nights a week she spends with her quilting guild. Then one afternoon Tess and Logan visit her aunt in the nursing home, and the woman acts agitated when Tess covers her with the story quilt. Aunt Susan is attempting to communicate a message to them about Tess s uncle. There s a story behind this quilt, they realize, one that may lead them to a serial killer. Will they have a chance to have a future together, or will the killer choose Tess for his next victim before they find him?

Free e-book: The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh

The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh is free for download today only!

Synopsis from goodreads.com

What began as a fairytale honeymoon in 1857 for John and Laura Foster aboard the steamship SS Vandervere becomes a nightmare when a hurricane causes their ship to sink into the murky depths of the Atlantic. Laura finds herself with the other women and children aboard a sailing ship while John and a hundred other men drift on the open sea on anything they could grab as the Vandervere went down. Suspecting her John is gone but still daring to hope for a miracle, Laura must face the possibility of life alone--and meeting her new in-laws without their son if she ever reaches New York.

Readers will be holding their breath as they sail through this emotional and honest story of hope, faith, and love in the face of uncertainty. Talented author Dan Walsh skillfully tells an epic story through an intimate focus on two lost lovers. Inspired by real events, this moving novel will capture the hearts of all who dive into its pages.