Monday, December 19, 2016

Review: The Refuge: An Inspirational Novel of Scotland by Regan Walker


Heidi Reads... The Refuge: An Inspirational Novel of Scotland by Regan Walker

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

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Synopsis

Scotland 1072

The Norman Conqueror robbed Steinar of Talisand of his noble father and his lands, forcing him to seek refuge in Scotland while still recovering from a devastating wound. At the royal court, Steinar becomes scribe to the unlettered King of Scots while secretly regaining his skill with a sword.

The first time Steinar glimpses the flame-haired maiden, Catrìona of the Vale of Leven, he is drawn to her spirited beauty. She does not fit among the ladies who have come to serve the devout queen. Not pious, not obedient and not given to stitchery, the firebrand flies a falcon!

Catrìona has come to Malcolm’s court wounded in spirit from the vicious attack on her home by Northmen who slayed her parents and her people. But that is not all she will suffer. The king has promised her to one of his favored warriors, but she has given her heart to a lowly scribe.

When all is lost, what hope is there for love? Can a broken heart be mended? Can a damaged soul be healed?


My Review

I had mixed feelings about this one. I loved the setting of historical Scotland and appreciated the research that must have gone into realistically portraying the turmoil of the period. The author's foreword was especially informative and helpful before beginning the story. It was the plot and characters I didn't find compelling enough to keep me interested. Catrìona and Steinar are easy to like, but are missing depth. The story is told from mainly their points of view, but occasionally a random scene would be presented from a secondary character's perspective which I felt made things choppy and only served as a way to reveal something that Catrìona is oblivious to. There seemed to be a lot of waiting in between battle scenes that slowed the pace and the characters did a lot of guessing and second guessing their feelings and those of the others. I think this is a book that would be enjoyed by many, but it just wasn't for me.

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)


Sunday, December 18, 2016

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Catch a Fallen Star by Amy Vastine


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Catch a Fallen StarCatch a Fallen Star
(Grace Note Records #2)
by Amy Vastine
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
December 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

He's got to save his career—and himself

Hitting rock bottom has landed country star Boone Williams in the middle of his worst nightmare: a recording studio on a horse therapy farm hours away from Nashville. He has no interest in dealing with his problems or writing a new album. And he's definitely not interested in the gorgeous, feisty mom of one of Helping Hooves's young clients. She doesn't even know who he is! But his record label is one tabloid story from cutting him loose, and Boone can't seem to turn around without bumping into Ruby and her daughter, Violet. Clearly, Boone's not going to get what he wants. Could Ruby be just what he needs?


Excerpt

He guided Ruby out of the studio. She almost tripped on her way down the last step, but Boone caught her.
“You okay?” he asked, steadying her on her feet.
Ruby didn’t think she was. She had no idea what she had walked in on back there, only that it had been horribly uncomfortable. “Are you?”
“I am now that you rescued me.”
“What was that all about?”
Boone shook his head. “That is not a question I feel like answering today. I hope you brought some better ones.” He began to walk away. Ruby tried to keep up with his long, angry strides.
“Are you sure you don’t want to reschedule? You seem to have a busier day than you thought you were going to have.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. Dean decided this was a great time to have Piper come to town. He’s been trying to get me to collaborate with her for months. I don’t know why he thought I was ready for this kind of thing.”
“I can come back another time.” Ruby hiked her purse strap, which was falling off her shoulder, and started to back away.
Boone took her hand and pulled her close. Their bodies collided, and Ruby was suddenly on fire. His eyes were the color of the sky after it rained, a bluish-gray she could have stared at forever.
“If you leave, they’ll pull me back in there. Stay. Please.”
Ruby worried she was trembling. No one had ever had this effect on her. He made her feel out of control and protected at the same time. His body was strong and she wanted to melt against it, but she also wanted to run, stop herself from being swept away by the emotion he pulled out of her with a simple plea to stay.
“Only if you’re sure,” she managed to squeak out.
“I’m sure.” His voice was low and gravelly. Now she was definitely trembling in his arms. “I want you to stay.”

Other Books in the Series

The Girl He Used to LoveThe Girl He Used to Love
(Grace Note Records #1)
by Amy Vastine
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 368 pages
July 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

The past will always be between them

He swore he'd never return home. Then a flat tire lands Dean Presley back in Grass Lake, Tennessee, and he's forced to confront the woman he left behind. Faith Stratton was once the love of his life. Now her gifted brother could be the rising Nashville star Dean needs for his struggling music label. But it means taking Sawyer away from the horse therapy farm that Faith's so proud of. That won't be easy, especially since those old feelings that started all the trouble… Well, let's just say he can't go back there, because he doesn't want to relive the memories of the terrible accident that drove them apart.



Amy Vastine has been plotting stories in her head for as long as she can remember. An eternal optimist, she studied social work, hoping to teach others how to find their silver lining. Now, she enjoys creating happily ever afters for all to read. Amy lives outside Chicago with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband, three fun-loving children, and their sweet but mischievous puppy dog.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


- 1 winner will win a grand prize of The Girl He Used to Love, A Heartwarming Holiday anthology, winner’s choice of CD or MP3 of Tim McGraw’s album Damn Country Music, and a guitar Christmas ornament (US only)
- 5 winners will win an ebook of A Heartwarming Holiday anthology and a 20% off coupon for a Heartwarming novel of their choice from Harlequin.com (open internationally)
- 5 winners will win The Girl He Used to Love (paperbacks US, ebook international)
- Ends December 23rd

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Book Tour Grand Finale & Giveaway: A Family Under the Christmas Tree by Terri Reed

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Book Tour Grand Finale for
A Family Under the Christmas Tree
By Terri Reed

David and Sophie don't even know the gift they need to find the most under the Christmas tree this year, but an unexpected meeting between a little boy and Sophie's dog might lead to just that. We hope you enjoyed coming along with us as we get to know more about their story on this tour! If you missed any of the stops, go back and check them out now...

Launch - Author Interview

2. What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?

I hope readers will see the beauty of letting go of expectations and embracing new circumstances. That sometimes life doesn’t go the way we want and that’s okay because the unexpected sometimes is more than we could have hoped for.



"A Family Under the Christmas Tree by Terri Reed is sweet and romantic and heartwarming. Troy and Riggs, as well as Sophie’s grandma, add moments of humor and make the story all the more endearing. This is an ideal read for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies or for anyone looking for a quick and uplifting escape from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season."


"I adored Grandma and her puppy, Riggs. When you add that handful, Troy, to the mix, the story is definitely entertaining and fun. They are each catalysts, in their own ways, to bringing this couple together. I do love a story where the characters undergo some change, especially in their outlooks on life. There are some good elements to this story and it is a sweet Christmas read."

Falling Leaves - All-Time Favorite Christmas Movie

My all-time favorite Christmas movie is A Charlie Brown Christmas, released in December of 1965. This is the longest-running cartoon special in history, airing every year but this classic almost didn’t make it on the air. The studios hated it, No television networks wanted to play it. They didn’t like the religious theme running through the story or the contemporary jazz score. It was criticized for not having a laugh track, and for using voices of real children (except for Snoopy, who was voiced by the show’s animator Bill Melendez). The creator of the show, Charles Schulz, wanted the central meaning of the show to reflect his own beliefs of Christmas. With his clout, Schulz managed to get his little animated cartoon to air...

Zerina Blossom's Books - Author Interview

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or is it purely all imagination?

I like to add a bit of real life to my stories. There are several scenes in A Family Under the Christmas Tree that come from personal knowledge. The setting of Bellevue Washington is where I have family so I was able to describe it from having visited the city. In the story, the characters visit a Christmas tree farm, which I patterned after a local tree farm here that we’d visit often when my children were young. It was fun to remember back to those days with my kids.

Bookworm Lisa - Review

"I enjoyed the sweet message of the book. The characters were well written and easy to like. The book is a clean romance with kissing. This is a great Christmas time read to cuddle up with."

Mommabears Book Blog - Favorite Christmas Moments


My favorite Christmas moments are unpacking the decorations and hanging them on the Christmas tree. When my husband and I were first married, we had no decorations of our own. At the time I worked for a mall department store in Sacramento California, so with my employee discount I bought a few ornaments—a set of diamond shaped mirrors, a box of round colorful bulbs and a pretty tree topper that sparkled. Not very many decorations for the four-foot tree that fit nicely in our snug little apartment....


"What a heartwarming story. . . . I would recommend this story to all readers, especially ones who love Christmas time as I do and enjoy a good love story." - Vickie

"WOW! I literally could not put it down until I finished it! It is such a “cleanly” delightful read! I am certainly glad it isn’t any lengthier than it is, or I would not have enjoyed the company of my spouse in the evening!" - Lu Ann



"Set against a winter backdrop during Christmas, this is the perfect fluffy novel for a cold night. . . . This writing is great, the characters are developed, and the romance is believable. I highly recommend this novel. Add it to your Christmas list!"

Mel's Shelves - The Characters


The characters of A Family Under the Christmas Tree are very dear to me. I really liked David, Sophie and Troy. As well as Grandma Louise and Simon. I enjoyed developing them because they surprised me the more as I dug into them. I had this germ of an idea—I wanted to do something along the lines of Scrooge meets Mary Poppins. As part of developing the story I find photos of actors that resemble how I see my characters. Having the visual helps me in my descriptions as well as makes them more three dimensional in my own mind.

Kathleen Denly - Author Interview

I noticed in the bio on your website that you spent ten years working as a model in your life-before-writing. How did that experience help with developing the character of Sophie Griffith?

Having worked in front of the camera for many years afforded me an appreciation for photography. I was able to glean the art it takes, the time and patience as well as the technical know-how for a well-done photo shoot. I enjoyed putting my knowledge to work for Sophie.


"This book is all sweetness and Christmas goodness. If you are looking for a cute holiday romance then you should check this book out. . . . It was a little slow moving, but the characters were likable and brought a smile to my face. Christmas stories during December are always fun to read!"

Paulette's Papers - Cranberry Sauce


Who says Cranberry sauce is only for Thanksgiving? Our family enjoys cranberry sauce for all special occasion meals, including Christmas dinner. In fact, for us Christmas dinner is the same menu as Thanksgiving. We’ve long done the canned jellied or whole cranberries and been perfectly happy. But this year my nephew decided we’d try a homemade version. And my, is it delicious.

Kindle and Me - Review

"I might have shed a few tears at the tender moments in the book. So, if you like a little cry, opening up your heart, books with loss, puppies, Christmas, snowflakes, serving others, finding love and having a family that loves you then this might be for you!"



"This book was very cute and a quick, fun read. It’s everything a sweet Christmas romance should be. It has a meddling, matchmaking grandma, a mischievous little boy, a puppy, snow…what more could you want? . . . All of you sweet, clean romance lovers are going to want to add A Family Under the Christmas Tree to your TBR piles!"

Tell Tale Book Reviews - ​Christmas Cookies


For me the Christmas season isn’t complete without Christmas cookies. . . . In my story, A Family Under the Christmas Tree, my heroine Sophie and her grandmother help young Troy bake and decorate cookies. A tradition I’ve done with my mother when I was young and one I have continued with my own kids.

Don't forget to enter the fabulous giveaway below...

A Family Under the Christmas TreeA Family Under the Christmas Tree
by Terri Reed
Inspirational Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 340 pages
October 4th 2016 by Howard Books

In this heartwarming tale set during the Christmas season, a single father and a fashion photographer are brought together by a young boy and a mischievous Bernese mountain dog—but first they must learn to set aside their differences if they are willing to let their relationship bloom.

David Murphy never knew much about kids. But when his brother dies unexpectedly, David is granted custody of his six-year-old nephew, Troy, who he’s only seen once a year since he was born. He already has his hands full running his business, and he has no idea how to help the grieving boy. When Troy runs off one day, David finds him at a park playing with an adorable and rambunctious Bernese mountain dog—who leads him to Sophie.

Sophie Griffith has spent her life travelling around the world as a photojournalist. She has never stayed in one place for long, and her new assignment—helping her grandmother for a few weeks—is just temporary. Once Christmas day comes, Sophie is off the hook and can leave for a new adventure. Caring for her grandmother is a piece of cake—but caring for her new Bernese mountain dog, Riggs, is a different story. It doesn’t help that Riggs strikes up a friendship with a lost little boy one day at the park—and leads her to David.

Neither David nor Sophie have time for romance. But as they spend more time together, they start falling for each other even though they know it can’t go anywhere. Sophie will be gone after Christmas, and the last thing David needs is another distraction as he tries to comfort Troy. But as their faith and growing love for the boy and dog unites them, they wonder whether it’s more than a holiday romance…and maybe Troy might finally get his Christmas wish for a family.



Terri Reed’s romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on Publishers Weekly top 25 Romance and Publishers Weekly top ten Religion Fiction, Nielsen’s Bookscan top 100 and featured in USA Today, Christian Fiction Magazine, More To Life Magazine and Romantic Times Magazine, finaled in RWA’s RITA contest, National Reader’s Choice Award contest, ACFW’s The Carol Award contest. She is an active member of both Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her college-sweetheart husband. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening and playing with her dogs.


Tour Giveaway


- 1 winner will receive a copy of Love Inspired Classic 2 in 1, Love Comes Home and A Sheltering Love, a light up angle ornament, a Santa bookmark, A Family Under the Christmas Tree bookmark, a manicure set, and a Tule Book Girl book bag (US only)
- 1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)
- Ends December 22nd

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Saturday, December 17, 2016

Review: Timeless Regency Collection: A Country Christmas by Josi S. Kilpack, Carla Kelly, Jennifer Moore


Heidi Reads... Timeless Regency Collection: A Country Christmas by Josi S. Kilpack, Carla Kelly, Jennifer Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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Synopsis

SAINTS AND SINNERS by Josi S. Kilpack. When Neville Franklin’s best friend Burke wants to wager who can kiss Eloise first, Neville puts a stop to it. Eloise has been his friend since childhood, and, well, she’s off-limits. Especially to Burke. As Burke pursues Eloise and claims that she has a tendre for him, Neville becomes more and more protective of the girl he grew up with. On the night of the Christmas ball when Eloise appears in a dress that clearly shows that she is no longer a girl, but a beautiful woman, Neville realizes that his protective feelings toward Eloise have turned into something greater. But now, Neville’s best friend stands in his way.

THE CHRISTMAS ANGLE by Carla Kelly. Sailing Master Able Six is on half-pay with the British navy, biding his time during the uneasy Peace of Amiens and the resumption of war. Meanwhile, he’s invited to teach young pupils at the home of a vicar outside of Plymouth. There, he unexpectedly meets Meridee, the spinster sister-in-law of the vicar. From the moment Able sees Meridee, he’s entranced. When she asks him about his past and discovers his remarkable yet troublesome gift, he realizes he’s finally found someone who can care for all of him. Sadly, Able’s low station and half-pay gives him no way to provide for a wife. Meridee’s lack of dowry and dependence on relatives makes their union impossible at best. But isn’t Christmas a season of hope?

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS by Jennifer Moore. Archie Clawson wants nothing more than to give Jane the perfect Christmas. Since her troubled childhood, she’s not experienced a Christmas with all the trimmings. To top off the perfection, he also plans to ask her to marry him on Christmas Eve. But as he and his friends, including Jane, travel to his country home, they are caught in a snowstorm and discover that notice of their arrival did not get through to the house staff. Worried over the disappointment he must be causing Jane and the complete shift in their planned Christmas, Archie fears that he’s misinterpreted her kindness towards him and lost her favor forever.


My Review

Three of my favorite authors really hit a home run with this collection of sweet Christmas romances! I read each one at the end of a long and tiring day, and was completely transported and uplifted. In the first story I loved Eloise and her conflict between attracting Neville without attracting others necessarily. He's a bit of an idiot, but a likeable one, especially when he admits the reason for his jealousy and fumbles his opportunities for "helping" Eloise :) The second story was classic Carla Kelly, I just love her writing style and tone- it's so unique in the Regency genre. I enjoyed the sweetness that quickly develops between Able and Meridee, and was fascinated by his background and journey. The last story was one I found interesting as well because of the aspect of mental illness and how it was handled during that period in history. Jane had some deeply troubling times in her past which are only vaguely referred to, and the author chose to focus more on her current situation of now having the support of caring family. The dynamic between her and Archie is tender and they both learn more about each other and making the best of things when the perfect holiday doesn't go quite as planned. I loved all these stories equally and I will definitely be re-reading this collection in the future. Highly recommend!

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)


Friday, December 16, 2016

Review: Bible Origami by Todd Huisken


Heidi Reads... Bible Origami by Todd Huisken

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

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

Synopsis

Keep your children's hands busy during church services with Bible Origami. Instead of folding the service programs into paper airplanes, they can fold Noah's ark, an oil lamp, or Joseph's coat! As you develop the unique skill of creating these simple-to-intermediate origami designs, you will find opportunities to use them with all ages for lessons, activities, crafting, and everyday fun!

My Review

What a fun way to make scripture stories come to life! I love using my hands and creating with paper, so I knew this was an activity I would enjoy. I tried three designs to start, one from each skill level. I found the directions and diagrams in the book to be clear and easy to understand. Each page also has interesting "Did you know?" facts relating to the object of the scripture story being created. The index has the projects organized by skill level since the contents of the book are in order of the Old and New Testament. I would recommend using origami paper since I find it easier to fold than regular printer paper, and they come in a perfect square. There are twenty four designs in the book and most of them I find interesting, although some seem a little vague, like manna and the bread loaf. I'm looking forward to using this as an activity in the senior primary class I teach!

The designs I created are Burning Bush (skill level 2), Star of Bethlehem (skill level 3), Fish (skill level 1)

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)

Check out some more designs from Bible Origami...
Fox from Noah's Ark

Joseph's coat of many colors
 Lion from Daniel in the Lion's Den

 Manger and Baby Jesus

Star of Bethlehem

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Christmas in the Cove by Carol Ross


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Christmas in the CoveChristmas in the Cove
by Carol Ross
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
December 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Nobody is going to hurt her—not on his watch

A DEA stealth mission has brought coast guard Lt. Commander Eli Pelletier home. But when he ends up aiding rescue swimmer Aubrey Wynn during her own harrowing mission, powerful emotions reignite between them. Except Aubrey doesn't want Eli's protection. She wants answers.

Twelve years ago, Eli broke up with Aubrey without telling her the real reason he was leaving Pacific Cove. How can he try for a second chance if he's forced to deceive her again? Amid suspected drug trafficking and a sabotaged Christmas contest, Eli must find a way to regain Aubrey's trust without compromising his career or endangering the woman he loves.



Carol Ross lives with her husband and one loveable miscreant of a dachshund in a small town in Washington close to both the ocean and the mountains. She adores the Pacific Northwest because it provides her with endless opportunities for the activities she loves—hiking, running, skiing, and spending time outdoors. Although she enjoys reading in many genres, she writes what she loves the most—romance, especially light-hearted stories about the fun, flirty, and often-tumultuous path toward a happily ever after.


Other Books by the Author

Mountains Apart (Seasons of Alaska #1) A Case for Forgiveness (Seasons of Alaska #2) If Not for a Bee (Seasons of Alaska #3) A Family Like Hannah's (Seasons of Alaska #4)

Guest Post by Carol Ross

Crab Dip & Excerpt

One of my favorite scenes in Christmas in the Cove involves a crab feed. If you live near a coast, chances are you’ve probably been to one of these types of seafood feasts. Whether it’s crab, shrimp, lobster, clams, fish, or oysters for some reason seafood just begs to be feasted on.

Even though Pacific Cove is a fictional town, its would-be location on the Oregon Coast means that I had to give the Dungeness crab its due. Heroine Aubrey is heading up a Christmas contest with the hope of winning the cash prize so she can use it to refurbish the community’s swimming pool. (She’s a Coast Guard rescue swimmer and this pool is near and dear to her heart.) When the chef falls ill, hero Eli volunteers to fill in and cook the crab. Of course, the gesture softens Aubrey’s own crabby shell and leaves her feeling a bit mushy inside.
Here's an excerpt from the scene:

“Hey, you,” she said when she approached.

“Hi. Looks like this is a huge success. Congratulations.”

Her smile could rival the Christmas star for sheer brightness. “Thank you. Gabby did an amazing job. I helped her plan it, but I was just one of the support people on this one. I have to say, so far I’ve attended a pizza feed with Alex in Remington—no contest.

“Nina and I went to a salmon bake last week in Lewis Point. There was a decorated tree in the corner where you chose a souvenir Christmas ornament to take home, which I thought was a nice touch. But it did not compare to this. The mayor went to a clam chowder feed in Tiramundi on Wednesday night. The chowder made him and fifty-three other people sick. Of course, I wouldn’t wish food poisoning on my worst enemy, but my point is—this is going to be tough to beat.”

“I think you’re right about that.”

She reached out and laid a hand on his forearm. “Thank you so much, Eli. When you said you wanted to help, I didn’t expect this… This is above and beyond what I expected.”

One look at the expression on her face and Eli was pretty sure he’d do anything she asked of him. Their eyes met and held, twelve years falling away as spark-filled affection crackled between them. He’d always liked looking at her face. Especially when her moss-green eyes were brimming with happiness the way they were now. The sound of laughter broke into their bubble. They both looked up to see Gale in his crab suit standing off to one side of the ballroom juggling for a group of kids.

“Even I didn’t expect that,” Eli quipped and they chuckled together.

“Seriously, Eli, the fact that you’d do this for me…I mean, I know the pool is a good cause and everything, but I can’t help think that…” She paused, a touch of pink tingeing her cheeks. “That you wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me.”

“You’re right about that,” he said, a cold blast of guilt immediately following. He didn’t like the way it swamped the warmth that had only seconds ago been flooding through him. His answer was the truth, he reassured himself. He just wished it was the only truth that mattered.

Dungeness crab season opens here during the month of December. Whether it’s boiled (then cracked and eaten with melted butter) or included in a more complicated recipe, crab is always a part of our holiday celebration. Following is one of my favorite recipes. If you have a favorite crab (or other seafood) dish, I’d love to hear about it. Really, I would. And I want to know your recipe, too.

— Carol

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Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway

- 1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card and a copy of Christmas in the Cove (signed copy if US, ebook if international)
- Ends December 24th

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