The Daughter of Highland Hall - Edwardian Brides 2 - by Carrie Turansky

About the book: 

The Daughter of Highland Hall || Book 2, Edwardian Brides (Waterbrook Multnomah, October 2014)

What if the title, the estate, the life of security and splendor . . . what if it isn't enough?

Strong-willed and beautiful, debutante Katherine Ramsey feels ready to take the London social season by storm, and she must. Her family estate, Highland Hall, has been passed to older male cousin Sir William Ramsey, and her only means of securing her future is to make a strong debut and find a proper husband. With her all-knowing and meddling aunt as a guide, Katherine is certain to attract suitors at the lavish gatherings, sparkling with Great Britain's elite.

When a shocking family scandal sidelines Katherine, forcing her out of the social spotlight, she keeps a low profile, volunteering with the poor in London's East End. Here Katherine feels free from her predictable future, and even more so as a friendship with medical student Jonathan Foster deepens and her faith in God grows. But when Katherine is courted anew by a man of wealth and position, dreams of the life she always thought she wanted surface again. Torn between tradition and the stirrings in her heart for a different path, she must decide whom she can trust and love---and if she will choose a life serving others over one where she is served.

My review: I really enjoyed this story set in one of my favorite time periods, the Downton Abbey era.  It's hard to believe life was so different only a hundred years ago.  I really liked the characters in the story, all except Katherine's aunt, who was so negative and critical it really got on my nerves.  I felt really bad for the situation Katherine found herself in, but I admired the way she handled it.  I really liked her feistiness, though it sometimes got her into trouble!  I really liked Jon and the strong man of faith he was.  There's a wonderful spiritual message in the story, about truly knowing God in a relationship as opposed to just knowing about Him.  Many of the characters exhibit a strong faith.  I loved the focus on helping the poor and that both Jon and Kate had to choose what kind of future they wanted and that God wanted for them.  The romance is sweet as you see Jon and Kate fall for each other, but she believes she must marry a man who will inherit a title and wealth, while he thinks she is falling for someone else.  I liked the multiple viewpoints, including one of the servants, and the story line about her sister who had run away was interesting, along with the sub-plot of William's brother being investigated for murder!  I would recommend reading book one as this story takes place not long after and continues the story of William and Julia's romance, along with the stories of the other characters.  I highly recommend this book if you like historical romance!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at Litfuse!

Learn more, purchase a copy, and read an excerpt: http://ow.ly/C7LAY

About the author: 

Carrie Turansky is an award-winning author of more than a dozen novels and novellas. She has written contemporary and historical romances, women's fiction, short stories, articles, and devotionals. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Scott, and they have five adult children and four grandchildren.

Find Carrie online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Guess Who Noah's Boat - written by Matt Mitter, illustrated by Ela Jarzabek

This is a very cute lift-the-flap book great for toddlers!  It tells the story of the animals being gathered onto Noah's Ark with a flap to lift on each set of pages.  Each flap hides a different set of animals and Noah has to guess who they are!  At the end, the child being read to is asked to guess who is the last one left on the ark.  This is a hardcover with each page similar to a board book, but not as thick. The text is rhyming and the illustrations very colorful.  The spiritual message is that the Lord steered the boat safely onto solid ground and that we are all God's creatures.  I would recommend this for both boys and girls around toddler age.

I received this book free from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.

Review of The Brickmaker's Bride - Refined by Fire 1 - Kindle HDX Giveaway and Facebook Author Party with Judith Miller!

About the book: 

Bestselling Author Judith Miller Debuts Historical Series Set in West Virginia

Yearning for a fresh start, Ewan McKay travels with his aunt and uncle from northern Scotland to West Virginia, promising to trade his skills in the clay business for financial assistance from his uncle Hugh. Hugh purchases a brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, but it's Ewan who gets the business up and running again. Ewan seeks help from Laura, the former owner's daughter, and he feels a connection with her, but she's being courted by another man---a lawyer with far more social clout and money than Ewan. Besides, Ewan has resolved he'll focus on making the brickmaking operation enough of a success that he can become a partner in the business and be able to afford to bring his sisters over from Scotland.

But when Hugh signs a bad business deal, all Ewan's hard work may come to naught. As his plans begin to crumble, Laura reveals something surprising. She and her mother may have a way to save the brickworks, and in turn Ewan may have another shot at winning Laura's heart.

My review:  This was an interesting story that kept my attention as I learned a lot of history I hadn't known before!  I knew nothing about brickmaking and I liked learning about the process, especially as I learned more about Irish immigrants in the years after the Civil War, too.  I really liked Ewan and felt so sorry for him to be stuck with an aunt and uncle who seemed determined to make his life miserable.  I probably would have given up a long time ago if I had to deal with those relatives of his.  His perseverance and love for his sisters were very admirable; I also loved his strong faith and his scriptural view that all things will work together for good to those who love God, even though bad things still sometimes happen and we don't always get our prayers answered the way we like.  I liked Laura, but couldn't figure out why she put up with the man courting her as his attitude toward people was horrible.  As the story went on, I understood a little more, but I still wanted her to dump him!  There was a sweet romance in the story, though I wished for more to it.  I enjoyed this story and will be looking for the next in the series.  You'll probably like it if you like historical fiction!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at Litfuse!

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/CAurf 

About the author: 

Judith Miller is an award-winning author whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her bestselling novels. When time permits, Judy enjoys traveling, visiting historical settings, and scrapbooking the photographs from her travel expeditions. She makes her home in Topeka, Kansas.

Find Judith online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Don't miss Judith Miller's latest novel, The Brickmaker's Bride. CBA Retailers + Resources raves, ". . . a wonderful story about faith and love throughout life’s trials."


Judith is celebrating with a Kindle HDX giveaway and  a "Refined by Love" Facebook author event on November 4th.

 One winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• The Brickmaker's Bride by Judith Miller

Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 4th. Winner will be announced at the Refined by Love Facebook Author Event. Connect with Judith for a fascinating evening centered around her new Civil War-era series. She'll be hosting a book club discussion, giving away prizes, answering your questions, offering an exclusive peek at the next book in the Refined by Love series, and much more!

So grab your copy of The Brickmaker's Bride and join Judith and friends on the evening of November 4th 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 4th!

A Promise to Protect - Logan Point 2 - by Patricia Bradley

About the book:

In a steamy small town riddled with broken promises, one woman's secret could change everything.
Acting Sheriff Ben Logan hasn't heard from Leigh Somerall in a very long time, but it doesn't mean he can get her--or their whirlwind romance of ten years ago--out of his head. When she calls out of the blue, it is with a strange request to protect her brother, Tony. But all too soon, Ben is charged with a different task--protecting Leigh from the people after her brother. With Leigh doing everything in her power to avoid Ben, it's no easy task. And the secret she is keeping just may change their lives forever.

My review:

I enjoyed this story that had a lot of suspense and a second chance at love.  I thought it was interesting to see the different crimes that were happening, along with some from the past that still needed to be solved.  I liked Ben and Leigh, but she frustrated me with her stubbornness in keeping her secret and the lengths she went to in keeping it.  The arguing about staying with Ben's parents or on her own got old, especially when it seemed obvious their lives were in danger and she was in denial.  I really felt for what she had gone through in the past and how she struggled with not feeling wanted.  There is a faith element in the story, in that Leigh hadn't grown much as a baby Christian and needed to find her way back, and Ben had to accept forgiveness and figure out how to forgive himself for an event in his past.  There wasn't a lot to the romance, but there were some nice moments.  If you like romantic suspense, you should check it out!

I received this book free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

 The Author

1. 

   © Cheryl Meints

   Patricia Bradley

   Patricia Bradley's manuscript for Shadows of the Past was a finalist for the 2012 Genesis Award, winner of a 2012 Daphne du Maurier award (1st place, Inspirational), and winner of a 2012 Touched by Love award (1st place, Contemporary). Also the author...
   

   Continue reading about Patricia Bradley 

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Review of New Regency, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, from @SarahLaddAuthor AND a Kindle HDX giveaway!

About the book: 

Her secret cloaks her in isolation and loneliness.

His secret traps him in a life that is not his own.

Cecily Faire carries the shame of her past wherever she treads, knowing one slip of the tongue could strip away everything she holds dear. But soon after accepting the position of lady's companion at Willowgrove Hall, Cecily finds herself face-to-face with a man well-acquainted with the past she's desperately hidden for years.

Nathaniel Stanton has a secret of his own --- one that has haunted him from birth and tied him to his father's position as steward of Willowgrove. To protect his family, Nathaniel dares not breath a word of the truth. But as long as the shadow looms over him, he'll never be free to find his own way in the world. He'll never be free to fall in love.

When the secrets swirling within Willowgrove Hall come to light, Cecily and Nathaniel must confront a painful choice: Will they continue running from the past . . . or will they stand together and build a future without the suffocating weight of secrets long suffered?

My review:

I really enjoyed this story about two people who need to find forgiveness for others and to move on from the past.  I love the Regency era and I was excited to discover a new author in this genre!  Ladd described the settings so well I felt like I was there.  I really liked so many of the characters and felt sorry for both Cecily and Nathaniel for what they went through.  There wasn't much to the faith element until near the end of the story, as Cecily had turned her back on God after her mother's death.  I don't think Nathaniel's faith was mentioned at all, though everyone attends church, which was expected for the time period.  There's one use of the word, "bloody," which is a swear word in England, and wasn't needed in the story.  The romance was sweet, though there wasn't a whole lot to it.  The story also felt slow at times and could have used a little more action to move it along.  This is book three in the "Whispers on the Moors" series and I wasn't lost at all not having read the first two.  Overall, I did really like the story and I plan to check out the others in the series.  If you like Regency romance, you should check it out!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at Litfuse!

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/CsnBw

About the author: 

Sarah E. Ladd has more than ten years of marketing experience. She is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. The Heiress of Winterwood was the recipient of the 2011 Genesis Award for historical romance. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.

Find Sarah online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Award-winning author Sarah E. Ladd examines how to escape the clutches of a tainted past in the final installment of her Whispers on the Moor series. A Regency-era novel, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall cleverly shows that even though our pasts may be shameful or painful, God can take the darkest personal histories and turn them into the brightest futures.

Celebrate with Sarah by entering her Kindle HDX giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 2nd. Winner will be announced November 3rd here.

Stolen: The True Story of a Sex Trafficking Survivor - by Katariina Rosenblatt, PhD with Cecil Murphey

About the book:

There is hope, even on the darkest of days
Katariina Rosenblatt was a lonely and abused young girl, yearning to be loved, wanting attention. That made her the perfect target. On an ordinary day, she met a confident young woman--someone Kat wished she could be like--who pretended to be a friend while slowly luring her into a child trafficking ring. A cycle of false friendships, threats, drugs, and violence kept her trapped.

As Kat shares her harrowing experiences, her ultimate escape, and her passionate efforts to now free other victims, you'll see that not only is sex trafficking happening frighteningly close to home--it's also something that can be stopped. Stolen is a warning, a celebration of survival, and a beacon of hope that will inspire you.

My review:

This was a heartbreaking, but ultimately hopeful story that opened my eyes even more to the threat of sex trafficking wherever we may live.  I know some about this topic, but Rosenblatt shared even more I wasn't aware of.  I always thought of sex trafficking as a girl being kidnapped against her will, but she showed how teenagers and even children are tricked into believing someone cares about them and gains their trust. They may still live at home; the parent just isn't aware of what they're doing or what's being done to them when they're not there.  At least one-third of sex slaves are boys, which surprised me. A lot of these kids also don't even realize they're being trafficked.  They believe the people really care about them and usually drug them, also. So many of these kids have already been exposed to sexual abuse, violence, drugs or alcohol in the home and feel that their parents don't care about them.  They are desperate for love and predators seem to sense that.

I was frustrated so many times while reading her story at her naivete, that she would trust and believe these strangers, but she was only thirteen when she was first trafficked.  She wanted love so badly and had a skewed sense of what that was from her own upbringing.  It was so cool how her attendance at a Billy Graham crusade as a child and the statement he made about God never leaving or forsaking her stayed with her through everything.  God truly worked some miracles in her life in different situations she was in.  It was very inspiring to see how she rose above what was done to her to break the cycle of abuse and use what was intended for evil for a good purpose instead, trying to save other children and women through sharing her own story of survival with them.  I liked the chapter where she shared stories of girls she's helped and who are now helping others leave the life.  She also gives steps you can take if your church wants to start a ministry to these victims.  I highly recommend this book to adults and teens; it's not only interesting but will open your eyes to the dangers out there and what can be done about it.

I received this book free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 888-373-7888.
If you want to help fight trafficking , her organization is There Is H.O.P.E. For Me, Inc and their website is thereishopeforme.org.  They offer free resources on their site, such as a human trafficking assessment tool to help identify victims of trafficking.

2. 

   Katariina Rosenblatt PhD

   Katariina Rosenblatt, PhD, is living proof of the promise she heard long ago at a Billy Graham crusade that God would never forsake her. Katariina has a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution and works closely with law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI...
   

   Continue reading about Katariina Rosenblatt PhD

3. 

   Cecil Murphey

   Cecil Murphey has written or coauthored more than 135 books, including the bestsellers 90 Minutes in Heaven with Don Piper and Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story with Dr. Ben Carson. Murphey is a recipient of the Gold Medallion Award, two-time...
   

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---

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Review of Kara Tippetts’ THE HARDEST PEACE, Blogger Challenge & Giveaway! Share Your #HardestPeace Story.

About the book: 

A young mother battling cancer invites readers to embrace grace in every season of life.

Kara Tippetts knows the mundane but rich days of mothering four kids, the joy of watching her children grow.and the devastating reality of stage-four cancer.

In The Hardest Peace, she invites readers to see the grace of the everyday in all seasons of life and to live well even when the living is hard. As the thousands of readers of her blog know, Tippetts explores the hardest questions of life with rare beauty and honesty. Most of all, she draws them back to the God who is present, in the ordinary and the suffering, and shapes every life into the best story of all.

My review: 

This book was so touching and beautiful.  I'm amazed at the wonderful attitude Kara has as she has faced multiple bouts of cancer and is still facing it.  I enjoyed the story she shared, of her struggles growing up, her coming to faith and the love story she has with her husband and children.  She really bares her heart on how she views beauty, losing her hair, comforting her children and trusting that God's writing a beautiful story for her, no matter if she dies tomorrow or years from now.  Her trust that God is good is incredibly inspiring and yet she's very honest that it's not easy.

It's amazing how her friends, church community and others have been such a support to Kara and her family.  I've been dealing with health issues, though to a much lesser extent, and I'm blessed to have a mom who's incredibly supportive and understanding, along with a friend who is living a similar, but worse, experience.  We share stories and symptoms and try to encourage each other along the way.  Even though you wish they didn't have to deal with the illness, it does help to know that they know firsthand.

I'd definitely recommend this book if you're going through a hard time or like true stories.

I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

I'll be giving away a copy of the book to a commenter who shares a story about someone who's been an encouragement to them!  I'll leave it open through November 1st.


More Reviews at Litfuse!

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/Cgo5s

About the Author: 

Kara Tippetts and her husband, Jason, have four children and lead a church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Cancer is only part of Kara's story. Her real fight is to truly live while facing a crushing reality. 

Find Kara online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Kara Tippetts' brave and touching book, The Hardest Peace is launching with a blogger challenge. Celebrate with Kara by joining the #HardestPeace conversation and share how you are finding grace in the midst of the everyday and in life's hard moments.

Share your stories of everyday grace in the midst of life’s difficulties and enter to win a #HardestPeace prize pack:

• A book club pack (10 copies of The Hardest Peace for you and your small group!)
• A handcrafted candle
• Journal
• Custom Etsy The Hardest Peace print and coffee mug

To enter to win, simply blog about your #HardestPeace story and then submit the link to your post via the link-up (or see link in the Rafflecopter below). Plus stop by others’ stories to leave encouragement and offer prayers as we all travel the journey of life together and discover that the hardest peace is often the most fulfilling peace. Then follow Kara online (via the Rafflcopter) for additional entries into the giveaway.

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Review of KEEPERS OF THE COVENANT, Kindle Giveaway and Live Author Chat with Lynn Austin!

About the book: 

The Old Testament Comes to Thrilling Life in the Latest from Lynn Austin

In one life-changing moment, the lives of the Jewish exiles in Babylon are thrown into confusion and despair when a decree arrives from the king's palace in Susa. It calls for the annihilation of every Jewish man, woman, and child throughout the empire on the thirteenth day of Adar, in less than one year. Ezra, a quiet Jewish scholar and teacher, is suddenly called upon to lead the community as they seek God for a reason for this catastrophe. When a second decree arrives, authorizing them to fight back, Ezra is thrust into the role of military leader as they defend themselves against their enemies.

When the battles come to an end, Ezra's brother Jude is dead and Ezra is required by the Law he so diligently studies to marry Jude's widow, Devorah, and provide an heir. Fatherhood changes Ezra, and he asks God to make a way for him and the other exiles to leave Babylon for good and return to Jerusalem. His prayers are answered and the exiles move to Judea to revitalize worship at the temple---but the fight to keep God's Law is never easy. As more and more of his community are tempted, a new battle emerges . . . this one for the survival of God's covenant and the souls of His chosen faithful.

My review: This was another fascinating and well-written book by Lynn Austin!  I love when there are multiple story lines, with the story of Ezra, Reuben, a teenage Jewish boy at the time of the battle, and Amina, a crippled Edomite girl taken in by the Jews after the battle. I really felt like I was there as Ezra mourned his brother's death and felt for both him and his sister-in-law, Devorah, as they decide to marry and obey God's law, even though they felt awkward about it.  Devorah was such a wise, wonderful character and really knew her Torah!  Reuben frustrated me because he was so angry after his father's death that he turned his back on God and made some horrible choices, but it was great to see him turn his life around.  I loved Amina and her story about which god she'll choose to worship and which people she'll decide to stay with.  There's a couple sweet love stories, along with so much history and study of the Torah it almost feels like you're taking a class!  This book really made the Old Testament stories and people come alive.  This book takes place years after the first one and can easily be read as a stand-alone.  I highly recommend it!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at Litfuse!

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/C7ss8

About the Author: 

Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live near Chicago.

Find Lynn online: website, Facebook

Lynn Austin is back with the next book in The Restoration Chronicles series, Keepers of the Covenant. Austin weaves together the struggles and stories of both Jews and Gentiles, creating a tapestry of faith and doubt, love and loss. Here, the Old Testament comes to life, demonstrating the everlasting hope displayed in God's unwavering love for His people.

Lynn is celebrating with a Kindle HDX giveaway and a live author chat webcast on October 21st.

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 21st. Winner will be announced at the Keepers of the Covenant LIVE webcast event on October 21st. Connect with Lynn for a fascinating evening centered around God's unwavering love for His people. She'll be hosting a Biblical fiction book club discussion, giving away prizes, answering your questions, offering an exclusive peek at the next book in The Restoration Chronicles, and much more!

So grab your copy of Keepers of the Covenant and join Lynn and friends on the evening of October 21st 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 21st!

Thunder - Stone Braide Chronicles 1 - by Bonnie S. Calhoun

About the book:

The Time of Sorrows is long past.
The future of Selah and her people is shrouded in mystery.
And the clock is ticking.
Hidden in the tall grasses along a shore littered with the rusted metal remnants of a once-great city, a hunter crouches. It is the eve of her eighteenth Birth Remembrance and high time she proves to herself and her brothers that she can stand on her own two feet. Selah Rishon Chavez waits not for game but for one of the small boats that occasionally crash against the desolate shoreline. Because inside one of these boats she will find her quarry--a Lander.

These people from an unknown land across the ocean are highly prized by the Company and bring a good price--especially if they keep the markings they arrive with.

Everything falls to pieces when the Lander whom Selah catches is stolen by her brothers, and Selah wakes the next morning to find the Lander's distinctive mark has appeared on her own flesh. Once the hunter, Selah is now one of the hunted, and she knows only one person who can help her--Bodhi Locke, the Lander her brothers hope to sell in the Mountain.

With evocative descriptions of a strange new world that combines elements of disturbing scientific advances, devious political conspiracy, and survival in a hostile wilderness, Bonnie S. Calhoun weaves a captivating tale of a society more like our own than we may want to admit. From the tension-laced first scene to the captivating last page, Thunder is an epic journey into the heart of humankind that explores how far we are willing to go when we're pushed to the limit.

My review:

This was a very unique story that kept me turning the pages!  It was fascinating to learn about this future world and the changes that have occurred.  I really liked Selah and felt for the dangerous situation she found herself in, but she did frustrate me sometimes with her change in moods.  She could also be impulsive, but she grew up as the story progressed.  There's some romance, but I like that she's slow to trust this stranger and doesn't fall for him right away.  It will be interesting to see where that goes as the series continues.  It was cool to learn about abilities Landers have and to try to figure out who they really are.  There's plenty of action and excitement as Selah is pretty much in danger from the very beginning.  This book deals with some issues like slavery and racism, though in a little different context.  There's also talk of good and evil, but it's not overtly Christian.  There was a conversation where a character wondered what happens after you die, but they weren't sure.  it will be interesting to see where they go with this, as well.  This is a science fiction series in the vein of the Hunger Games and it did seem to be aimed more for a teen audience, though I think adults who enjoy this genre would probably like it.  I know I'm looking forward to the next one!

I received this book free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

There's a free prequel to this story for kindle!  Here's the link: Amazon

 The Author

1. 

   Bonnie S. Calhoun

   Bonnie S. Calhoun teaches workshops on Facebook, Twitter, HTML, and social media at writers conferences. In her everyday life she is a seamstress and clothing designer. Bonnie and her husband live in a log home in upstate New York with a dog and two cats who...
   

   Continue reading about Bonnie S. Calhoun 

The Story Keeper - by Lisa Wingate

This was an amazing story that sucked me in and kept me turning the pages!  Jen Gibbs has just gotten her dream job at Vida House Publishing as an editor when she discovers an old manuscript on her desk.  She reads the few chapters it contains and becomes obsessed with the story of a Melungeon girl in danger and the young man from the Eastern United States who rescues her in Appalachia in the early 1900's.  She needs to find out what happened to them and hopefully sign the author to a book deal, but there is no author or address to contact.  The style seems familiar to her, however, so she risks her job and convinces the boss to send her to Appalachia in search of a reclusive author who hasn't written anything in years.

Once she arrives, she finds it almost impossible to contact the author as it's fan week in the area and there are tons of crazed fans lurking around the woods and trying to get a glimpse of their favorite author.  She meets some of his relatives and gets an introduction and finds her life becoming intertwined with his family troubles while she also struggles with whether to contact the family she fled when she was eighteen.  Her sister has written another letter asking for money for her kin, the father, siblings and their many children who live in extreme poverty.  Jen has struggled with not only feelings of worthlessness and shame, but also anger and confusion about who God is because of her family's allegiance to a cult that twists the Bible into a tool to control and subdue the members, especially the women.  She was able to escape because of a wonderful teacher who encouraged her, but she doesn't want to go back, even for a visit.  Could there be another reason for her being back in Appalachia, something more important than a book deal?

This was beautifully written and fascinating.  With chapters of the Melungeon girl's story scattered throughout the pages, it has interesting history and culture along with hints of romance then and now.  I loved seeing Jen trying to come to grips with who God is, what her family's like and trying not to get sucked back in to the hopelessness of her family dynamics.  It was hard to predict what would happen when she met the author and his family and I wondered how the story would get resolved.  There were a lot of interesting, quirky characters and the setting was absolutely gorgeous.  I can't wait for her next book!  She's becoming an author I watch out for.  I highly recommend this wonderful story!

I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Review of THE MASON JAR & Kindle Fire Giveaway from @JRLingerfelt!

About the book: 

What if your old college roommate called, raving about a book someone sent her, calling it the most beautiful book she's ever read? "But," she said, "it's about you." The author is your college ex.

In The Mason Jar, Clayton Fincannon is a Tennessee farm boy raised at the feet of his grandfather. He and his grandfather leave letters for each other in a Mason jar on his grandfather's desk---letters of counsel and affirmation. When Clayton attends college in Southern California, he meets and falls in love with a dark debutante from Colorado. However, when an unmentioned past resurrects in her life and she leaves, Clayton is left with unanswered questions.

Clayton goes on to serve as a missionary in Africa, while he and his grandfather continue their tradition of writing letters. When Clayton returns home five years later to bury his grandfather, he searches for answers pertaining to the loss of the young woman he once loved. Little does Clayton know, the answers await him in the broken Mason jar.

A story about a girl who vanished, a former love who wrote a book about her, and a reunion they never imagined.

Written for the bruised and broken, The Mason Jar is an inspirational romance that brings hope to people who have experienced disappointment in life due to separation from loved ones. With a redemptive ending that encourages us to love again and written in the fresh, romantic tones of Nicholas Sparks, The Mason Jar interweaves the imagery of Thoreau with the adventures and climatic family struggles common to Dances with Wolves, A River Runs Through It, and Legends of the Fall. 

My review:  

This was an interesting story that had some important life lessons to share.  I really liked Clayton's wise grandfather and the letters he left for him with wonderful advice.  I liked Clayton and Eden and their passion for orphans and humanitarian work.  It was a sweet love story, but I felt so bad for Clayton when she disappeared.  There was talk of God, but it didn't seem like a Christian story, with Eden remembering losing her virginity to her boyfriend without regret and seeing her and Clayton spending a lot of alone time with each other, sometimes overnight, which was a huge temptation and certainly not avoiding the appearance of evil.  I did like the hopeful feel to it even though there were some sad things dealt with. You might like it if you like romances with some good advice!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

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Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/C52aq

About the author: 

James Russell Lingerfelt is the author of The Mason Jar and writes articles for The Huffington Post. James connects with readers at his blog, Love Story from the Male Perspective, and divides his time between Southern California and his family's ranch in Alabama.

Find James online: website, Facebook, Twitter

James Russell Lingerfelt's debut novel, The Mason Jar, is hot-off-the-press and causing quite the buzz. It's even been optioned for a feature film and is in pre-production.

Catch the spark by entering James' Kindle Fire giveaway!

 
One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• The Mason Jar by James Russell Lingerfelt

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 19th. Winner will be announced October 20th at James Russell's blog, Love Story from the Male Perspective.

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