My Review of Jeanne M. Dickson's 'Grounded Hearts,' Giveaway and Blog Tour

About the book:

A brave midwife. A wounded pilot. A risky secret.

In the midst of World War II, Ireland has declared herself neutral. Troops found on Irish soil must be reported and interned, no matter which side they are fighting for. When midwife Nan O'Neil finds a wounded young Canadian pilot at her door, she knows she's taking a huge risk by letting him in. Not only is she a widow living alone, but if caught harboring a combatant, she'll face imprisonment.

Still, something compels Nan to take in "flyboy" Dutch Whitney, an RAF pilot whose bomber has just crashed over County Clare. While she tends to his wounds and gives him a secret place of refuge, the two begin to form a mutual affection-and an unbreakable bond.

But Nan has another secret, one that has racked her with guilt since her husband's death and made her question ever loving again. As Nan and Dutch plan his escape, can he help restore her faith?

My review:

I enjoyed this action-packed story with wonderful characters!  I really felt for Nan and the guilt she carried.  She was dealt some hard things in her still young life.  I admired her bravery and determination to do the right thing.  It was interesting to see the differences in her Catholic faith from a Protestant one, as she prayed for dead men and worried about burning in hell for sins she committed, even after she had asked for forgiveness.  It saddened and bothered me that she still felt she had to do the penance the priest told her to do, as if that could fix her sins, when she'd already asked for God's forgiveness and it was taken care of.  He'd removed it as far as the east was from the west.  There was also a good conversation about the Devil condemning us and robbing us of peace and that we need to pray every time we have those thoughts and also ask for Jesus' forgiveness because he died to set us free and doesn't want us to live under condemnation anymore.  I liked Dutch a lot and he seemed almost too perfect, except he did swear when he was frustrated.  Dickson didn't put the actual swear words in the book, just mentioned he cursed.  I think the only somewhat questionable word used was calling a man an "arse."  I was also surprised  at all of the sexual innuendo.  It doesn't get graphic or anything, but it just seemed like a lot of men and women were making sexual comments and that the men were always leering at Nan.  There's also a scene where she has to fight off an attacker, so I would say this book probably isn't appropriate for younger teens.  I really liked some advice Dutch gave Nan, about being careful not to lead a man on.  Though it's no excuse for a man attacking a woman, I think sometimes women don't behave correctly, either.  I did like the dialogue, otherwise, as it was usually humorous.  There were a lot of romantic moments, as Nan and Dutch were very attracted to each other and would be drawn to each other but kept resisting it.  I also liked the strong sense of culture and history.  I really felt like I was in Ireland in 1941! I enjoyed the themes of forgiveness, letting go of regret and risking ourselves for love.  I would recommend this book if you like historical romance.

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

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:

Jeanne M. Dickson was born into an Irish American family, the only girl surrounded by four brothers. She credits her mother, her aunts, and her grandmother with her love of storytelling. Perfecting her craft, she attends many writer's conferences and over the years, she has won and finaled in numerous RWA romance writing awards including the Daphne du Maurier Award, the Maggie Award, The Molly, The Tara, and she was the overall contest winner of Launching A Star. Today she lives in Coastal San Diego with her fabulous husband, her two wonderful girls, and a dozen disobedient rose bushes.

Find out more about Jeanne M. at http://www.jeannemdickson.com.

  

What do you get when you mix World War II, a brave midwife, a wounded pilot, and a risky secret? Jeanne M. Dickson's new historical fiction novel, Grounded Hearts. When midwife Nan O'Neil finds a wounded young Canadian pilot at her door, she knows she's taking a huge risk by letting him in. Still, something compels Nan to take in "flyboy" Dutch Whitney, an RAF pilot whose bomber has just crashed over County Clare. While she tends to his wounds and gives him a secret place of refuge, the two begin to form a mutual affection-and an unbreakable bond.

Join Jeanne in celebrating the release of her new book by entering to win the Celtic Knots Giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Grounded Hearts
• A Claddagh bracelet
• A Claddagh jewelry box

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on July 31. The winner will be announced August 1 on the Litfuse blog.

Loved It! My Review of 'Just Look Up' - by Courtney Walsh

I absolutely loved this book!  The two main characters, Lane Kelley and Ryan Brooks, were wonderful.  They felt real and relatable.  She was bullied growing up as she was overweight and shy and then betrayed by her family.  She left Harbor Pointe for the big city, determined to make it at an interior design firm and prove she doesn't need anyone and that she has worth.  Just when a big promotion is within her grasp, she gets a call that one of her brothers has been in a horrific accident and she needs to come home.  He's her favorite brother, the one who was always there for her, so she goes home and has to endure the comments and misunderstandings about her choices.  In a way she comes home as a new woman, with a great figure and wonderful job, and yet she feels like she slips right back into the awkward person she was as a teenager.  She can't wait to leave because of that and because she needs to stay focused on her work but the one bright spot is an old family friend, Ryan.

Ryan grew up trying to escape his abusive home life with an alcoholic father by spending all of his free time with the Kelley family.  He has a hopeful, laid-back attitude and a more light-hearted look at life.  He's always liked Lane, but she's very different than he remembers.  She's turned into a workaholic and he's determined to show her how wonderful it can be to relax.  He also needs help with a renovation project that will hopefully boost tourism and hopes she can find the time to help him out.  He's keeping a secret that he worries will cause the end of his relationship with the Kelley family and especially Lane.

The writing is terrific and the plot wonderful.  The witty banter is great!  I loved the setting, the characters and especially the love story.  All of the characters, even the supporting ones, are interesting.  The romance is sweet.  What's not to love about a guy who fell for the girl when she was overweight and awkward? There's talk about faith and God as Ryan is a practicing Christian and Lane keeps herself distant from God.  I wished they would have had a clear conversation about where Lane stood as their relationship developed.  I could understand how she wanted to protect herself from heartbreak by keeping people and God at arm's length.  Ryan struggled with doing the right thing, especially where his father was concerned.  I was a little frustrated with him for a while.  It was also interesting seeing the woman as a workaholic instead of the man.  I liked how it was shown that you can't get your worth from your work or from things you do, but because God says you have worth.  I also liked the title's double meaning of look up from your cell phone (as Lane definitely needed to do) and also look up to God.  I really hope this turns into a series as I'd love to revisit some of the characters and especially Harbor Pointe.  I highly recommend this book!

I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers.

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His Guilt - The Amish of Hart County 2 - by Shelley Shepard Gray

About the book:

A suspenseful tale of an Amish man who will risk all to protect the woman he loves.

Mark Fisher has returned home to Hart County, determined to put the past behind him. Two years ago, after being wrongly accused of assault, he left the Amish community, though never forgot his home. When the one person who had helped him through his rough times asks for help, Mark returns. But it is pretty Waneta Cain who makes him want to stay...

Neeta is one of the few people in Hart County who doesn't believe Mark is guilty of hurting anyone. However, his worldliness and tough exterior do make her uneasy. As she begins to see the real man behind all the gossip and prejudice, she wonders if he is the man for her.

Just when Mark starts to believe a new life is possible, a close friend of Neeta's is attacked. Once again, everyone in the community seems to believe he is guilty. But what hurts most is Neeta's sudden wariness around him. When another woman is hurt, a woman who is close to both Neeta and himself, Mark fears he knows the real culprit. And time is running out. Will Mark be able to find him before Neeta becomes his next victim?

My review:

I enjoyed this story of second chances and suspense!  It was interesting to see how someone would come back from being thought guilty of a horrific crime to trying to fit in with a community again and show they were innocent.  Gossip is a terrible thing and has a life of its own and that was really shown here as Mark's constantly accused of things and looked at with suspicion because of his past. I found it surprising and frustrating how some people could be so judgmental and sure that he was guilty of everything when they had no proof and even knew he had been cleared of the past crime.  Neeta ended up losing friendships over this attitude because she stood up for him and they didn't want to hear it.  I also found it interesting to see how Mark reacted to the situation and to different relationships in his life because of his childhood and the unpredictability and neglect he suffered.  He had a hard time opening up to people and sometimes reacted in negative ways.  I was somewhat surprised by some advice his preacher gave him.  Most was good, but there was something he said that seemed out of character for a Christian.  I liked the different conversations about forgiving, not judging, second chances and looking beneath the surface.  I was really surprised that Neeta's parents, Mark and her boss weren't more worried about her biking to and from work by herself after 2 attacks and when she herself had been threatened, though I don't think she ever told her parents about that.  I also thought she was very naive about an incident that happened. I was also a little surprised at Mark for something he does at the end of the story.  Other than those instances, I really liked both her and Mark. There's talk of prayer, forgiveness and knowing God was with her.  There's a little bit of romance and some suspense.  I thought it worked well as a stand-alone, though it's book two.  I would recommend this story if you like Amish books or suspense.

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

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

  

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A Lesson in Love & Murder - Herringford & Watts Mysteries 2 - by Rachel McMillan

About the book:

From political danger to personal drama, life is about to get explosive…
The legacy of literary icon Sherlock Holmes is alive and well in 1912 Canada, where best friends Merinda Herringford and Jem Watts continue to develop their skills as consulting detectives.

The city of Toronto has been thrown into upheaval by the arrival of radical anarchist Emma Goldman. Amid this political chaos, Benny Citrone of the Royal North-West Mounted Police arrives at Merinda and Jem’s flat, requesting assistance in locating his runaway cousin—a man with a deadly talent.

While Merinda eagerly accepts the case, she finds herself constantly butting heads—and hearts—with Benny. Meanwhile, Jem has her hands full with a husband who is determined to keep her out of harm’s way.

As Merinda and Jem close in on the danger they’ve tracked from Toronto to Chicago, they uncover a sinister plot to assassinate presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt. Will they be able to save the day and resolve the troubles threatening their future happiness before it’s too late?

Independence, love, and lives are at stake in A Lesson in Love and Murder, the gripping second installment of the Herringford and Watts Mysteries series.

My review:

This was an interesting story with a fast pace.  From trolley bombings to a new love interest for Merinda, from tracking a dangerous man to saving a future president, there wasn't a dull moment!  I really liked Benny; it was interesting getting his perspective of the girls and seeing how his background as a Mountie influenced his choices.  I liked that this story traveled around more and I always loved the witty banter.  I was frustrated a bit with Ray and his sister for some choices they made and things they said.  Reality also intruded on Ray and Jem's marriage as he had to deal with worry over her investigating crimes, their busy schedules making them ships in the night and money being tighter than usual.  There's a little bit of romance and a lot of action.  There's not much spiritual content but there was an interesting conversation between Jem and Merinda.  It was also interesting to learn more about Roosevelt and to discover Goldman.  I love history!  This story works best as a continuation of book one instead of being read as a stand-alone.  I would recommend it if you like mysteries that are unique!

I received this book free from Harvest House Publishers.

Meet the author:

Rachel McMillan

Rachel McMillan is a keen history enthusiast and a lifelong bibliophile. When not writing or reading, she can most often be found drinking tea and watching British miniseries. Rachel lives in bustling Toronto, where she works in educational publishing and pursues her passion for art, literature, music, and theater.

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Naomi's Hope - Journey to Pleasant Prairie 3 - Jan Drexler

About the book:

When the future is threatened by the past, can she trust herself to make the right choice?
Despite growing pains in her 1846 Amish community in Indiana, Naomi Schrock has settled into a comfortable life in her parents' home with her adopted son, Davey. Surrounded by family and friends, she tries not to think about the fact that she's not at the top of any man's list of potential wives. Yet when Cap Stoltzfus moves into the area and befriends Davey, Naomi finds herself caught between the plans she has made for her future and the tantalizing thought that Cap might be part of a life she never dared to hope for.

When a couple shows up claiming to be Davey's true family, Naomi and Cap must unite to make the decision that will determine the boy's future--as well as their own.

My review:

I really enjoyed this well-written story!  I liked Naomi and felt for her lack of self-confidence due to a physical issue.  It was nice to see a character who wasn't portrayed as perfect.  I also felt that she was very relatable in that she had a hard time forgiving.  I think that's a hard issue for a lot of people to overcome.  Cap was such a great guy.  He really looked at Naomi's heart and took Davey under his wing and yet he wasn't afraid to say the hard things to Naomi when she needed to hear some truth or to be strict with Davey.  It was wonderful to see both Cap and Naomi's transformations from someone who doesn't think God cares to someone who knows He does, from thinking He wants rule followers to knowing He wants your heart.  I especially liked the part where Cap compared Naomi being a mother to God being a father and that He cares about what we're doing, if we're safe or happy, even what we had for breakfast!  I liked that the gospel was spelled out simply and clearly.  There were some good discussions about suffering and God's goodness.  I was a little surprised that Cap first was going to obey God in something, then changed his mind.  I was very frustrated with a character who showed up to cause some issues in the community and especially for Cap.  It's hard to fathom someone who's deliberately evil like that, especially when he's supposed to be a man of God.  He's also part of the reason it was hard to stop reading, though, because I wanted to find out what he would do next.  I'm always amazed when I read Amish books to see their commitment to non-resistance.  It really takes a lot of determination and trust in God to not fight back and I admire that, even if I don't always agree.  There was a bit of romance.  This worked well as a stand-alone, though it's book three, and it was nice to see characters from the first two books.  I'd definitely recommend this book if you like Amish stories as it's one of the better ones I've read.

I received this book from Revell free to review.

 Jan Drexler brings a unique understanding of Amish traditions and beliefs to her writing. Her ancestors were among the first Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and their experiences are the inspiration for her stories. Jan lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband of thirty-five years. She is the author of The Prodigal Son Returns, A Mother for His Children (winner of the 2013 TARA award), and A Home for His Family (finalist for the 2016 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award), as well as Hannah's Choice and Mattie's Pledge.

The Captain's Daughter - London Beginnings 1 - by Jennifer Delamere

About the book:

Warm-hearted Victorian romance brings 1880s London to life.

When a series of circumstances beyond her control leave Rosalyn Bernay alone and penniless in London, she chances upon a job backstage at a theater that is presenting the most popular show in London. A talented musician and singer, she feels immediately at home and soon becomes enthralled with the idea of pursuing a career on the stage.

A hand injury during a skirmish in India has forced Nate Moran out of the army until he recovers. Filling his time at a stable of horses for hire in London, he has also spent the past two months working nights as a stagehand, filling in for his injured brother. Although he's glad he can help his family through a tough time, he is counting the days until he can rejoin his regiment. London holds bitter memories for him that he is anxious to escape. But then he meets the beautiful woman who has found a new lease on life in the very place Nate can't wait to leave behind.

My review:

I really enjoyed this book about the theater world in 1880's London, a subject I wasn't very familiar with.  Acting then was considered a somewhat scandalous profession and it was interesting to see how people reacted to actors and what being backstage was really like.  It was fun to have Gilbert and Sullivan, the duo who brought us "the Pirates of Penzance," in the story and to see them introducing this operetta.  I also liked that there was so much music in the book; it just made for more of a light and joyful ambiance to the story.  I liked Rosalyn but felt a little frustrated at first with the situation she finds herself in and felt she could have done something to prevent or fix it.  She's also more of a naive girl so I felt apprehensive for her in different situations.  There's some romance with a bit of a love triangle.  It was interesting learning more about George Muller's orphanage and what it would have been like to grow up there.  Nate was an honorable, caring man who tried to watch out for Rosalyn, even when she was a stranger.  He felt a deep responsibility for his family and the men he served with, which was why he felt so guilty for a past mistake.  He struggled between doing what he felt was his duty and being drawn to Rosalyn as he felt he couldn't have both.  There's a little talk of faith as most of the main characters are Christians and live out their faith.  I would definitely recommend this well-written story!

I received this book from Litfuse Publicity free to review.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:

Jennifer Delamere's debut Victorian romance, "An Heiress at Heart," was a 2013 RITA award finalist in the inspirational category. Her follow-up novel, "A Lady Most Lovely," received a starred review from "Publishers Weekly" and the Maggie Award for Excellence from Georgia Romance Writers. Jennifer earned a BA in English from McGill University in Montreal, where she became fluent in French and developed an abiding passion for winter sports. She's been an editor of nonfiction and educational materials for nearly two decades, and lives in North Carolina with her husband.

Find out more about Jennifer at jenniferdelamere.com.