Captivating! The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey - Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace - by Carolyn Miller

Tainted by scandal and forced to leave London for the quieter Brighton countryside, the Honorable Miss Clara DeLancey is a shadow of her former society self. She's lost the man she loved to another and, in a culture that has no patience for self-pity, is struggling with depression. A chance encounter brings her a healing friendship with the sisters of an injured naval captain. But Clara's society mama is appalled at the new company she's keeping.

Captain Benjamin Kemsley is not looking for a wife. But his gallant spirit won't let him ignore the penniless viscount's daughter--not when she so obviously needs assistance to keep moving forward from day to day. Can he protect his heart and still keep her safe?

When they're pushed into the highest echelons of society at the Prince Regent's Brighton Pavilion, this mismatched couple must decide if family honor is more important than their hopes. Can they right the wrongs of the past and find future happiness together--without finances, family support, or royal favor?

The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey is full of the captivating, flawed characters, fascinating historical details, and masterful writing that Carolyn Miller's fans have come to know in The Elusive Miss Ellison and The Captivating Lady Charlotte. If you love Lori Wick, Georgette Heyer, and other clean, wholesome Regency romance, you'll love this third book in the Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace series.

My review:

This was another wonderful story I did not want to put down!  The characters were wonderful; I loved seeing the change in Clara as she learned more about faith and forgiveness after meeting Ben's sisters.  She was in the previous books as somewhat of a troublemaker and I enjoyed seeing the transformation.  It was hard to see a woman feel so rejected by a man that she struggled with depression and such strong feelings of unworthiness.  I liked that she turned to God for her true worth and chose to believe in God's love over her feelings.  Ben had such strong character and I just loved how he looked out for his sisters and other people.  I also enjoyed his sense of humor and bravery.  I think he was my favorite character.  Ben and his sisters also had a very strong faith and they lived it so Clara noticed their lives were different.  I also liked that it was shown how important our thoughts are; when Clara focused on feeling unworthy and rejected and negative, she felt worse and worse but when she focused on God loving her and forgiveness and blessing others, her outlook improved a lot.  I can't imagine how hard it would have been to be among the higher classes, where it seemed like you were watched so closely and judged for everything.  There were wonderful romantic moments.  There was also some exciting and suspenseful ones.  I highly recommend this book and the whole series!

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

Fascinating Read! My Review of 'Many Sparrows' - by Lori Benton

 About the book:

Either she and her children would emerge from that wilderness together, or none of them would. . . .

In 1774, the Ohio-Kentucky frontier pulses with rising tension and brutal conflicts as Colonists push westward and encroach upon Native American territories. The young Inglesby family is making the perilous journey west when an accident sends Philip back to Redstone Fort for help, forcing him to leave his pregnant wife Clare and their four-year old son Jacob on a remote mountain trail.

When Philip does not return and Jacob disappears from the wagon under the cover of darkness, Clare awakens the next morning to find herself utterly alone, in labor and wondering how she can to recover her son . . . especially when her second child is moments away from being born.

Clare will face the greatest fight of her life, as she struggles to reclaim her son from the Shawnee Indians now holding him captive. But with the battle lines sharply drawn, Jacob's life might not be the only one at stake. When frontiersman Jeremiah Ring comes to her aid, can the stranger convince Clare that recovering her son will require the very thing her anguished heart is unwilling to do-be still, wait and let God fight this battle for them?

My review:

This book was such a fascinating read!  I didn't want to put it down!  I loved the characters; Jeremiah was such an honorable guy and it was amazing all he did for Clare.  He was put in an incredibly tough situation.  I liked Clare, too, and I think she might be the most stubborn character to ever appear in a book!  There was such an incredible message about learning to trust God and letting Him fight your battles for you instead of you trying to fix everything on your own.  Clare, especially, had a hard time understanding how God could work these circumstances for good.  I liked, too, that Clare struggled with depending too much on a person instead of God and had to learn to cast her care on Him.  I think one of the themes was that only God can make us whole; no person can do that for us.  The writing was wonderful and the scenes just came alive.  I could picture so well the time period and the setting.  The secondary characters were fascinating, too, and Benton interwove the characters and the history together so well.  I especially liked Wildcat, a boy who befriends Clare in the Shawnee village, and Wolf-Alone, Jeremiah's adopted brother with a mysterious past.  They both appeared in one of her other books.  There's some romance and some fighting and also some hard truths about the culture and the times, such as characters were scalped and there were horrible tragedies mentioned.  I found parts of the book sad but it didn't dwell on that and ultimately, I felt reassured and reminded that God's in control.  I loved this book and I highly recommend it!

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

More reviews here.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:

Lori Benton was raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American history going back three hundred years. Her novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history. When she isn't writing, reading, or researching, Lori enjoys exploring and photographing the Oregon wilderness with her husband. She is the author of "Burning Sky," recipient of three Christy Awards, "The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn," Christy-nominee "The Wood's Edge," and "A Flight of Arrows."

Find out more about Lori at http://loribenton.blogspot.com.

  

The Proving - by Beverly Lewis

About the book:

"Mandy, you are to inherit the farmhouse, including the business of the inn."

She could scarcely find her voice to respond. "Ach, this must be a mistake," she told him, shaking her head as she talked into the phone, feeling befuddled. "The house . . . and everything related to the inn . . . shouldn't that go to Arie Mae?"

After five years as an Englisher, Amanda Dienner is shocked to learn her mother has passed away and left her Lancaster County's most popular Amish bed-and-breakfast. What's more, the inn will only truly be hers if Mandy can successfully run it for twelve months. Reluctantly, Mandy accepts the challenge, no matter that it means facing the family she left behind--or that the inn's clientele expect an Amish hostess! Can Mandy fulfill the terms of her inheritance? Or will this prove a dreadful mistake?

My review:

I enjoyed this interesting story about the power of forgiveness and second chances!  I admired Mandy's determination as she made a go of running the inn, even when she was trying to do it herself.  I was surprised that Mandy and Arie Mae didn't clear the air sooner and that everything remained so up in the air regarding the whole situation but it did make for a more interesting plot.  I wasn't sure which way it'd really go.  When the whole story finally came out, I could understand why Mandy was so angry and I couldn't believe her mother had said what she did 5 years ago that caused her to leave.  I totally understand why she felt she was owed an apology.  I liked the subplot about the Englisher, Trina, and how she came to the inn through a mistake.  She had a very direct and somewhat abrasive personality, though she didn't know it!  It's funny how you can say things and mean them one way and someone else can take it a completely different way.  It was just a good reminder to choose your words carefully and always try to use life-giving words.  I liked how they both had a strong faith and yet both needed encouragement and a little push in the right direction from each other.  The whole situation really showed how God worked everything out for their good and that He had a plan all along, even though they couldn't see how it would work out.  There was some romance and a gorgeous rural setting where butterflies flocked every year.  I recommend it if you like Amish stories!

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

 The Author

1. 

   Photo courtesy of Aimee Christenson

   Beverly Lewis

   Beverly Lewis (www.beverlylewis.com), born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 17 million books in print. Her stories have been published in twelve languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including the New...
   
   

   Continue reading about Beverly Lewis 

Fascinating! My Review of 'Raging Storm'

About the book:

In the Darkness,
Anarchy Awakens

When a massive solar flare wiped out all modern technology across the globe, the small town of Abney, Texas, was thrown into chaos. Shelby Sparks and her teenage son, Carter, have found refuge, but Shelby knows she can’t simply remain hidden. Carter is a type 1 diabetic in need of insulin—and Shelby will risk her life traveling to Austin to make sure he gets it.

Shelby’s best friend and high school sweetheart, Max Berkman, won’t even consider letting her make the perilous journey alone. Together, they manage to reach the capital—only to discover that while things are desperate in Abney, Austin has turned into an urban nightmare on the brink of anarchy.

Shelby and Max’s search for medical supplies will lead them into terrifying territory, where the only thing more uncertain than finding what they need is the hope of making it out of the city alive.
* * *

In this second book in an eerily plausible, action-packed dystopian series, survival will be threatened and faith will be put to the ultimate test as a raging storm engulfs America.

My review:

I absolutely loved this book!  It was fascinating to go along with the characters as they ventured out of their somewhat safe town into a complete unknown.  There was tons of action and suspense as you never knew what was going to happen next and as they came into contact with increasingly desperate people.  There was a little bit of romance and some talk of faith and prayer as they tried to have hope and faith that God would see them through their difficult circumstances.  I loved the different points of view so we're able to see what Shelby and Max are each experiencing and what they're thinking, along with Shelby's son, Carter.  I really enjoyed seeing him grow and change and he got into quite a few situations himself as he stayed back at the ranch with Max's parents.  I liked all of the characters overall, but there were a couple situations where Max and Shelby's behavior really frustrated me, so they definitely weren't perfect characters!  There were quite a few twists and not everyone was what they seemed.  There were also some handy emergency preparedness lists in the back, from what to keep in your car to how to build a greenhouse.  I can't recommend this series enough if you like this type of story.  I can't wait for the next one!

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

Meet the author

Vannetta Chapman

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace, including romantic suspense and Amish romance novels. Chapman was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full-time. She lives in the Texas Hill Country with her husband, pets, and a herd of deer.  

Read More >

Wonderful Story! My Review of 'Bringing Maggie Home' - by Kim Vogel Sawyer

About the book:

Decades of loss, an unsolved mystery, and a rift spanning three generations

Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears.

Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can't understand her mother's overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother's inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan-a cold case agent-cherishes her grandmother's lavish attention and affection.

When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel's painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that's been lost?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

My review:

This was such a wonderful story!  I didn't want to put it down; it completely fascinated me.  I loved the characters.  I felt for Meghan and her being stuck in the middle.  I loved that we got all three perspectives and it's still amazing to me how things can get so misinterpreted because of our past experiences or prejudices.  A completely innocent comment can feel like a harsh criticism.  The emotional journey of all three was just as fascinating as the investigation.  I also loved the scenes from the past as we get some insight into their backgrounds and their influences.  The grandmother was so sweet and I can't imagine living with so much guilt for so many years, not to mention never knowing what had happened to her sister.  I really admired her strong faith, along with Meghan's partner's at the police force.  There were some great conversations about faith, including suffering and a very clear presentation of the gospel, as Meghan wasn't a believer.  It was interesting to see things from an unbelievers's perspective.  There's a hint of romance.  Meghan works with cold cases and it was fascinating to see some of their investigation as they tried to track down what happened to Maggie.  This book was just a well-written, fascinating story!  I highly recommend it!

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

More Reviews Here!   

About the author:

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a highly acclaimed, best-selling author with more than one million books in print, in several different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband Don, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope and redemption. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and grandchildren.

Find out more about Kim at http://www.kimvogelsawyer.com/.

 
 

Wonderful Debut! My Review of 'If We Make It Home' - by Christina Suzann Nelson

About the book:

An exciting story of survival and spiritual renewal!

When four college friends graduated from the University of Northwest Oregon, their lives stretched before them, full of promise and vows to stay connected. But life has a way of derailing well-laid plans.

Now they haven't spoken in twenty-five years. But against all odds, three of them have found themselves back in the same place--at their alma mater, wondering how they got there. When they discover their fourth friend, Hope, has died, Jenna, Ireland, and Vicky decide to embark on a wilderness adventure to honor her memory--and for secret reasons of their own. Jenna wants to show her husband that she's more than a helpless, overweight, middle-aged empty nester. Ireland wants to get back to the nature she loves and hide from the charges being pressed against her. And Vicky wants to show she cares for something besides her ministry--and put off the disaster waiting at home for as long as possible.

They never bargained for the dangers they face in an unforgiving wilderness. Now they'll have to work together if they hope to make it home alive. While the three women fight to survive the elements, their toughest battles may be with themselves.       

My review:

I absolutely loved this book!  I was on the edge of my seat as the women end up in one bad situation after another.  It felt very believable as none of them really knew what they were doing and it showed!  It was also fascinating to see how they reconnected after all those years apart  and finally showed their true selves and shared their struggles with each other.  Each woman was in a very different place yet all struggled with knowing what their purpose should be and felt like they wanted to run away from their normal lives.  It was especially interesting to see how Ireland survived as she was a vegan.  The story switches back and forth between the three women and are told from the first person so you really get the inside scoop of what they're thinking.  The spiritual message was great as each woman had different struggles there, too.  Ireland had walked away from her faith years ago, Vicky was trying to be perfect and earn her way to Heaven and Jenna felt like she had to be needed to have worth.  There's nothing like a trip to the wilderness to realize you can't make it on your own and that you need to depend on God!  I enjoyed the humor and the writing was wonderful!  I'm definitely going to be watching for her future books.  I highly recommend this book if you like survival stories or just a fascinating well-written book!

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

Review & Giveaway of 'The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise' - by Ta'mara Hanscom

Set in South Dakota in 1975, where eighteen-year-olds could order 3.2 beer in a bar, and loaded guns were kept under the counter.

Frankie Valli sang "My Eyes Adored You," and American soldiers returning from Vietnam struggled with their new reality.

It's within this tumultuous season of American history that Tillie Caselli meets Noah Hansen, and they are never the same again. Their lives were mysteriously intertwined-and had been for many years-yet they had no idea. 

From the moment they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but a deliberate omission will keep them apart---and that same omission will be responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride's deception.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

My review:

This was an interesting story that wasn't what I expected.  I liked Tillie and Noah a lot and was especially impressed with the change in Noah.  However, I was a little confused by the description above.  There was no murder or bride's deception in this book and I can only assume it must happen in a later book.  The story doesn't conclude and while I knew there were more books, I thought there would be more of an ending.  It sounds like there's five books in the series about the Caselli family, so this is much more of an epic story than I realized.  While the story started off strong, I kept waiting for more to happen so it felt slower to me.  I was also a little confused about one of Tillie's siblings and the allusion to his wife having gone missing for years before they married.  That's not really explained so I felt like I was missing something.  I was pretty frustrated with Tillie's parents and a choice they made and continued to make.  I did like the strong Christian message as the gospel was explained well and there was much talk of faith, prayer, remaining pure and waiting for a knight rather than a blackguard.  I also liked the strong sense of Italian culture as there's plenty of talk about food and family.  I also loved Tillie's brothers and how they were so protective and loving toward her.  You might want to check it out if you like romance with a strong Christian message!

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

About the author:

Born and raised in South Dakota, Ta`Mara loves to write about the Great Plains and the beauty and people of Italia. While her husband and children manage their two pizza ristoranti, Ta`Mara works full time on The Caselli Family Series, and ministers to women. It is Ta`Mara s prayer that as the readers explore the truths in these volumes, they will come away with a new perspective on love, forgiveness, obedience, and God's plan for marriage

Find out more about Ta'Mara at https://www.tamarahanscombooks.com.

 

Despite just meeting each other, Tillie and Noah's lives have been mysteriously intertwined for many years in Ta'Mara Hanscom's The Pretender. From the moment they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but a deliberate omission will keep them apart-and that same omission will be responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride's deception.

Join Ta'Mara in celebrating the release of the second printing and new covers by entering to win her $75 prize basket giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The Pretender
• A $75 Amazon gift card
• A decorative box containing measuring cups, ten recipes from the book, a potholder, a kitchen towel, pepper and salt grinders, kitchen utensils, and an olive oil dispenser

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on October 11. The winner will be announced October 12 on the Litfuse blog.

The Day the Angels Fell - by Shawn Smucker

About the book:

It was the summer of storms and strays and strangers. The summer that lightning struck the big oak tree in the front yard. The summer his mother died in a tragic accident--and young Samuel Chambers would have done anything to turn back time. Even today, he can hardly believe it all happened . . .

Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and the surfacing of his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Sam begins his search for the Tree of Life--the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back.

His quest to defeat death will entangle him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict, forcing Sam to grapple with an unwelcome question.

Could it be possible that death is a gift?

My review:

This was an interesting book that keeps you guessing!  There was some suspense, some mystery and some grief as Sam and his father deal with the loss of his mother.  I liked the characters fine but I felt a little frustrated with Sam and his choices.  I could understand his wanting to get his mother back but at what cost?  I wanted a little more redemption for him at the end than there was.  I liked the back and forth of modern-day Sam as he remembers what happened in his childhood; most of the story is told from his young self.  There was a good portrayal of good and evil.  The creation story is told and then there's a little bit of a continuation of it and a twist.  Overall, the message was that death is just a passage, not a destination and that there's ultimately hope for Sam to see his mother again.  It also makes you think about how horrible living forever would be, watching your loved ones die and never getting to go to Heaven.  It was a little hard for me to stay interested in the story.  It was a little slow and I didn't feel that invested in the characters.  It looks like the story will continue on as we learn more about Abra's adventures next summer.  It sounds intriguing and I might check it out.  If you like unusual stories, you might want to check it out.

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

 The Author

1. 

   Shawn Smucker

   Shawn Smucker lives with his wife and six children in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Day the Angels Fell is his first novel. You can find him online at www.shawnsmucker.com, where you can also sign up for his newsletter.
   

   Continue reading about Shawn Smucker 

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