Beautiful! 'Cross My Heart' - Legacy of Faith 2 - by Robin Lee Hatcher

About the book:

Two broken paths lead toward God’s redemption in the next installment of Robin Lee Hatcher’s Legacy of Faith series.

Ashley Showalter and Ben Henning have so much in common. Both were raised by single moms. Both want to help where they see a need. And both work with horses in the Boise valley. Ashley runs a horse rescue operation, while Ben has started an equine therapy barn on his great-great grandfather’s farm—and both Ashley and Ben have the feeling that there could be something more between them.

But they share something else that may drive them apart if the truth is ever revealed. Ben is a recovering alcoholic with ten years of sobriety behind him, while Ashley’s brother, Dylan, is an opioid addict, currently residing in court-ordered rehab. Ashley has promised herself she would never walk knowingly into the chaos created by addiction—because in her mind, addicts can never be fully cured. But with God, all things are possible. Will Ashley find it within herself to give love a chance, or will her brother’s mistakes jeopardize her future with Ben?

My review:

This book was wonderful!  I loved seeing how Ben put into practice what he felt God wanted him to do, by opening an equine therapy barn and also working with rescue horses.  He was such a wonderful character, so generous and loving, even to people who didn't deserve it.  I also loved how patient he was with Ashley, wanting what was best for her even if that didn't end up being him.  His relationship with his grandfather was wonderful to see, also, and I loved how wise his grandfather was.  Ashley had a lot of issues to work through because of her brother and it was interesting to see her faith grow throughout the story.  I feel like I was encouraged in my faith as I read this book and prayed right along with Ashley about some things I'd been dealing with.  It was interesting learning about equine therapy and horse rescue; it's not a topic I see often in fiction.  I also liked that this book dealt with addiction, both from a character who was in the midst of it and one who had come out the other side stronger.  I also loved the split time element as the story of Ben's great-great grandpa was continued from the first book, this time set during World War II, as Ben's great-grandpa goes off to war and his family is left at home to grow food for others and pray for his safe return.  The Godly wisdom shared was wonderful as the men in both time periods had such strong faith and really read their Bibles, prayed and spent time with God.   This book works as a stand-alone but I recommend you read the first book as that was wonderful as well.  I highly recommend this book and can't wait for the next!

I received this book from the author.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Fascinating! 'No Ocean Too Wide' - McAlister Family 1 - by Carrie Turansky

About the book:

Between the years of 1869 to 1939 more than 100,000 poor British children were sent across the ocean to Canada with the promise of a better life. Those who took them in to work as farm laborers or household servants were told they were orphans–but was that the truth?

After the tragic loss of their father, the McAlister family is living at the edge of the poorhouse in London in 1908, leaving their mother to scrape by for her three younger children, while oldest daughter, Laura, works on a large estate more than an hour away. When Edna McAlister falls gravely ill and is hospitalized, twins Katie and Garth and eight-year-old Grace are forced into an orphans’ home before Laura is notified about her family’s unfortunate turn of events in London. With hundreds of British children sent on ships to Canada, whether truly orphans or not, Laura knows she must act quickly. But finding her siblings and taking care of her family may cost her everything.

Andrew Fraser, a wealthy young British lawyer and heir to the estate where Laura is in service, discovers that this common practice of finding new homes for penniless children might not be all that it seems. Together Laura and Andrew form an unlikely partnership. Will they arrive in time? Will their friendship blossom into something more?

Inspired by true events, this moving novel follows Laura as she seeks to reunite her family and her siblings who, in their darkest hours, must cling to the words from Isaiah: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God”.

My review:

It was fascinating to learn about this huge emigration of children that I had never knew about.  It was also heartbreaking to see what some of these children went through and I found myself getting very angry at some of the people running this operation.  To deny family members access and try to keep them apart, all in the name of what seemed to be money or possibly some misguided sense of helpfulness, was just horrible.  I really admired Laura and her determination to find her siblings, no matter how many closed doors she came up against.  I was also horrified at how women and children could be treated and didn't seem to have any recourse.  I was a little surprised by how naive and condescending Andrew could be at times but I suppose that was due to his background; I liked that he was quick to apologize when he realized he was wrong.  The main characters all had a strong faith and I liked seeing how they depended on God to get through their trials.  There was a little bit of romance.  I would recommend this story if you like historical fiction and I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book!

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Wonderful! 'Tate' - Montana Marshalls 2 - Susan May Warren

About the book:

Bodyguard Tate Marshall, has always been the family troublemaker…

Maybe it’s his propensity to get entangled in other people’s problems. Now, he’s in over his head because he’s desperately in love with the woman he’s tasked to protect, the beautiful Gloria, “Glo” Jackson, daughter of US Senator and presidential hopeful Reba Jackson. A member of the country band, the Yankee Belles, Glo was targeted in a recent terrorist attack designed to deter her mother from running, and Tate will do anything to keep her safe. Even if it means letting her go.

Country music artist Glo Jackson isn’t afraid of trouble…

Stubborn and brave, Glo isn’t about to hide from threats, at least the kind that won’t cost her heart. She’s already paid a terrible price for the war on terror, and she refuses to fall for a man who might die, especially because of her. Better to keep him away, even if it means sacrificing her heart.

But when danger threatens them both, what will they sacrifice to keep each other safe?

As the presidential campaign heats up and the threats deepen, so does the attraction between Tate and Glo. But what will it cost Tate to keep her alive? And what will Glo do to keep from losing another man she loves?

The gripping second installment of the Montana Marshalls series. 

My review:

Well, Susan May Warren has done it again! This book was hard to put down! I loved the Marshall men and it was great getting to know not just Tate better but also getting started on Ford's story. It was like reading two romance stories in one! There were some amazing romantic moments. Susan definitely knows how to write a kiss! There was also some great action as Tate is trying to protect Glo from multiple threats as her bodyguard. Tate was amazing and while does have some baggage, he was incredibly brave and loved Glo for who she was. I got a little frustrated with Glo as she was so scared of losing someone again that she made some dumb choices. I was also annoyed with how she handled Sloan, another guy interested in her, and her mother, though I understood that a little more with the background to their relationship. There was some talk about God as a Marshall brother and Glo's friend tried to explain how God loves us and we don't have to do anything to earn it. Neither of the main characters are Christians and I liked the uniqueness for a Christian novel as usually the main characters are. I can't wait for the next book! I highly recommend it!

I received a copy of this ebook from Just Read Tours. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.


PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Christian Book

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy and RITA award-winning novelist of over sixty-five novels. An eight-time Christy award finalist, a three-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.

A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: The Story Equation.

She is also the founder of MyBookTherapy.com, and Novel.Academy, a school for aspiring novelists.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Knox & Tate, plus 2 CDs - Kelsea Ballerini (Unapologetically) and Brett Young (Ticket to LA)

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 10, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on June 17, 2019. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.

 Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Amazing! ' The Number of Love - The Codebreakers 1 - by Roseanna M. White

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White with JustRead Publicity Tours! Follow along with the tour for a special inside peek at how The Number of Love is connected to the author's previous book from another series, A Song Unheard.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Number of Love Series: Codebreakers #1 Author: Roseanna M. White Publisher: Bethany House Release Date: June 4, 2019 Genre: Historical
Fiction/Romance/Intrigue

Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network—field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough. Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy that just won’t give up. He’s smitten quickly by the too-intelligent Margot, but how to convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life’s answers lie in the heart? Amidst biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them, but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save them all from the very secrets that brought them together.

My review:

This book was just incredible!  I could not put it down!  I found it fascinating to see the inner workings of a woman so gifted and also a little different from the rest of the world.  I admired her a lot, from her intelligence to her wit to her determination.  She could be very amusing when she wanted to be and yet could also be incredibly impulsive if she was angry enough.  I loved Drake and his patience and understanding with Margot and his support for her dreams.  Knowing that loving Margot would be incredibly challenging, he still pursued her and it was touching to watch how sweet he was with her.  He was incredibly brave and I liked seeing his strong faith.  He was a man of prayer!  I liked the uniqueness of Margot's faith, where she saw equations that made sense and she took that as God telling her to do something or equations that didn't, meant she shouldn't.  After a tragedy, she started to question God and struggled more with trusting Him and I liked seeing her faith journey.  Their banter was such fun!  There were also a few sweet romantic moments. I liked the action and excitement of World War I as I haven't read many books set during this time period but I definitely plan on reading some of her others I've missed.  This worked well as a stand-alone but there were actually characters here from her previous series, Shadows Over England, and it was fun to see them pop in.  I highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction!

I received this book from Just Read Tours.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | ChristianBook

Title: A Song Unheard Series: Shadows Over England #2 Author: Roseanna M. White Publisher: Bethany House Release Date: January 2, 2018 Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Intrigue

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which make her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales. Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won—until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is in meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe. But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | ChristianBook

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books...to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.

CONNECT WITH ROSEANNA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

Grand Prize: Shadows Over England series, The Number of Love, and the Decrypto board game, plus "Mi Alma" necklace (Necklace is 24" chain with a 1" pendant that says "Mi Alma" Spanish for "My Soul". A term of endearment used throughout the book. Handmade by Bookworm Mama)

(3) additional winners of The Number of Love.

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 3, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm June 17, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

A Delight! 'It's a Love Story' - by Lincee Ray

About the book:

We all love to be loved. And we love to fall in love. As children, we pour our love into our pets and our friends. As teenagers, we fall in love with musicians and actors and the boy whose locker is next to ours. As we mature, we long for romantic love that will last a lifetime. Sacrificial love, unexplainable love, familial love, desperate love. Love songs and love stories. Clearly, we were created with the longing for love ingrained in our souls.

With lots of wit and a bit of wisdom drawn from a lifetime of falling in love, Lincee Ray invites you to an unabashed celebration of that loving feeling. As she reveals the loves of her life and encourages you to recall your own, you'll discover alongside her that there is only One who can ever truly fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts. And He made us to be part of a divine love story.

My review:

This book was so fun!  I loved going along with her as she traveled down memory lane, remembering crushes and favorite songs and incredibly embarrassing moments!  Her chapter on some of her favorite romantic comedies was wonderful and I totally agree that Hollywood needs to step it up and make some good romantic comedies again!  I'm also obsessed with Hallmark Christmas movies and really Hallmark movies in general so her ideas for possible Christmas movies were hilarious but I think also doable.  I loved the breakup stories; there are truly some awful, rude, weird people out there.  Her stories about serving in Africa and Cuba were inspiring and I could relate to her visit to the Holy Land as I visited there a couple years ago and it was truly incredible!  Most of all, I liked her reminder that we were made for love, specifically God's love, and we'll only be fulfilled in Him.  I highly recommend this book if you like hilarity and books about some of your favorite things!

I received this book from Revell.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

           The Author

1. 

   Lacey Taylor

   Lincee Ray

   Lincee Ray is the author of Why I Hate Green Beans and an accidental blogging superstar who now writes for Entertainment Weekly online and the Associated Press. An active speaker and pop culture podcaster, she can be found at her popular website...
   

   Continue reading about Lincee Ray 

Fascinating! 'Confronting Old Testament Controversies' - by Tremper Longman III

About the book:

The Old Testament is rife with controversial passages and events that raise questions about its continued significance for today. Often our solutions have tended toward the extremes--ignore problem passages and pretend they don't matter or obsess over them and treat them as though they are the only thing that matters. Now Old Testament scholar Tremper Longman confronts pressing questions of concern to modern audiences, particularly young people in the church:

· the creation/evolution debate
· human sexuality
· the historicity of people, places, and events
· God-ordained violence

Pastors, leaders in the church, and thoughtful and troubled Christians in the pews will find here a well-reasoned and faithful approach to dealing with the Old Testament passages so many find challenging or disconcerting.

My review:

This book was incredibly fascinating!  There were some stances he took that I completely agreed with and some I wasn't sure what I thought.  He explained the different viewpoints of scholars from books they had written and what points he agreed and disagreed with.  I liked the respect he showed for the other scholars while he was pointing out flaws in their arguments.  He said he was friends with many of them and he agreed with them on most things, just not on everything.  He also pointed out that while these were interesting things to think about, salvation was the most important thing.  He also had a deep respect for the Bible as God's Word and treating it as such.

I found the history and divine violence sections the most interesting as I love history and archaeology and found it fascinating that scholars recently have been questioning whether the exodus and conquest even happened.  He also made some great arguments about God's purpose for violence in the Old Testament and pointed out Paul Copan's comment that warfare was about sin, not about ethnicity.  He also admitted that he doesn't have it all worked out himself and still struggles with some parts of the violence aspect.  He looked at the implications for us today on what we believe about the different topics.  There were also some great indexes in the back of the book where you can look up topics by author, subject and Scripture.  I highly recommend this book if you've ever struggled with questions on these topics as this book will make you think and hopefully come to some conclusions!

I received this book from Baker Books.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Tremper Longman III (PhD, Yale University) is Distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Before coming to Westmont, he taught at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia for eighteen years. He has authored or coauthored more than thirty books, including An Introduction to the Old Testament, How to Read Proverbs, The Lost World of the Flood, and commentaries on Genesis, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Jeremiah and Lamentations, and Daniel.

Character Spotlight 'A Song Unheard' - Shadows Over England 2 - by Roseanna M. White

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White with JustRead Publicity Tours! Follow along with the tour for a special inside peek at how The Number of Love is connected to the author's previous book from another series, A Song Unheard.  My review of The Number of Love will be posted next week!  Read below for a spotlight on A Song Unheard.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Number of Love
Series: Codebreakers #1
Author: Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: June 4, 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Intrigue

 Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network—field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough. Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy that just won’t give up. He’s smitten quickly by the too-intelligent Margot, but how to convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life’s answers lie in the heart? Amidst biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them, but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save them all from the very secrets that brought them together.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | ChristianBook

ABOUT THE BOOK:

     
Title: A Song Unheard
Series: Shadows Over England #2 
Author: Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: January 2, 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Intrigue

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which make her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales. Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won—until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is in meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe. But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

Character Spotlight

I just loved Willa!  She's an incredibly strong woman who's learned how to survive on the streets of London with the family she's created for herself.  This group of young adults and children take care of each other and are fiercely loyal to each other, sometimes at a cost to themselves.  She's also very discerning and can see beneath the surface to what a person's thinking or what they might be hiding.  She's always watching and noticing things.  She's had to in order to make it this far in life.  She knows not to trust easily and can be a little too cynical, though I'm sure she would disagree with that assessment!  She's not taken in by handsome looks or charming ways and I had to laugh as she decided to take Mr. De Wilde down a peg.  I knew we'd be in for a fun ride!  She has a vulnerable side, too, as she worries she'll be found out that she's moving in social circles above her own and that she's not who she pretends to be.  She's a quick thinker and life with her would never be boring!

I received this book from Just Read Tours.  I was not compensated for this spotlight.  All opinions are my own.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | ChristianBook

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books...to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.

  CONNECT WITH ROSEANNA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

Grand Prize: Shadows Over England series, The Number of Love, and the Decrypto board game, plus "Mi Alma" necklace (Necklace is 24" chain with a 1" pendant that says "Mi Alma" Spanish for "My Soul". A term of endearment used throughout the book. Handmade by Bookworm Mama)

(3) additional winners of The Number of Love.

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 3, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm June 17, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!