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Sarah Sundin’s ‘Through Waters Deep’ and Anchors Aweigh Giveaway + Review!

About the book:
Through Waters Deep (Revell, August 2015)

It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war.

Outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. Back on shore, Boston Navy Yard secretary Mary Stirling does her work quietly and efficiently, happy to be out of the limelight. Yet, despite her reserved nature, she never could back down from a challenge. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges---and dangers---await them.

Sarah Sundin takes readers to the tense months before the US entered WWII. Readers will encounter German U-boats and torpedoes, along with the explosive power of true love, in this hopeful and romantic story.

My review:

This was another wonderful story by Sarah Sundin!  I absolutely loved the plot, from the mystery and suspense to the sweet love story.  The fact that Mary and Jim knew each other in high school and that Jim had been infatuated with her best friend was a great back story.  It was interesting to see them get to know each other for themselves, instead of being in someone else's shadow.  I could really relate to Mary's quiet personality and her love of mysteries!  Jim was a great character, too, as he strove to do the right thing and was very thoughtful and honorable, but could be indecisive and slow to act when he should.  I admired both her and Jim's willingness to face their fears.  They both had traumatic events in their pasts and it was inspiring to see them strive to overcome them.  The faith element was great, as both Mary and Jim were strong believers, with plenty of prayer and trying to discern God's will.  I really appreciated how Jim struggled to be a good leader like Nehemiah, from the Old Testament.  There were lots of sweet romantic moments.  The mystery was interesting and there was definitely some action!  I liked learning about the tensions leading up to World War II in America;  I hadn't heard about that before.  It was also interesting to learn more about the Navy and what went on at the Navy yard and on the ships.  This is the start of a new series and I'm so excited!  I highly recommend this book!

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

More reviews at Litfuse!

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1DkJmlO

About the author:

Sarah Sundin is the author of With Every Letter, On Distant Shores, In Perfect Time, and the Wings of Glory series. In 2014, On Distant Shores was a finalist for the Golden Scroll Awards from both AWSA and the Christian Authors Network. In 2011, Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.

Find Sarah online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Dive into Sarah Sundin's explosive new series, Waves of Freedom, with book one, Through Waters Deep. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges–and dangers–await them in the midst of their budding romance.

Join Sarah in celebrating the release of Through Waters Deep by entering to win an Anchors Aweigh prize pack!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Through Waters Deep
• A nautical tote bag
• A set of compass rose notecards
• A "Hope Anchors the Soul" journal
• A Boston Tea Party earl grey tea set
• A Through Waters Deep apron
• A set of nautical tea towels

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 24th. The winner will be announced August 25th on Sarah's blog.

Married 'til Monday - A Chapel Springs Romance 4 - by Denise Hunter

About the book:

With a big anniversary party in the works for her parents, Ryan will pretend to be Abby's husband for just one last weekend.
Ryan McKinley has tried to move on from his ex-wife, Abby. He's sulked, he's gotten angry, and ultimately he bought her dream house. Big mistake. Living alone in the massive 2-story has only made him miss her more. When her parents call him out of the blue about their anniversary party in Summer Harbor, Maine, Ryan believes God has dropped a golden opportunity straight in his lap.
Abby McKinley never exactly told her parents about the divorce. A strained relationship with her dad has culminated in a distant relationship with her parents, but she's finally succumbed to her mom's pressure to make the drive for their 35th-anniversary party.

Then Ryan shows up on her doorstep, looking as devastatingly handsome as ever. When he insists he's going to Seabrook, with or without her, Abby knows she can't say no. Her parents still think they're married and now Ryan knows it too. Besides, he only wants to check in with his best friend from college-her cousin Beau, who just lost his dad. It's just a one-week road-trip with the man who broke her heart. What could possibly go wrong?

My review:

Denise Hunter has done it again!  This was a wonderful love story about second chances.  I've read a couple books in the Chapel Springs series and loved them.  It was great to revisit this cozy town and the wonderful McKinley family.  I loved Abby and Ryan and I felt for them as they struggled to understand what went wrong in their marriage.  It was eye-opening for Ryan to visit her parents and he came to understand what her childhood had been like and the family dynamics.  I find psychology very interesting and this book delved more into that, to understand how your past shapes your future and the way you react to things.  There were also plenty of sweet romantic moments.  I also liked the stronger emphasis on faith in this book than I've seen in some of Hunter's others, as Ryan prays a lot and feels led to go with Abby and Abby has struggled with bitterness and anger at God.  This works as a stand-alone, but I definitely recommend reading this series.  Denise Hunter's one of my favorites and I highly recommend this book for fans of romance!

I received a kindle copy of this book free from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Check out the book here: http://store.faithgateway.com/married-til-monday

About the author:

Bestselling novelist Denise Hunter has received the Holt Medallion Award, Reader's Choice Award, Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. She lives in Indiana with her husband and their three sons. Twitter: @deniseahunter Facebook: authordenisehunter

Hope Harbor - by Irene Hannon

About the book:

Come home to Hope Harbor--where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.
Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life--and love--altered her plans. Now she's home again--with a floundering farm to run . . . a tragic secret . . . and a wounded heart. Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter's. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets and devastating regrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help with a project that is close to her heart, winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives--including their own.

My review:

This was a great love story with a fun, quirky cast of characters!  The plot was wonderful; it moved along at a good pace.  There were a lot of sweet romantic moments and I admired how they took things slow and tried not to let their emotions run away with them.  It was interesting learning more about cranberry farming and wondering if they would figure out a way to save the farm.  The spiritual aspect of the story was great, as both Tracy and Michael were not only dealing with past regrets and guilt, but Michael was struggling with anger at God and both were trying to find God's will.  There was also a very interesting plot line about Anna, an older woman who's shut herself away from people.  She was dealing with unforgiveness and holding a grudge.  After she unexpectedly rents to Michael, her life starts to change and it was wonderful to see the improvement.  It was cool how different events impacted each other; there was even a discussion about Providence vs. coincidence.  There were definitely some miraculous God moments in the story, starting with a taco maker named Charley.  Another quirky pair were the Catholic priest and reverend; they were pretty amusing as they were good friends and bantered back and forth.  There was a line about stars aligning as plans came together which seemed to reference astrology, but I suppose the author could have meant it differently.  It's also a common pop culture phrase now, so it could have just been something said without real meaning to it.  Michael was thinking it, but he had a strong faith in God.  Overall, this was a very enjoyable story I would highly recommend!

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

 The Author

1. 

   © DeWeesePhotography.com

   Irene Hannon

   Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than forty-five novels, including That Certain Summer, One Perfect Spring, and the Heroes of Quantico, Guardians of Justice, and Private Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted...
   

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‘Among the Fair Magnolias’ Southern Hearts Kindle Fire Giveaway + Review!

About the book:
Among the Fair Magnolias (Thomas Nelson, July 2015)

In the most turbulent decade of our nation's history, four Southern women---destinies forged by birth, hearts steeled by war---face near impossible choices on their journeys in life . . . and in love.

To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander
Savannah Darby would do almost anything to revisit her family home. So when new owner, Aidan Bedford, a Boston attorney and former Union soldier, seeks to redecorate the house for his fiancée, Savannah jumps at the opportunity. But the clock is ticking. Can she find the box her father supposedly hid there during the war before her assignment is completed? And before she sees yet another battle lost on the home front. This time, one of the heart.

An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray
When Russell Stark returns to Fort Worth, he's determined to begin a new life. But when he arrives at his mother's homestead, he discovers she's very ill, and the woman he loved is still as beautiful and sweet as he remembered. With time running out, Russell must come to terms with both his future and his past.

A Heart So True by Dorothy Love
Abigail knows all too well what is expected of her: to marry her distant cousin Charles and take her place in society. But her heart belongs to another. A terrible incident forces Abby to choose between love and duty.

Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser
Emily has a secret: She's in love with one of the freedmen on her family's plantation. Meanwhile, another man declares his love for her. Emily realizes some things are not as they seem and secrets must be kept in order to keep those she loves safe.

My review:

This was a very enjoyable group of stories set around the Civil War in the South.  One story is set before and the rest after.  It was interesting to learn more about what life was like in the South after the Civil War.  It changed the economy overnight, not to mention how the Klu Klux Klan terrorized former slaves and white sympathizers alike.  I think To Mend a Dream was my favorite, as the romance was very sweet, if short, between Savannah and Aidan.  I liked the mysterious element, as she searches for a hidden box and wonders what could be inside.  There wasn't a lot to the relationship in the way of development since it's a short story, but the way they're drawn to each other and appreciate the same things had its romantic moments.  It was also touching when Aidan remembered someone he had known in the war.  I liked the other stories as well, though I was a little frustrated with Abigail in A Heart So True because it seemed like she made foolish choices.  An Outlaw's Heart had more of a western feel and was set in Texas.  The dialogue and plot struck me as more unique than a typical western.  Love Beyond Limits had Emily teaching the children and freedmen after the war and showed some of the politics that were going on, which I didn't know much about.  I thought the stories were all well-written.  There were elements of faith in all of the stories, from prayer to trusting God to feeling led by the Holy Spirit to do something.  Recipes and discussion questions are included.  I highly recommend this wonderful collection for historical fiction fans!

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

More reviews at Litfuse!

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1Igkc7H

About the authors:

Tamera Alexander is the best-selling author of numerous books including A Lasting Impression and The Inheritance. Tamera is a two-time Christy Award winner, two-time RITA winner, and a recipient of the prestigious Library Journal Award. A native of west Tennessee. website, Twitter, Facebook 

Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. website, Twitter, Facebook

Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. website, Twitter, Facebook

Elizabeth Musser, a native of Atlanta, Georgia now living in France, is a novelist who writes what she calls 'entertainment with a soul.' For over 25 years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in mission work with International Teams. website, Twitter, Facebook

Four best-selling novelists bring tales of four Southern women who face near impossible choices on their journeys in life and in love during the most turbulent decade of our nation’s history in Among the Fair Magnolias. Don't miss this collection of stories from Tamera Alexander, Shelley Gray, Dorothy Love, and Elizabeth Musser.

Join the authors in celebrating the release of Among the Fair Magnolias by entering to win their Southern Hearts Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVPing to their August 13th author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD 6
• One copy of Among the Fair Magnolias

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/13. The winner will be announced at the Among the Fair Magnolias Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Tamera, Dorothy, Shelley, and Elizabeth, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 13th!

Crazy Little Thing Called Love - A Destination Wedding Novel - by Beth K. Vogt

About the book:
Crazy Little Thing Called Love: A Destination Wedding Novel (Howard, June 2015)

Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple's journey down the aisle to "I do."

Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father's military career. She's overcome what her mother called "the biggest mistake of her life" and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?

My review:

This was an exciting romance about a second chance at love.  I really liked how the past and present were woven together, so we got to see how Vanessa and Logan first fell in love and then where their relationship is now.  The hurricane was exciting and made for some great action.  There were a lot of sweet romantic moments.  Logan used to have a strong faith in God, but now struggles with believing He's listening and Vanessa also has a hard time not blaming God for the issues she has maintaining long-term relationships.  There's also quite a few mentions of prayer.  I liked the secondary characters a lot, from the elderly couple they help to Logan's teammates to his sister.  They were a lot of fun and had some great advice.  This was my first Beth K. Vogt novel, but definitely not my last!  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://bit.ly/1VkD0s8

About the author:

Beth K. Vogt believes God's best often waits behind the doors marked "Never." A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2014 Carol Award finalist, Beth is a contemporary romance novelist with Howard Books. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher's Weekly's Best Books of 2014. In 2015 she introduced her destination wedding series with both an e-novella, Can't Buy Me Love, (May) and a novel, Crazy Little Thing Called Love (June).

Visit Beth online:  website, Facebook, Twitter

Refining Fire - Brides of Seattle 2 - by Tracie Peterson

About the book:

Twenty-two-year-old Militine Scott is in training at the Madison Bridal School in Seattle, yet she has no intention of pursuing marriage. What respectable man would have her? But she has found the school provides the perfect opportunity to keep her unsavory past hidden.

Thane Patton, though fun-loving and fiercely loyal to his friends, hides a dark secret, as well. He finds himself drawn to Militine, sensing that she harbors a haunting pain similar to his own.

Will they allow God to make something new and beautiful from the debris of their past?

My review:

This is an amusing and interesting story sure to please fans of historical romance!  While I found the story line about Militine and Thane to be interesting, the continuation of Abrianna and Wade's story drew me even more.  Abrianna was the adopted daughter of the ladies who run the bridal school and she's always getting into mischief as she tries to help the poor of Seattle.  She ropes her best friend,Wade, into helping her and in this book she starts a soup kitchen in a poor section of town.  Their relationship was sweet and funny, as he's falling for her, but she's just viewed him as a brother, until another man wants to court her.  I would suggest reading book one for the start of their story while Militine and Thane's story is more focused in this book.  I loved that there was a lot of discussion of faith as Militine and Thane struggle to trust God after enduring bad childhoods.  There's also a new pastor in their church with some non-Biblical ideas who stirs up a lot of controversy and those arguments were interesting, too.  It was fascinating to learn more about the history of Seattle, including a devastating fire that destroyed a lot of the city.  I can't wait for the next book!  I highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

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

 The Author

1. 

   ©Lissa Barber Photography

   Tracie Peterson

   Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Belgrade,...
   

   Continue reading about Tracie Peterson