Touching Story of Hope: "Stories that Bind Us" - by Susie Finkbeiner

About the book:

Rediscover the power of story to open the doors of our hearts
Betty Sweet never expected to be a widow at forty. With so much life still in front of her, she tries to figure out what's next, never imagining what God had in mind.

When her estranged sister returns to town, Betty finds herself taking on the care of a five-year-old nephew she never knew she had. In 1960s small-town Michigan, they make an odd pair. Betty with her pink button nose and bouffant hair. Hugo with his light brown skin and large brown eyes. But more powerful than what makes them different is what they share: the heartache of an empty space in their lives. Slowly, they will learn to trust one another as they discover common ground and healing through the magic of storytelling.

My review:

This was a bittersweet story as Betty is grieving her husband, yet discovering a nephew she never knew she had and the joy he brings to her life.  We discover more of her life through her memories scattered throughout the story; she had a hard childhood but filled with good memories, too, and had married a wonderful man.  Betty was such a sweet woman, taking care of her sister in her childhood and when she comes back to her.  They had a hard time of it, with a mother who had some issues, and being poor besides.  It seems that her sister might have some of the same problems as their mother and I can't imagine how hard that would be to deal with, for everyone involved.  I loved how Betty wanted to give her nephew a happier life and a real childhood, instead of being worried and uptight.  It was sweet how she made up stories that tried to teach him life lessons while being fun and imaginative.  She also had a strong faith and would pray throughout the story, as well as go to church.  There was also a great discussion with her father-in-law about not worrying and trusting God.  He was quite a the character and very funny.  They were such a wonderful family; her sister-in-law and brothers-in-law were so caring and watched out for her.  It was interesting how her eyes started to open to events happening in the country and around the world, including the civil rights movement.  This was a story about everyday people trying to make their world a better place.  I would recommend it if you like touching stories that are filled with hope.

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

           The Author

1. 

   Bree Rose Photos

   Susie Finkbeiner

   Susie Finkbeiner is the CBA bestselling author of All Manner of Things, which was selected as a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, as well as A Cup of Dust, A Trail of Crumbs, and A Song of Home. She serves on the Fiction Readers Summit...
   

   Continue reading about Susie Finkbeiner 

"The Key to Everything" - by Valerie Fraser Luesse

About the book:

"Promise me you'll never come back here, Peyton. It's too much--it's just way too much."
Peyton Cabot's fifteenth year will be a painful and transformative one. His father, the heroic but reluctant head of a moneyed Savannah family, has come home from World War II a troubled vet, drowning his demons in bourbon and distancing himself from his son. A tragic accident shows Peyton the depths of his parents' devotion to each other but interrupts his own budding romance with the girl of his dreams.

Struggling to cope with a young life upended, Peyton makes a daring decision: He will retrace a journey his father took at fifteen, riding his bicycle from St. Augustine, Florida, all the way to Key West. Part declaration of independence, part search for self, Peyton's journey will bring him more than he ever could have imagined--namely, the key to his unknowable father, a longed-for reunion, and a calling that will shape the rest of his life.

My review:

This was a touching coming-of-age story about a wonderful teenager who's trying to find his place in the world.  He was such a great kid, helping people along the way, even at risk to himself.  He cared about people and was interested in their stories and he definitely met some interesting characters!  He had some wonderful adventures and it was cool to see that this book was loosely based on a true story!  I definitely want to visit some of these places; they were described so beautifully.  There was mention of prayer and God.  His mother also told some of her story, both now and when she met his father.  It was interesting seeing their history and the history of the family as it explained so much of their dynamics.  His uncle was a piece of work and truly a villain for the story.  Aunt Gert was a quirky, straightforward lady who would have been wonderful to meet.  There was some romance as we have both the love stories of Peyton and Lisa and his mother and father.  I would recommend it if you like coming-of-age stories or adventure stories.

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

           The Author

1. 

   Mark Sandlin

   Valerie Fraser Luesse

   Valerie Fraser Luesse is the bestselling author of Missing Isaac and Almost Home, as well as an award-winning magazine writer best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she is currently senior travel editor....
   

   Continue reading about Valerie Fraser Luesse 

Non-Stop Action! Giveaway and Review of 'Cross Shadow' - A Shepherd Suspense Novel 2 - by Andrew Huff

About the Book About the book: All journalist Christine Lewis wants is the truth. All pastor John Cross wants is to avoid it. Former CIA agent turned evangelical pastor John Cross is busy caring for the small community of believers he ministers to in Virginia. Journalist Christine Lewis is busy with the demand for her talents from top news agencies in New York City. Neither has any time left for their relationship, which began eight months before when they paired up to prevent the detonation of a chemical bomb in the nation's capital. But when Christine hears that her stepbrother has been arrested for murder in Texas, they team up again to discover the truth about the crime. Untangling a web of conspiracy, the couple finds themselves in the center of another dangerous situation-and in trouble far deeper than they expected. With an assassin on the loose, a trusted colleague acting as a double agent, and unreliable artificial intelligence connected to mercenaries who have Cross on their hit list, these two may not get out of the Lone Star State alive. My review: What an action-packed story!  There were some awesome fight sequences and some amazing car chases!  There's a little bit of trouble in paradise as John and Christine seemed to have a hard time trusting each other.  John's so used to lying back in his CIA days and it's a hard habit to break, no matter how hard he tried.  And if you don't have trust... They also both wondered about where their lives were going.  They wanted to do God's will.  They both prayed throughout the story.  It was interesting watching them investigate and there was a little bit of funny banter.  There was a surprise ending so I'll be interested to see where it goes.  This worked well as a stand-alone but it was nice to know their back story from the first book, which I also liked.  I recommend it if you like suspense! I received this book free from Kregel Publications and Read with Audra.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.                                                                                                                                                                                a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Huff spent ten years in local church ministry as a youth pastor and creative arts pastor before pursuing God’s calling into creative storytelling and media production as the product director at Igniter Media, a church media company (ignitermedia.com). He is a two-time finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis Contest for unpublished authors (2014, 2017) and also won the best screenplay award at the 2015 48 Hour Film Festival in Richmond, VA. A Cross to Kill and Cross Shadow in the Shepherd Suspense series are his first releases. Huff holds a bachelor of science in religion degree from Liberty University and a master of arts in Christian education from Dallas Theological Seminary. He resides in Plano, TX, with his beautiful wife, Jae, and their two boys. Learn more Andrew Huff and the Shepherd Suspense novels at www.andrewhuffbooks.com. He can also be found on Facebook (@huffwrites), Twitter (@andrewjohnhuff) and Instagram (@andyhuff).

Wonderful! Giveaway of 'Stay with Me' - Misty River 1 - by Becky Wade #SWMPrism

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Stay with Me
(A Misty River Romance #1)
By Becky Wade
Christian Contemporary Romance
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages
May 5th 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

Loving her is a risk he can’t afford . . . and can’t resist.

When acclaimed Bible study author Genevieve Woodward receives an anonymous letter referencing her parents’ past, she returns to her hometown in the Blue Ridge mountains to chase down her family’s secret. However, it’s Genevieve’s own secret that catches up to her when Sam Turner, owner of an historic farm, uncovers the source of shame she’s worked so hard to hide.

Sam has embraced his sorrow, his isolation, and his identity as an outsider. He’s spent years carving out both career success and peace of mind. The last thing he wants is to rent the cottage on his property to a woman whose struggles stir his worst failure back to life. Yet, can he bear to turn her away right when she needs him most?

My review:

This was a wonderful story about a woman trying to be perfect and do everything she thinks she's supposed to, all while keeping a huge secret that could ruin it all.  While I liked Genevieve and her confidence and flair, Sam seemed pretty much perfect, from his caring and caregiving to his cooking and loyalty.  While he felt he'd messed up royally in the past, I felt that he'd done his best and shouldn't be beating himself up.  Their romance was wonderful with many romantic moments.  The secret Genevieve and her sister investigated was interesting, though I did figure it out.  The spiritual aspect was great, too, as Gen's trying to find God again as she felt far away from him for a while.  Sam's a Christian, too, so they have that in common.  He had his own issues to work through.  I liked the snippets we see of Gen, her sister and their friends' past trauma they survived together and I'm excited to follow their stories as well.  While this was a wonderful romance, it dealt with a major issue but not in too heavy a way.  I highly recommend this book!

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

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Target | Christianbook

Other Books in the Series

Take a Chance on Me
(A Misty River Romance #0.5)
By Becky Wade
Christian Contemporary Romance, Novella
ebook, 97 Pages
February 25th 2020

When baker Penelope Quinn steps in to help her brother’s family through a medical crisis, she’s forced into close proximity with charming Air Force fighter pilot Eli Price.

Penelope has one iron-clad dating rule—she does not date airmen. Months ago, she relaxed her rule with Eli and immediately lived to regret it. After a long deployment, he’s now back in Misty River and, to her dismay, she finds him just as tempting as always.

Eli’s spent months thinking about funny, feisty, creative Penelope. He once leveraged his focus and drive to become a pilot, his childhood dream. Now he's set on leveraging that same focus and drive in order to convince Penelope to give him one more chance.

This romantic prequel novella introduces readers to the quaint mountain town of Misty River and a brand-new series from Christy-winning author Becky Wade!

(Affiliate link included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Currently FREE

About the Author

Becky Wade is the 2018 Christy Award Book of the Year winner for True to You. She is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market, then put her career on hold for several years to care for her children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. Her humorous, heart-pounding contemporary romance novels have won three Christy Awards, the Carol Award, the INSPY Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award for Romance. Becky lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children.

Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive:
- A $100 gift card
- A paperback copy of Stay with Me
- A hand-knit scarf
- A pair of earrings
- A package of “Georgia Blues” coffee
- A package of apple oatmeal muffin mix

ENTER HERE

Loved it! 'Hadley Beckett's Next Dish' - by Bethany Turner

About the book:

Get ready for a heaping helping of humor, romance, and second chances
Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanagh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show, To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum and is sent packing, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley. As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love.

In the meantime, hide the knives.

My review:

This was a wonderfully written romance with food, humor, redemption and did I mention food?  When I first met Max, I thought how in the world are these two going to end up together!  He was such a jerk!  He made a lot of progress, though, and really worked at managing his anger and what and how he said things; Staying away from alcohol helped a lot.  It helped that we got inside his head, as well as Hadley's, so that went a long way in understanding why he did what he did.  Both of them had messed up childhoods, so were a little gun-shy about relationships.  There was a little mention of Hadley's faith and I wished we would have gotten to see what Max ended up ultimately deciding, though I have a guess.  Hadley was such a sweet, Southern woman; even when she tried to be sarcastic it came across as sincere, which was pretty amusing.  She also had some awkward, laughable moments and there were quite a few times I laughed out loud.  She was also incredibly forgiving of Max and gave him chance after chance.  Max grew on me as I got to see what he was thinking and how he cared about Hadley.  Plus he was cute and could cook!  Hadley's grandmother was quite a character; I can't imagine being practically raised by her.  The romance was sweet, with them attracted to each other but fighting it.  This was my first Bethany Turner but I'm immediately searching out her other two books!  I highly recommend it!

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

           The Author

1. 

   Photo by: Emilie Hendryx © EA Creative Photography

   Bethany Turner

   Bethany Turner is the award-winning author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and Wooing Cadie McCaffrey and the director of administration for Rock Springs Church in Southwest Colorado. A former bank executive and a three-time cancer...
   

   Continue reading about Bethany Turner 

Wonderful Suspense! 'Standoff' - Natchez Trace Park Rangers 1 - by Patricia Bradley

About the book:

The Natchez Trace National Parkway stretches 444 miles from Nashville to Natchez, the oldest town on the Mississippi River. It's the perfect road for a relaxed pleasure drive. Unfortunately for Luke Fereday, it's also perfect for moving drugs.

Sent to Natchez to infiltrate the organization at the center of the drug ring, Luke arrives too late to a stakeout and discovers the body of his friend, park ranger John Danvers. John's daughter Brooke is determined to investigate her father's murder but soon finds herself the target of a killer who will do anything to silence her.

Luke will have his hands full keeping her safe. But who's going to keep him safe when he realizes he's falling--hard--for the daughter of the man he failed to save?

My review:

This was an exciting suspenseful story with mystery, plenty of action and a second chance romance!  I liked seeing Brooke and Luke investigate her father's murder all while Luke keeps secret his true purpose for being there.  He had a lot of juggling to do!  He seemed like a slacker to Brooke as she thought he was a bartender and he couldn't reveal why he was there but she knew something didn't add up.  Brooke was a determined, independent woman who valued honesty and straightforwardness.  She was once good friends with Luke and just as it was about to turn into more he left without a goodbye.  She's now dating a politician with an adorable daughter yet she's still drawn to Luke fourteen years later.  There's a little bit of romance in the story.  Brooke dealt with a lot in this story, from her dad's murder to her relationship confusion to finding out shocking information about herself, not to mention someone trying to kill her!  Luke's grandma Daisy was a tough lady who spoke the truth and dispensed spiritual and relationship wisdom.  Both Brooke and Luke were also Christians.  I highly recommend this start to a new series and look forward to the next one about her friend Emma!

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

  The Author

1. 

   Patricia Bradley

   Patricia Bradley is the author of Justice Delayed, Justice Buried, Justice Betrayed, and Justice Delivered, as well as the Logan Point series. Bradley won an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award in Romantic Suspense, a Daphne du...
   

   Continue reading about Patricia Bradley 

Very Enjoyable! 'Carolina Breeze' - Bluebell Inn Romance 2 - by Denise Hunter

About the book

A jilted bride. A struggling innkeeper. And a romantic mountain getaway that changes everything.

Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup and scandal, and she finds it in the lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina—the location of her canceled honeymoon. She wants nothing more than to hide and wait for the tabloids to die down.

Soon after her arrival at the Bluebell Inn, Mia meets Levi Bennett, who runs the inn along with his two younger sisters. Drawn to one another from the start, Mia trusts Levi to keep her location from the press, and Levi confides in Mia about the financial state of the inn—a secret he’s been keeping from his sisters.

When Mia and Levi discover an old journal that hints at a rare diamond necklace hidden in the inn, they set off on a treasure hunt to find the long-lost heirloom. What they don’t expect to surface are feelings they thought were safely locked away. Mia and Levi must decide if falling in love again is too big a risk—or if it will uncover a treasure of its own instead.

This Bluebell Inn romance takes us to a quiet North Carolina retreat that holds more secrets than it shares.

My review:

This was another wonderful romance by Denise Hunter!  Mia was a likable character, down-to-earth even while being in the Hollywood spotlight.  She cared about others, from being a volunteer big sister to taking the high road and not trying to get back at the other person involved in the scandal.  She struggled with rejection because of a messed up family situation and her ex breaking off their engagement; she was a Christian, though not very active in her faith lately.  I liked how she remedied that later, along with finally getting closure about her parents.  She also had to realize that God would never abandon her and that He was enough for her.  Levi was a Christian, too, and would pray but was actively lying to his sisters about the inn's true financial state.  It really bothered me because while I understood he felt he needed to take care of his sisters he kept lying to them even when they got into arguments about spending money and they were equal owners!  I got annoyed with some other decisions he made later.  I did like how he was respectful of Mia and didn't ogle her and that he was dependable and loyal, not to mention handsome.  The romance was wonderful; she sure can write some great kisses!  I also liked how we saw his sister Molly's romance continue with Adam.  It was interesting to see Mia discover more about her grandparents as they searched for the necklace.  I wished a little more would have been done with that.  I can't wait for the next book!  I recommend this story that works as a stand-alone but I definitely recommend you read the first book as it's still my favorite!

I received a free kindle copy of this book from Netgalley.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.