Summer of Promise

Summer of Promise

by Amanda Cabot

From the back cover:

Though she had planned to spend the summer in Vermont, Abigail Harding cannot dismiss her concerns over her older sister. Charlotte's letters have been uncharacteristically melancholy, and her claims that nothing is wrong ring false, so Abigail heads to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. When her stagecoach is attacked, Wyoming promises to be anything but boring. Luckily, the heroics of another passenger, Ethan Bowles, save the day. Abigail plans to marry when she returns to Vermont, just as soon as she attends to her sister. As the summer passes, she finds herself drawn to this rugged land and to a certain soldier determined to persuade her to stay. When summer ends, will she go back East, or will she find her heart's true home?

This book had my interest in the beginning, even with the standard stagecoach hold-up scene - what kind of western romance would this book be without a scene like that? I found myself interested in the budding relationship between Abigail and Ethan, and wondered what was going on with Jeffrey, Abigail's sister Charlotte's husband. But I have to admit that the book seemed to drag in the middle. I don't think there was ever really a time where I was glued to the action in the book so much that I couldn't put the book down. But I would still give this book a 4, because somehow anything less wouldn't seem to do the story justice. Cabot did craft an interesting storyline - but I do wish that it had been wrapped up quicker. 

All that to say, the things I enjoyed about the book were Ethan's and Abigail's characters, and the funny antics with Charlotte's puppy, Puddles. If you enjoy western romances, you would probably like this book.

This book is now available at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the author:

Amanda Cabot is a popular speaker and the author of Paper Roses, Scattered Petals, and Tomorrows Garden as well as a number of novels under various pen names. She's an avid traveler who finds inspiration for new stories in her travels and enjoys sharing new parts of the country with her readers. A former Easterner, she now lives in Wyoming. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Shadow of Your Smile

The Shadow of Your Smile

by  Susan May Warren

Description from the publisher:

A beautiful blanket of snow may cover the quaint town of Deep Haven each winter, but it can't quite hide the wreckage of Noelle and Eli Hueston's marriage. After twenty-five years, they're contemplating divorce...just as soon as their youngest son graduates from high school. But then an accident erases Noelle's memory. Though her other injuries are minor, she doesn't remember Eli, their children, or the tragedy that has ripped their family apart. What's more, Noelle is shocked that her life has turned out nothing like she dreamed it would. As she tries to regain her memory and slowly slips into her role as a wife and mother, Eli helps her readjust to daily life with sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-heartwarming results. But can she fall in love again with a man she can't remember? Will their secrets destroy them...or has erasing the past given them a chance for a future?

I absolutely loved this book. Having read two other Susan May Warren books that I thoroughly enjoyed, I had high expectations for The Shadow of Your Smile. Let me tell you that this book didn't disappoint me in the least. In fact, it made me love Susan May Warren even more! Her ability to tell a compelling story with memorable characters and scenes is evident in this book. I highly recommend The Shadow of Your Smile. On a side note, I can't even type the book's title without hearing the song..."The Shadow of your smile/When you are gone/Will color all my dreams and light the dawn..." It is one of my favorite songs, and this book has also become one of my favorites. I enthusiastically give it a 5!

Come Back to Deep Haven and Win a $200 Visa Card from @SusanMayWarren!

Sometimes love requires a little forgetting ... Come back to Deep Haven and find out what's been happening in your favorite quaint hamlet. If you're new to the Deep Haven series - this is the perfect book to start with - each book in the series is a stand alone story.


Susan is celebrating the release of The Shadow of Your Smile by giving away a prize pack worth over $200 from 1/9-1/28.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Gift Card (Use that to rekindle a little romance, treat yourself to a spa day, snap up those shoes you’ve been eyeing, or purchase a few great books!)

• The entire set of Deep Haven Books 

The winner will be announced on 1/30/12 on Susan’s blog, Scribbles! Just click one of the icons below to enter and tell your friends about Susan's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

About the author:

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder ofwww.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from LitFuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Chasing Mona Lisa

Chasing Mona Lisa

by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey

From the back cover:

One enigmatic smile. Two passionate protectors. And a relentlessly ticking clock. August 1944. Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, the ravage the country and steal countless pieces of irreplaceable art. In fact, Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all - the Mona Lisa - as a postwar bargaining chip. 

But the woman with the mysterious smile has some very determined protectors. Can Swiss agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands? 

With nonstop action and intrigue, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh Swiss chateau, the race is on - and the runners are playing for keeps.

I wanted to like this book. The cover makes it sound very intriguing - and with my love for the World War II era, you would think this would be a book I couldn't put down. But try as I might, I could not get into it. Whether it was the fact that there were too many characters to keep track of or the fact that there was so much going on it was hard to figure out what was what, I had a hard time reading Chasing Mona Lisa. I can't say it was horrible, but it wasn't very enjoyable for me either. This is the second book in a series, sequel to The Swiss Courier. Perhaps if I had read that book first, I would have understood the characters more.

I would have to give this book a 3.

This book is available January 2012 from your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the authors:

Tricia Goyer is the coauthor of The Swiss Courier as well as the author of many other books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Arkansas.

Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of dozens of books, including The Swiss Courier and the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

7 Money Rules for Life

7 Money Rules for Life

by Mary Hunt

I am currently taking a class on finances and debt at my church, so I am very interested in reading books about financial freedom. Mary Hunt's book 7 Money Rules for Life is one such book that would be very helpful to anyone who is interested in learning how to live life debt free. Hunt starts out with her personal story of how she incurred $100,000 worth of debt and how she rid herself of it. She then goes through 7 guidelines for financial freedom.

I very much enjoyed reading this book and know that I will refer back to it in the future. There are many helpful tips in this book, and many more can be found on Mary's website, Debt Proof Living. 

I give this book a 5.

This book is available January 2012 from your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the author:

Mary Hunt, award-winning and bestselling author, syndicated columnist, and sought-after motivational speaker, has created a global platform that is making strides to help men and women battle the epidemic impact of consumer debt. Mary is the founder of Debt-Proof Living, a highly regarded organization consisting of an interactive website, a monthly newsletter, a daily syndicated column, and hundreds of thousands of loyal followers. Since 1992, DPL has been dedicated to its mission to provide hope, help, and realistic solutions for individuals who are committed to financially responsible and debt-free living. As a speaker, Mary travels extensively, addressing conferences, corporations, colleges, universities, and churches at home and abroad. A frequent guest on radio and television, she has appeared on dozens of television shows including Dr. Phil, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Dateline. Mary lives with her husband in Orange County, California.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."