Tuesday, February 19, 2013

When the Heart Heals




















When the Heart Heals

by Ann Shorey

About the book (from the publisher):

Readers are invited to travel back to 1867, to the town of Noble Springs, Missouri, for an engrossing story of love's tentative first steps and fragile future in the face of opposition. With tenderness and grace, Ann Shorey tells the story of Rosemary, a sympathetic but strong woman determined to thrive in a world that doesn't always understand. Courageous and unconventional, Rosemary Saxon served as a nurse during the Civil War, a service that has caused most women in town to regard her as unfeminine and downright vulgar. Although she would like to put her experiences as a nurse behind her, she must support herself. She takes a position with Dr. Elijah Stewart and a mutual attraction begins to develop. But when a sophisticated woman arrives in town claiming to be Elijah's fiancee, a heartbroken Rosemary decides to leave Noble Springs and start fresh. Can Elijah convince her of the mystery woman's deception before he loses her forever?

My take:

This was a wonderful read! I have always enjoyed novels written around the Civil War era, so I really enjoyed this one. I found Rosemary's character to be very interesting. I had no idea that female nurses were considered "vulgar" in that time period. I found myself sympathizing with her character and all of the non-fictional heroic nurses of that era who gave up their reputations and "soft" lives to serve wounded soldiers and civilians. 

Towards the end of the book I found myself irritated with Rosemary's refusal to listen to Elijah's story. I suppose there has to be some romantic tension, but at that point I just found myself annoyed with her character. I guess it comes back to the fact that we all have faults and irritating qualities. 

I would give this book a "4" and recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially around the Civil War era.


Available February 2013 at  your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Company.



About the author:

Ann Shorey is the author of Where Wildflowers Bloom, The Edge of Light, The Promise of Morning, and The Dawn of a Dream. She has also published selections in The Cup of Comfort series and in Chicken Soup for Grandma's Soul. Ann and her husband make their home in southwestern Oregon.


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."



Sunday, February 17, 2013

Picture Perfect




















Picture Perfect

by Janice Thompson

About the book (from the publisher):

Feisty wedding photographer Hannah McDermott has dealt with her share of difficult brides. But none can compare to the ultimate Bridezilla she's dealing with now. Still, she's trying desperately to impress Bella Neely, Galveston Island's most sought-after wedding planner, so she can take the top spot in Bella's list of recommended photographers -- a spot currently occupied by her arch-rival, Drew Kincaid. What she doesn't count on, however, is falling head over heels for the competition.

My take:

I really loved this book. From the very beginning I felt drawn into Hannah's story and her "rivalry" with Drew Kincaid. I love photography, so all of the photography references struck a chord (or should I say "hit the shutter"?) for me. I also loved how "Irish" this book was. Being Irish myself, it was fun to read about an Irish-American family. 

I think my favorite part of the book was the aspect of forgiveness. This wasn't just a romantic comedy. It hit on some real issues that people have, including jealousy and unforgiveness. I really liked how the author made these issues a part of the storyline.

I also enjoyed reading about Bella Neely. She and her family were fun characters. Now that I know there are 3 other books with her in them, I will make sure to read them. I am also looking forward to the rest of the books in this series.

I give this book a "5" and recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic comedy with a message.


Available February 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.


About the author:

Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and former screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson afford an inside look at TV land, drawing on her experiences as a screenwriter. She is the author of the Weddings by Bella series and Stars Collide. She lives in Texas.







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."

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Secretly Smitten



















Secretly Smitten

by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, & Denise Hunter

About the book (from the publisher):

Summer, fall, winter, spring -- Smitten, Vermont is the place for love...and mystery! There's a secret in Grandma Rose's attic - a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic? The mystery intrigues Rose's three granddaughters -- Tess, Clare, and Zoe -- and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and as the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women? Join popular romance novelists -- and real life BFFs -- Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for four delightful intertwined tales of mystery and sweet intrigue. 

My take:

I don't think I have ever read a novel that had 4 related novellas in it. I wasn't sure how it would work, but I found myself really enjoying it! I loved how each of the authors took a different character and developed her story within her novella. Of the four novellas, I enjoyed Denise Hunter's story about Clare the best. I related to her disliking change, and found myself agreeing with her character in a lot of areas! The funny thing is, though, that each time I finished a story, I couldn't imagine wanting to change point of view again. That always ended within a chapter or two though!

I also really enjoyed Rose Garner's story too, as it was interwoven throughout the whole book. I was pleasantly surprised at the end of the last novella, as it wrapped up the 4 stories quite nicely.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars and am looking forward to reading the next book that will be set in Smitten, Vermont! I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys inspirational romance.


About the authors:

RITA-finalist Colleen Coble is the author of several best-selling romantic suspense novels, including Tidewater Inn, and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series. Christy Award finalist and two-time winner of the ACFW Book of the Year award, Kristin Billerbeck has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times. Her books include A Billion Reasons Why and What a Girl Wants. Denise Hunter is the award-winning and best-selling author of several novels, including A Cowboy's Touch and Sweetwater Gap. She and her husband are raising three boys in Indiana. Diann Hunt has lived in Indiana forever, been happily married forever, loves her family, chocolate, her friends, her dog, and, well, chocolate.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from BookSneeze. 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."

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

The Tutor's Daughter





















The Tutor's Daughter

by Julie Klassen


About the book (from the back cover):

Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father when his boarding school fails, accompanies him to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But soon after they arrive and begin teaching the two younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte at night, only to find the music room empty? And who begins sneaking into her bedchamber, leaving behind strange mementos? The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry Weston, wrestle with problems -- and secrets -- of their own. They both remember the studious Miss Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her... 

When suspicions escalate, can Emma figure out which brother to blame and which to trust with her heart? Filled with page-turning suspense, The Tutor's Daughter takes readers to the windswept Cornwall coast -- a place infamous for shipwrecks and superstitions -- where danger lurks, faith is tested, and romance awaits. 

My take:

I absolutely adored this book! I am a huge Julie Klassen fan, and was thrilled when I saw her newest book was up for review. I was definitely not disappointed when I read this one!

I loved this book so much, I can't say enough about it. Before I read this one, my favorite Julie Klassen book was The Maid of Fairbourne Hall. But now I think it is a tie between that one and The Tutor's Daughter! I really enjoyed discovering the mystery of who was playing the pianoforte at night, and who was slipping into Emma's room at night. And I was very pleasantly surprised to fall in love with one of the characters I seriously disliked in the beginning!

Reading this book and Klassen's other books has renewed my interest in revisiting England someday. I am hoping that day comes sooner rather than later! Cornwall (where this book takes place) is going on my list of places to visit!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction/romance in the Regency period. I happily give this one a "5."


About the author:

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane - Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She has won the Christy Award: Historical Romance for The Silent Governess (2010) and The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) which also won the 2010 Midwest Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. Find out more about Julie at http://www.julieklassen.com/.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. 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."


Sunday, February 10, 2013

Quiet




















Quiet

by Susan Cain

About the book (from the back cover):

At least on-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike the self-promotion; who favor working on their own over working in teams. It is to introverts -- Rosa Parks, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniak -- that we owe many of the great contributions to society. In Quiet, Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth century and explores how deeply it has come to permeate our culture. She also introduces us to successful introverts - from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after he talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Passionately argued, superbly researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves.

My take:

Being an introvert myself, I thought I would really enjoy this book. Upon reading it though, I found it to be too dry and "researchy." I am sure I will probably come back and reference this book at some point, but it was not my cup of tea for an afternoon read.

I did enjoy the references to introverts that contributed to our society. Too often, people over-value extroverts and overlook the introverts who have much to say if only people would listen to them.

I give this book a "3 1/2." I would recommend it for reference, but not for reading straight through.

If you are interested in the Reading Group Guide, please click here:

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/files/2013/01/Quiet-Reading-Group-Guide.pdf



About the author:

Susan Cain's writing has appeared in the New York Times; the Dallas Morning News; O, The Oprah Magazine; Time.com; and PsychologyToday.com, and her TED talk has been viewed more than three million times. She lives in the Hudson River Valley with her husband and two sons.








Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah. 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." 

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

All for a Song




















All for a Song

by Allison Pittman

About the book (from the publisher):

Dorothy Lynn Dunbar has everything she ever wanted: her family, her church, her community, and plans to marry the young pastor who took over her father's pulpit. Time spent in the woods, lifting her heart and voice in worship accompanied by her brother's old guitar, makes her life complete...and yet she longs for something more. Spending a few days in St. Louis with her sister's family, Dorothy Lynn discovers a whole new way of life - movies, music, dancing; daring fashions and fancy cars. And a dynamic charismatic evangelist...who just happens to be a woman. When Dorothy Lynn is offered a chance to join Aimee Semple McPherson's crusade team, she finds herself confronted with temptations she never dreamed of. Can Dorothy Lynn embrace all the Roaring Twenties has to offer without losing herself in the process?

My take:

I really enjoyed this book. At first I wasn't sure how I would like the split story between the present day and the 1920s, but I ended up really liking it. I found myself engaged in the story of Dorothy Lynn's life and didn't want it to end! I was very intrigued by Aimee Semple McPherson, did a little research on her, and discovered that she was the founder of the Foursquare Church! One thing I found strange was the showmanship in her crusades that the book alluded to. It made me wonder if Aimee was really like that, or if it was just a guess on the part of the author, to make the story a little more interesting. Aimee's character was one of my least favorites in the book. I really enjoyed Dorothy Lynn's story though. I found her to be a character I could really relate to, and I'm sure many others would feel the same.

Overall, I loved this fascinating story about a young woman coming of age in the Roaring Twenties. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good historical fiction book. I give this book a "4 1/2."

Author Q&A:


1. What was your inspiration for this book, All for a Song?

There were so many different pieces that came together with this book; it’s hard to name just
one. First, I was introduced to, and then became fascinated with Aimee Semple McPherson,
and while I wasn’t ready to take on her story, I knew I wanted to create my own characters to
somehow come into her sphere. She was a woman who embraced both ministry and fame,
and I wanted to create a character who had that same opportunity. With that, I am so
inspired by the decade of the 1920’s—such sweeping social changes, shifts in moral
centering, an explosion of choices and opportunities for women. It was a time to test one’s
faith—to go against the new norms in pursuit of righteousness. Such a challenge!

2. Tell me about your main character Dorothy Lynn. Was her character based upon anyone in 
particular?

The young Dorothy Lynn, no, not really—not beyond any other singer/songwriter out there.
She’s a young woman with a message and a voice, so maybe she’s a mash-up of every
musician I know. The older Dorothy Lynn, Miss Lynnie, is somewhat based on the mother of a
friend of mine. His mother went to be with the Lord while I was in the final stages of writing this
novel, and at her funeral, I learned that she had a stroke years before her passing, during
which she had a glimpse of Heaven, and had spent her intervening years longing to return. I
remember going home from that celebration of her life and re-writing just about every Breath
of Angels scene, incorporating that into Dorothy Lynn’s story. It was exactly what the story
needed, and brought about a depth I couldn’t have imagined in the initial draft.

3. What lessons or truths will your readers find in the pages of this novel?

I hope that they learn that it’s good to take a chance, to take hold of opportunities that
come your way, even if it doesn’t always make sense to do so. Yes, there are times that
require periods of prayer and reflection and guidance-seeking, but then there are times when
you have to hop on the next train and trust that God has the details well in hand. Along with
that, I’d want them to know that while there is breath, there is opportunity for grace and
forgiveness, but we might need to humble ourselves. There’s a theme of a longing for home,
no matter how enticing the alternative seems.

4. Although this novel is set in the 1920s, how does Dorothy Lynn’s story still resonate today?

The world today wants nothing more than to entice young women to exploit themselves in
some way, and the enemy wants nothing more than to make us think that we are beyond
redemption. We all make stupid, thoughtless, reckless decisions; we all get ourselves into such
unbelievably embarrassing messes; we all disappoint our loved ones. The world tells you to
move on; God tells you to go back.

5. As a writer, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story?

Oh, my goodness. As a historical writer, I loved the time period—that sort of new, innocent
fumbling with innovations of the time. One of my favorite scenes was when the 107-year-old
Dorothy Lynn experiences her first iPad. (By the way, I had to make her that old in order to
make all the history “fit.” I spent every day for a month watching the Willard Scott segment on
the Today show making sure that her age would be believable. Wouldn’t you know? Every
week there’s somebody that tops the 105th birthday!)

6. What is your hope for this story? How would you like it to impact readers?

I would love it if this book would prompt a reader to reach out to somebody they feel they
have lost. Reconciliation is hard—whether you’re the perpetrator or the victim of whatever
“wrong” that happened. But life is short, even if you’re going to get more than a century of
living, at some time that final day will come. Close those gaps in your life. Offer and ask for
forgiveness. Leave a legacy of grace.

7. How has this novel helped you to grow as a storyteller?

My tendency (a very purposeful one) is to leave my stories with a bit of an “unfinished” edge.
I like my characters to leave the page on the cusp of fulfillment, so that my readers can have
the pleasure of imagining those final, satisfying moments. A good friend (and, coincidentally
a fan) of mine said, “I love your books. I hate your endings. I’m just going to have to accept
that this is what an Allison Pittman story does.” So—how fun was this to write the most definitive
ending, ever! To open a story on the last day of a character’s life—so totally new for me.

8. What is the best advice or encouragement that you have received?

It goes back to a conversation I had with James Scott Bell back when I’d written
approximately 7 chapters of what would become my first novel, Ten Thousand Charms. The
whole conversation is chronicled in Chapter 16 of his fabulous book The Art of War for Writers.
(I’m the “young woman” – which I was, at the time, sort of…) Anyway, I was frustrated and
discouraged, and he explained to me that this writing thing was like a pyramid. At its base,
you have everybody who ever thinks they maybe might want to try to start writing a book
someday. At the top is Max Lucado. The rest of us are somewhere in-between. “Your job…is
to keep moving up the pyramid. Each level presents its own challenges, so concentrate on
the ones right in front of you.” I love and welcome every new challenge.


About the author:

Award-winning author Allison Pittman left a seventeen-year teaching career in 2005 to follow the Lord's calling into the world of Christian fiction, and God continues to bless her step of faith. Her novels For Time and Eternity and Forsaking All Others were both finalists for the Christy Award for excellence in Christian fiction, and her novel Stealing Home won the American Christian Fiction Writers' Carol Award. She heads up successful, thriving writers' group in San Antonio, Texas, where she lives with her husband, Mike, their three sons, and the canine star of the family  - Stella.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers. 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."