Waiting On:
Title: To the Farthest Shore
Author: Elizabeth Camden
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: February 28th, 2017

Synopsis: 
From GoodReads

Naval officer Ryan Gallagher broke Jenny's heart six years ago when he abruptly disappeared. Now he's returned but refuses to discuss what happened. Furious, Jenny has no notion of the impossible situation Ryan is in. With lives still at risk, he can't tell Jenny the truth about his overseas mission--but he can't bear to lose her again either.

Why I'm Waiting:
Elizabeth Camden writes such amazing stories. Her story telling and characters are just phenomenal. She also takes interesting times and history and makes them pop! I can't wait to see how this story unfolds.

What are you waiting on this week?

Topic:

Waiting On: 
Title: A Portrait of Emily Price
Author: Kathrine Reay
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: November 1st, 2016

Synopsis:
From GoodReads

Art restorer Emily Price has never encountered anything she can’t fix—until she meets Ben, an Italian chef, who seems just right. When Emily follows Ben home to Italy, she learns that his family, however, is another matter . . .

Emily Price—fix-it girl extraordinaire and would-be artist—finds herself in Atlanta, repairing objects damaged in a house fire. As she works to restore the home and dreams of one family, she strives to keep the pieces of her own life in perfect order and secure her own happy ending—a gallery show of her own. There is no time for distractions, especially not the ultimate distraction of falling in love.

But Chef Benito Vassallo’s relentless pursuit proves hard to resist. Visiting from Italy, Ben works to reconnect with his brother and breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s faded restaurant, Piccolo. And soon after their first meeting, he works to win Emily as well—inviting her into his world and into his heart.

Emily astonishes everyone when she accepts Ben’s proposal and follows him home. Upon landing in Rome, she is enchanted with Italy. But instead of allowing the land, culture and people to transform her, Emily imposes her will upon everyone and everything around her, alienating Ben’s tightly knit family. Only Ben’s father, Lucio, gives Emily the understanding she needs to lay down her guard. Soon, Emily’s life and art begin to blossom, and Italy’s beauty and rhythm take hold of her spirit.

Yet when she unearths long-buried family secrets, Emily wonders if she really fits into Ben’s world. Will the joys of Italy become just a memory, or will Emily share in the freedom and grace that her life with Ben has shown her are possible?

Why I'm Waiting:
I fell in love with Kathrine Reay's writing with her first book Dear Mr. Knightly and it was solidified with her sophomore book, Lizzie & Jane. Her characters have so much depth and the stories just grip you. I can't wait to see what this story has to offer!


What are you waiting on this week?

Topic:

Ok, this is an interesting topic! I have found so many books over the years I wanted to read, but just haven't gotten around to reading.

Title: On This Foundation
Author: Lynn Austin
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 416
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0900-0
Publication Date: October 16th, 2015

Synopsis:

Stone by Stone, the Wall Will Rise Once More Around God's City
When news reaches him that Jerusalem's wall is shattered and its gates burned with fire, a distraught Nehemiah seeks God's guidance in fasting and prayer. Granted an unexpected leave from his duty as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah sets out for Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall--never anticipating all the dangers that await him on his arrival.

The leaders of the surrounding nations become his fierce enemies, plotting to assassinate him and stop the wall's reconstruction forever. A drought, meanwhile, has left the country impoverished, with many families resorting to selling their children as bond-servants just to keep from starving.

Capturing the rebuilding of the wall through the eyes of a number of characters, On This Foundation is the powerful conclusion to The Restoration Chronicles. This exploration of faith in the midst of oppression offers hope that, in spite of appearances, the gracious hand of God is upon those who believe.

Review:
This is the third and final book in the Restoration Chronicles. It closes it out well. We started this series when Ezra leaves Babylon and heads back to Israel to start resettling the promise land. In this book, we have come to the end, with Nehemiah and is calling back to Israel.

Like the other books in this series, this story focuses on a cast of characters in different areas to cover many angles and the trials and hardships that were faced during this time. Lynn Austin is able to capture and  and bring this time to life, all while sticking to the truth of the Bible. It is a beautifully written book.

Nehemiah faces many hardships. First from the surrounding leaders of the area. None are happy that Israel is building up their wall is ready to keep it from happening. Then Nehemiah faces struggles from inside the city as well. It isn't an easy time, but it offers a very impressive background for the cast of characters.

Lynn Austin is an amazing author and I can't wait to read more of her book. I have many of her older books still left to read and I can't wait to see what new stories she comes out with in the future!

Too Read!
5 out of 5

About the Author:
Lynn Austin has sold more than one and a half million copies of her books worldwide. A former teacher who now writes and speaks full-time, she has won eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction. One of those novels, Hidden Places, has also been made into an Original Hallmark Channel movie. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and make their home in western Michigan.
Learn more at www.lynnaustin.org.

Waiting On:
Title: The Mark of the Kind
Author: Jocelyn Green
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: January 3rd, 2017

Synopsis: 
From GoodReads

Sweeping Historical Fiction Set at the Edge of the Continent
After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720s French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict. 

When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne's brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on? 

With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king's mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption.

Why I'm Waiting:
I absolutely loved Jocelyn Green's previous Civil War series. I can't wait to dive into this story! The attention to detail and the historical details really make her books pop.


What are you waiting on this week?

Title: Honor Redeemed
Author: Christine Johnson
Publisher: Revell
Pages: 352
ISBN: 978-0-8007-2351-4
Publication Date: July 16th, 2016

Synopsis: 

Her future--and her heart--hang in the balance.
Two years ago, Prosperity Jones waved farewell to her beloved David as the army sent him to faraway Key West. Now with her parents gone, she has but one prospect for the future: make the dangerous journey from Nantucket to Key West to reunite with David and secure a happier life.

But when Prosperity arrives penniless in the South, she is dismayed to find David has not been eagerly awaiting their reunion. In fact, he is married to someone else. Scrambling to survive and nursing a broken heart, Prosperity gains the friendship--and the affection--of a kind doctor. Could he be the answer to her loneliness? Or will her life be upended by circumstance yet again?

With a deft hand, Christine Johnson fills the senses with the sights, sounds, and smells of Key West in this heartwarming story of honor lost, honor redeemed, and a love forged in adversity.

Review:
This is the first book that I have read by Christine Johnson. I will start off I enjoyed the background of this story. There are not many books that I have read that have focused in the Florida Keys, especially during this time period. It was a fresh idea which I enjoyed. 

Another part of the story I enjoyed was the fact that a lot of the characters were flawed and not just in small ways. It was very much real world flaws and they had to deal with the out come in a very real way. One bad decision can have a ripple effect and this story showed that. 

Even though this book is the 2nd in the series, it worked well as a stand alone book, I do want to go back and look into first book. I enjoyed many of the secondary characters. They helped add depth to the story and progressed the story well.  

There was a part of Prosperity I didn't care for, but with dealing with the shock that she had, it honestly was spot on. She was hit with an emotional upheavel and the way she had to deal with plus with the emotional outlook of women at the time did fit. 

I enjoyed Honor Redeemed, it was a good light read for a weekend read.

Too Read
4 out of 5
  About the Author:
Christine Johnson is the author of several books for Steeple Hill and Love Inspired and has been twice named a finalist for Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart® award. When not writing, she loves to hike and explore God's majestic creation. These days, she and her husband, a Great Lakes ship pilot, split their time between northern Michigan and the Florida Keys.






Thank you to Revell Reads Blog Tour, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Topic:

 What is your Top Ten this week?

Title: Faith
Author: Lyn Cote
Publisher: Tyndale House
Pages: 584
ISBN: 978-1-4143-7563-2
Publication Date: April 1st, 2016

Synopsis:

The Civil War battlefield is the last place Quakeress Faith Cathwell thought she’d find herself. But with a gift for nursing, Faith seizes this opportunity to join the fight for abolition—and to search for Shiloh, a freeborn childhood friend who was kidnapped and sold south by unscrupulous slave catchers.

Knowing it’s much too dangerous for her to search enemy territory alone, Faith enlists the help of Colonel Devlin Knight, who is indebted to her for saving his cousin’s life. A career soldier, Dev is committed to the preservation of the Union but conflicted about freeing his own slave and confidant, who plans to enlist as soon as Dev gives him manumission papers.

Blazing a trail east with the rest of Grant’s army, Dev and Faith fight their personal battles—and a growing attraction to each other. When beliefs clash and passions flare, they quickly find that the only thing more dangerous than the war surrounding them is the battle within their hearts.

Review:
I was introduced to Lyn Cote a couple of years ago with Honor, the first book in the Quaker Brides series. Oh, how I fell in love with that story! I still rave about it. I was anxious for Blessing to come out, I sadly haven't read it yet, even though I have it. Then when Faith came out, I was excited to read it. And even though I have read this series out of order, it still works. These books can work together as standalone stories...but why would you want to do that? Ha!

Faith starts with a punch. It leaves you with many questions and and shows you how things were during the time of the civil war. It shows both sides well in honesty. And depending on which side you look at, that side will be glamorized while the other side is villainized. In truth though, the civil war had a mix of opinions on it and more to the background, similar to the Revolutionary war. Lyn Cote portrays this well in Faith. Not everything is black and white. There is a lot of grey.

The characters in Faith were well flushed out and had great depth to them, and also growth as they continued through the story. They had a realisticness to them. Faith is a wonderfully strong character, very much like Honor. She has a different view then most as Quaker, but that doesn't mean she is weak. She stands her ground and fights for what is right and in doing so, it takes her into a profession that is looked down on by a few. Yet, she holds firm. Her beliefs lead her and her compassion is amazing. Even when question, she does what she feels she must.

Devlin is another great character. He honestly showed what people were like. Even though from the South and fighting for the North, he has conflicted views with his background. He has his own beliefs and he does his best with it. But like many, he does has a lot to learn. Following his story was enjoyable. He was a complex character and he kept opening up more to me in this book.

Through these books, Lyn Cote has fast become a favorite author. I can't wait to read more of her books!

Too Read
4 out of 5

About the Author:
Lyn Cote, known for her "Strong Women, Brave Stories," is the award-winning, critically-acclaimed author of more than 35 novels. Her books have been RITA Award finalists and Holt Medallion and Carol Award winners. Lyn received her bachelor's degree in education and her master's degree in American history from Western Illinois University. She and her husband have two grown children and live on a small but beautiful lake in northern Wisconsin.

Visit her online at www.LynCote.com.


Thank you to the Tyndale Blog Network, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.