Review: The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham

July 30, 2018

Title: The Hope of Azure Springs
Author: Rachel Fordham
Publisher: Revell
Pages: 336
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3473-2
Publication Date: July 3rd, 2018

About the Book:
Alone in a strange town, can she find healing for her new home . . . and herself?
Seven years ago, orphaned and alone, Em finally arrived at a new home in Iowa after riding the orphan train. But secrets from her past haunt her, and her new life in the Western wilderness is a rough one. When her guardian is shot and killed, Em, now nineteen, finally has the chance to search for her long-lost sister, but she won't be able to do it alone.

For Azure Springs Sheriff Caleb Reynolds, securing justice for the waifish and injured Em is just part of his job. He's determined to solve every case put before him in order to impress his parents and make a name for himself. Caleb expects to succeed. What he doesn't expect is the hold this strange young woman will have on his heart.

Welcome to the charming town of Azure Springs, Iowa, where people care deeply for one another and, sometimes, even fall in love.
 My Thoughts:
I'm always excited to find a new, debut author. I heard about The Hope of Azure Springs several months ago and have anxiously awaited it since. I always love historical fiction and can't wait to see what the setting will be.

The Hope of Azure Springs was a different story then what I have read. It was an interesting idea. It took the idea of the orphan trains, that has been a popular topic as of late, but put a spin on it and brought the idea, that I wondered about.

The first plot of the story wrapped quickly. I was surprised, in a good way, how it was all taken care of. It flowed in to the second plot and I have to say, it is with that plot, I got really involved in the story.The second half really caught me up.

The characters had a good background. Em was a girl who had a hard life, but was a girl who still had hope and faith that things could be better and tried to bring joy to those around her.

Caleb is a man, when we are introduced is just a man who is dedicated to his job, but is also dealing the ghosts of his past.

This was a good debut story and I would like to see what other stories Rachel Fordham will write.

3.5 out of 5

About the Author:
 Rachel Fordham started writing when her children began begging her for stories at night. She'd pull a book from the shelf, but they'd insist she make one up. Finally she put her love of good stories with her love of writing and she hasn't stopped since. She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington.






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

Bookish Roadtrip: Summer Adventure Stop 1 Gettysburg, PA

July 27, 2018

For 2 weeks this summer, I was on the road and it was amazing!We drove and drove and drove, but when we stopped, we got to see so many wonderful places. I thought it would be fun for the next few weeks to share about the places we visited and the books that matched up with the these places.

Gettysburg is my first blog stop on the tour, but it was actually the last place we visited before heading home. We were tired by the time we got there, but it is a place that left a big impression!

I'm a history nerd and proud of it. Ha! This was a perfect place for me.


A few years ago, I discovered the series, Heroines Behind the Lines by Jocelyn Green. The whole series focused on women who lived during the Civil War. The second book of the series was the Widow of Gettysburg. It was a fantastic story! It touched on the full three day battle and how it affected the people of this small town. You can check out my review of the story here. Seeing the actual battlefield and town really put everything in to perspective. 

Touring the Battlefield, we bought the audio tour and drove around. I have to say, I was glad we saw it that way. We were able to pause and go and research as we wanted to. The tour book broke down each stop and gave some interesting information about people who fought and lived in the town at the time. The Battlefield is the same as it was during the battle. The only difference is all of the monuments. Seeing all the places that was represented was amazing.
We broke the tour up into two days. We were tired. The first day, we went to the visitors center and got the tour book and CD's. We also spent about 2 1/2 hours at the museum and gift shop. So many souvenirs! The museum was presented so well and had it broken up by day of the battle. It didn't stop there, it even presented information about the political climate for after the war. I thought it was a great place to visit.

 
 (Looking across the field that Pickett's command would charge. 1 mile of open ground. Their goal was that small patch of trees in the distance.)
 (Looking down from Little Round Top towards Devil's Den)

Another book great read was The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. I read it in college and the history behind it was impressive. The movie, Gettysburg, follows the book very closely.

Next Friday, I will focus on another stop of this 2 week adventure.

Review: More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer

July 26, 2018

Title: More Than Meets the Eye
Author: Karen Witemeyer
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 347
ISBN: 9780764212833
Publication Date: June 5th, 2018

About the Book:
When Her Family Is Threatened, She Doesn't Expect Falling in Love to Be Their Best Defense

Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes--one bright blue, the other dark brown--Evangeline has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world's judgments, and Evangeline has two--Seth and Zach, fellow orphans she now counts as brothers.

Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. And when Hamilton's unique sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time they cross paths, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?
My Thoughts:
Karen Witemeyer is an author who is able to bring out the full range of emotions while reading her stories. More Than Meets the Eye is no different. However, this story starts out a little sad, but from sadness, comes a wonderful legacy and some fun moments.

Evangeline Hamilton is a girl, who since a young age has dealt with some hard issues. She lost her parents young and was sent out west on an orphan train. In the process of being on the search for a new family, she was rejected by many for her heterochromia, two colored eyes. When tragedy strikes, she finds the family she needs when she least expected it. We jump ahead several years to when she is nineteen and follow her and her brothers on their very own farm.

One day when out and about, she meets her new neighbor Logan, in a very unique way. The meeting then left a memory when Logan. Evangeline thinks she has made a friend that can look past her unique eyes, but little does she know that Logan has been brought to the area for other reasons.

Following Logan and Evangeline in this story was interesting. The story led me to a different area then what I was expecting, it wasn't bad, but enjoyable. This story was a lighter story then previous Karen Witemeyer books and offered a couple of different plots circulating around, but in the end tied together well.

This story was interesting to in that you start thinking, oh, this character is the going to not be exactly the bad guy, but the advisory, then you start thinking, nope, I was wrong, maybe this! Then nope. I liked how it kept me guessing and kept the story twisting around.  

The characters were well developed and enjoyed the different personalities. I'm happy that the book left it set up to carry the story on.

This was an enjoyable story!

4 out of 5

About the Author:
Karen Witemeyer

Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance to give the world more happily-ever-afters. Karen makes her home in Texas, with her husband and three children.

Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.com.





Thank you to Bethany House, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Waiting On Wednesday: Flights of Fancy

July 25, 2018

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature to spotlight an up and coming release you are most excited about. 

This week I'm focusing on a book that will kick-off the New Year and close out a series I have been enjoying a lot! This story is another Historical Romance, but it is also a comedy! The mix is great. I can't wait to see how this series by Jen Turano ends. She is able to weave such an creative and fun story together with some dynamic character.

Waiting On:
Title: Flights of Fancy
Author: Jen Turano
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: January 1st, 2019

About the Book:
Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high society world she's always known and finds herself to be an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.

Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely on his own merits. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he's unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.

Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing, but when mysterious incidents on the farm and the truth of Isadora's secret threaten those they love, they'll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happy-ever-after.
 
What are you waiting on this week?
Let me know in the comments below!

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books of 2018....So Far!

July 24, 2018


Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Read Girl.

I'm still playing catch-up, but this goof up gave me time to feature a couple of more books!

This is all about the books I have loved so far in 2018. I've almost hit my reading goal, I set it to 25, last year was sad, and now I'm almost past it. So I have many books I can choose from. 

Falling for You by Becky Wade
Catching the Wind by Melanie Dobson
 Together Forever by Jody Hedlund
High as the Heavens by Kate Breslin
The Rancher's Surprise Daughter by Jill Lynn
 A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green
Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano
 A Light on the Hill by Connilyn Cossette
A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander
Many Sparrows by Lori Benton


I know this topic is now a couple of weeks old, but I would love to know what your favorite books of the year are so far!

Review: The Ranchers Surprise Daughter by Jill Lynn

July 23, 2018

Title: The Rancher's Surprise Daughter 
Author: Jill Lynn
Publisher: Love Inspried
Pages: 288
ISBN: 972-1-335-50966-6
Publication Date: July 17th, 2018

About the Book:
A reunion he never expected... In this Colorado Grooms novel,

Luc Wilder's surprised when his ex-girlfriend Cate Malory arrives at his Colorado guest ranch. And he's downright stunned when she introduces him to his three-year-old daughter, Ruby. Bonding with the bubbly little girl is easy--Ruby loves ranch life, just like her daddy. But after all the secrets, can Luc and Cate find a way to trust in each other again?
My Thoughts:
I have to start of by saying, that I have heard some fun things about Jill Lynn, and I'm sad I haven't read any of her previous stories before this one. The Rancher's Surprise Daughter was a sweet story, but one that has a real feel, and touched on very real topics. I appreciated that!

Jill has a very nice way of writing a story that just flows and keeps you reading till before you know it, the story is over.

This second chance, contemporary, reunion story was  just fantastic. From my personal experiences, I could see both sides of the story from Cate and Lucas and could argue both of their sides with them, and could sympathize. Lucas is a man who is all about keeping his word and being the man of the area. Cate is a woman, who has been a single mom for a while and know how to handle things her way. Both of their lives are thrown for a loop when a medical issue comes up for Ruby, their daughter.

I appreciate the steps that went into this story. It really is a shock for Lucas, he does everything right at the beginning of the story in my eyes. I'm glad he wanted to verify. He is a character that wants to help, but he doesn't want to get dragged into something without full knowledge.

Cate is woman who comes off as strong and highly independent, but when it comes to Ruby, she needs to put what she wants aside and do what is best for her kiddo.

Even though Cate and Lucas made decisions in the past that left consequences, they changed and grew and found faith that shaped them into who they are now.

Jill Lynn offered up some very well developed characters. I enjoyed following them on this journey. I honestly can't wait to go and read some more of Jill's books!

 4 out of 5

About the Author:
Jill Lynn Buteyn is a co-author of Just Show Up with Kara Tippetts, and the author of the inspirational romance novel, Falling for Texas (as Jill Lynn). A recipient of the ACFW Genesis award for her fiction work, she has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethel University. Jill lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children.
Connect with her on social media or at Jill-Lynn.com.





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


Chaos In The Blink of an Eye Series Blitz

July 20, 2018

Patrick  Higgins  series  blitz

Welcome to the Chaos In The Blink of an Eye series blitz and GIVEAWAY, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

In  the  days  following  the  Rapture  of  Christ͛s  Church,  the  ultimate  enemy  of  God  raised  up  his  primary  human  agent  in  the  flesh  to  carry  out  his  diabolical  mission,  Salvador  Romanero.   
The  Miracle  Maker,  as  Salvador  Romanero  was  known  throughout  the  world—after  various  predictions  he͛d  made  had  all  come  true—was  about  to  perform  his  greatest  miracle:  bringing  peace  to  a  tiny  country  that  had  lived  in  constant  fear  since  its  inception,  the  nation  of  Israel.  

But  instead  of  a  peace  treaty  being  signed,  Jerusalem  fell  under  a  sneak  attack  on  that  day.  In  just  six  hours,  more  blood  was  shed  in  the  streets  of  the  Holy  Land  than  any  other  24-hour  period  in  Israel͛s  turbulent  history.  Much  of  the  city  was  in  shambles.  Smoke  smoldered  from  buildings.   

 Anyone  opposing  the  one  world  government  he  was  putting  in  motion—to  include  a  one  world  religion—would  be  silenced  for  good.    

As  the  Miracle  Maker  set  out  to  create  a  brave  new  world,  children  of  the  Most  High  God  were  preparing  for  the  absolute  worst.  They  knew  God͛s  unprecedented  judgments  were  coming.  After  all,  it  was  written.  They  also  knew  Salvador Romanero  was  the  long-foretold  Antichrist  of  the  Bible,  and  there  was  nothing  they  could  do  to  stop  the  Son  of  Perdition  in  his  quest  for  global  worship.  

Initially,  Clayton  Holmes  and  Travis  Hartings,  founders  of  the  End  Times  Salvation  Movement,  used  a  website  to  connect  them  to  other  new  believers  also  left  behind  on  that  fateful  day.  Both  men  prayed  for  weeks  on  end  that  God  would  give  them  a  surefire  sign  so  they  would  know  who  was  trustworthy  or  not.  For  three  consecutive  nights  they  had  the  very  same  dream.  Both  heard  a  voice  say,  ͚Those  who  contact  you  regarding  this  dream  are  trustworthy.͛But  with the  second  attempt  to  sign  a  peace  treaty  with  Israel  now  upon  them,  the  chaotic  world  humanity  had  inherited  after  the  Rapture,  would  soon  come  completely  unglued.   

Instead  of  peace  and  prosperity  for  all,  Planet  Earth  would  experience  the  most  turbulent  seven  years  humanity  would  ever  know...  


PURCHASE: GoodReads/ Amazon
Goodreads
|
Amazon

Goodreads
|
Amazon
Goodreads
|
Amazon
Goodreads
|
Amazon
 
BOOKS IN THIS SERIES


Series Purchase Links: Goodreads | Amazon

CHAOS IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE: PART SIX – THE SEALING releases Autumn 2018!

Each day of the blitz spotlights a different book from the series - follow along with the tour to learn about each of the first five books individually!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

patrick  higgins

Patrick Higgins is the author of "The Pelican Trees", "Coffee In Manila", the award-winning "The Unannounced Christmas Visitor", and the award-winning prophetic end times series, "Chaos In The Blink Of An Eye." While the stories he writes all have different themes and take place in different settings, the one thread that links them all together is his heart for Jesus and his yearning for the lost. With that in mind, it is his wish that the message his stories convey will greatly impact each reader, by challenging you not only to contemplate life on this side of the grave, but on the other side as well. After all, each of us will spend eternity at one of two places, based solely upon a single decision which must be made this side of the grave. That decision will be made crystal clear to each reader of his books.  

CONNECT WITH PATRICK: website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

chaos  blitz  giveaway

TOUR GIVEAWAY

Patrick Higgins is giving away to one (1) winner:
  • $50 Amazon gift card &
  • the first five books in the Chaos series
Open Internationally as long as recipient can accept a gift card from US Amazon. Books available in winner's choice of ebook or print, although ebook only for international winner.  

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight July 16, 2018 and last through 11:59pm July 23, 2018. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.


tour  schedule
Check out the full schedule at the tour landing page!
JustRead  Logo



Review: Many Sparrows by Lori Benton

July 19, 2018

Title: Many Sparrows
Author Lori Benton
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Pages: 390
ISBN: 9781601429940
Publication Date: August 29th, 2017

About the Book:
Either she and her children would emerge from that wilderness together, or none of them would…

In 1774, the Ohio-Kentucky frontier pulses with rising tension and brutal conflicts as Colonists push westward and encroach upon Native American territories. The young Inglesby family is making the perilous journey west when an accident sends Philip back to Redstone Fort for help, forcing him to leave his pregnant wife Clare and their four-year old son Jacob on a remote mountain trail.
When Philip does not return and Jacob disappears from the wagon under the cover of darkness, Clare awakens the next morning to find herself utterly alone, in labor and wondering how she can to recover her son...especially when her second child is moments away from being born.

Clare will face the greatest fight of her life, as she struggles to reclaim her son from the Shawnee Indians now holding him captive. But with the battle lines sharply drawn, Jacob’s life might not be the only one at stake. When frontiersman Jeremiah Ring comes to her aid, can the stranger convince Clare that recovering her son will require the very thing her anguished heart is unwilling to do—be still, wait and let God fight this battle for them?
My Thoughts:
Oh, my goodness! Lori Benton knows how to weave such a gripping and historical drama. The detail, the characters, the history all come together in such an amazing way.

Clare Inglesby is a woman who is already broken when we first meet her. She is in a marriage that she is emotionally done with. She is being dragged pillar to post by a husband that is still trying to live a life, or at least regain a part of one that has been lost to him years ago.

Clare has already gone through so much and it is interesting and also, something I could relate to being dropped into in this story. Everything that follows brings Clare to an area where she brought to her lowest. It leaves her completely broken and and wondering to where she needs to put her trust. She deals with such a heart breaking battle that it really pulls at the heart when reading it.

Jeremiah Ring is a man we are introduced to at a very particular time for Clare, but ends up being the right time. He is a man who has faced his demons, and is still dealing with them, but is trying his best to take what he has learned and help those around them. He is also a man that is town between two worlds. Once you get to know him, you can see why this is a hard decision for him.

The setting for this story was unique one for me. I hear of this type of based story, but usually at an earlier time or later time, but having it weaved near the beginning of the Revolutionary War was one that really brought it all together. There is so much history at this time, that it is sometimes hard to remember so much was going on in different parts of America.

The detail to Lori Benton's writing is beyond what I'm used to reading. She is able to capture the smallest of details and flesh it out and bring you to that scene.

She is able to weave in the story of faith in a way that it pulls at the heart and make you think. Lori brings a story of faith, though set back in time, can speak to someone today.

Too Read
5 out of 5

About the Author:
Lori Benton was raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American history going back three hundred years. Her novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history. When she isn’t writing, reading, or researching, Lori enjoys exploring and photographing the Oregon wilderness with her husband. She is the author of Burning Sky, recipient of three Christy Awards, The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn, Christy-nominee The Wood’s Edge, and A Flight of Arrows.




Thank you to the INSPY advisory board and the Publisher, I received a copy of this book for free.

Waiting On Wednesday: With This Pledge

July 18, 2018

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature to spotlight an up and coming release you are most excited about. 

This week is all about my favorite genre, Historical Fiction, mixed with romance. Historical fiction is so fun for me and has a wide selection of authors. This author this week is one who really does some very detailed research and gives a very detailed an emotional depth to her characters. She has become an author I look forward to reading.

Waiting On:
Title: With This Pledge
Author: Tamera Alexander
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: January 8th, 2018

About the Book:
History takes on vivid life in the stunning first full-length installment of Tamera Alexander's new series, The Carnton Novels.

On the night of November 30, 1864, a brutal battle in Franklin, Tennessee, all but decimates the Confederacy and nearly kills Captain Roland Ward Jones. A decorated Mississippi sharpshooter, Jones has a vision on the battlefield and, despite the severity of his wounds, believes his life will be spared. But a life without his leg, he can't abide. He compels Elizabeth "Lizzie" Clouston—governess to the McGavock family at the Carnton mansion—to intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate. True to her word, Lizzie speaks on his behalf and saves not only the captain's leg but also his life.

When a fourteen-year-old soldier dies in Lizzie's arms that night, the boy's final words, whispered with urgency, demand that Lizzie deliver them to their intended recipient. But all she has is the boy's first name. And, as she soon discovers, there's no record of him ever having enlisted. How can she set out alone across a land so divided by war and hatred to honor her pledge? Even more, does she dare accept Captain Jones's offer to accompany her? As he coalesces at Carnton, romance has blossomed between him and Lizzie—a woman already betrothed to a man she does not love.

From the pages of history and the personal accounts of those who endured the Battle of Franklin, Tamera Alexander weaves the real-life love letters between Captain Roland Ward Jones and Elizabeth Clouston into a story of unlikely romance first kindled amid the shadows of war.
What are you waiting on this week?
Let me know in the comments. :-) I'm also looking for new suggestions. 

Top Ten Tuesday: 4th of July Books

July 16, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Read Girl.

I forgot to hit schedule on the post, so I'm playing catch up. :-)

Each week features a book related topic to spotlight your Top Ten.
It's the week of 4th of the July. I wanted to feature some books that fit this time of year, not just Red, White, and Blue. Not only is this the time where we celebrate the birth of out nation, but it is also the anniversary of another important battle, that of Gettysburg. I wanted to spotlight books that focus on these times. 

The 4th of July
 The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki
This takes place during the Revolutionary War. I have yet to read this book, but I'm anxious to. It looks like a perfect read for this time of year.

 Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund
I loved this book! It is a book based on the romance of John and Abigail Adams. It has some mystery and fun. It is a great read for this time of year.

Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin
Widow of Gettysburg by Jocelynn Green

I loved Widow of Gettysburg...the whole series really! The history and story is great! 
I have yet to read Candle in the Dark though, but it has been on my list to read for a while.

What are you reading the holiday week? Anything that fits with the celebration?
Let me know in the comments. I'm always up for new book ideas.

Latest Instagrams

© The Shelf Life. Design by FCD.