Monday, March 31, 2014

Fool for Books - Giveaway Hop!

Fool for Books
Fool for Books Giveaway Hop
April 1st to 7th
Hello everyone!!! I'm so excited to be a part of another great giveaway! Here's what you can win: 
1 Copy of 
 
This is the first book I have read by this author. It has a good message and loveable characters. However, I would advise there is some language and suggestive content, it is not too bad though. I would recommend it for young adults or older.
PLUS a 
$10 e-Gift card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble!

Enter to win TODAY! (Winner will be announced on April 14th as I will be on a mission trip to Belize until then!)



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Saturday, March 29, 2014

Love Redeemed by Kelly Irvin - Book Review

For an overview of this book, please see my FIRST Wild Card post.

My Review: This is such a tragic story with a great message. Kelly Irvin creates a vivid picture of what it means to be covered by God's grace. The story itself is an excellent mix of sorrow and joy. Sometimes, when covering such a sad topic, stories becoming depressing and you lose hope for the characters. Well, Kelly Irvin's story moves along at a quick enough pace that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel for Phoebe and Michael.

The characters, both main and supporting, are very well developed. Phoebe is a flighty, carefree woman who dreams of being a wife and a mother. Michael is a stoic, careful man. He admires Phoebe and her carefree ways. Both of these characters journeys are well written and very real feeling. I felt like I was moving along in their times of sorrow and trouble with them. I rejoiced with them both in the end. The supporting characters made the story better because they provided more detail into Phoebe and Michael's character, as well as the situation they were going through. You get a real sense of closeness and community from this story.

Overall, the message was my favorite part of the book. God's grace is big enough to cover any sin. A fatal accident plunges Phoebe, Michael, and the whole New Hope community on a journey of discovering God's grace, forgiveness, and family. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more by this fantastic author.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Weekend Wrap Up (March 28) - Month in Review!

 
This is the Weekend Wrap-Up, inspired by Melanie at Christian Bookshelf Review. This is where I will tell you what I've read in the past week, what I'm currently reading, and what I plan to read in the week ahead. I might also share some interesting events from the past week!
What I've Read: (Not much this week. I've been unpacking!!!)
(Review to come!)
Reviews Posted
I haven't posted any reviews, but I have posted a "sneak peak" and a blog tour post for the following:
A Beauty So Rare
Love Redeemed
What I'm Currently Reading:
 
What I Plan on Reading:
A Broken Kind of Beautiful: A NovelPelican Bride, The: A NovelCowgirl TrailMark of DistinctionA Beauty So Rare (Belmont Mansion Series #2)Rocky Mountain AngelsBluebonnet Bride: A Butterfly Palace Story

My Month in Review
The Beloved DaughterA Most Peculiar Circumstance (Ladies of Distinction, #2)A Heart's Rebellion 
Overall, I'm pretty happy with what I accomplished this month. With packing and moving, I still managed to read eight books! :D 

What did you accomplish!?!

Love Redeemed by Kelly Irvin - FIRST Wild Card Blog Tour

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!




You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card author is:




and the book:


Harvest House Publishers (March 2014)

***Special thanks to Ginger Chen of Harvest House Publishers for sending me a review copy.***


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kelly Irvin is a Kansas native and has been writing professionally for 30 years. She and her husband, Tim, make their home in Texas. They have two children, three cats, and a tankful of fish. A public relations professional, Kelly is also the author of two romantic suspense novels and writes short stories in her spare time.

Visit the author's website.



SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:
In the second book of the New Hope Amish series, one young woman must find a way to move beyond the agony and mistakes of her past and embrace God’s promises for a hopeful future…and a love of her own.




Product Details:

List Price: $13.99

Paperback: 304 Pages

Publisher: Harvest House

Language: English

ISBN-13: 978-0-7369-5495-2



AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:




Phoebe Christner longed for water. Sweet, cool water. The kind that soothed a parched throat. She should be concentrating on living water, but the blazing August heat made it almost impossible. Who had the bright idea of holding baptism classes outside in
hundred-degree weather? Probably her daed. As if the searing heat would make the scholars more likely to choose the church and eternal salvation. She hid a smile behind her damp palm and then swiped at the sweat trickling down her forehead with the back of her sleeve.
The sound of hymns sung by the other members of her community wafted from her family’s barn, a slow, steady hum that threatened to lull her to sleep. She jerked upright on the hard wooden bench. No sleeping in class. The humid air hung heavy on her shoulders, making her dress sodden under her arms. She strained to feel a tiny breeze, a hint of fresh air to dissipate the rank smell of manure and horse that hung over the corral. Her stomach rumbled like a train, threatening to drown out the sound of the blue jays chattering in the oak trees that shaded their small class.
The heat of embarrassment rolled over her, compounding her discomfort. She hazarded a glance at Michael Daugherty. He sat back straight, arms folded over his chest, on the bench across from her, next to his best friend Daniel Knepp. She tried her best not to stare, but Michael’s dark blue eyes, full lips, and the hint of dimples rarely seen but surely there made it hard to look away. His gaze sideswiped hers. The skin of his tanned face grew darker. He ducked his head.
Now she’d embarrassed him too. Her face as warm as the sun that beat on them, Phoebe wiggled in her seat and leaned over to brush away a piece of dry grass from her dusty prayer service shoe. Michael’s cousin Rachel elbowed her and gave her the look. The look that said Stop it now before it’s too late. Molly Troyer, sitting at her right side, coughed into her hand, a soft, warning cough. They’d all been friends since before Phoebe could remember. They knew how easy it was for her to get off track.
Too late.
“Phoebe, are you sitting on a pile of ants, by any chance?” Despite his words, Thomas Brennaman didn’t sound angry. Phoebe so wanted to possess the deacon’s unending well of patience. Instead, she flitted from one thing to the next, like a hummingbird. “Forget those flights of fancy and concentrate. Baptism is one of the most important and sacred acts in your life.”
Mortified, she cast a swift glance in Michael’s direction. A touch of something—sympathy maybe—softened his gaze. He shook his head slightly, as if to ask, What’s going on with you? He had no idea how hard she tried. He so rarely talked to her beyond a few mumbled words of greeting at the singings or a congratulatory whoop when she got a hit at the baseball games they’d played outside the schoolhouse in the old days. In fact, he seemed to go to great lengths to avoid talking to her. To be fair, he wasn’t much of a talker with anyone. If only he could make an exception with her.
“Phoebe, do you have corn cobs in your ears?” Now Thomas did sound aggravated. “Hello?”
Daydreaming again. Her face burned. “I’m sorry. It’s so warm today. And I didn’t have time to eat breakfast this morning.” She flapped both hands in front of her face, trying to create a breeze. “Now it’s hard to concentrate because I’m so hungry. The lesson and three hours of service—well, it’s a long time until we eat.”
“You always have an excuse. We’ve been through a half dozen lessons this summer, and you’re still offering excuses. You’re not a child anymore.” Thomas’s thick eyebrows waggled over a new pair of gold-rimmed spectacles that made him look like her daed when he sat down to read The Budget newspaper in the evening. “After you join the church, you’ll be considered an adult. If you finish these classes. You can’t burn the candle at both ends…”
He let the sentence trail off, but his gaze wandered to the others in this group, all young, all at the tail end of their rumspringas. The older folks turned a blind eye to the shenanigans that went on during this period of running around, but sometimes it was hard to miss. The late hours, the schinckt of cigarette smoke lingering in clothes, a necklace one of them forgot to remove. Phoebe tried never to flaunt her forays into the Englisch world in her parents’ faces, but she knew they cringed at her late hours and unexpected absences. This morning she’d overslept and only arrived downstairs in time to clean the kitchen. She couldn’t expect to eat if she didn’t help prepare the meal.
“I’m sorry. I promise to do better.” Her stomach growled again, like a bear threatening to claw its way out. Embarrassment made the tips of her ears hot. “I’ll study hard.”
“Pray hard. Look into your heart and make sure this is something you want to do. To commit to the church and to follow the Ordnung for the rest of your life.” Thomas’s gaze roved from Phoebe to Molly and Rachel on the girls’ side and then, with slow deliberation, to Michael and Daniel. “If you have any doubt in your mind, wait. There’ll be another opportunity in the spring.”
His gaze came back to rest on Phoebe. She tried to hold it but faltered. He seemed to know of the turmoil in her head. She wanted to be baptized. She wanted to commit to the church for life. She loved her family and her community. But mostly she wanted to marry, live with her husband on their own farm, and have children. Two things had to happen first. She had to be baptized and she had to somehow get Michael’s attention. Hard as the baptism classes were, the first seemed easier than the second. So here she sat outside her family’s home, sweating in hundred-degree Missouri weather, hoping to take a step in the right direction on both counts.
“The second sermon is beginning. We need to go in.” Thomas stretched his long legs out in front of him, his expression somber. “You’ll meet with Silas in two weeks. Be sure you keep working through the Dordrecht Confession of Faith. We’ll review the seventeenth and eighteenth articles next time. The date for baptism will be set for two weeks before the fall grossgemme. Then it will be time for communion, which you will take as members of the church. We should have dates by the next class.”
Baptism and then her first meeting as a member of the church. She would have a vote on changes in the Ordnung. Then her first communion. Phoebe swallowed against the bitter taste in the back of her throat. Her days of rumspringa would be over. Days of slipping out to hear music and watch the big-screen TV over the bar in the little tavern in New Hope would be over. So would riding with her hair down and blowing in the hot wind in their Englisch friend Dylan’s convertible on the back roads that wound their way through fields full of rustling cornstalks. Time to grow up. Time to marry and have children. She hoped.
“But in two weeks we’ll be at Stockton Lake.” Her voice timid, Molly raised her hand as if she were still in school. “All our families will be there.”
The thought of the lake and swimming and fishing and barbecuing hot dogs and marshmallows and making mountain pies and telling stories in the tent after dark made Phoebe want to stand up and shout hallelujah. She caught herself just in time. Michael’s daed had announced his intention to take the whole family as well. She’d have plenty of opportunity to cross paths with Michael morning, noon, and night. To strike up a conversation. Maybe he’d ask her to take a walk in the woods some evening. Maybe. Just maybe.
A nudge from Rachel told her she’d done it again. Quickly, she fixed her gaze on Thomas, who perused the calendar book he always brought with him to the classes.
“You’re right. I’ve lost track of the days.” Frowning, he shoved his hat back on his head. “I’ll talk with Luke and Silas about the dates. You’ll be told with plenty of time for prayerful consideration.” He stood. “Go. I don’t want any of you missing the service.”
No one needed to be told again. Everyone popped up from the benches like wild horses set free from a corral. Rachel and Daniel traipsed ahead of Thomas, pretending they didn’t know each other from Adam when everyone in their tight circle of friends knew the two were leaving the singings together on Sunday nights. Phoebe hung back, wanting to give Michael a chance to say something—anything. Molly gave Phoebe a skeptical glance, sighed, and trudged after the others.
A band tightened around Phoebe’s heart. The man her friend fancied would marry another in November. At least Phoebe still had hope. As far as she knew, Michael hadn’t shone his flashlight in anyone else’s window. “Molly, wait.” She slipped over and gave her friend a quick hug so she could whisper in her ear. “You’ll meet someone soon. Don’t worry.”
“All in God’s time, right?” Molly sniffed and swiped at her nose. “For you too, right?”
“Right.” Phoebe patted her back. “You’re such a good girl. You’ll see. It’ll all work out.”
“It always does. God has a plan.” Molly managed a watery smile. “Anyway, I’d better get in there. My mudder’s waiting. Yours too, I expect.”
“Aren’t you coming to the singing tonight?”
“Nee. I don’t want to see…him.” Molly swiped at her nose again with the back of her sleeve. Her huge brown eyes fringed with dark lashes—her best feature—were bright and wet behind her brown-rimmed glasses. “I never have a handkerchief when I need one. Anyway, behave, friend. They’re watching, you know.”
“I will.”
Molly’s funk melted away and she chuckled, a soft, sweet sound that made Phoebe smile. “No you won’t, but you will try.”
Looking like a chubby pheasant in her dark brown dress, she trudged toward the barn, her head down.
“Cheer up,” Phoebe called. “Everything in its time. Isn’t that what they always say?”
Molly flopped one hand in a wave, but she didn’t look back.
Phoebe turned to find Michael staring at her, an odd expression on his face. She tugged at her apron, certain her kapp needed straightening. “Are you going in?”
What a silly thing to ask. Of course he was. She might as well have commented on the weather. Hot, isn’t it?
Michael stood, his tall, broad frame towering over her. His eyes, the color of the sky on an early spring morning, seemed to pierce her. “Did you understand what Thomas was saying?”
“About gelassenheit?” She struggled to organize her thoughts. She’d heard her daed give dozens of sermons on the topic, but she hadn’t given it much thought. She’d spent her whole life yielding to a higher authority—mostly Daed’s. Still, she’d wanted to talk to Michael. Even if she didn’t get to pick the topic. “I think so. We’re supposed to yield to the will of God and be content about it.”
“I wonder how we’re supposed to know what His will is.” Michael cocked his head, his forehead wrinkled under his Sunday service hat. Tufts of his dark—almost black—hair escaped under the brim. “Do you ever wonder that?”
Phoebe generally left the talk of religion to those who understood these things better. She only knew what she felt. She might be hotheaded and hot-blooded by her folks’ standards, but she loved her Lord God and she loved her community in a speechless bigger-than-her sort of way. She was in a hurry, that was all. Her mudder said she had always been that way for the entire nineteen years of her life. Learning to walk and talk earlier than her bruders and schweschders. Learning to read sooner. Speaking English first. Always running to school instead of walking.
“Nee, not really.” She traced a line in the dirt with the toe of her shoe. “I just do the best I can. I figure He’ll do the rest.”
Michael smiled then, a brief smile so breathtaking Phoebe forgot how to move. She forgot how to breathe. She forgot the two languages she knew how to speak. Her mudder’s voice entreated her to always remember Gott watches. Gott knows.
Before she could say anything or do anything, Michael started toward the barn. Her opportunity slipped through her fingers once again. “Michael, wait.”
His long-legged pace slowed. He glanced back. “We don’t want to miss the sermon.”
“Your family is going to Stockton Lake?”
“Jah.” He halted and turned. “Yours too?”
“Jah.”
The pause lengthened. Say something, say something. She really wanted Michael to say the something that would lead to the next step. Whatever that next step turned out to be. She had no experience with this. Instead, he fixed her with a perplexed look as if he had no idea, either. “Then I guess we’ll see each other there.”
“I guess we will.”
He shifted from one foot to the other. She did the same. “Maybe we—”
“We could—”
“What’s going on here?” Phoebe’s daed strode toward them, his tall, wiry body backlit by the sun. At first she couldn’t see his expression, but she heard the surefire irk in his words. “Phoebe, get yourself into the service. Now.”
“Nothing’s going on—”
“Go.”
“Daed—”
“Phoebe.”
The command in his voice sent her scurrying toward the barn. His gaze icy, he moved aside so she could pass. She’d finally exchanged more than two words with Michael, and her father was about to break the slim thread between them. “Daed, please.” She poured all the entreaty she could muster into the words. “We were just talking.”
“When you should’ve been listening to the sermon.”
She risked one last glance at Michael. He looked the same as always. Untroubled. Shoulders broad enough to bear the weight of the world. “I’m sorry. I had a question about the lesson,” he said. He wrapped his fingers around his suspenders, his expression earnest. “I held up Phoebe, thinking she could help me figure it out.”
Her daed’s glare faded a little. “You should ask those questions of Thomas.” The growl in his voice dissolved. “Or me.”
“I will.”
The two men seemed to size each other up.
Michael didn’t know her daed all that well. If he did, he’d look a whole lot more worried.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

A Beauty So Rare - Trailer and Excerpt!

Pink is not what Eleanor Braddock ordered, but maybe it would soften the tempered steel of a woman who came through a war—and still had one to fight.
 
Plain, practical Eleanor Braddock knows she will never marry, but with a dying soldier's last whisper, she believes her life can still have meaning and determines to find his widow. Impoverished and struggling to care for her ailing father, Eleanor arrives at Belmont Mansion, home of her aunt, Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America—and possibly the most demanding, as well. Adelicia insists on finding her niece a husband, but a simple act of kindness leads Eleanor down a far different path—building a home for destitute widows and fatherless children from the Civil War. While Eleanor knows her own heart, she also knows her aunt will never approve of this endeavor.

Archduke Marcus Gottfried has come to Nashville from Austria in search of a life he determines, instead of one determined for him. Hiding his royal heritage, Marcus longs to combine his passion for nature with his expertise in architecture, but his plans to incorporate natural beauty into the design of the widows' and children's home run contrary to Eleanor's wishes. As work on the home draws them closer together, Marcus and Eleanor find common ground—and a love neither of them expects. But Marcus is not the man Adelicia has chosen for Eleanor, and even if he were, someone who knows his secrets is about to reveal them all.
I am SO excited to read this book. I have loved every single one of Tamara Alexander's books and I'm sure this one will be no different. Look for my review, coming soon!

If the description is not enough to get you excited about this book, maybe this will help!




Still not enough?! Read an excerpt of A Beauty So Rare here!

Quick Links:
BethanyHouse Website
BethanyHouse Blog
Tamera's Website
Tamera's Facebook
A Beauty So Rare Trailer
A Beauty So Rare Excerpt

Friday, March 21, 2014

Weekend Wrap Up (March 21)

 
This is the Weekend Wrap-Up, inspired by Melanie at Christian Bookshelf Review. This is where I will tell you what I've read in the past week, what I'm currently reading, and what I plan to read in the week ahead. I might also share some interesting events from the past week!
It's moving day! We close on our house today and I couldn't be more excited! It's been a busy week, with packing and getting everything ready for the move, but I've managed to get some reviews posted!
What I've Read
 
Reviews Posted:
Sixteen BridesSixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a great book. The author had a huge challenge writing about five different characters and she did an amazing job of meeting that challenge. Even though the book focused on five characters, I still feel like I got to know and could relate to their situations.

Each of the characters was running from something in their past. They all wanted a fresh start. For the women, coming out west was a chance to escape and start over. For Matthew, meeting these women was a chance for him to move on from his past.

The message of the book was different for each character, but it all related to the same thing: God knows what your future holds and He is the only one who can bring you ultimate peace in the midst of your storm and suffering.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more by this author.


What I'm Currently Reading:

What I plan on Reading
 

That about wraps it up!

Monday, March 17, 2014

A Talent For Trouble by Jen Turano

Overview: For years, Miss Felicia Murdock's every thought and action have been in pursuit of becoming a minister's wife. When the minister she'd set her sights on has other ideas, she decides something in her life needs to change--and soon--before she wastes any more time pretending to be someone she's not. If that means spreading her wings and embracing a more lively way of life, who's to say nay?

Grayson Sumner, Lord Sefton, has had more than enough of spreading his wings and only hopes to settle into the life of a respectable New York gentleman. Prompted by some friends to lift the spirits of the disappointed-in-love Miss Murdock, he is surprised to encounter an adventurous young lady with an unfortunate knack for stumbling into troublesome situations.

Just as Grayson decides he's had quite enough of her antics, his past comes back to haunt him and his presence in Felicia's life endangers her. As they work together to extricate themselves from this latest complication, will Grayson and Felicia decide they want to spend the rest of their lives keeping one another out of trouble?

My Review: Jen Turano has written another fantastic story! With lovable characters, witty dialogue, and an interesting plot, this story has it all. The story was humorous. The mystery surrounding Grayson's past added excitement to the story.

I loved Felicia's character. A lot of people can relate to her story. She is a strong woman with a deep faith and a "talent for trouble." The circumstances she finds herself in are hysterical. Grayson adds mystery to the story. He is compassionate and gruff at the same time. The romance that blossoms between them is sweet. 

The message of the story is two-fold. Make sure you pray and listen for God's direction in your life. Second, God will forgive all sin, big or small. It's all equal in His eyes. If He forgives you, you can most certainly forgive yourself. 

Overall, I highly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more!

Sunday, March 16, 2014

A Heart's Rebellion by Ruth Axtell

OverviewIn a world governed by unspoken rules, one young woman is about to break them all . . .

Dutiful Jessamine Barry is tired of waiting patiently for a man to decide her future. So even though Lancelot Marfleet, second son of an aristocrat, is taking an interest in her during the London season, she refuses to consider him as a suitor. Instead, she's ready to take fashionable society by storm--and finds a rakish young man all too willing to help her do it.

Can Jessamine trust her heart to lead her to a love that proves true through thick and thin? Or will her rash actions close the door on the life she really desires?
Lose yourself in Ruth Axtell's sumptuous story of discovering one's true self and finding true love.
My review: This was a good book. The plot was good. I love regency novels, so it hit the spot there. The author provided rich details of the gowns and ball rooms, which I loved. There were parts of the story that moved kind of slow. However, the end was satisfying.

The characters are relatable, even though it's discouraging to know one can relate. I can understand Jessamine's behavior. Who doesn't act out of hurt and anger sometimes? I found I didn't really care for her though. I wasn't that impressed with Lancelot either. For a vicar, he was very judgmental. But, I can relate to his actions toward Jessamine because he cared for her. People tend to be more judgmental about ones they love. 

The message was the best part of this book! Jessamine struggles to let God take control of her life because she felt He let her down. Everything happens for a reason, even when you can't see it! God knows what he is doing! We also need to learn to forgive ourselves because God has forgiven us. 

Overall, this was a good story with a great message!

**I received this book for free from the publisher as part of the Revell Reads blogger program in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.**


Friday, March 14, 2014

Weekend Wrap Up (March 14)

 
This is the Weekend Wrap-Up, inspired by Melanie at Christian Bookshelf Review. This is where I will tell you what I've read in the past week, what I'm currently reading, and what I plan to read in the week ahead. I might also share some interesting events from the past week!


It's been a busy week for me! I've been PACKING up my apartment all week! Next Friday is moving day!!!!! 

What I've Read

(Review for A Heart's Rebellion will be posted Sunday!)

Reviews Posted
Dancing with Fireflies

What I'm Currently Reading


What is Up Next:


That about wraps it up!

Monday, March 10, 2014

Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter

Overview: Jade returns home to Chapel Springs after years of protecting her fragile heart. Then along comes Daniel, making her long to dance again.

Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she’d never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.

The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He’s loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she’s back, his feelings are stronger than ever.

As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she’s hiding secrets from her family, and she’s strangely attracted to the man who’s always called her “squirt." Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.

My Review: What a lovely story! I was intrigued and sucked in from the very first page. The prologue had me reeling. I can't imagine being in Jade's shoes. The plot is not very exciting or fast paced, but it doesn't need to be because the romance and character development takes it's place.

Poor Jade! One tragedy after another leads her to believe that God is far away from her and doesn't care for her at all. She has spent years protecting her heart, and the author does a great job of showing her tumulous emotions throughout the story. I can relate, on a very personal level, to Jade's feelings. The highs and the lows of suffering a tragedy are hard to capture, and Denise Hunter does a great job of it. Daniel is another matter all together! He has spent years fighting his feelings for Jade. I loved his protective, caring heart. He is the all-American good guy in this story, and I love him for it! The romance between them progressed slowly, at first, and then sped up toward the end, but it seemed natural. They've known each other forever!

The message of the story was my favorite part. God can't direct your path or ease your fears if you don't let him. Even though tragedies happen we, as Christians, are to turn toward God for comfort and strength instead of turning away from Him. The author does a great job of proving that point in Jade's life. Once Jade surrenders to the tender mercy of God, her life falls into place.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Though it is the second book in the Chapel Springs series, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. I will definitely be reading more by this author!

*I received this book for free from BookLook blogging program in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.*

About the Author: Denise lives in Indiana with her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books often contain a strong romantic element, and her husband Kevin says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Weekend Wrap Up (March 7)

 
This is the Weekend Wrap-Up, inspired by Melanie at Christian Bookshelf Review. This is where I will tell you what I've read in the past week, what I'm currently reading, and what I plan to read in the week ahead. I might also share some interesting events from the past week!
 The winner of the Leap Into Books giveaway is....
JULIE F.*
Thank you to everyone who commented and participated! I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your responses! I love reading pretty much anything, as long as it's clean. :)
*Winner has been notified and has one week to claim their prize. If no response is received, a new winner will be chose.*

Current Giveaway:  
Enter to win a mini kobo e-reader and several copies of Slave Again.
Enter here










What I've Read This Week:
The Beloved DaughterA Most Peculiar Circumstance (Ladies of Distinction, #2)

Reviews Posted:
The Quilted Hearts
The Beloved Daughter
A Most Peculiar Circumstance

What I'm Currently Reading:
Dancing with Fireflies (Chapel Spring #2)

What I Hope To Read in March:
Sixteen BridesThe Icecutter's Daughter (Land of Shining Water, #1)A Heart's RebellionLove Redeemed (New Hope Amish #2)A Shining Light (Home to Amana #3)A Talent for Trouble (Ladies of Distinction, #3)

That about wraps it up, folks!