The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund

Overview: They vowed to keep their marriage in name only.

But when the unexpected happens on the grueling journey west . . .

Their carefully constructed partnership will be put to the ultimate test.

Priscilla White knows she’ll never be a wife or mother and feels God’s call to the mission field.

Dr. Eli Ernest is back from Oregon Country only long enough to raise awareness of missions to the natives before heading out West once more. But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field. Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs.

Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God’s leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

ISBN-13: 9780764208331
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Publication date: 9/1/2011
Pages: 384

Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBD

Book Extras: Read and Excerpt | Discussion Guide | "Life in the Oregon Country" Quiz 

My Review: This was one of the most gripping, heartfelt stories I have read in a long time. Jody Hedlund brings the characters and the trials and tribulations they face along their journey to life. I felt like I was traveling with them. The story was well-written and beautifully captured Eli and Priscilla's story.

The characters, oh the characters! I absolutely LOVED Priscilla. Her feelings, emotions, thoughts and fears came to life in the pages of this book. I felt like I found a new friend. I admired her for her courage and strength, her weakness and her faith that God would lead her through anything. Eli is an admirable man. he is strong, yet tender; fierce, yet gentle; and he is sure of God's call on his life. Their romance was fitting and absolutely amazingly written.

They both had to learn the amazing and important lesson of trust and giving ones whole self to the one who created you. This thought sums it up: "Her own strength had faltered many times during this trip...In experiencing her weaknesses, she was learning just how much she needed the One who could truly sustain her." When we learn to truly rely on the Lord, we can overcome our weaknesses to become the people He wants us to be.

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed this book and cannot wait to get my hands on another Jody Hedlund book!

About the Author: Jody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling author of inspirational historical romances.

As a busy mama-writer, she has the wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of 5 children at home. In between grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of laundry and washes dishes. When she’s not busy being a mama, you can find her in front of her laptop working on another of her page-turning stories.

She loves reading almost as much as she loves writing, especially when it also involves chocolate and coffee.

Connect with Jody:  Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Blog Subscription

Weekend Wrap Up (Oct 17)

 

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: 

 

 

Reviews Posted: 

Love's Fortune by Laura Frantz

A Deadly Business by Lis Wiehl

Review for Keeping Her Safe is posted on Goodreads.

 

What I'm Currently Reading: 

What I'm Reading in October: 

 

 

That about wraps it up! What are you reading this week?

A Deadly Business by Lis Wiehl

Overview: A prosecutor of violent criminals. A detective on a dangerous beat. When these two pros take on an off-the-books case, the line between professional and personal becomes perilously blurred.

When a twenty-two-year-old convict walks into the courtroom, his eyes confirm what Mia Quinn already guesses: he blames her for his conviction. In seconds, he knocks her to the ground and holds a razor blade to her throat. While she manages to escape without injury, it's just one more reminder that Mia's job prosecuting Seattle's s most dangerous criminals is far from low risk.

As a single mom, the last thing Mia wants is for her work to follow her home or discover that it already has.

Now Detective Charlie Carlson is suggesting the very thing Mia doesn't want to believe—that her accountant husband’s deadly car accident was no accident at all. When Mia and Charlie encounter resistance to reopening the case, they take the investigation into their own hands. And they find much more than they bargained for.

Was Mia's husband more than an accountant . . . and less than an honest man? As the truth becomes more shocking and the case grows more complex, her husband's killers take note of Mia . . . and her children. How far will this prosecutor go to learn the truth about her husband—and how far will she have to go to protect her family?

ISBN-13: 9781595549044
Publisher: Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date: 6/10/2014
Series: Mia Quinn Series , #2
Pages: 320

 Mia Quinn Series: A Matter of Trust

Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBD

My Review: Lis Wiehl writes another thrilling crime drama that kept me turning pages! A Deadly Business is the second installment in the Mia Quinn Series. I couldn't put it down! The plot is fast moving and kept me up reading late into the night! With twists and turns, Lis Wiehl will keep you guessing until the very end.

It was nice catching up with Mia, Charlie, Eli, and Mia's children. As Mia struggles to find ground in her newly single life, shocking revelations about her past knock the ground out from under her. Charlie and Eli would love to pick up the pieces, but Mia's not ready yet. I'll be interested to see what comes from that "love triangle"!

Mia is struggling to find her faith in this new reality she's been thrust into and she's finding it hard to trust. The aspect of the Christian faith was there, lurking in the background of Mia's choices and decisions, but I don't think she's come to terms with it yet.

Overall, I was highly satisfied with this book and I can't wait to read the next one as the Mia story continues!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the BookLook blogging program in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.**

About the Author: Lis Wiehl is one of the nation’s most prominent trial lawyers and highly regarded commentators. Currently, she is the legal analyst and reporter on the Fox News Channel and Bill O’Reilly’s sparring partner in the weekly “Is It Legal?” segment on The O’Reilly Factor. Prior to that she was O’Reilly’s co-host on the nationally syndicated show The Radio Factor. She is also a Professor of Law at New York Law School. Her column “Lis on Law” appears weekly on FoxNews.com.

Prior to joining Fox News Channel in New York City, Wiehl served as a legal analyst and reporter for NBC News and NPR’s All Things Considered. Before that, Wiehl served as a Federal Prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s office.

Wiehl earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and her Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Queensland.

Wiehl is also the author of The 51% Minority, which won the 2008 award for Books for a Better Life in the motivational category, and Winning Every Time.

She lives in New York.

Connect with Lis: Lis Wiehl Books | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Water Your Faith Wednesday (Oct. 15)

Hello everyone! Welcome to "Water Your Faith" Wednesday! How do you feel after spending your Sunday at church praising and worshiping our Lord? I know I feel great! I start my week fired up and ready to face what's in store. Oftentimes, however, by Wednesday, life begins to drag me down. My goal is provide a way to overcome the spiritual doldrums with encouraging words, scriptures, devotions, songs, etc. Let me know what you think!

 

From The Daily Bible Verse: 

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him."

Psalm 28:7

Music has always been a major part of the Christian tradition. Singing in harmony and written music came directly out of the church. What was the catalyst for this explosion of musical creativity? The Psalmist response to God was a joy that was so full that he had to respond in song. This is not a reaction of fear, but of incredible freedom. Our heart can leap for joy because in His presence is fullness of joy. This is the nature of God, and all of mankind has been blessed because of it.

 

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When I read this verse this morning, it made my heart glad. I am learning to trust more in the Lord and lean on him always. Listening to music has always been an escape for me and lately I've found that listening to K-Love (our Christian radio station), my heart is filled with joy and praise. It's a great way to help relieve the stress of the day and the stress of driving in rush hour traffic.

There are too many songs to choose from that help lift my spirit. Right now, my favorite would be Hope In Front of Me by Danny Gokey. It helps remind me that God is with me and there's hope. What about you? What's your favorite verse/song/reminder that God is there with you?  

Book Reviews by Shannah is UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

Hello all!

If you haven't noticed, my blog is under construction! I've created a new name that will encompass more of what I plan to do in the future with my blog!

I appreciate your patience as I work to update all of my links on Goodreads, Google+, and Facebook!

Book Reviews by Shannah will be converted to Faith * Love * Books! Look for the new icon, and page design in the next few weeks!

Thank you for your continued support! If you experience any problems during this transition period, please reach out to me and let me know! Thanks!

Love's Fortune by Laura Frantz

Overview: With two very different horizons stretched out before her, one young woman stands on the cusp of an unknown future.

Sheltered since birth at her Kentucky home, Rowena "Wren" Ballantyne has heard only whispered rumors of her grandfather Silas's vast fortune and grand manor in Pennsylvania. When her father receives a rare letter summoning him to New Hope, Wren makes the journey with him and quickly finds herself in a whole new world--family members she's never met, dances she's never learned, and a new side to the father she thought she knew.

As she struggles to fit in during their extended stay, she finds a friend in James Sackett, the most valued steamship pilot of the Ballantynes' shipping line. Even with his help, Wren feels she may never be comfortable in high society. Will she go her own way . . . to her peril?

With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, Laura Frantz brings 1850s Pennsylvania alive with a tender story of loss, love, and loyalty.

ISBN-13: 9780800720438
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Publication date: 9/16/2014
Series: The Ballantyne Legacy , #3
Pages: 400

 Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBD

My Review: Laura Frantz is a great historical writer. Not only does she bring a story to life with her outstanding descriptions, she pulls the reader in with her characters and story. I felt as if I was transplanted back to a time in our history with her rich descriptions of the characters' dresses, parties, and atmosphere. 

The characters were well written. I really enjoyed getting to know each character, even those of Izannah and Malachi (they added extra depth to the story). Wren Ballantyne is a unique character, though her situation is not unique. She is thrust into a world she is not used to, and she struggles to find her place in it. Her faith continued to be strong in a world where God and His plans didn't fit in. James Sackett is another fascinating character. Generally, in these stories, Wren's character would fall in love with a servant or someone closer to what she was used to. James Sackett is different in that he can play the part of the well-bred gentleman, though his background is less than gentlemanly. I was a little disappointed in the romance aspect of the story. The author chose to focus  more on the feelings of each character in their situation, rather than the feelings growing between them. I felt their romance blossomed, then kind of hung in the background, until the end when the story was winding down.

The faith aspect of the story, on Wren's part, was strong. We know Wren is a believer who prays and seeks the Lord's guidance in a world where that's not the norm. Kind of lines up to what we currently live in, right? James, on the other hand, has little faith in God or time to learn more about him. I was disappointed in his coming to a greater faith in the story. It was hinted at, but never really expounded on. 

All in all, the story is aptly described as a "tender story of loss, love, and loyalty." I really enjoyed Laura Frantz' writing style, and will definitely be picking up another one of her books in the future!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book via Revell Reads in exchange for my honest review.*

About the Author:I was born and raised in Kentucky, living first in Ashland, Mammoth Cave, Bowling Green, and then Lexington. But my heart has always been in Berea, Madison County, the place my family has resided since the 18th-century. I came to know Christ there at the age of 12, was baptized, and spent my childhood roaming through the woods and swimming in the rivers of my books.

My earliest memories are of the public library, standing in front of shelves filled with those little biographies of famous historical figures like Daniel Boone and George Washington and Sacajawea. I began scribbling stories at age 7 and thankfully never stopped. My passion then and now is history and all the wonders of past centuries.

I attended college at Denison University in Ohio and also in England, living in a manor/castle and studying the American Revolution from the British perspective. Shakespeare and 18th-century literature form the backbone of my English degree. Strangely enough, I only took one creative writing class.

It was never a desire of mine to be published. I simply love to write for the sheer joy of writing – and that was enough. But as Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

I hope my books bless you.

Connect with Laura: Website | Facebook | Pinterest

Weekend Wrap Up (Oct 3)

 

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!

 

September Wrap Up: 

September was a hectic month for me. I had to finish preparing for my wedding. Then I got married!!!! Then I had a honeymoon :D I didn't get to read as much as I should, and I'm ridiculously behind on my review books. I'm reading as fast as I can to catch up!! Here is what I managed to read in September.

 

 

Now on to October!!

 What I've Read: 

 

 

Reviews Posted: 

A Stitch and a Prayer by Eva Gibson

Dreaming on Daisies by Miralee Ferrell

What I'm Currently Reading: 

 

 

What I'm Reading In October: