"The Sea Keeper's Daughters"

"The Sea Keeper's Daughters" is the latest Lisa Wingate novel in her Carolina series and it is amazing!  Whitney and her cousin Denise own and run two restaurants, this is Whitney's dream.  However, the opposition that they are facing and the ongoing battle with one man who just wants to put them out of business is making them face and consider desperate measures.  When Whitney receives a message that her step-father is in the hospital and should not be living on his own, she reluctantly returns to the home where her mother and step-father lived and where Whitney spent summers with her mother and paternal grandmother.  Whitney is forced to face her feelings toward her deceased father whom committed suicide when she was young and her feelings of not being good enough.  Whitney's original plan is to sort through the belongings and make some quick money in order to save the restaurants, but sorting through these items bring back memories and Whitney is drawn into her family's history and finds herself immersed in trying to unravel secrets that have been hidden for years. 
One of the things I love about Lisa's books are the many tidbits of wisdom tucked in among the story and in this book, there were many!  Whitney is a wonderful main character as she was so likeable and easy to relate with and cheer for.  She also is a character who grew so much throughout this book.  Whitney has so many hurts and insecurities from her past and her interactions with others now are a reflection of that as well as how she feels about herself and how she is living her life, guarded.  I loved the interactions that Whitney has with Clyde, Mark, Joel and even Casey as she slowly lets down her guard and is constantly reevaluating her life based on things she is discovering about her past and her family and also how her heart is changing due to these individuals whom have become a part of her life. 
Although, Whitney is the main character in this book, so many of the other characters play prominent roles and their stories are shared throughout this book as well which I loved.  I was not expecting some of the secrets that were revealed and some of the events, but I loved them all!  There were several times that I was in tears while reading as this story just really tugged at my emotions and there were moments that I was cheering aloud.  I am also wondering if there will be another book in this series that will share the stories of a few of the characters' whom stories were not completely shared yet. 
I highly recommend that the other Carolina novels and novellas are read before this one as the stories continue to build upon each other and there is overlap of characters.  Also, they are all such incredible stories that you do no want to miss out on any of them!


*Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

Book Review - "The Plans I Have for You"

Book Description from the publisher:

Bestselling author Amy Parker inspires children to dream about their future and trust that God has great plans for their life.
The Plans I Have for You combines playful rhyming text written by bestselling children's book author Amy Parker with whimsical illustrations by award-winning artist Vanessa Brantley-Newton to create a book that inspires readers of all ages to dream about their future.
God has great plans for each and every one of us and this book encourages children to think about the talents that make them special and will help them imagine how God may use our unique traits to make the world a better place.


My Review:
"The Plans I Have for You" is an excellent book for children and adults alike!  First, of all the cover is so cute and well created as it is diverse and will be appealing to children of various ethnicities.  This is just the beginning of adorable illustrations as well as the entire book is full of them!  The text is so catchy and just flows so nicely that children will be quoting lines and wanting to read over and over again.  The reader (of any and every age) is encouraged to dream about the future and what is in store and a part of God's plan for each of us.  I highly recommend this book and this would be a wonderful book and keepsake for children's graduations. 


*Thanks to the BookLook Bloggers Program for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

Sarah Sundin’s ‘Through Waters Deep’ and Anchors Aweigh Giveaway

Dive into Sarah Sundin's explosive new series, Waves of Freedom, with book one, Through Waters Deep. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges–and dangers–await them in the midst of their budding romance.

Join Sarah in celebrating the release of Through Waters Deep by entering to win an Anchors Aweigh prize pack!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Through Waters Deep
• A nautical tote bag
• A set of compass rose notecards
• A "Hope Anchors the Soul" journal
• A Boston Tea Party earl grey tea set
• A Through Waters Deep apron
• A set of nautical tea towels

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 24th. The winner will be announced August 25th on Sarah's blog.

Book info

About the book: Through Waters Deep (Revell, August 2015) It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. Back on shore, Boston Navy Yard secretary Mary Stirling does her work quietly and efficiently, happy to be out of the limelight. Yet, despite her reserved nature, she never could back down from a challenge. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges---and dangers---await them. Sarah Sundin takes readers to the tense months before the US entered WWII. Readers will encounter German U-boats and torpedoes, along with the explosive power of true love, in this hopeful and romantic story. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1DkJmlO About the author: Sarah Sundin is the author of With Every Letter, On Distant Shores, In Perfect Time, and the Wings of Glory series. In 2014, On Distant Shores was a finalist for the Golden Scroll Awards from both AWSA and the Christian Authors Network. In 2011, Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children. Find Sarah online: website, Facebook, Twitter

My Review:
I was so excited that Sarah had a new series coming out, I have enjoyed her previous series and reading about the World War II era.  "Through Waters Deep" is such a great start to this new series and now I cannot wait for book #2 to be released!  Mary and Jim are both wonderful main characters as they became so real and they were easy to connect and empathize with.  They are both struggling with some things in their lives and they are forced to work together to discover what is really going on and whom is behind it.  I love the suspense that is tied in with this story and the romance that is throughout.  I also enjoyed the minor characters and I love how Sarah introduces them in the first book and then continues on their stories in later books in the series.  This is a well-written book that was easy to get lost in as I did not want to set it down once I started.  The time period is brought to life and the characters are so well-developed; this is a perfect summer read!

To read other reviews included on this blog tour, go here!

*Thanks to the publishers for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*
 

Book Review - "Hope Harbor"

I am a huge fan of Irene Hannon's books, both her romantic suspense and her contemporary romances and I absolutely loved her latest, "Hope Harbor." 
This book is set in a sweet little town called Hope Harbor, which is home to a family run cranberry farm, and also nice, well-meaning individuals, but also hurting individuals as well. Tracy has had to deal with heartache and now she is trying to keep the cranberry farm afloat and also trying to lead an organization through the church, but she may be in over her head.  Michael is struggling to find peace following heartache in his own life and has come to Hope Harbor to find that, but things do not go according to his plan, but it seems that God has placed a few individuals in his path to help him find this, but Michael will be helping others as well. 
I really enjoyed this storyline, the setting, the characters, everything.  Irene does an amazing job with creating the town and introducing the characters, uncovering bits and pieces of their pasts and personalities a little at a time while intertwining their lives.  This is a great story of hope and healing and also sweet romance.  I highly recommend this book and her other books as well!

*Thanks to the Revell Reads Program for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

"Wild in the Hollow"

Amber Haines is a woman haunted by God. Like Eve in the Garden, she craved the fruit that she thought would lead her to freedom. But the whispers of temptation led her instead down a devastating path toward isolation, dissatisfaction, and life-altering choices. In her most broken moment, Amber met God waiting for her in the fallout, freely offering her grace and life.

This is a story of the God who makes himself known in broken places. In prose that is at once lyrical and utterly honest, a brave new voice takes readers on a windswept journey down the path of brokenness to healing, satisfaction, and true intimacy with God. Amber calls readers to dispense with the pretty bows we use to dress up our stories and instead trust God to take our untidy, unfinished lives and make them free, authentic, and whole. Anyone who struggles with doubt or holds secrets, anyone who feels marginalized or like she is missing something, will find in Amber a sister and an inviting voice back home, into the heart of God.

---

Endorsements

"No one, no one, has God given the gift of words like he has to [Amber]."
Ann Voskamp, New York Times bestselling author of One Thousand Gifts

"Wild in the Hollow captivated me from the first page. Amber's brave story invites us to explore our own broken places as she beckons us to wholeness and healing. This honesty inspires freedom in the church."
Rebekah Lyons, author of Freefall to Fly and co-founder of Q Ideas

"I want people to read this anointed book for dozens of reasons: Amber's voice, her writing, is incomparable to anything you've read before. But even beyond that gift, she writes about desire, our longing for home, with a deeply orthodox and yet mystical and sensual soul. This book made me feel homesick and at home all at the same time. Only Amber could so beautifully and rightly write into the parts of our human experience that usually defy words. I loved Wild in the Hollow."
Sarah Bessey, author of Jesus Feminist and Out of Sorts

"How can a woman with a story so different from my own be telling my story too? Amber Haines has found a way, and I am deeply grateful for her artistry, her honesty, and her courage. Her story splays out like a pathway, her voice leading us forward like a mother, a prophet, and a child, each word a stone marking the way to the kingdom of God. This captivating book has stunned me speechless."
Emily P. Freeman, author of Simply Tuesday and A Million Little Ways

"Amber Haines is a once-in-a-generation voice, and her lyrical, poetic writing is truly high art. Through her own story in Wild in the Hollow, she moves us back to the place we all long to be--deeply intimate with and known by God. It's a journey that doesn't overlook brokenness but rather illuminates a God who is ever-present in the midst. This book is a true gift, and I have more hope because of it."
Nish Weiseth, author of Speak: How Your Story Can Change the World

Amber C. Haines is a soulful writer and a blogger at TheRunaMuck.com. She is curator, with her husband, Seth, of Mother Letters and is a contributor with many acclaimed writers and bloggers at DaySpring's (in)courage. She has been involved as a coordinator with both BlissDom and !dea Camp Orphan Care and continues to build meaningful relationships with church leaders, lifestyle bloggers, authors, advocates, and poets. She lives in Arkansas.

My Review:
"Wild in the Hollow" is such a honest, heart-wrenching account that Amber shares of her life, the highs and the lows.  Amber begins with how her childhood, beliefs she was taught and way she was raised and then how she strayed from those as she got older.  This is an awesome story that shares how one can move on and overcome being at such a low point and God's grace and healing power in one's life. This is a quick read and completely engrossing as it is written in such a way that you cannot put it down and Amber shares her heart, holding nothing back.  Such an inspiring book that will encourage each and every reader. 

*Thanks to the Revell Reads Program for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

"Refining Fire"

"Refining Fire" is such a well-written historical fiction novel that I highly recommend it; however, I would recommend that "Steadfast Heart" be read first as that is book #1 in the series and the story really begins there. 

Militine and Thane are both adults trying to be free from their traumatic childhoods; however one's childhood plays such a huge role in shaping who a person is and determining their future.  I so enjoyed spending time with these two as well as their friends, the rest of the main foursome, Abrianna and Wade.  Set in Seattle in the late 1800's the time period is brought to life and is such a great backdrop to these characters' stories as they are trying to start fresh, find peace, make something of themselves and also find love.  The characters are so real as they are dealing with circumstances that are relatable and I loved seeing the bond develop and grow among them. 

I love the time period details interspersed throughout the book and the vivid descriptions as everything was brought to life and I am looking forward to book #3!

 

*Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

 

‘Among the Fair Magnolias’ Southern Hearts Kindle Fire Giveaway

Four best-selling novelists bring tales of four Southern women who face near impossible choices on their journeys in life and in love during the most turbulent decade of our nation’s history in Among the Fair Magnolias. Don't miss this collection of stories from Tamera Alexander, Shelley Gray, Dorothy Love, and Elizabeth Musser.

Join the authors in celebrating the release of Among the Fair Magnolias by entering to win their Southern Hearts Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVPing to their August 13th author chat party!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD 6
• One copy of Among the Fair Magnolias

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/13. The winner will be announced at the Among the Fair Magnolias Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Tamera, Dorothy, Shelley, and Elizabeth, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 13th!

Book info

About the book: Among the Fair Magnolias (Thomas Nelson, July 2015) In the most turbulent decade of our nation's history, four Southern women---destinies forged by birth, hearts steeled by war---face near impossible choices on their journeys in life . . . and in love. To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander Savannah Darby would do almost anything to revisit her family home. So when new owner, Aidan Bedford, a Boston attorney and former Union soldier, seeks to redecorate the house for his fiancée, Savannah jumps at the opportunity. But the clock is ticking. Can she find the box her father supposedly hid there during the war before her assignment is completed? And before she sees yet another battle lost on the home front. This time, one of the heart. An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray When Russell Stark returns to Fort Worth, he's determined to begin a new life. But when he arrives at his mother's homestead, he discovers she's very ill, and the woman he loved is still as beautiful and sweet as he remembered. With time running out, Russell must come to terms with both his future and his past. A Heart So True by Dorothy Love Abigail knows all too well what is expected of her: to marry her distant cousin Charles and take her place in society. But her heart belongs to another. A terrible incident forces Abby to choose between love and duty. Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser Emily has a secret: She's in love with one of the freedmen on her family's plantation. Meanwhile, another man declares his love for her. Emily realizes some things are not as they seem and secrets must be kept in order to keep those she loves safe. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1Igkc7H About the authors: Tamera Alexander is the best-selling author of numerous books including A Lasting Impression and The Inheritance. Tamera is a two-time Christy Award winner, two-time RITA winner, and a recipient of the prestigious Library Journal Award. A native of west Tennessee. website, Twitter, Facebook  Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. website, Twitter, Facebook Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. website, Twitter, Facebook Elizabeth Musser, a native of Atlanta, Georgia now living in France, is a novelist who writes what she calls 'entertainment with a soul.' For over 25 years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in mission work with International Teams. website, Twitter, Facebook   My Review: "Among the Fair Magnolias" is an excellent novella collection that is set in the time period of the Civil War, which is a time period I enjoy reading about.  Each of the four main characters are seeking to find their right place in life, in general and with their hearts, as family expectations and societal expectations play a role in determining life's direction; however their hearts do as well.  I loved how the collection began with Abigail's story and the family setting up their summer home and hosting a get together as it was a perfect read for this time of the year.  There are secrets, and romance throughout which will keep you turning the pages.    To read other reviews included on this blog tour, go here!   *Thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for including me on this blog tour and for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*