Book Review - "Duchess"

Enter Today - 4/20 - 5/4! Susan May Warren is celebrating the release of Duchess with a Kindle Fire HD Giveaway.

One "glam" winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire HD
• Signed copies of Duchess, Baroness and Heiress

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 4th. Winner will be announced on 5/7/13 at Susan's blog.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Book Info

About Duchess: Book Three in the Daughters of Fortune series. When her country needs her, will she have the courage to surrender her glittering world and her one true love? The golden age of Hollywood is in the business of creating stars. Rosie Worth, now starlet Roxy Price, has found everything she's wanted in the glamour of the silver screen. With adoring fans and a studio-mogul husband, she's finally silenced the voices-and grief-of the past. Her future shines bright...until the fated Black Friday when it all comes crashing down. When Roxy loses everything, she finds herself disgraced and penniless. Her only hope is to join forces with Belgian duke Rolfe Van Horne, a longtime film investor. But Rolfe is not who he seems, and he has other plans for Roxy and her movies-plans to support a growing unrest in Europe, plans that could break her heart and endanger her life. Find out more about the series by clicking on these links. Heiress. Baroness. Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/jZmj7 Meet Susan: Susan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award-winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women's events about God's amazing grace in our lives. She also runs a writing community for authors. Visit MyBookTherapy.com to learn more. For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com     My Review -   I loved all three books in Susan May Warren's Daughters of Fortune series, but I think I would say that book three "Duchess" was my favorite!  Rosie who is known all over the world as Roxy Price is a wonderful actress, such a wonderful one that no one knows the turmoil she deals with herself everyday, the regrets about her past and the conflict over her choices and what she should decide now.  I have to say that Rosie was not one of my favorite characters from the previous two novels, but this book is really her story and focuses on her and I fell in love with her and admired her. I instantly loved Rolfe and Sophie.  Although, I did not want to at first, I did like Irene and greatly admired Irene and Roxy for being there for each other when they both needed a friend and help.  This book is filled with so many good lessons for us and it is also so enjoyable to read.  The time period was really brought alive as well and I loved reading about it from the perspectives of an actress and a duke.  The ending was so beautiful and well-written, an excellent conclusion to the series.     To read other reviews that are a part of this blog tour please go here!: Landing page: http://litfusegroup.com/author/swarren   *Thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group for the complimentary copy of this book and for including me on their blog tour!*

Book Review - "Unrivaled"

"Unrivaled," a novel by Siri Mitchell, is a sweet love story that is filled with strong and spunky characters whom you will fall in love with!  Lucy Kendall returns home from a trip around Europe with her aunt and uncle and she is all excited to share what she saw and experienced; however her life is drastically changed.  Lucy's father has suffered heart problems and is confined to bed, her father's candy company is struggling and almost all of Lucy's friends have married and moved.  Lucy is chosen as this season's Queen of Love and Beauty, so Lucy decides to make the most of this and creates a candy, with her faithful sidekick Sam, that is sure to turn things around for her father's company.  However, at the ball no one likes the candy.  Lucy is devastated and finds comfort and friendship in a stranger; however the stranger turns out to be Charlie Clarke, the son of the man who stole Lucy's father's recipe, company and dream years ago and is the Kendall family's enemy.  Charlie's father deserted his family when Charlie was young and Charlie had to step up and be the man and provide for the family any way he could, even if it meant by unsavory means.  Charlie is forced into a second chance with his father and he tries to do his father's wishes, but will he follow through even if it will cost the heart of the one he loves?

 

I loved this book!  Charlie and Lucy are both excellent main characters, both full of spunk and yet so real and honest and both struggling to find who they really are.  Each chapter alternates between Charlie's and Lucy's point of view and I love this approach to telling the story as it really lets the reader be a part of each of their worlds.  The minor characters are great as well.  Winnie and Mr. Arthur both play important parts as they each help Charlie and Lucy discover things about themselves, even though they are not all good things, but overall help them to become better individuals and who they really hope and want to be.  Sam is a character I loved as well.  At first, I thought there may be love between Sam and Lucy, but I like how Sam's character and story was written and the happy ending for him as well.  This is a well-written book that is a sweet story and fun to read with some mystery thrown in as well. 

 

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

Book Review - "The Gate"

"The Gate," a novel by Dann A. Stouten, is this author's first novel and a feel good story that you will not want to miss out on!

Schuyler had been planning on a vacation with his wife, but that vacation turned into a shopping weekend for his wife and daughters and Sky was left to do as he wished. What he wished to do was follow up on an ad he saw on the Internet, an ad for a vacation cottage that reminds him of where he went when he was young.  This seems like perfect timing and just what he needs as he is feeling worn out and stressed with life in general.  However, as soon as Sky arrives he realizes that this place is really closer to paradise than he imagined.

This is a book that really you must read, I do not want to tell you many details as you have to experience it for yourself.  This is a well-written story that will leave you pondering your own life - what it is now and how it could be, what Heaven is going to be like and how you want to live the rest of your life on earth. This is an excellent debut novel and I am hoping this author writes many more!

“Available April 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Book Review - "Gone South"

"Gone South," a brand-new novel by Meg Moseley, is a wonderful story to delve right into and get lost in.  Tish is a Yankee and proud of her ancestral roots.  Tish stops by the town where her great-great-great-grandparents lived in Alabama and sees that their former home is for sale.  Tish cannot resist this house and decides to settle here in this town.  However, suddenly Tish finds herself being the object of hate and rumors and she discovers that there may be things she does not know about her ancestors, ancestors dating back to the Civil War.  As Tish tries to settle into her new home and be accepted, she makes some unusual friends and tries to continue to be true to herself.

I really enjoyed this book!  I know you should not judge a book by it's cover, but I was immediately drawn to this book because of the cover!  I absolutely love the cover on this book, to me it is a great representation of a mix of the past and present and trying to find "home."  I loved the characters and how immersed in their lives I became while reading the story.  This is the first book I have read by this author and it will not be my last! 

*Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Company for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*

Book Review - "Letters to Katie"

"Letters to Katie," A Middlefield Family novel,  is the latest Amish novel written by Kathleen Fuller and this book in a winner! 

Book Description from the publisher:

Everything changed between them the first time he called her Katie.
Katherine Yoder has loved Johnny Mullet since they were children, but he never actively returned her affections. Like so many things in their world, he assumes Katherine will always be there. Once his horse farm is a success, then he will court her in earnest.
For several weeks, Katherine has been plagued by severe headaches and dizziness. While resting at home, Johnny unexpectedly visits, but when dizziness strikes, she loses consciousness. She awakens hours later in a hospital bed, unable to remember how she got there.
Seeing Katherine injured and vulnerable stirs something in Johnny, and his guilt compels him to spend time with her while she heals. Soon his heart begins to stir with questions: Does she even remember why he'd come to her house that day?
As Katherine struggles to recall recent memories of Johnny, a surprise visitor arrives in her already unsteady world—a man named Isaac who claims they had been writing letters to each other, even considering marriage, before her illness.
With two men vying for her attention and her memory still elusive, Katherine has never felt so divided. The answer may lie behind a door she never considered opening.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book as it is filled with characters who the reader can easily relate to and Kare good lessons throughout as well as a sweet romance.  Katherine and Johnny have been focused on what they want in life and have lost focus of having God as the number one in their life and looking to Him to guide them.  I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop in the midst of distractions and miscommunications.  This is a touching Amish romance that will encourage you to make sure your priorities and focus are right in your own lives and leaving you happy for the characters at the end of the story.

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

Book Review - "Sweet Sanctuary"

Enter Today | 4/11 - 4/30! To celebrate the release of  Sweet Sanctuary Kim Vogel Sawyer is giving away a Cupcake Club membership (monthly cupcake delivery!) from the amazing Magnolia Bakery in New York and hosting a Facebook Author Chat party {4/30}!

One "sweet" winner will receive:

• Cupcakes from NYC’s Magnolia Bakery delivered to your door every month. (Eat them all yourself or share!)
• Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer for you and four of your friends. (Start a book group — cupcakes and a "sweet" read!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 29th. Winner will be announced at the "Sweet Sanctuary" Author Chat Party on 4/30. Connect with Kim, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be fun giveaways - gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Sweet Sanctuary and join Kim on the evening of April 30th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 30th!

 

Book Info

About Sweet Sanctuary: A Story of Hope and Love Set Against the Backdrop of World War II Lydia Eldredge longs to provide sanctuary for her young son, Nicky. But a constant threat comes from Nicky's drug-addicted father, who wants the boy and seems willing to do whatever it takes to get him. Dr. Micah Hatcher faithfully serves the immigrant population of Queens, New York. But under cover of darkness, he has a secret mission that challenges everything he thought he wanted out of life. When Lydia and Micah's paths cross, they are suddenly wrapped up in each other's callings. Together, they seek a refuge of safety-for Nicky, for themselves, and for the needy people God puts into their lives. Amid turmoil and discord, can hope and love prevail? Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/jRdKJ Meet Kim: Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of twenty-one novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and nine grandchildren. Find out more about Kim at http://www.kimvogelsawyer.com/.     My Review:   "Sweet Sanctuary," a historical romance novel written by Kim Vogel Sawyer, really is a sweet read that will transport you to New York City near the end of World War II.  Lydia is trying to raise her best friend's son and keep him away from his biological father who is addicted to drugs.  Lydia's father meddles in Lydia's life and suddenly Micah becomes a part of her life again and also part of Nicky's.  However, Lydia discovers that Micah has some secrets of his own and he is involved with some secretive activities.  Lydia decides to help him and at the same time finds herself falling for him as well, but will love win over everything else?  This book is one that you just need to read for yourself, as I do not want to give away too many details!  It is fast-paced and has twists and turns that will keep you reading and engrossed in the characters' lives.  This is an excellent story filled with romance, suspense and danger along with historical details that really bring this time period and setting alive.    To read other reviews about this book visit here: http://litfusegroup.com/author/KSawyer   *Thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest book review.*

Book Review - "Take A Chance on Me"

I was so excited to see that there was a new Susan May Warren book coming out and not only that, but a new series that is a spin-off from her Deep Haven series which I love! "Take a Chance on Me" is book one is Warren's six book Christiansen Family series and it is one that will have you immersed in the story and in the characters' lives immediately and leave you wanting to spend more time with them.  Darek is trying to raise his young son alone and also trying to help keep the family resort business open.  When his brother is unable to participate in a town auction, Darek steps in and is purchased by a stranger, a new woman who has moved to town.  However, Ivy, is not as much of a stranger as he first believes her to be, as their pasts intertwine.  Ivy is pleased to not only have landed the job as the assistant county attorney, but also to be living in Deep Haven, a town that immediately feels like home to her as she has never experienced the feeling of family and belonging before.  Darek and Ivy are both struggling with issues from their pasts and a past situation that is still very much alive for them both.  Will this get in the way for Ivy to finally have someone and somewhere to call home?

 

I loved this story and cannot wait for the second book in the series to come out!  Deep Haven is such a great setting for this series and the Christiansen family is a family who is there for each other through thick and thin and the everyday laughs and struggles.  I also love Ivy's character as well as Jensen's character.  The mention of former characters and landmarks in Deep Haven reminded me of how much I enjoyed that series as well.  This is a story that will have you laughing and crying as the characters face their pasts, work together and find love. 

 

 

To find out more about this book and the series go here!

 

To read an excerpt of the novel click here: excerpt!

 

To see a video trailer go here trailer!

 

 

*Thank you to Tyndale Blog Network for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.*