Book Review - "No Place To Hide"

"No Place To Hide" is book 3 in Lynette Eason's Hidden Identities series and I have loved this whole series!  Jackie is a part of Operation Refuge and when she sees Ian's face on the news as he is wanted as he is a suspected terrorist, she knows it's not true and she sets out to help him.  As Ian and Jackie find themselves on the run, they find that there is no place they are completely safe and they must fight for their lives as well as finding out who set Ian up and what the coded message really means. 
Jackie's past is slowly unraveled throughout this book as she and Ian are on the run and trying to figure out what is going on and what happened in the past as well.  Jackie relies on Ron as she knows she can trust him and won't put in him harm's way as people continue to be targeted and killed. 
I really enjoyed this book and reading more about the individuals with Operation Refuge who were the main characters in the previous novels in the series.  This is a fast-paced and tense novel that keeps your attention from the very beginning to the very end. 


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

"When Grace Sings"

Book info

About the book: When Grace Sings (WaterBrook Press, March 2015) When trouble roars into quiet Arborville, Alexa and Anna-Grace find themselves the target for discord and exposed secrets. Can they continue to seek the God of all grace amidst the fog of confusion? Alexa Zimmerman wonders if the Old Order Mennonite community in Arborville, Kansas will ever fully accept her. Her family roots here aren't what anyone thought when she first arrived, but she is hopeful that her culinary and hospitality skills will win the skeptics over. The bed-and-breakfast she's operating needs to succeed so Alexa agrees to allow Briley Forrester, the hotshot reporter from Chicago, to stay as a long-term boarder not knowing his real motives for being amongst the Plain folk. But when Alexa agrees to host her cousin Anna-Grace Braun, the presence of extended family brings out Alexa's insecurities and sets Briley on the trail to uncovering a web of hidden truths. Plans for a secure future and the sweetness of young romance hang in the balance when Alexa and Anna-Grace have to face that their secrets are interconnected, binding the two in ways they could not have imagined. They must trust in a loving, heavenly Father and His plan for their futures. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1FBvcM5 About the author: Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of twenty-nine 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 Kim online: website, Facebook, Twitter My Review: 'When Grace Sings" is the second book in Kim Vogel Sawyer's Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy and continues the story of Alexa and Anna-Grace along with all of the other characters whom we met in book one.  These books should be read in order as the story continues on and they are just so good you do not want to miss out on any part of the saga.  There are so many pieces to this story as there are family relationships, lies that have been woven and hidden and secrets as well as adventure and learning to trust.  I love how this series has been written as it continues to weave together characters and their individual storylines and capture the reader's attention as secrets and truth are hidden and slowly unraveled.  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 revew.*

A fairy-tale like collection

Book Description from the publisher:

Five of bestselling author Melanie Dickerson's popular YA fairytale retelling novels now available as a bind-up.
Romance, intrigue, and danger abound in this bind-up of five of Melanie Dickerson's fairy-tale retellings presented in realistic historical settings. Includes The Healer's Apprentice, The Merchant's Daughter, The Fairest Beauty, The Captive Maiden, and The Princess Spy.
The Healer's Apprentice: Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, and when Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, Rose tends to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to fall in love, and wonders if he feels the same. But Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.
The Merchant's Daughter: Annabel is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. She soon finds he is not beastly after all, and becomes involved in a situation that could place Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, in her hands.
The Fairest Beauty: Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother's jealousy, and receives her chance when Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and that he has come to rescue her. Though romance is impossible--she is his brother's future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else--the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven to find help. Before long both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them, they must also protect their hearts.
The Captive Maiden: When Gisela learns the duke's son, Valten--the boy she has daydreamed about for years--is throwing a ball in hopes of finding a wife, she vows to find a way to attend, even if it's only for a taste of a life she'll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten's eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.
The Princess Spy: Margaretha has always been a romantic, and hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But then an injured man is brought to Hagenheim Castle, claiming to be an English lord who was attacked by Claybrook and left for dead. And only Margaretha--one of the few who speaks his language--understands the wild story. It is up to her to save her father, Colin, and Hagenheim itself from Claybrook's wicked plot.
About the Authors
Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer's Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader's Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.


My Review:
I really enjoyed Melanie's books and loved that they are available as a collection now. I have not read many book collections on my Kindle, but this was so user friendly as it was easy to use the table of contents and jump around from book to book if I wanted to.  Melanie has retold classic fairytales and she has added in a faith element that adds that little bit extra spin to them.  I was immediately hooked on this collection as soon as I started to read the first page of "The Healer's Apprentice" as the scene was set so well and I felt as if I was there in the crowd waiting, hoping to catch a glimpse of the brothers' returning home from school.  I highly recommend this books, they will appeal to both young adults and older adults!


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

Natalie Chambers Snapp’s Girls’ Night Out Giveaway

Want to be a better friend and have better friends? Natalie Chambers Snapp wrote Heart Sisters just for you! She uses her own and others’ stories of successes and failures to illustrate what she has learned about girlfriend relationships. Discussion questions, space to journal, photos, and quick interviews of healthy female friendships are included within each chapter.

Help Natalie celebrate the release of her new book by entering to win goodies you'll need for a girls' night out with your heart sister!


One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $100 Visa cash card to put toward a nice dinner or lodging
• A copy of Heart Sisters
• A manicure kit
• A summery polish
• A disposable camera (to document your fun)
• A clutch

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 17th. Winner will be announced May 18th on Natalie's blog.

{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

Book info

About the book: Heart Sisters (Abingdon, April 2015) Heart Sisters is for women who want to both be and have better friends and want a helpful guide to take them through the process. Author Natalie Chambers Snapp uses her own and others' stories of successes and failures to illustrate what she has learned about girlfriend relationships. Healthy boundaries, honesty, tact, sharing, and agape love all play a part in being and maintaining a circle of close confidants. She also deals with the inevitable challenges that face many relationships including how to handle conflict; life changes like a new baby, move or divorce; and when it is right to "break-up" with your friend. Discussion questions, space to journal, photos, and quick interviews of healthy female friendships are included within each chapter. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1GKJTIQ About the author: Natalie Chambers Snapp is first and foremost a follower of Jesus, then wife to Jason, and mom to one spunky daughter and two spirited sons with a crazy amount of energy. Choosing to follow Jesus at 27, Natalie is passionate about sharing the grace, mercy, and truth of God's love. She lives in the Midwest with her crew and tries to keep it simple by writing about the faith found in the everyday mundane. The outpourings of her heart can be found at www.nataliesnapp.com in the fleeting moments between being a wife and mother. Find Natalie online: website, Facebook, Twitter My Review: I absolutely loved "Heart Sisters" and Natalie's spirit and heart that she shares in this book.  Throughout life we have friends, friends of varying kinds and degrees of closeness.  Some of these friends may become life long friends, while others are friends for a season.  However, sometimes in the busyness of life it may feel as if there is no time for friends; however there is a longing and need for friends.  I feel like I needed this book and what it said as I find myself caught up in the busyness in life and hard to really give friendships that attention that is required to be a good friend.  I loved the layout of this book with the space to journal and the discussion questions.  This is an excellent read and I highly recommend this for all women to read.  And really who could resist this cover?! 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.*

Book Review - "The Heart of the Amish"

"Powerful! That's the first word that comes to mind after reading this excellent book. You will be inspired to make changes in your life."--Chandler Gerber, featured in the film From One Second to the Next


Book Description from the publisher:

 We have all been hurt and we all have someone we need to forgive. But sometimes it's hard to let go of our hurt and anger in order to truly forgive and move on.

For the Amish, forgiving others in order to live at peace is woven into the very fabric of their faith. From daily annoyances to heartbreaking tragedy, they exhibit an incredible capacity for forgiveness that often baffles us. How do they do it? And how can we have the same attitude and ability to forgive?

Through true stories gathered from a variety of Amish communities, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher shows you how the Amish are able to release their pain and desire for revenge, and live at peace with others. Her in-depth, personal research uncovers the astounding yet fundamental way the Amish can forgive anyone from the angry customer at the grocery store to the shooter at Nickel Mines. You'll learn how to invite God into your story, apply lessons from the Amish to your own circumstances, and find the freedom that comes with true forgiveness.


"Fisher's stories of the Amish will arm you with tools to forgive and find the path to reconciliation as they draw you closer to God."--Elizabeth B. Brown, author of Living Successfully with Screwed-Up People


Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs, as well as many novels about the Amish, including the Lancaster County Secrets series, the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series. She is also the coauthor of an Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner for The Search, a Carol Award finalist for The Choice, and a Christy Award finalist for The Waiting. She is also a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.


My Review:
I really enjoyed this book!  I am a huge fan of Suzanne's Amish fiction novels, but this one really allowed me to understand and see the heart of the Amish culture and core beliefs of this group of people. This book is filled with short stories that are inspiring and will lift your spirits in just a few minutes.  I love the reflection questions and also the little Amish fact that is shared at the end of each chapter.  This book is great for those moments when you need a pick me up or only have a few minutes to read, but it is also perfect for those who may be struggling with forgiving others or moving on from a past hurt. 


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

New from Becky Wade | ‘A Love Like Ours’ $100 Cash Card and Prize Pack Giveaway

Fall in love with Becky Wade's new book, A Love Like Ours, a story of healing, romance, and cowboys. A glimmer of the hope Jake thought he’d lost returns when Lyndie lands back in Texas, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend?

To celebrate the release of her new book, Becky is giving away a $100 cash card and a book-inspired prize pack!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $100 cash card
• A copy of A Love Like Ours
• A copy of the Secretariat DVD
• A scarf
• A dog-tag/cross keychain
• A pair of earrings
• A Scarf
• A Texas-shaped cutting board
• A Jake Porter mug

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 26th. Winner will be announced May 27th on Becky's site.

Book info

About the book: A Love Like Ours (Bethany House, May 2015) Former Marine Jake Porter has far deeper scars than the one that marks his face. He struggles with symptoms of PTSD, lives a solitary life, and avoids relationships. When Lyndie James, Jake's childhood best friend, lands back in Holley, Texas, Jake cautiously hires her to exercise his Thoroughbreds. Lyndie is tender-hearted, fiercely determined, and afraid of nothing, just like she was as a child. Jake pairs her with Silver Leaf, a horse full of promise but lacking in results, hoping she can solve the mystery of the stallion's reluctance to run. Though Jake and Lyndie have grown into very different adults, the bond that existed during their childhood still ties them together. Against Jake's will, Lyndie's sparkling, optimistic personality begins to tear down the walls he's built around his heart. A glimmer of the hope he'd thought he'd lost returns, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend? Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1R9Tv8p About the author: Becky Wade is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market, took time off to raise her children, then felt God nudging her to pursue contemporary Christian fiction. Becky's work has been a finalist for both a RITA and an INSPY Award. Find Becky online: website, Facebook, Twitter My Review: I love Becky's books and I have been enjoying the Porter family series so much and was excited when "A Love Like Ours" released!  Jake Porter is the focus of this novel as far as the Porter siblings and he is tall, dark and brooding, but oh so sweet and perfect boyfriend material.  Lyndie was best friends with Jake while growing up, but her family moved away, but now the family has returned.  Lyndie wants to dive right back into the friendship, but Jake needs convincing and reluctantly agrees to Lyndie working at the ranch.  This is only the beginning of the story and I knew I was going to love it and not be able to stop reading once I had started!  Jake is struggling with PTSD following his time serving the country which is all too real for so many people.  Lyndie's family deals with the fragility of life each and every day with her sister Mollie and yet they have learned that God is good all the time and are at peace in the midst of the trying days.  I love the roles that Mollie and Karen and even Lyndie's grandfather all play in Jake's life.  I have to say as well how much I love how Becky continues to weave the former characters into this story as I loved Meg and Bo's story as well as Celia and Ty's.  Amber is such a loveable character as well and the dating challenge that she and Lyndie make adds so much entertainment to this story!  There are just so many wonderful lines in this story and moments that I highlighted and reread while reading this book.  I am looking forward to Dru's story next, but also disappointed that it will be the end of the Porter Family series.  "A Love Like Ours" is one of my top books this year for sure! To read other reviews included on this blog tour, go here! *Thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for including me on this blog tour.

"Side by Side"

Book info

About the book: Side by Side (New Hope Publishers, April 2015) In the dusty, Islamic country of Sudan, Mia's life collides with that of another young woman. A young Christian American mother, Mia finds more than one dark secret on the streets of Khartoum. She finds Halimah, a young, upper-class Arab student with a bright future in her family's business whose risky and secretive decision has put her life in danger. What happens when the path of young mother intersects with that of a spunky Sudanese student? God transforms them both . . . forever. Part of New Hope® Publishers' contemporary missional fiction line, Side by Side opens the reader's eyes to the life of Muslims in Sudan as well as some of the struggles that Christians face when living under Islamic law. The reader will be inspired to pray for those who are persecuted for their faith as well as pray for the salvation of those who persecute. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1DPUKiO About the author: Jana Kelley is a Texan who hardly ever lives in Texas. Raised in Southeast Asia, Jana developed a love for cross-cultural living early in life. Her love for writing came soon after. Jana returned to Texas to attend college. She and her husband married a month after she graduated and by their second anniversary, they were living in a remote African town. Together with her husband and three boys, Jana enjoys travel and overseas living. After thirteen years in Africa and the Middle East, Jana and her family moved to Southeast Asia where they currently live. Find Jana online: website, Facebook, Twitter My Review: "Side by Side" is an eye-opener and relevant book for today.  No matter where we all live, our communities are becoming more and more diverse and along with that are opportunities to learn about different cultures, and to also share one's own beliefs.  Jana does an excellent job with writing this book as I was immediately drawn into it and the scene was set that I was felt as if I was experiencing the story as well.  It is so easy to forget about the struggles that Christians living in other countries may be dealing with on a daily basis and also how other cultures may be treated.  This book will help all of the readers to expand their worldview and develop a deeper understanding of life in other countries and become more culturally aware.  This is a great choice if you are looking for a thought-provoking and inspiring read.  To read other review included on this blog tour, go here! *Thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for including me on this blog tour.