Song of My Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer - a review

Crisp characterization and vivid details of the setting is what I found so inviting about Kim Vogel Sawyer's Song of My Heart.  I fell in love with songstress Sadie Wagner and Sheriff Thad McKane and I guarantee that you will fall in love with them too!

From the very start of Song of My Heart I was drawn into this wonderful Christian tale of suspense and romance.  The story begins in Dalton, Indiana in 1895 but by chapter two the reader is transported to Goldtree, Kansas when heroine, Sadie Wagner, heads to Goldtree to meet up with her favorite cousin, Sid, and fulfill her lifelong dream of singing in an opera house.  Sadie becomes a  clerk in Baxter's Mercantile and on weekends sings in the 'basement singing room' for Asa Baxter, brother of the twin sister's that run the mercantile.  The money she earns is sent back home to Dalton, Indiana to help her family out since her father is ill.

Thad McKane has been hired by the town counsil and mayor to come to Goldtree as the new sheriff.  While the town believes he's just there to keep the peace in the growing town of Goldtree, he's actually there to discover who in town is operating an illegal bootlegging business.  Thad, has his job cut out for him and while observing and searching he falls for the lovely new mercantile clerk and songstress.

Within the pages of Song of My Heart there is romantic conflict, suspense and just pure enjoyment.  If you are a fan of Christian Fiction this book is a must read.

On a 5-Star scale I give I Song of My Heart 5 stars!

***** I would like to thank Litfuse Publishing and Bethany House for my review copy.  I received my copy of free in order to read it and give my honest review which I have done. *****


To purchase your very own copy of Song of My Heart, please follow the link here.

About the Book:
Sadie Wagner has always been devoted to her family. So when her stepfather is injured and can't work, she decides to leave and accept a position as a clerk at the mercantile in Goldtree, Kansas. Goldtree also offers the opportunity to use her God-given singing talent-though the promised opera house is far different from what she imagined. With her family needing every cent she can provide, Sadie will do anything to keep her job.


McKane comes to Goldtree at the request of the town council. The town has been plagued by bootlegging operations, and Thad believes he can find the culprit.


After he earns enough money doing sheriff work, he wants to use it to pay for his training to become a minister.
Thad is immediately attracted to the beautiful singer who performs in Asa Baxter's unusual opera house, but when he hears her practicing bawdy tunes, he begins to wonder if she's far less innocent than she seems.  And when Sadie appears to be part of the very crimes he's come to investigate, is there any hope the love blossoming between them will survive?

About the Author:

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of nineteen 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 six grandchildren.

She invites you to visit her Web site at www.kimvogelsawyer.com for more information.

Smiles & Blessings,

Saving Hope by Margaret Daley - a review

Saving Hope is Margaret Daley's first book in her Men of the Texas Rangers series.  It is a story of hope, love and suspense that grips the reader from page one and doesn't let go until the very last page has been turned.  It's a story about human trafficking and Ms. Daley handles the topic extremely well.

Kate Winslow is the director for Beacon of Hope, a school for young girls who have been rescued out of prostitution.  When Rose, one of her girls, turns up missing, Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan shows up to work the case.  Together they work hard to not only locate Rose but they also hope to find the head of the human trafficking prostitution ring.  There are twists and turns and I must say the ending truly surprised me.

The characters of Saving Hope are crisp and real.  From Kate and the girls of Beacon of Hope to Wyatt, his daughter Maddie and mother Carrie I felt like I really knew them.  I'm sure they will stay with me for a long time, as all good characters do.

I am a big fan of Margaret Daley's books and I could hardly wait to read Saving Hope.  I was definitely not disappointed.  In fact, in my humble opinion, I believe Saving Hope is Ms. Daley's best novel yet.  I can hardly wait until later this year when the second book of the Men of the Texas Rangers series is released.  That title is Shattered Silence.


On a 5-Star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

******* I'd like to thank the Publishers at Abingdon Press for my review copy.  I received my copy of Saving Hope for free in order to read and give my honest opinion, which I have done.  No other compensation was received. *******

Smiles & Blessings,

You're Invited to Kim Vogel Sawyer's Facebook Party on 03/29/12!!

Win a Nook Tablet from Kim Vogel Sawyer and RSVP for her "Song of My Heart" Facebook Party {3/29}!

Celebrate with Kim by entering to win a Nook Tablet and connecting with her at the Book Chat Party on 3/29!

One "songbird" winner will receive:

• A Nook Tablet
• Song of My Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/28/12. Winner will be announced at Kim's Book Chat Facebook Party on 3/29. Kim will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and much more!

So grab your copy of Song of My Heart and join Kim and friends on the evening of March 29th for an evening of fun.

 Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

Smiles & Blessings,

Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble - link to review & giveaway

For those of you who are followers of my blog you probably remember that Colleen Coble and her books hold a very special place in my heart.  It is because of a radio interview with Colleen, on our local Christian station WBCL, that I was wooed back into reading.  I have since devoured everything that she has written.  The most recent being Blue Moon Promise.  This is definitely a five star book.  As I find in all of Colleen's books her characters are real and continue to stay with you long after you turn the last page.

I was selected to review Blue Moon Promise by BookSneeze (you can read my review here), and I was also selected to review this book by LitFuse Publishing.  I contacted Amy Lathrop to ask her to remove my name from the review list since I had already been selected by BookSneeze but my review copy had already been mailed.  She was so gracious and asked if I would like to keep that copy as a giveaway and I jumped at the chance.

So, if you would like to win a copy of Colleen Coble's Blue Moon Promise please follow the directions below in order to get your name into the drawing.

************ NEW GIVEAWAY RULES  ************

1.  Giveaway is open to US and Canada

2.  No PO Boxes please.

3.  You MUST be a follower of my blog (please be sure to leave the name you follow under in your comment)

4.  For extra entries you may do one or all of the following:

    -- become an email subscriber +1

    -- invite a friend to become a follower of my blog.  If they become a follower & mention your name, you will both receive 2 extra entries


5. Include an email address where I can reach you if you are selected as the winner of this giveaway.  Please enter your email address in this format    winner[at]yahoo[dot]com

To make sure your entry counts, please answer the following question:

What do you love most about Spring?


Giveaway will run through March 31st and the winner will be selected using Random.Org


******  I would like to thank Amy Lathrop and LitFuse Publishing for my giveaway copy of Blue Moon Promise.  I received this book in order to offer it as a giveaway.  No compensation was given to me.  *****


For giveaways on other blogs please go to Winning Readings at http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/p/winning-readings-giveaways.html

Smiles & Blessings,

My Heart Hurts...and I'm Irate at the Vet!

Our baby had to have surgery today to remove a fatty tumor from his tail and a HUGE tumor off his chest (second time for the one on his chest).  Before the surgery, the vet had asked us if we wanted to have a section of the tumor sent off to find out what kind it was.  We told him 'no'.  I explained to him that I had a friend who had a dog that had surgery and she wanted to know what kind of tumor her dog had.  When it came back as cancer, my friend said she looked at her dog and treated her differently.  Our vet said he believed the tumor Peppi had was more than likely a benign tumor.

We just went down to pick Peppi up.  The vet came out and asked if his partner had came out to talk with us.  We told him 'no'.  He told us that the tumor was very invasive and wrapped around structures near the jugular vein.  He said that they kept a section in formaldehyde just in case we want to send it off later. He said it was very 'meaty' and that it appeared to be a ___________ I didn't catch the whole name but I made the mistake of asking if that kind of tumor was benign.  It was then that I got upset.  He said that type of tumor is VERY malignant.

When we left the vet's office I was almost in tears.  My sweet husband said, "please lets not get upset.  Peppi is in God's hands.  The vet doesn't KNOW that the tumor was that type and besides, Peppi still has a big appetite, hasn't lost weight, still is as spunky as ever and we aren't going to think negative.  We're just going to love on him for as long as God allows us to."  My husband the pastor always knows what to say but as I sit here and write these words I have a heavy heart.  I didn't want to know if it was bad news.  The vet knew that.  Yes, I asked if the type of tumor he was talking about was benign but he knew we didn't want to know so he shouldn't have brought up what type of tumor he thought it was.

My husband and I waited until late in life to get married (me - 48 and my husband 50. It was a God thing) and we adopted Peppi a few months after we were married.  He is our son.  Our baby boy.  We're very attached, as is my 84 year old mother (she lives next door and 'babysits' him during the day).  We have chosen not to tell her what the vet said as it would upset her way too much.

I know some people aren't pet people but I would like to ask all of you to say a prayer for Peppi.  That God will heal him completely.  Also, please pray for me that I can get past what the vet told me and not treat Peppi any differently.  I love him so very much.

Smiles & Blessings,