The Yuletide Rescue by Margaret Daley

I love Christmas and stories set during the Christmas season. So, with Christmas just a few weeks away, what better time to read a book set during Christmas? Especially, if the book is Margaret Daley's newest offering for Love Inspired Suspense, The Yuletide Rescue. Releasing in December, this book is Ms. Daley's first book in her "Alaskan Search and Rescue" series, Based on this first book I know I will love the series.

The story begins when Dr. Aubrey (Bree) Mathison is in a small bush plane with long-time family friend, Jeremiah Elliot. Bree travels all around Alaska helping people who need medical help and Jeremiah, as a pilot, is flying her home to Anchorage. Unfortunately, Jeremiah suffers a heart attack but is able to send off a May-Day call before crash landing the plane. Bree tries to help Jeremiah only to find that he has passed away. 

Now on her own, Bree builds an ice cave to stay in feeling assured that someone will find her by tracking the plane's beacon. Thankfully, David Stone, the head of a search and rescue unit finds her and is able to get her safely back home, but not before their safety is put in jeopardy. In the days to follow she begins to wonder if she really knew Jeremiah after all.

I really enjoyed the characters of Bree, David and David's father, Don. They were all well crafted and pulled me into their story from the very beginning. Bree and David both have painful memories and I loved how they worked through those pains as their love for each other grew. I also love it when a story and it's characters engage me in their world early on.

One thing I love about Margaret Daley's suspense novels is the fact that you can always count on a few twists and turns to keep the reader wondering and guessing. The Yuletide Rescue did not disappoint me in that area. Packed with suspense, the reader can count on a 'sitting on the edge of your seat" adventure.

I would highly recommend picking up a copy of The Yuletide Rescue book as soon as it hits the shelves. If by chance you miss it in the stores remember you can always buy it on line with any of the on line booksellers.

On a 5-Star Scale = 5 HUGE Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Margaret Daley for my copy of The Yuletide Rescue. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

 

May you all have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

Smiles & Blessings,

 

CFBA - Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton & Cindy Loven

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Swept Away
Abingdon Press (November 18, 2014)
by

Laura V. Hilton

and
Cindy Loven

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Award winning author Laura V. Hilton has penned many novels, including the Amish of Seymour series, the Amish of Webster County series, and the forthcoming Amish of Jamesport series. A member of ACFW, Laura is also a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites. A pastor’s wife, stay-at-home mom, and home school teacher, Laura and her family make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas.

A lifelong reader, Cindy Loven is an active church wife of a minister and mother to one son who is a home school graduate. Cindy and her family reside in Conway, Arkansas.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her ailing, stubborn grandmother. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don’t always go as planned. 

Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but also as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane’s grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between him and his new employer’s granddaughter. 

Still, it doesn’t take Sara Jane long to see Drew isn’t what he seems. Questions arise, and she starts online researching him. What she discovers could change her life—and her heart—forever.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Swept Away, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS:

Out of all the books I have read in the Quilts of Love series, Swept Away is definitely my favorite. The characters are well developed and I fell in love with Sari, otherwise known as Grandma. She is the grandmother of Sara Jane, the heroine. and I guarantee you she will rope your heart and pull you into her story and her plans for her granddaughter and Andrew, her handyman.

One thing I found interesting in this book is they introduce the reader to the Ballad Quilt. It is a quilt made based on a song ballad. Quite interesting. One day I would love to see one of these quilts.

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 BIG Stars!!!!! I loved this book.

I would like to thank Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Fiction for my copy of Sept Away. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

 

Where Treetops Glisten by Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman & Sarah Sundin

I truly love reading stories set during WWII, especially if they are written by Sarah Sundin, Cara Putman or Tricia Goyer. These wonderful writers of historical romance have joined together to write three wonderful stories tied together by family and love.

I really enjoyed the way the book was set up and that the titles are all song titles. The Prologue is titled, "Winter Wonderland" and was written by Sarah Sundin. The first story is "White Christmas" by Cara Putman, followed by "I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Sarah Sundin and then "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Tricia Goyer. The Epilogue is titled "Let it Snow, Let it Snow" by Cara Putman.

Where Treetops Glisten yields three stories surrounding the Turner family of Lafayette, Indiana. Let's start with Cara Putman's "White Christmas". This was the story of Abigail Turner and Jackson Lucas. Abigail is a student at Purdue and works a part-time job at Glatz Candy. When she encounters Jackson she feels he needs a friend and finds herself trying to help him with a family issue. This particular story had a little mystery to it and was a story set in the homefront in the early days of the war.

The second story, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is the story of Pete Turner, Grace Kessler and her precocious daughter, Linnie. Pete is a Lieutenant and pilot in the Army Air Corps and is home on leave when he encounters Linnie. This story was my favorite of the three mainly because I absolutely fell in love with Linnie. Sarah Sundin created her so well that she stepped off the page, took my hand and invited me into her world. This story was absolutely charming and was also set on the homefront.

The third story, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is the only story that was actually set on the war front. It is the story of the youngest Turner daughter, Meredith, or Merry, as her family and friends call her. She is a combat nurse stationed near the front lines in the Netherlands when her story begins. She had been in love while she was going to nursing school and found herself betrayed by a young man she thought she would spend the rest of her life with but one day he disappeared leaving signs behind that he wasn't who she thought he was. 

All three authors have similar voices and at times I had to check to see who had written the portion I was reading. In my opinion, they are all excellent authors and I always look forward to their newest books and I keep their books on my 'keeper' shelf.

The characters in Where Treetops Glisten seem so real and the settings make you feel right at home. I will say that Cara Putman tied all three stories up quite nicely in the Epilogue and I must admit, as I finished the last few words I let out a big sigh. I hated to see the book end.

I would highly recommend When Treetops Glisten to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction set during WWII and books set during Christmas. To be honest, I believe if you love good fiction in any genre you'll love this book.

On a 5 - Star Scale - 15 HUGE Stars!!!!!  Yes, I said 15, after all there are three authors and I'm giving 5 Stars to each of them. 

I would like to thank Litfuse Publicity and WaterBrook Press for my review copy of When Treetops Glisten. I received my copy for free in order to read and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

 

Surprised by Love by Julie Lessman

First off, I have to say this is the first book I have read by Julie Lessman. I have several in my 'to be read' pile and I can guarantee you, they have been moved closer to the top of my pile. I have heard wonderful things about Ms. Lessman's writing and I can now agree with all the wonderful things people have said about her work. She definitely knows how to weave words into a story that grabs the readers heart and plays with their emotions.

Her newest book, Surprised by Love is the third book in "The Heart of San Francisco" series. I do wish I had read the first two books in the series, but that will come in time. This book is the story of Megan McClare and Bram Hughes. When the story begins, Megan has just arrived home from a year spent in Paris. When Bram, who always thought of her as a little sister, sees how she has matured he is 'surprised by love'. I have to admit, this story line reminds me so much of the story line of Sabrina and Linus in the movie Sabrina. I loved the movie and I loved Ms. Lessman's book.

Ms. Lessman truly has a gift for words and creating believable characters. They are so well developed they breathe the life into her story. Her prose is so lyrical it reads almost like poetry. Am I a fan? Yes! I am!

I would highly recommend Surprised by Love to anyone who enjoys reading a good clean historical novel. I guarantee you, you won't be disappointed.

On a 5 Star Scale - 5 HUGE Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for my review copy of Surprised by Love. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

At Bluebonnet Lake by Amanda Cabot

I always enjoy reading authors that are new to me. Especially when they are as gifted as Amanda Cabot. Her newest book, At Bluebonnet Lake, was an enjoyable "feel good" story set in Texas.

Kate Sherwood works in advertising and aspires to become a partner in the firm one day. She is a workaholic so when her grandma Sally wants her to take a month long trip with her to Rainbow's End, Texas, Kate reluctantly agrees. Mostly because she knows Sally's health is fragile. She owes Sally so much because when Kate's parents died when she was young her grandparents, Sally and Larry raised her. 

Sally wants to return to Rainbow's End because she spent one wonderful week there with Larry fifty years before. When they arrive at Rainbow's End, it is not the same. It is run down and in desperate need of repair, but Sally still sees the beauty of it.

The hero is billionaire Greg Vange and when Kater first meets him she believes him to be a maintenance man at the resort.

I truly loved this story, it was simple but enjoyable. Besides Kate and Greg's story, the reader is also treated to a love story between Sally and Roy. The stories were woven together and left a smile on my face. 

The characters were well developed and interacted well with each other and I must say when I closed the book they all left a smile on my face.

I would highly recommend At Bluebonnet Lake to anyone who enjoys a good Christian contemporary love story.

On a 5-Star Scale - 4 1/2 Stars!!!!

I would like to thank Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my copy of At Bluebonnet Lake. I received my copy for free in order to read and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Playing by Heart by Anne Mateer

Reading Playing by Heart by Anne Mateer was my first experience with this author. While I enjoyed this book, I'm not sure I really enjoyed the 'first person' telling of the story. Each chapter has a header of who's mind we are in throughout that chapter. I have read some books before written in first person but the author left it to the reader to know whose head we were in and I prefer that form of first person writing.

With all that said, the story in Playing by Heart was well told. It is the story of Lula Bowman, a mathematics teacher and student working towards her PhD and Chet Vaughn, a teacher and basketball coach.  Lula's sister loses her husband and she is called back to her Oklahoma home town to help her sister get through this rough time. Lula's other siblings believe Lula should give up her dream of obtaining her PhD in order to help their sister Jewel. All her siblings appeared to be very selfish and self-absorbed. Chet Vaughn lived in Lula's hometown and while he would have loved to gone to war like his brother, he stayed behind to tend to his mother.

The characters were well developed and the reader is drawn into their world easily. Lula's character was based on both of Ms. Mateer's grandmothers, which I found quite interesting.

In my opinion, the love story between Lula and Chet took a little longer than I would have liked but the important thing is it did happen eventually. 

There are some plot twists in this story that were unexpected but added to the story quite nicely.

While it wasn't one of my favorite books, I would recommend Playing by Heart to anyone who enjoys reading Christian historical romance novels.

On a 5-Star Scale - 4 Stars.

I would like to thank Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my copy of Playing by Heart. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,