CFBA - A Grand Design by Amber Stockton

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

A Grand Design

Abingdon Press (August 19, 2014)

by

Amber Stockton

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Words from the author:


Hi, I'm Amber, but my friends call me Tiff, short for Tiffany, my first name. I am in my mid-30's, married to the love of my life since July 2007, have a daughter and a son, and live in Colorado. Here, I am content to do what I love—write, speak, and offer virtual assistance.

Thanks to the gentle nudging of a fellow author -- Tracie Peterson -- in 2002, I joined the American Christian Fiction Writers and wouldn't be published today without them. For those of you who are also fiction writers looking for a wonderful support group, check them out! My very first book, Promises, Promises, sold in December 2006 and released in February 2008. I've been going steady ever since.

ABOUT THE BOOK


When Alyssa Denham, a single career woman, wins a fun getaway for two on Mackinac Island where her grandmother lives, she gives her carefree best friend a call. Together, they tour the old shops and hidden treasures of the quaint island while helping Alyssa’s grandmother piece together an heirloom quilt. Their quest gains them entrance into the homes of many longtime residents of the island, parts of the city that are otherwise off limits to tourists.
As the quilt’s story takes shape, Alyssa gains amazing insight into her grandmother’s life . . . and attracts the attention of the handsome Scott Whitman, an island resident in charge of hotel transportation. Will memories of her past keep Alyssa from letting go? Or will the quest to piece together the heirloom quilt restore Alyssa’s fractured heart—and bring healing to her entire family?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Grand Design, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS:

I love reading books in the Quilts of Love series and the newest book in the series, A Grand Design, by Amber Stockton was an extremely enjoyable read. Ms. Stockton used Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel as her setting for this delightful read.

While the characters weren't complex they did treat the reader to a fun journey around the island and hotel making this reader want to take a journey to Mackinac Island some time soon.

The quilt in this book is a friendship quilt and what happens with it in the end is quite sweet. But since I don't give out spoilers, you'll have to read A Grand Design for yourself to find out.

This is a story of new beginnings and setting the memories of the past free. The setting plays a large part in the story and I guarantee you will want to make a journey to Mackinac Island after reading the book. Even if it is just to see the places where the movie Somewhere in Time was made.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean read.

On a 5-Star scale - 4 Stars!!!!

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

Smiles & Blessings,

Evergreen by Susan May Warren

Whether you are already a fan of Susan May Warren's Christiansen family or not, Ms. Warren's newest book in the Christiansen family series is one not to be missed. This is the story of the Patriarch and Matriarch of the family, John and Ingrid Christiansen.

This is the story of 'empty-nesters' and how they deal with having a house full of children to having none. At least for awhile anyway. Ms. Warren shows how John and Ingrid look at things differently and how they have to learn to compromise.

I will admit I shed more than a few tears in this book but I can't tell you why or it will ruin the story for you. I will suggest you have some tissues handy just in case.

Evergreen is the story of endings and new beginnings, of truth and consequences, of love and forgiveness. Ms. Warren has masterfully created characters that make the reader feel what they feel.

I would highly recommend picking up a copy of Evergreen. This book is a novella and while it is a mere 185 pages long it packs a powerful punch. It is a book that even if you never read any of Ms. Warren's other Christiansen family stories you should read this one. 

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

I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for my copy of Evergreen to review. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest opinion, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

In Perfect Time - by Sarah Sundin

If you want to read great fiction set during WWII, then you must pick up a book by Sarah Sundin. I just finished In Perfect Time, her third book in the "Wings of the Nightingale" series and I think it was the best of the three. The first book in the series is With Every Letter (read my review here) and the second book in the series is On Distant Shores read my review here. All three books can be read as 'stand-alones' but I would highly recommend reading them in order or you will encounter some spoilers.

In Perfect Time is the story of Army Air Force flight nurse Lt. Kay Jobson and C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper. I didn't really like Kay's character in the first two books but as the layers were stripped away from her in this book she became one of my favorite characters of the entire series. I will admit, I've loved Lt. Roger Cooper from the earlier books because he seemed so shy. This book peels the layers back on his character too and what the reader finds is a wonderful loving caring man who needs to learn to forgive himself for his past. 

This book is a story of hope, faith, love, trust and forgiveness. Ms. Sundin allowed the characters to get themselves into situations that made me want to shake them, hug them, kick them in their britches and hug them some more. All the characters of this series became real to me. I could hardly wait for In Perfect Time to come out and now I am sad that it's over. I truly loved this series. I wish Ms. Sundin would write one more in the series about a year or two after the war so we could see how their lives progressed. I must admit, I did love the way she tied up all the stories at the end of this book.

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 GIGANTIC Stars!!!!! I absolutely LOVED it!

I would like to thank Litfuse Publicity and Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my review copy of In Perfect Time. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Her Hometown Hero by Margaret Daley

I am a huge fan of Love Inspired books and Margaret Daley, so when they are combined, they're magical for me. Her soon to be released novel is Her Hometown Hero, the third book in her Caring Canines series and it is a sure winner.

What would you do if your dream for your life tragically came to an end in the blink of an eye? Could you move on and focus on a new dream or maybe reinvent the old dream? In Her Hometown Hero Kathleen (Kit) Somers must face such a challenge. With the help of Dr. Nate Sterling, a local veterinarian and her ex-high school sweetheart, she adopts a beautiful little poodle named Lexie, who plays a large part in Kit's healing.

Can Kit and Nate rekindle what they once had or has time swallowed up their chance along with their dreams? I loved the characters of Kit and Nate and although my time with them was short, I would love to see them in another book somewhere in the future. Maybe in the next Caring Canine book? 

I would highly recommend picking up a copy of Her Hometown Hero, I guarantee a quick enjoyable read. 

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

I would like to thank the author for my copy of Her Hometown Hero. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review.

Smiles & Blessings,

A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert

The more I read by Katie Ganshert, the more a fan I become. Ms. Ganshert's newest novel, A Broken Kind of Beautiful gives the reader a glimpse into the world of modeling and fashion photography. The reader will find themselves caring deeply for the characters residing in Greenbrier, South Carolina.

It is the story of fashion model, Ivy Clark and former Fashion Photographer turned church handyman, Davis Knight. Their story is a journey of their self-discovery out of their brokenness and into a new life of hope, love and forgiveness. There were times I wanted to reach out and shake them to get their attention, but then I had to remind myself it was only a story.

When Ivy's dreams are shattered she must learn to trust in God before she can move forward with her life. Watching her journey throughout the pages of this book were at times difficult and painful but the outcome was well worth the time spent. The character of Davis needs to learn to forgive himself and until he does, he will continue to blame himself for past mistakes.

I found A Broken Kind of Beautiful a story of broken dreams being restored into new dreams all by our wonderful Creator. There is a lesson to be learned in this book and I guarantee you that it is a lesson worth learning.

I would highly recommend A Broken Kind of Beautiful to anyone who enjoys a good clean read that shares a lesson within its pages.

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

I would like to thank Blogging for Books and Waterbrook Press for my copy of A Broken Kind of Beautiful. Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

Smiles & Blessings,

  

When I Fall in Love by Susan May Warren

I have become a big fan of Susan May Warren and her "Christiansen Family" series.  I just finished the third book in the series, When I Fall in Love, and I loved it! The first book, Take a Chance on Me, is on my Kindle waiting to be read, and the second book in the series is It Had to Be You (read my review here). There are quite a few family members so I'm sure we will be presented with several more books in the series in the future.

When I Fall in Love is the story of Grace Christiansen, a natural chef, and Maxwell Sharpe, a hockey player for the St. Paul Blue Ox. Grace is a homebody who would rather live with her parents and make magnificent meals while waiting to be accepted into culinary school and Max is a man who has a secret and chooses to stay to himself so he doesn't have to divulge it.

This is a story of hope, faith, trust and forgiveness. The characters seemed as real as everyday people and as each one graced the pages of this wonderful book they reached out their hands and drew the reader into the story. The plot was very much character driven.

The subplot is about Raina Beaumont and two of the Christiansen men, Owen, a man with a wounded past and his brother Casper, who is searching for his future. If I had to guess, these characters just might be the subject of a future novel in this series.

I truly love books that are clean reads but I must say that something happened in the early part of the book that made me think about closing the book and not continuing. But because it was written by Ms. Warren I thought she deserved for me to continue on to see what she made of it. I am so glad I didn't close the book as I would have missed out on so very, very much. There are lessons to be learned within the cover of When I Fall in Love and I hope you all pick up a copy and enjoy the read.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good contemporary romance novel.  You'll be whisked away from Minnesota to Hawaii and back again and I am sure you will enjoy the journey.

On a 5-star scale = 5 HUGE stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Litfuse Publicity and Tyndale House Publishers for my review copy of When I Fall in Love. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,