A Heart's Obsession by Colleen Coble

For all of you who enjoy reading books by Colleen Coble you must pick up copies of her books in the Journey of the Heart series. The first book, A Heart's Disguise (read my review here) was released in March and was an excellent book. Please keep in mind that this is a continuity series which means that book two, A Heart's Obsession, picks up where the first left off and so on. There will be a total of six books in the series and they were originally published as two books, Where Leads the Heart and Plains of Promise. Both books have been out of print for almost ten years.

A Heart's Obsession picks up where the first book left off. Lieutenant Rand Campbell says goodbye to his family and Sarah and moves on to his next post at Fort Laramie in Wyoming. In the last book, he asked Sarah to go with him but with her father near death she tells him she can't. So Rand leaves and shortly after arriving at Fort Laramie he, along with some other troops, is sent to escort Major DuBois, his wife and daughter to the fort. When he meets Jessica DuBois he feels something about her reminds him of Sarah.

Back in Wabash, Sarah's father passes away. A few days after the funeral her best friend Amelia marries Rand's brother Jacob and they are due to set out for Fort Laramie as Jacob has also been assigned there. Sarah asks if she and Joel can join them on their journey so she can reunite with Rand. However, Sarah's brother Wade is convinced that he is responsible for her and therefore tells her she is to marry Ben Croftner. When she tells him "no" he locks her in her room. The next day she convinces her brother that she now sees things his way but once he leaves, she and her younger brother Joel sneak out and go over to Jacob and Amelia's and soon find themselves on a rough journey traveling across five states in order to reach Wyoming. 

When they finally arrive Sarah can hardly wait to find Rand. But when she finally sees him he is with Jessica who she soon learns is engaged to Rand. While Sarah's heart is breaking she decides Rand's happiness is more important than anything. Not really knowing what she should do, she begins teaching the area Sioux children how to read and speak English. 

I could go on and on but then it would spoil the entire book for you. Just know that Ben Croftner hasn't given up and Jessica hasn't begun. I can't say anymore at this time.

I really enjoyed this book and can hardly wait to read book three, A Heart's Danger, which is due out in May. I would highly recommend picking up all the books in this series if you are a Colleen Coble fan or if you are a fan of historical fiction.

I only have one minor issue that I found with the series so far, in book one, the first page states it is October 1865 and in book two it states it is September 22, 1865. A minor detail to say the least. 

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

I would like to thank Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson for my copy of A Heart's Obsession which I received for free in order to read and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron

As an avid fan of World War II historical fiction, I took a leap of faith in reading Kristy Cambron's debut novel, The Butterfly and the Violin (read my review here.). The characters were so real to me that they have stayed with me since I finished the book last July. Needless to say, I was very anxious for Ms. Cambron's sophomore release to come out. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. Her second book, A Sparrow in Terezin continues the story of William Hanover and Sera James from the first book. In fact it begins with their wedding day.

As in The Butterfly and the Violin, Miss Cambron takes the reader on a journey in modern day and another journey set during World War II. The reader may begin to wonder what one story has to do with the other but this masterpiece is woven together so well that the reader's questions are answered about midway through.

While both story lines are strong on their own, my favorite was Kaja Makovsky's story. Kaja is a young women who is half Jewish and because of her Jewish heritage, her parents force her to flee Prague with her sister and brother-in-law just as the Nazi's are beginning to invade. We soon catch up with her five years later where she is living in London during the Blitz. It is here where she meets Liam Marshall, a journalist at the newspaper she works at. Their relationship starts off slow but in time. Well, we can't give out spoilers now can we?

Ms. Cambron has the ability to masterfully craft a scene that takes the reader right into the heart of the story. Then her characters introduce themselves and you know it's real. It just has to be real. Doesn't it? The reader is pulled into a story that is so real, so well researched that it is hard to believe that the creation only lives inside the mind of this wonderful new author. I am just so thankful that I discovered her as a new voice.

Both the contemporary and historical parts of this book are about love, faith, trust, hope and courage when faced with difficult circumstances. They will both take the reader on an emotional journey in which you may shed a few tears. I know I did.

I would highly recommend A Sparrow in Terezin to anyone who enjoys a good emotional read. While you don't need to read the two books in order I would highly recommend it.

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

I would like to thank Lituse Publicity for my copy of A Sparrow in Terezin. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Bound together across time, two women will discover a powerful connection in Kristy Cambron's new book, A Sparrow in Terezin. 
Connecting across a century through one little girl, a Holocaust survivor with a foot in each world, two women will discover a kinship that springs even in the darkest of times. In this tale of hope and survival, Sera and Kája must cling to the faith that sustains and fight to protect all they hold dear—even if it means placing their own futures on the line.


Kristy is celebrating by giving away a basket filled with goodies inspired by her new book!





 

One grand prize winner will receive:




 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 28th. Winner will be announced April 29th on Kristy's blog.








{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

• A set of poppy notecards


• A poppy pin


• A copy of I Never Saw Another Butterfly


• A copy of the Mrs. Miniver DVD


• Literary tea bags


• Tumbler


• A copy of A Sparrow in Terezin

Double Cross by DiAnn Mills

I get so excited when I hold a new novel in my hands with the name DiAnn Mills on the cover. Through the years, Ms. Mills has become one of my favorite suspense novelists. Her newest novel, Double Cross, is the second book in her "FBI: Houston" series and I can hardly wait for book three in the series, Deadlock, which releases in Spring of 2016.

Double Cross  is the story of FBI agent Laurel Evertson and Houston Police Officer Daniel Hilton. Laurel is pulled into an investigation of a scam targeting the elderly. As she follows the evidence it leads her to a man she was 'engaged' to during a previous undercover assignment. Her former fiance claims he has become a Christian but Laurel finds it hard to believe.

Daniel Hilton's grandparents have been cheated out of some money in an insurance scam and he will do anything to protect them and get to the bottom of the scam even if it means joining forces with another agency. He soon joins forces with Laurel and her ex-fiance, Morton Wilmington who has been released from prison. Daniel also finds it hard to believe that Morton has changed his ways but time will tell.

Ms. Mills has once again created a cast of believable characters that pull the reader into their story and keeps them there until the very last page. With twists and turns a plenty, Double Cross, is a book I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good suspense novel.

I would like to thank the DiAnn Mills and Tyndale House Publishers for my copy of Double Cross. I received my copy for free in order to read and give my honest review, which I have done.

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

Smiles & Blessings,

Buried Secrets by Irene Hannon

I always know when I pick up an Irene Hannon novel that I am going to be pulled into the story and held there until the last page is turned. Buried Secrets, Ms. Hannon's newest novel is the first in her "Men of Valor" series, and is a masterpiece in suspense. 

The story is about Police Chief Lisa Grant and ex-Navy SEAL, Mac McGregor. Mac is now a detective for the county and when some human bones are found at an excavation site, Mac and Lisa meet and begin a journey of discovery. Both a discovery surrounding the bones and a discovery about each other. 

Because of a very small piece of evidence that was buried with the bones, Lisa is able to discover who the bones belonged to and with that she sets out on a journey to find out what happened and who was behind the blunt force trauma to the skull.

Ms. Hannon is a master at providing twists and turns in her suspense novels that keep the reader engaged and guessing. Buried Secrets did exactly that. While the reader is clued in to the identity of who buried the person early on in the story, the twists and turns that the story took kept me guessing as to what really did happen.

If you enjoy a good clean suspense story I would highly recommend picking up a copy of Buried Secrets, I am sure you will love it and might find yourself staying up late into the night to finish it. I am looking forward to the second book in the series, which will be released in the Spring of 2016. Based on the excerpt in the back of Buried Secrets the next book in the series looks to be just as exciting, It is the story of Mac MacGregor's younger brother Lance, a former member of Delta Force who is now working for the FBI. He was introduced in Buried Secrets and I look forward to getting to know him better.

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

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

Smiles & Blessings,

CFBA Mist of Midnight by Sandra Byrd

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Mist of Midnight

Howard Books (March 10, 2015)

by

Sandra Byrd

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd has now published more than forty books. Her adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named by Library Journal as a Best Books Pick for 2011 and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr, was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012. The Tudor series’ end cap, Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I published in April, 2013.

A life-long lover of Victorian Gothic romances, Sandra’s new series, Daughters of Hampshire, weaves elements of that mystical, traditional genre with inspirational and literary threads. Mist of Midnight, the series’ first book, debuts in March, 2015.

Sandra has also published dozens of books for tweens and teens, and is passionate about helping new authors develop their talent and their work toward traditional or independent publication. As such, she has mentored and coached hundreds of new writers and continues to coach dozens to success each year.

ABOUT THE BOOK


In the first of a brand-new series set in Victorian England, a young woman returns home from India after the death of her family to discover her identity and inheritance are challenged by the man who holds her future in his hands.

Rebecca Ravenshaw, daughter of missionaries, spent most of her life in India. Following the death of her family in the Indian Mutiny, Rebecca returns to claim her family estate in Hampshire, England. Upon her return, people are surprised to see her...and highly suspicious. Less than a year earlier, an imposter had arrived with an Indian servant and assumed not only Rebecca's name, but her home and incomes.

That pretender died within months of her arrival; the servant fled to London as the young woman was hastily buried at midnight. The locals believe that perhaps she, Rebecca, is the real imposter. Her home and her father's investments reverted to a distant relative, the darkly charming Captain Luke Whitfield, who quickly took over. Against her best intentions, Rebecca begins to fall in love with Luke, but she is forced to question his motives—does he love her or does he just want Headbourne House? If Luke is simply after the property, as everyone suspects, will she suffer a similar fate as the first “Rebecca”?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Mist of Midnight, go HERE.

Smiles & Blessings,