CFBA - When Hope Rises by Dora Hiers

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

When Hope Rises

Pelican Book Group (May 2015)

by

Dora Heirs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

After a successful auditing career, Dora left the corporate world to be a stay-at-home mom to her two sons. When her youngest son no longer wanted her hanging out at school with him anymore, Dora started writing Heart Racing, God-Gracing romance. She is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and her local chapter, Carolina Romance Writers.

Dora and her real life hero make their home in North Carolina. When she takes a break from cranking out stories, she enjoys reading, family gatherings, and mountain cabin getaways. She despises traffic, bad coffee, technological meltdowns, and a sad ending to a book. Her books always end with a happily-ever-after! 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Art teacher Shelby Coltman transforms junk into treasure and longs for a place to showcase her creations. She’s thrilled when her friend volunteers to room with her. Shelby can finally buy a storefront. Unfortunately, Kennedi’s brother can't seem to let go.

Abandoned as a teenager, guidance counselor Tate Malone has become surrogate and over-protective father to his sister. Life is great until Shelby Coltman wheedles his impressionable sister into sharing an apartment. Raised in wealth, the beautiful Shelby could never understand poverty or rejection, and Tate doesn't appreciate her uprooting his sister.

When Shelby hands over her savings to a homeless student, will God obliterate Tate's fears and deliver all of Shelby’s dreams...when hope rises? 

If you would like to read the first chapter of When Hope Rises, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS:

This was my first experience in reading anything by Dora Hiers. The one thing I noticed is her characters are faced with believable challenges that can relate to real life.

Shelby Coltman is an art teacher who has a dream to open up her own art studio.Tate Malone is a school guidance counselor who wants to forget the fact he was abandoned when he was a teenager. After many years of being separated,Tate has finally found his sister, Kennedi, and has become over-protective of her. When Kennedi decides to move in with her new friend Shelby, Tate is not happy. 

I enjoyed seeing the relationships Ms. Hiers built between her characters and  the fact that her characters have strong beliefs of celibacy prior to marriage. Most books allude to celibacy but never really broach the subject.

When Hope Rises  is a book of relationships and romance. It was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a quick romantic read.

On a 5-Star scale - 4 Stars.

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

Smiles & Blessings,

In Firefly Valley by Amanda Cabot

When given the opportunity to read In Firefly Valley, the second book in Amanda Cabot's "Texas Crossroads" series, I jumped at the chance. I read her first book in the series, At Bluebonnet Lake (read my review here), and thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the setting of the resort, Rainbow's End.

In this book, the reader is brought back to Rainbow's End when Marisa St. George returns home to Dupree, Texas. After college she took a job in accounting but as soon as the tax season was over, her company decided to let her go. She accepts a position as the business manager of the Rainbow's End resort. Unfortunately, just as it was in At Bluebonnet Lake, the resort is struggling. 

Blake Kendall, aka author Ken Blake, has lost his muse and in an attempt to get his writing back on track he contacts his old friend Greg Vange only to find that Greg is remodeling a resort in Texas. Blake flies to Texas in hopes of getting some ideas for his writing. What he didn't expect was meeting someone like Marisa. He hopes that she will inspire him but then he finds out she doesn't like Ken Blake books.

While Marisa was in her accounting job, she hired a private investigator to try to find her alcoholic father who went missing on the day she graduated from high school. Unfortunately, he took her money and left her still not knowing what happened to her father. His disappearance has had an affect on Marisa's life. Will she be able to get beyond her past so she can live free in her future? Will she find out that Blake is really Ken Blake, the author?  

This is a story about people learning to forgive the past and trust in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed book two. In fact, I think I enjoyed it a little more than I did the first book in the series. However, book three in the series, On Lone Star Trail, sounds just as wonderful. It will be releasing in the Spring of 2016.

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 In Firefly Valley. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review.

Smiles & Blessings,

Tox-Sick From Toxic to Not Sick by Suzanne Somer

When I first heard about Suzanne Somers new book, Tox-Sick From Toxic to Not Sick I wasn't really interested. Then I heard Ms. Somers talk about the book on several different talk shows and I thought, 'why not?' maybe I can learn something. So  requested a copy for review and I was glad I did.

The basis of this book, as you can see by the cover,  is to tell the reader about toxins that are in their bodies, the diseases they cause and the doctors who can help. The book is broken down into three parts. Part I is Totally Tox-Sick and it covers the new toxic threats in the world and how our body's protector systems work. Part II is Bulletproofing Your Body and Home. It covers the gut, the brain, the heart, the effects of toxins on a person's thyroid and other hormones and it covers how to protect your home, family and workplace. In Part II there are interviews with doctors who are making a difference. Then Part III is Coming Clean which covers protocols for optimal health. This covers detox basics and advanced techniques.

This book is not an easy read in the sense of picking it up and reading it through quickly. This is a book that must be read, reviewed and digested. There is a lot of information packed into the 311 pages of this book, as well as, much more information in the Appendix and beyond. 

I must admit, I found it hard to just sit down and read this book. I went to the index and located areas that pertained to me and then read those areas and was amazed at what I read. One thing that caught my eye was a box at the top of page 286 that was simply titled, "Let's Review". Below is what was written in that box.

     "To achieve peak health you should

• Change your diet so it includes organic healthy fats: grass-fed animal protein, wild-caught salmon, organic butter, cream, and dairy products.
• Eat healthy oils containing essential fatty acids, such as olive oil, flaxseed oil, coconut oil,
• Eliminate all processed foods.
• Eliminate all sugar until you are healed.
• Eliminate all carbs until you are healed.
• Supplement for survival with what it is you require from The Protocol (page 250)

     Make these changes along with the supplementation we discussed and your gut will begin to work correctly, your brain will become sharp again, and you'll get skinnier, healthier, and happier.

Ms. Somers has a created a book than can help you detox you body providing you put the time into studying the areas of the book that can best help you.

On a 5-Star scale - 4 Stars

I would like to thank Blogging for Books and Harmony Books for my copy of Tox-Sick From Toxic to Not Sick. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review.

Smiles & Blessings,

Security Breach by Margaret Daley

As I am sure I have mentioned before, I thoroughly enjoy reading book in the Love Inspired Suspense line of books. When the name on the cover is Margaret Daley I love it all the more.

Security Breach is the fourth book in the "Capitol K-9 Unit" series and doesn't hit the bookshelves until June. While I haven't read the first three books in the series yet, I can say that Security Breach can stand alone to an extent. But, personally, I wish I had read the first three books in the series first, as references are made in regards to what I am sure occurred in those books. Of course, because it is a continuity series, the thread that runs through all the books will most likely not be tied up until the last book. 

What I really love about a Margaret Daley book is her believable characters and the twists and turns that keep me on the edge of my seat until I turn the last page. Security Breach didn't disappoint me. Her heroine, Selena Barrow is a White House tour director and her hero is Officer Nicholas Cole a member of the Capitol K-9 Unit. Selena's cousin is a person of interest in the shooting of a congressman and Selena wants to prove her innocence. When she gets a little too close to discovering information that could potentially clear her cousin she is attacked. Nicholas and his K-9 partner. Max, take on the job of protecting Selena. As the story progresses more attacks ensue.

If you love suspense novels and want to invest in a fantastic series, I would highly recommend picking up the books in this series.They are Protection Detail, by Shirlee McCoy (March), Duty Bound Guardian, by Terry Reed (April), Trail of Evidence, by Lynette Eason (May), Security Breach, by Margaret Daley (June), Detecting Danger by Valerie Hansen (July) and Proof of Innocence, by Lenora Worth (August).

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

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

Smiles & Blessings,

A Heart's Danger by Colleen Coble

For those of you who follow my blog, then you know I am currently reading books in Colleen Coble's six book series, "Journey of the Heart". These short books are a reprint of Ms. Cobles' first two novels, Where Leads the Heart and Plains of Promise. If I had to guess, A Heart's Danger is the end of her book Where Leads the Heart as everything seemed to tie up nicely.

A Heart's Danger will be releasing in May. It continues the story of Sarah Montgomery and Rand Campbell who are now at Fort Laramie, Wyoming. Relations between the soldiers and Indians are beginning to heat up and Rand finds himself in all kinds of trouble in this book.

Rand's fiance, Jessica Dubois begins to show her true colors and collaborates with Ben Croftner to try and keep Sarah away from Rand. Will they succeed in keeping Sarah and Rand apart or will it backfire on them. 

Ms. Coble is a masterful storyteller and even though this book is part of her very first book you can see the talent has been there all along. Packed with twists and turns, Ms. Coble treats the reader to a breath-holding journey in the Old West.

I am enjoying reading this series and can hardly wait for book four, A Heart's Betrayal, to hit my mailbox. It will be releasing in June and will be followed up with A Heart's Promise in July and then the conclusion, A Heart's Home in August.

If you enjoy reading clean historical fiction set in the Old West I would highly suggest picking up copies of the books in this series. They have been fun and quick to read.

On a five star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

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

Smiles & Blessings,

The Inn at Ocean's Edge by Colleen Coble

I am such a fan of Colleen Coble and always love it when she releases a new book in a new series. Her newest series "Sunset Cove" starts off with a bang with The Inn at Ocean's Edge.

Imagine what you would do if one day you found out that your life was a total lie. That your name never really was yours and that your mother was not your biological mother. What would you do?

What if you made new friends only to find out that their mother was murdered years ago and it was linked to who you were back then.

Colleen Coble is a master at creating strong believable characters that drive her novels through twists and turns that keeps the reader on the edge of their seats. The Inn at Ocean's Edge was no exception. Ms. Coble's characters, Claire Dellamare and Luke Rocco fill the pages as believable and almost palpable people that forge a bond while looking for answers about both of their lives.

There is so much I could say about this book and would love to do so but it would ruin your reading experience if I shed light on any other aspect of the book. Just know that The Inn at Ocean's Edge is Colleen Coble at her best.

If you are a fan of Ms. Coble's work or a fan of clean suspense novels this is definitely a book for you. The second book in the series, Mermaid Moon will be releasing in December 2015 and I can hardly wait.

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

I would like to thank BookLook Bloggers and Thomas Nelson Publishers for my review copy of The Inn at Ocean's Edge. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

No Place to Hide by Lynette Eason

I do love a good suspense novel and when it has the name Lynette Eason on the cover I know I will be in for a fast paced, edge of your seat reading experience. 

Ms. Eason's newest novel, No Place to Hide, is her third book in her "Hidden Identity" series. The first two books in the series, No One to Trust (read my review here), and Nowhere to Turn (read my review here) were excellent suspenseful reads and I would highly recommend picking up copies of both of them. However, you do not need to read them before reading No Place to Hide.

What would you do if you heard that your childhood best friend was in a lot of trouble with the law? Would you try to locate him to see if you could help him out? Well, that is exactly what Jackie Sellers does when she learns her childhood best friend and 'crush', Ian Lockwood, is wanted in connection to a terrorist plot. The fact that she has a background in law enforcement may have helped her to decide to pursue finding Ian by breaking into his house.

Ms. Eason always creates well developed, believable characters and then puts them into the story and 'stirs the pot', meaning she gets her characters in all sorts of trouble but luckily she gets them out of it as well. She always presents a story packed with non-stop action that takes my breath away. 

I would highly recommend picking up a copy of No Place to Hide if you like a good, fast paced suspenseful novel that will keep you up late at night trying to pick up all the clues and piece the story together. It was masterfully written and pure enjoyment to read.

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

I would like to thank Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my copy of No Place to Hide I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,