A Lady at Willowgrove by Sarah E. Ladd Book Review

 

Review Written by Madi

 

Book Title: A Lady at Willowgrove Hall

Author: Sarah E. Ladd

Source/Sponsor: Litfuse

Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian Fiction

Number of Pages:  344

ISBN: 978-1-4016-8837-0

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Year of Publication: 2014

 

 

Book Description

Willowgrove Hall is full of secrets, but soon everything hidden is brought to light.

Cecily Faire has a secret—and she intends to keep it. But when she arrives at Willowgrove Hall to serve as a lady’s companion, she comes face-to-face with the only person who knows the truth about her past.

As the steward of Willowgrove Hall, Nathaniel Stanton is dedicated to serving those around him. Nothing escapes his notice—including the beautiful new lady’s companion. He is certain the lovely Miss Faire is hiding something, and he determines to uncover it. But Nathaniel has a secret of his own: he is the illegitimate son of Willowgrove’s former master. Falling in love was not part of his plans . . . until he meets Cecily Faire.

When Willowgrove’s mistress dies, everything changes. Fear of exposure forces Cecily to leave under the cover of darkness, embarking on a journey to finally find her long-lost sister. When the will is read, Nathaniel’s inheritance makes him question his future plans. Cecily and Nathaniel are forced to make decisions that will change the course of their lives. Is their love strong enough to survive?

 

 

Book Review

 A Lady at Willowgrove Hall is the third installment in the Whispers on the Moors series. I read the first two books in the series and I seriously loved them. I could not put them down. So, needless to say, when the opportunity presented itself to read this novel, I jumped on it. I had high expectations for this book, so I was a little disappointed when it started off kind of slow. For the first half of the book there wasn't much going on. Once things DID start happening, though, it was kind of a whirlwind. But, I can't really say that I was surprised by anything that happened. In all honesty it was kind of predictable. The characters didn't make a huge impression on me. I was really disappointed on how this book turned out. I mean, it's not BAD, per say, it's just not as good as I was expecting it to be after reading the first two books in this series. It's technically a good book, and I would probably be more praiseful of it if I hadn't read what this author is capable of in the past. I enjoyed it as a one time read, and would recommend it to someone looking for a laid back book to read on a weekend vacation or something.

 

Blessings,

Madilyn

 

D I S C L A I M E R: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion by the Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not further compensated to review this product and all thoughts/sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Where Treetops Glisten Book Review

Review Written by Madilyn

Book Title: Where Treetops Glisten

Author(s): Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman & Sarah Sundin

Source/Sponsor: Litfuse Publicity Group

Genre: Christmas Fiction

Number of Pages: 356

Publisher: WaterBrook

Year of Publication: 2014

Rating for "White Christmas": Three out of Five Stars

Rating for "I'll Be Home for Christmas": Five out of Five Stars

Rating for "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas": Two  out of Five Stars

 

Book Description:

Three siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, filled with the wonder of Christmas

Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.

In White Christmas by Cara Putman, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.

Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theatre in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?

In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.

The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and God’s plan for a future?

 

 

Book Review

 Hello, My name is Madilyn, and I have OCD.

Obsessive

Christmas

Disorder.

I LOVE Christmas. I'm the type of person that will watch a hallmark Christmas movie marathon in the middle of July. I'm the type of person that goes around the house singing Christmas carols no matter the season. Whenever the opportunity to read a Christmas book presents itself, I jump on it. When I ordered Where Treetops Glisten, I was pretty excited because all three novellas in the collection are by authors that I had previously read. My favorite out of the three stories was definitely I'll Be Home For Christmas by Sarah Sundin. It was such a sweet story and the characters were just precious. The other two novellas included (White Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas) however I was not so impressed with. I have read another Christmas novella by Tricia Goyer before, and I really liked it, but this one just wasn't as good as I was expecting it to be. And Cara Putman's just seemed thrown together. I really liked how Sarah Sundin took a short story and made it feel like you got all the facts in that you need to complete the story within a small amount of pages. It seems like a full length book because it was well written and thought out even though it was in reality very short. In general I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute little weekend holiday read.

 

Blessings,

Madilyn

 

 

 D I S C L A I M E R: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion by the Litfuse Publicity group, and that is exactly what I have given. I was not further compensated to review this product, and all thoughts/sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

 

 



Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin Book Review

 

Review Written By Madi

 

Book Title: Keepers of the Covenant

Author: Lynn Austin

Source: Litfuse

Genre: Historical Fiction

Number of Pages: 500

ISBN: 978-0-7642-0899-7

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Year of Publication: 2014

 

 

Book Description

The Old Testament Comes to Thrilling Life in the Latest from Lynn Austin

In one life-changing moment, the lives of the Jewish exiles in Babylon are thrown into confusion and despair when a decree arrives from the king's palace in Susa. It calls for the annihilation of every Jewish man, woman, and child throughout the empire on the thirteenth day of Adar, in less than one year. Ezra, a quiet Jewish scholar and teacher, is suddenly called upon to lead the community as they seek God for a reason for this catastrophe. When a second decree arrives, authorizing them to fight back, Ezra is thrust into the role of military leader as they defend themselves against their enemies.

When the battles come to an end, Ezra's brother Jude is dead and Ezra is required by the Law he so diligently studies to marry Jude's widow, Devorah, and provide an heir. Fatherhood changes Ezra, and he asks God to make a way for him and the other exiles to leave Babylon for good and return to Jerusalem. His prayers are answered and the exiles move to Judea to revitalize worship at the temple--but the fight to keep God's Law is never easy. As more and more of his community are tempted, a new battle emerges...this one for the survival of God's covenant and the souls of His chosen faithful.

 

 

Book Review

This book is a treasure. It's not very often that you find an author capable of mastering such a difficult genre, but let me tell you, Lynn Austin NAILED IT. This is possibly the best book that I have read all year. I loved getting a glimpse into the lives of God's people during the time of Ezra. Though I have of course read the story in the Bible many times, I feel like I got a whole new insight into the story through Keepers of the Covenant. I also read the first book in The Restoration Chronicles, and I really enjoyed it. One way the two books differ, though, is that book one (Return to Me), since focused on a different story, included a little bit more emphasis on witchcraft. It was not condoned or anything, and it was definitely required to properly tell the story, it was just something that I was not super comfortable with. Keepers of the Covenant, however, did not have that stuff in it, so I was glad about that. This book is very well written. It is very descriptive, deeply insightful, and quite the page turner. I look forward to rereading this again one day. It was a sweet reminder that God is in control, even when everything seems to be against you and you think there is no way out. After reading this there's a good chance I will go reread the account of Ezra in the Bible to see how this book measures up, so this novel is also encouraging me to spend time investigating these things for myself, as did the last book. These aren't the only books by Lynn Austin that I have read, in fact, I have read quite a few. This is one of my go-to authors because I know that if she wrote it that I will like it. I have yet to come across one of her books that I regret taking the time to read. I highly recommend this book and it's author to all Christian Fiction lovers.

 

 

Blessings,

Madilyn

 

 

D I S C L A I M E R: I was provided with a free copy of this book by the Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not further compensated to review this product and all thoughts/sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin Book Review

// Keepers of the Covenant //

By Lynn Austin

{Book Review by Bethany}

Publisher: Bethany House
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher through Litfuse publicity group
Publication Date: October 7th, 2014
Number of Pages: 480
ISBN: 0764212710

 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

// Book Synopsis //

Taken from Good Reads

"The Old Testament Comes to Thrilling Life in the Latest from Lynn Austin

In one life-changing moment, the lives of the Jewish exiles in Babylon are thrown into confusion and despair when a decree arrives from the king's palace in Susa. It calls for the annihilation of every Jewish man, woman, and child throughout the empire on the thirteenth day of Adar, in less than one year. Ezra, a quiet Jewish scholar and teacher, is suddenly called upon to lead the community as they seek God for a reason for this catastrophe. When a second decree arrives, authorizing them to fight back, Ezra is thrust into the role of military leader as they defend themselves against their enemies.

When the battles come to an end, Ezra's brother Jude is dead and Ezra is required by the Law he so diligently studies to marry Jude's widow, Devorah, and provide an heir. Fatherhood changes Ezra, and he asks God to make a way for him and the other exiles to leave Babylon for good and return to Jerusalem. His prayers are answered and the exiles move to Judea to revitalize worship at the temple--but the fight to keep God's Law is never easy. As more and more of his community are tempted, a new battle emerges...this one for the survival of God's covenant and the souls of His chosen faithful."

// Bethany's Book Review //

I love this author, and have really enjoyed several of her previous releases. But sadly, I had a hard time enjoying this book as much as I wanted to. I felt the same way about the first book in this series, Return to Me. Even though I had a hard time getting into the first book, I decided to still give this sequel a try, and am glad I did.

I've always thought that biblical fiction is such an interesting genre that has so much potential. Sadly this genre isn't as popular as others, which is why I really wanted to love this novel, being how there aren't many books out there like this one. For some reason, I just had a hard time getting into the story. I love any type of book that is girly and feminine, and I don't think this story really fit into that, as there were more male characters, and it wasn't a sparkly book due to the setting. While this is in no way a bad thing, I think all the males and the setting was something that I'm not quite used to and it took a bit of adjusting to go that far back in time. This is really only one of the things I can think of that made me like the book instead of loving it, as there wasn't anything I particularly disliked.

This book is nearly 500 pages, and for a while it was a bit daunting to look at the sheer length of it! Being that the novel was as long as it was, I think the author did a good job making the story read smoothly without getting dry. There were so many different characters, and the book covers such a long period of time, making it a bit hard to keep up at times for me personally. However it wasn't a huge deal, as things kept moving smoothly.

Out of all the characters and their stories, I think my favorite was Amina's. It was such an interesting one that I enjoyed-especially the ending! However the other story lines were a just so-so for me, making Amina's story the highlight of the book for me.

Overall, this was a nice one-time read for me. Being able to go back in time to Bible times was such an exciting journey! I recommend this book for fans of biblical fiction!

D I S C L A I M E R :: I received a free copy of Keepers of the Covenant from the publisher to review. I was not paid to do so, and all thoughts expressed are my own, completely honest and unbiased.

A Season Of Change By Lynette Sowell Book Review

A Season Of Change

Review Written By Madi

Book Title: A Season Of Change

Author: Lynette Sowell

Source/Sponsor: The Litfuse Publicity Group

Genre: Christian Fiction

Number Of Pages: 316

ISBN: 978-1-4267-5355-8

Publisher: Abington Press

Year Of Publication: 2014

Rating: Two Out Of Five Stars

 

 

Book Description

Amish widower Jacob Miller believes it was a mistake to visit the Amish village of Pinecraft for winter vacation, especially after his daughter is struck by a car. Stranded in Sarasota until his daughter recovers, Jacob grows increasingly wary of events that unfold in his unfamiliar surroundings—including the strange curiosity of Englischer Natalie Bennett.
Natalie never thought her circus career as an aerial silks artist would end with a blown-out knee at the age of 25. She also never knew her late mother had a secret—that she was once Amish.
When Natalie meets the Millers at the Sarasota hospital, she is attracted to their warm hospitality and simple ways—and soon wonders if they can help her find her mother’s family. As Jacob and Natalie fall in love, their worlds collide. Will their differences tear them apart? Or will their love be strong enough to blend their clashing cultures?

 

 

 
Book Review

Well, I ended up ordering this book on accident, so when it arrived I was pleasantly surprised. Books are always a treat, even unexpected ones. I started reading it and I was immediately concerned about whether I would like it or not. The main character in the book is a circus performer, which is not exactly my cup of tea. However, I have learned to not judge a book in the first chapter. Often things that I don't think I will enjoy ending up becoming favorites, so I trudged on. And on. And on. Was this book ever going to end? I have always liked Amish Fiction, but not this. I don't think that the author did a whole lot of research on the Amish culture before writing this book, because she didn't seem to know what she was talking about. I mean, I'm no expert, but I noticed a few flaws in that regard. Also, it was kind of boring. It took me FOREVER to finish it. I'm one of those people that reads a book in a couple of days, not a MONTH. But a month is what it took. I am so backed up on my reading because of this book. One thing that I did like about it though is that it is completely clean and family friendly (not that you're gonna be able to talk your husband and kids to sitting down and listening to this kind of thing, but if you did you wouldn't have to worry about them hearing anything inappropriate). My favorite character was Rebecca. She's such a lovable and strong character. She is so wise for someone so young. I just wanted to give her a hug. Now, just because I didn't like this book doesn't mean that you won't enjoy it. Different Strokes for Different Folks, as they say.

 

~Madi For The Literary Maidens

 

D I S C L A I M E R: I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by The Litfuse  Publicity Group. I was not further compensated to review this product and all thoughts and sentiments expressed above are completely my own an unbiased.

 

 

 



Raptor 6 By Ronie Kendig Book Review

Raptor 6

Review Written By Madi

Book Title: Raptor 6

Author: Ronie Kindig

Source/Sponsor: Litfuse Publicity Group

Genre: Christian Fiction

Number Of Pages: 352

ISBN: 978-1-61626-040-8

Publisher: Shiloh Run Press, an imprint of Barbour Publishing Inc.

Year Of Publication: 2014

My Rating: Two Out Of Five Stars

Favorite Quote From This Book:

"Don't Need Brains to be a terrorist." -page 31

Book Description

Captain Dean Watters keeps his mission and his team in the forefront of his laser-like focus. So when Dean’s mission and team are threatened, his Special Forces training kicks into high gear. Failing to stop hackers from stealing national security secrets from the military’s secure computers and networks isn’t an option. Zahrah Zarrick is a missionary teacher to Afghan children in Mazar-e Sharif. And a target. When Zahrah is captured because of her expertise in quantum cryptology, compromising the US military, Dean is forced to crack the lockbox around his heart—a move that might come at the highest cost.

Book Review

I am giving this book two (2) out of five (5) stars. Let me explain why I gave it such a low rating. I like to read books that keep me on my toes, books that have so much suspense that I can't put it down despite my best efforts. Raptor 6 didn't really do that for me. When I ordered this book, I read some reviews on Good Readss before it arrived and I was super pumped to start it. I went into this novel hoping that I would enjoy it even though I don't read a lot of military novels (not because I don't like them, but because good ones are hard to find). The reviews for this book were amazing. It seemed like everyone really liked it and looks forward to the next book in this series. When I started reading it, I had a hard time getting interested in it. "It must be one of those books that makes up for it in the middle," I thought. Nope. The farther I got into this book the more I started to realize that finishing it was going to be a chore. I got way behind on my reading and blogging trying to finish this book. It seemed like it went on forever, even though it is an average sized book. Right off the bat the thing that stuck out to me the most was that the author didn't really describe the characters very well. I didn't feel like I fully understood where the characters were coming from, I didn't know what their personalities were supposed to be like, and I had an especially hard time connecting with the main character (which is a large part of the book, of course). Maybe it's because the lead character in the book was a guy, and I'm not really used to reading a lot of novels without a woman in the lead, but I recently read a novel by Chuck Black with a male lead, and I LOVED it, so I don't really think that was it. Maybe it was because of the setting or some other nonsense, I really don't know, but no matter the reason, I don't think I will be reading any more books from this author. The one  thing that I did like about this book is that it was 100 percent American. I think it's time that author's took it upon themselves to incorporate American pride into their writings. I loved seeing things from the perspective of one of our soldiers. This is a great country (despite our lack of leadership), and I think it's great that Ronie Kendig wrote about something of such significance. Now, just because I didn't like this book, doesn't mean that you won't. Like I said before, this book has a lot of really good reviews, so I encourage you to read some of them before you decide if this is a book that you would be interested in.

~Madi For The Literary Maidens

Note: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion by The Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not further compensated to review this product and all thoughts and sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.



The Heart's Pursuit By Robin Lee Hatcher Book Review

The Heart's Pursuit

Review Written By Madi

Book Title: The Heart's Pursuit

Author: Robin Lee Hatcher

Source/Sponsor: Litfuse Publicity Group

Genre: Christian Fiction

Number Of Pages: 310

ISBN: 978-0-310-25927-5

Publisher: Zondervan

Year Of Publication: 2014

My Rating: Four Out Of Five Stars

Book Description

A jilted bride desperate to save her family from ruin.
A bounty hunter seeking vengeance for a ravaged past.
An arduous trek toward justice—or redemption.

Silver Matlock and Jared Newman know traveling together is a bad idea. Bad for Silver’s already tarnished reputation in her small Colorado town. Bad for bounty hunter Jared’s secret, single-minded mission for revenge. But Silver is determined to track down the rogue who left her at the altar and stole the last remnant of her father’s fortune. And Jared’s in a hurry to hunt down the murderer who destroyed his family—even if Silver is too distractingly beautiful for comfort.

The pair takes off over mountain and desert, past bleak homesteads and raw mining towns, hot on the trail of the two villains who took what wasn’t theirs to take. Soon supplies dwindle, secrets emerge, and suspicion leave Silver and Jared at odds when they need each other most. To confront an enemy deadlier than desert rattlesnakes and rocky cliffs, Silver and Jared must learn to forgive and trust and face the question they haven’t dared voice: What happens next?

Book Review

I love this author, and I love this book. Robin Lee Hatcher is a very consistent writer. A lot of times some of my "favorite" authors will write a really good book and then follow it up with a not-so-good book. That's what I like about Hatcher. I know that if she writes it that I'm gonna want to read it and that when I do read it that I'm gonna enjoy it. I've read more of her books than I can count, and I hope to read many more. When I first discovered that Hatcher was writing a Western novel, I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty darn excited. I love Western/Southern books, especially historical novels (It's a Texas thing). So when my must-read author decided to write a book in a must-read genre, my inner fangirl came out. My favorite character was Jared. I like the rugged cowboy type, and he most certainly is that. He reminds me of someone that I know. Country, rough around the edges, but a big sweetheart on the inside. I also loved Silver's character. I like reading about women that have some grit. When women characters are weak and dainty, to me it's hard to read because it's boring and unrealistic. I mean, it's possible to be feminine and still have a backbone. The characters don't always have to be riding on horseback through difficult terrain and eating hard tack like Silver, but when I read books about women that let people walk all over them (like in a lot of historical novels) it makes me nauseous. That's another thing that I like about Robin Lee Hatcher's writings, she always has strong characters that are driven with a purpose. The only complaint that I have about this book is that there were a few times where the plot became a bit predictable. For instance, as soon as Carlton's name was mentioned I figured out exactly who he was and what he was doing. But the story is more about the journey to find Carlton, not discovering his identity, so it's not that big of a deal. I highly recommend this book!

 

~Madi For The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book by The Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not further compensated to review this product, and all thoughts and sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Sensible Arrangment By Tracie Peterson Book Review

A Sensible Arrangement

 

Review Written By Madi

Book Title: A Sensible Arrangement

Author: Tracie Peterson

Source: The Litfuse Publicity Group

Genre: Christian Fiction

Number Of Pages: 324

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Year Of Publication: 2014

My Rating: Four out of Five Stars

  

Book Description

 

Marty Dandridge Olson is a widow looking for a way out of Texas. Widower Jake Wythe has secured a job as a bank manager in Denver, only to discover that the bank board wants him to be a married man. With Texas in his roots, he advertises for a Lone Star bride, and Marty answers the call. They both agree they are done with romance and love and will make this nothing more than a marriage of convenience.

Marty works to carve out a new life in high-society Denver as Jake works to guide the bank through a collapsing economy. But when money goes missing at the bank and accounting discrepancies point to Jake, he must find a way to prove his innocence. Yet all he wants to do is go back to Texas and own his own ranch. Marty, on the other hand, owns a ranch–one she’s never told her husband about. She hates Texas because it represents the losses in her life. But as the couple grows closer and love begins to bloom, Marty realizes she needs to tell Jake the truth. Can she come to terms with the past and her anger toward God in order to make room for love?

 

Book Review

 

 I would like to start off by congratulating Tracie Peterson for finishing this, her one hundredth book! That it quite the accomplishment, and I know that your writing has touched the hearts of many. Now, for the review! I loved the setting of this book. Though most of the story takes place in Denver, Colorado, it contains quite a bit of Texas charm with it as well. My personal opinion is that Texas is the ideal location for most novels (though I may be a LITTLE biased about my home state). I love how though Jake has become "refined" and lives a more luxurious life, he is still a Texas cowboy at heart. I wish that his personality had reflected his roots a little bit more, but I do understand that it had to be tamed a little bit to fit the story. Maybe just not as much? I also like Marty's character. Now THIS, this is a character with a backbone. Her entrance to her new, regal life was anything but. I love how she stands up for what she believes in and how she doesn't conform to what the high-society matrons expect of her. You can take the gal outta Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of the gal. Or the guy, for that matter. I love the southern roots that occasionally come through the exchanges with Marty and Jake, and I really liked Marty's simplistic views on life. Who needs all the finery that is being lavished - forced actually - on her? She is content with the clothes that she has and sees no need for fine cuisine or new draperies when the ones already in use are completely serviceable. I guess I just really like how she's so down-to-earth. Most women would be completely thrilled with the opportunity to be treated as a queen, but not Marty. Give her a day of labor in simple clothes any day. All the characters are so relatable, and I became attached to them almost instantly, (especially Alice). My only critique is that it was kind of slow for the first half or so. I was having a hard time paying attention to what I was reading. I kept finding myself admiring my pretty Azaleas that are now in full bloom, or getting up to get a snack or taking a "break". If the book that I'm reading is really interesting, I can sit in one position for hours on end. Thankfully, it picked up about halfway into it and I became fully engrossed in the story. Overall, it was a good book and I look forward to reading more from Tracie Peterson.

 

~Madi For The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book by the Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not further compensated to review this product and all thoughts and sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

Claiming Mariah By Pam Hillman Book Review

/ / Claiming Mariah / /

 

{Review Written By Madi}

Book Title: Claiming Mariah

Author: Pam Hillman

Source: The Litfuse Publicity Group

Genre: Christian Fiction

Number Of Pages: 373

ISBN: 978-1-4143-8975-2

Publisher: Tyndale Publishers

Year Of Publication: 2013

Rating: Four Out Of Five Stars

 

/ / Book Description / /

 

In light of her father's death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father's farm, the only home she's ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father's rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Frederick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.With the ranch now under Slade's careful eye, he will unearth more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal and murder threatens more than the well-being of the ranch, endangering the lives of those who hold it dear. With days dwindling until the rest of the Donovan clan arrive to the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed alters their futures forever.

  

 / / Book Review / /

 

Let me start off by saying that I love western novels. Being from the South, (Texas, no less), I find it quite intriguing. I love country living and western romances, so this book had it's genre going for it before I even started reading it. When I started it, the first chapter had me kind of worried. I was afraid that it was going to be poorly written. And while Pam Hillman turned out to be no Mary Connealy, she did write an interesting story. I enjoyed it a lot! I personally think that Slade was the best part of it. He has a gruff exterior partnered with a great disdain for Mariah and her family, but underneath was hidden a compassionate heart that just needed a little bit of nurturing to be brought to it's full potential. I also liked Mariah's character. She is a strong person, but she knows when to toss in the towel. Though I much prefer my heroines to be a spitfire with a backbone of steel (which is much easier to relate to), I think the author made Mariah just the way that she needed to be in order to help Slade in the ways that she did. She is a tenderhearted character that is willing to give up almost everything for Slade's happiness. She hopes that her small efforts will show him how much his heavenly father loves him, even if his earthly father did not. Though I find this admirable, I think that there was a better way to go about it. I would have liked to see Mariah stand up for her family a bit more in the beginning, and I would have liked to see Slade's point of view a little bit more often throughout the book. Don't get me wrong, I really liked it, but it's not exactly a page turner. It is, however, a good time passer, and I would encourage some of my friends to read it if they were looking for a light, quick read.

 

 ~The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion by the Litfuse publicity group. I was not further compensated to review this product and all thoughts and sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

The Queen's Handmaid By Tracy L. Higley Book Review

/ / The Queen's Handmaid / /

 

Book Review Written By Madi

Book Title: The Queen's Handmaid

Author: Tracy L. Higley

Source: The Litfuse Publicity Group

Genre: Christian Fiction/Egyptian Fiction

Number Of Pages: 390

ISBN: 978-1-4016-8684-0

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Year Of Publication: 2014

Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars

 

/ / Book Description / /

 

From the servant halls of Cleopatra’s Egyptian palace to the courts of Herod the Great, Lydia will serve two queens to see prophecy fulfilled.

Alexandria, Egypt 39 BC

Orphaned at birth, Lydia was raised as a servant in Cleopatra's palace, working hard to please while keeping everyone at arm's length. She's been rejected and left with a broken heart too many times in her short life.

But then her dying mentor entrusts her with secret writings of the prophet Daniel and charges her to deliver this vital information to those watching for the promised King of Israel. Lydia must leave the nearest thing she’s had to family and flee to Jerusalem. Once in the Holy City, she attaches herself to the newly appointed king, Herod the Great, as handmaid to Queen Mariamme.

Trapped among the scheming women of Herod’s political family—his sister, his wife, and their mothers—and forced to serve in the palace to protect her treasure, Lydia must deliver the scrolls before dark forces warring against the truth destroy all hope of the coming Messiah.

 

/ / Book Review / /

 

 When I started this book, I honestly wasn't sure if I was gonna like it or not.  I had never read anything by this author, and I don't remember hearing much about her, but it turns out that Tracy L. Higley is a force to be reckoned with! This book was marvelous! I don't believe that I have ever read a fictional book that included so much history. The amount of research that had to go into the making of this story is astonishing, because it appears the author really knew her stuff. This novel is about Queen Cleopatra's maid, Lydia. Lydia serves as a personal maid for two or three different queens before the facts about her heritage and calling came to light. Though this is a completely fictional book, it is based off of real people in Egyptian history. I don't know a whole lot about the Egyptian culture or their history, but I did of course recognize a few key names, such as Julius Caesar, King Herod and Cleopatra. It was nice to get a little insight as to what Egyptian life was like in those times, and how kingdom's were ruled. I know that a lot of ancient kings (and some not so ancient rulers) govern by cruelty and force, but the way the author described some of the horrors created by these morally polluted politicians made me shiver. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't gory, just eye opening. The thought of having to watch the deaths of your friends and family with indifference upon your face is terrifying. I loved how the characters progressed with the story. Certain ones grew weak, and others strong as the plot progressed. Oh, did I mention that it is a total page turner? I simply couldn't put it down! The suspense was killing me! This is one of those books that you choose over sleep. I also liked how well written it was. The author has a writing style that will keep your eyes glued to the page. She is descriptive (not to the point of boredom, but enough to give you a clear vision of what is happening), she is passionate, and she is very well rounded. I would encourage anyone with a love of historical fiction or Christian fiction alike to read this book. I certainly am glad that I did.

 

 ~The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion by the Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not further compensated to review this product and all thoughts and sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

The Thief By Stephanie Landsem Book Review

/ / The Thief / /

/ / The Living Water Series / /

{Review By Madi}

Book Title: The Thief

Author: Stephanie Landsem

Source: Litfuse Publicity Group

Book Genre: Christian Fiction

Number Of Pages: 324

ISBN: 978-1-4516-8910-5

Publisher: Howard

Year Of Publication: 2014

Rating: Four Out Of Five Stars

 

/ / Book Description / /

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Nissa is a Jewish woman with a sharp tongue and no hope of marriage. Abandoned by the God she once loved, her only recourse is to depend upon Mouse, the best thief in Jerusalem, to keep her blind brother, Cedron, fed and the landlord satisfied.

Longinus is a Roman centurion haunted by death and failure and is desperate to escape the accursed Judean province. Accepting a wager that will get him away from the aggravating Jews and their threats of revolt, he sets out to catch the thieves harassing the marketplace.

When a controversial teacher miraculously heals Cedron, Nissa hopes for freedom from her life of lies. But the supposed miracle brings only more misfortune, and Longinus, seeking to learn more about the mysterious healer, finds himself drawn instead to Nissa, whose secret will determine the course of both their futures.

Cedron, Longinus, and Nissa are unexpectedly caught up in the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus. As danger closes in on them from every side, they must decide if the love and redemption Jesus offers is true or just another false promise. How can the so-called Messiah save them from their shackles, when he cannot even save himself?

/ / Book Review / /

I have always loved biblical fiction. This book took real life events that happened in the new testament and turned them into a compelling story about love of family and love of God. I have been anxiously awaiting this book's arrival for quite some time now, all I had to do was read the back cover and I knew that it was going to be a book that I would enjoy immensely. And I was right. This novel was marvelous. It took my love for Biblical Fiction to a whole new level. Within the first few pages there was a major plot twist, and I mean MAJOR. It was very interesting to see the events of Jesus' lifetime through the eyes of this author. Do you remember how Jesus healed a blind man by mixing his saliva into the dirt, rubbing it on the blind man's eyes and telling him to wash it off? That man (in this novel) was Nissa's big brother. How cool is that?! I only have one complaint. After things slowed down from the initial whirlwind in the beginning of the book, it took a while to speed back up. It was kind of the same thing repeated in a few of the chapters between the beginning and the end. I had a hard time keeping focused on the book there for a bit, but once things started to get going, I was a goner. I wonder if this author has any other novels? That is something that I will have to look into. Anyways, this book was fabulous over all, and it was definitely worth the time that it took me to read it (which might have been a bit longer than usual). I would recommend this book to someone that has a soft spot for Biblical Fiction and page turning novels (because it WAS a page turner in most parts).

 

~The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book by the Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not further compensated for reviewing this product, and all thoughts and sentiments expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Princess Ever After By Rachel Hauck Book Review

/ /  Princess Ever After / /

/ / The Royal Wedding Series / /

{Review Written By Madi}

 

Book Title: Princess Ever After

Author: Rachel Hauck

Source: The Litfuse Publicity Group

Number Of Pages: 360

ISBN: 978-0-310-31550-6

Publisher: Zondervan

Year Of Publication: 2014

Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars

 Click here to order this book.

 

/ / Book Description / /

Regina Beswick never dreamed of faraway places. She’s happy with her life as a classic car mechanic and owner of a restoration shop.

But an unexpected visitor and the discovery of a fairytale, drawn by her great-grandma, causes Regina to wonder if she might be destined for something more.

Tanner Burkhardt, Minister of Culture for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg, must convince the strong-willed Southerner, Miss Beswick, that she is his country’s long-lost princess. Failure could destroy his reputation and change his nation forever.

As Regina and Tanner face the challenges before them, neither are prepared for love to invade their hearts and change every thing they believe about themselves.

However, when a royal opponent nearly destroys Regina’s future, she must lean into God and trust He has sovereignly brought her to her true and final destiny.

 

/ / Book Review / /

 Wowzers! This book was simply fabulous. I read the first book in the royal wedding series (Once Upon A Prince ) last year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Needless to say, when the opportunity to review it's sequel came up. I was thrilled. Rachel Hauck is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Not quite my absolute favorite, but she's definitely working her way up. Her stories are spectacular! What girl wouldn't want to read about a modern-day fairy tale? It got me to thinking how I would react were I put in Regina's place. I assume that I would be thrilled to have someone show up at my house one day with a letter from the king of a far away land stating that I was a long lost princess, but who knows? Regina is forced to choose between her love for her heritage and country and her love for her comfortable Southern home near her family. In a perfect world, she would be able to bring her family and business along with her, but she can't uproot her dad and stepmom, and she certainly won't be able to talk her partner Al into moving to a foreign country to remodel old cars when he can do it where he's spent his entire life. She is forced to come to the realization that being a princess is more than just pretty dresses and eloquent speech, it's about being a servant. But why would she serve a country that she didn't have a single connection to a week ago? She was born and raised in America, she was an American. Why would she travel half way around the world to save a country so small that it hardly warranted a place in her old high school history books? She figures that she might as well see what all the hub-bub is all about, so she agrees to a short trip to scope things out. One thing follows another, and next thing you know, Regina is swearing an oath to be the princess of Hessenberg, wearing pretty dresses, and falling for her chief advisor. What was happening? Her life had gone from comfortably predictable to a zero-to-sixty whirlwind in less than a month! She realized that she can't abandon the country of the great grandmother that she loved so dearly, but she still isn't sure that she is cut out for the job. I totally felt like I was walking through all these struggles right beside Princess Regina (and Tanner (; . . . ). You know what this book REALLY reminds me of? "The Princess Diaries". You know, those movies with Anne Hathaway? When Tanner told Regina of her inheritance to a kingdom, I so saw Mia Thermopalis saying, "Shut. Up!" in my head. I've always been a sucker for fairy tales, and this one roped me in, just as I expected it would. I can't recommend this series enough! Especially if you're a female with a soft spot for princesses (which most girls do, if we're honest with ourselves). READ IT READ IT READ IT.

 

~The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion by The Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not paid to review this product and all thoughts and opinions expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Calling By Suzanne Woods Fisher Book Review

// The Calling//

By Suzanne Woods Fisher

{Review By Bethany}

 

Source: Litfuse Publicity Group

Number of Pages: 336

ISBN: 0800720946

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: January 21st, 2014

Bethany's Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

 

// Book Synopsis //

 

"Twenty-year-old Bethany Schrock is restless. Her love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending the incredibly hot summer days wading through a lifetime’s accumulation of junk at the home of five ancient Amish sisters. About the only thing that holds her interest is the spirited and dangerously handsome Jimmy Fisher–and he seems bent on irritating her to no end.
When the sly old sisters and a guest at the Inn get Bethany involved in running the local soup kitchen and starting a community garden, she suddenly finds herself wondering, Shootfire! How did that happen? Despite her newfound purposefulness, a gnawing emptiness about a childhood mystery continues to plague her. Encouraged by Jimmy Fisher, she will seek out the answers she craves–and uncover a shocking secret that will break her heart, heal it, and point her to love.
Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers her trademark twists, turns, and tender romance in this delightful and exciting visit to the deceptively quiet community of Stoney Ridge."

 

// Bethany's Book Review //

Prior to reading The Calling I'd read the first book in The Inn at Eagle Hill series, The Letters, and didn't really like it as I felt like I couldn't connect with the characters, and felt an overall dragging out of the story-line. When the opportunity to review the second book in the series, The Calling came up, I decided to give this series another go and try out the second book, even though I didn't really feel like the first one was for me; and hoped I would like the second book better. However unfortunately, I found the second book to be a lot like the first book in the case of the storyline feeling slow and dragged out as well as the inability to connect with the characters.

 

I will say that in overview, I do think I enjoyed The Calling better than the first book in the series, mainly because the first book was about an older woman and this one was about a girl more my age. Plus we share the name Bethany, which I liked. :) While there was improvement with the story-line and characters, I just didn't ever feel I "clicked" with this novel.

 

I really did want to enjoy this story, and while I thought it a nice one time read, at times it was a bit slow, I sadly don't think I'll end up keeping this book on my favorites shelf and most likely wouldn't re-read it. While I didn't really feel a connection with this book, I have seen friends who did enjoy this series. So I by no means want to give it a bad review, as I know several people really like this series; it just wasn't for me.

 

However on the positive side, this novel was very low-romance and was a slower read, which can be a con for someone who likes a more relaxed, easy going read. I found myself liking the "Sisters" and loved the ending of this story when things really got going.

 

Disclaimer :: I received a free copy of The Calling from the publisher through Litfuse Publicity Group, for the sole purpose of reading and review it. I was not paid in any way to review this book, and was not required to give a good review, if in fact I didn't like the book. All thoughts expressed in my review are my own and completely unbiased.

A Promise Kept By Robin Lee Hatcher Book Review

// A Promise Kept //

By Robin Lee Hatcher

{Review By Bethany}

 

Source: Litfuse Publicity Group

Number of Pages: 304

ISBN: 1401687652

Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers

Publication Date: January 7th, 2014

Bethany's Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

// Book Synopsis //

 

"God was going to save her marriage, Allison was sure of it.
 

But neither her husband nor her marriage had been saved.

What had become of His promise?

Tony Kavanagh had been Allison’s dream-come-true. They were in love within days, engaged within weeks, married and pregnant within a year. Her cup bubbled over with joy . . . but years later, that joy had been extinguished by unexpected trials.

The day Allison issued her husband an ultimatum, she thought it might save him. She never expected he would actually leave. She was certain God had promised to heal; it was clear that she’d misunderstood.

Now living in the quiet mountain cabin she inherited from her single, self-reliant Great Aunt Emma, Allison must come to terms with her grief and figure out how to adapt to small town life. But when she finds a wedding dress and a collection of journals in Emma’s attic, a portrait of her aunt emerges that takes Allison completely by surprise: a portrait of a heartbroken woman surprisingly like herself.

As Allison reads the incredible story of Emma’s life in the 1920s and 1930s, she is forced to ask a difficult question: Does she really surrender every piece of her life to the Lord? For a woman accustomed to being someone else’s savior, that will be even harder than it sounds.

Drawing from her own heart-wrenching story of redemption, A Promise Kept is Robin Lee Hatcher’s emotionally charged thanksgiving to a God who answers prayers—in His own time and His own ways."

 // Bethany's Book Review //

This was a very nice contemporary inspirational fiction that stresses the importance of faith and the importance of marriage, and that the Lord works all things good, and for His glory-even divorce and difficult marriages.

 

Previous to reading this book I'd only read one other book by this author, so seeing that the book synopsis looked promising, I thought I'd give it a try. Overall I was pleased that I got to read it, however I do think that since I am currently single and this book is about two divorced women whose marriages God redeems; it did make the novel a bit un-relatable for me and in some ways made it seem like it wasn't "the novel" for me at this time in my life. Thus the three-star rating. However that had nothing to do with the story itself or the author's writing, it completely depends on your current stage in life. For anyone who is married or has gone through the heartache of divorce, I'm sure this novel would be a great inspiration and a comforting book to read as it really displays God's design for marriage being a permanent binding for life, in a very inspiring way.

 

I personally enjoyed the aspect of getting to know two ladies with similar marital situations in this book. In the story Allison gets to "meet" her Aunt Emma through her old journals and I liked how these two women's stories were played out in the novel, especially the ending. It was neat getting two different perspectives with the same ladies in two completely different time periods. I really admired Emma's character and her love towards her husband, even when he treated her wrong and deserved every right to be bitter towards him. I also enjoyed reading about how this novel is based on the author's true story of her own marriage to an active alcoholic, and how God worked through that situation to not only strengthen her faith, but strengthen her marriage as well.

 

One nice thing about this novel is that even though it is written about and most likely for married women, I did find it completely clean for young people to even read. Even though the topics discussed are geared towards people who are married, it can also be interesting for a young person to read it as it gives the very real picture that you don't see a lot now days which is how marriage isn't always rosy and bright like everyone makes it out to be. The author did an excellent job portraying this without belittling the importance of staying together for life as promised in wedding vows, and helps portray the fact that though marriage is difficult, it is totally worth it.

 

DISCLAIMER :: I received a free copy of A Promise Kept from the publisher through Litufse Publicity to read and review. I was not paid in any way to review this book, nor are any of the thoughts expressed in my review biased. All thoughts are my own, and completely honest.

  Enter Today | 1/20 - 2/6!

Shadowed By Grace By Cara C. Putman Book Review

/ / Shadowed By Grace / /

/ / A Story Of Monuments Men / /

 

{Review Written By Madi}

 

Title: Shadowed By Grace

Author: Cara C. Putman

Source: The Litfuse Publicity Group

Number Of Pages: 342

ISBN: 978-1-4336-8178-3

Publisher: B&H Books

Publication Date: January 1st, 2014

Rating: Three Out Of Five Stars

 

/ / Book Description / /

Shadowed by Grace is the first in a stirring new series of stand-alone historical suspense novels by acclaimed author Cara C. Putman. Desperate to save her dying mother, Rachel accepts her newspaper’s assignment to travel to Italy to captures images dangerously close to the front lines of WWII. Her real motive – to find the father she never knew -- an artist she hopes can offer the comfort and support both she and her mother need to survive. It’s an unlikely situation for love and faith to flourish, but soon Rachel not only finds herself, but also her long-lost earthly father, and ultimately, the man her Heavenly father created to cherish and provide for her.

 

 

/ / Book Review / /

Not the best book that I have read. I took me FOREVER to get interested in it. This book took me two weeks to read. I usually finish a book this size in a couple of days. No matter how busy I was, it shouldn't have taken that long. I just couldn't get interested in the characters and their plot in life. It was slow going, for sure. It wasn't until I was almost finished with the book that I finally started to wonder how it would turn out. I liked the historical aspect that the author brought to the novel, and I liked how she didn't sugar coat things. It is how it is and that's all there is to it. I felt compassion for Rachel's mother, I felt wonder at how her father could just leave her in the dust without reproach, I felt joyous at her finding Scott and deciding that he was the one for her, but I still can't say that I particularly enjoyed reading this book. This author has great potential, but she still has quite a bit of work to do. She needs to add a little bit of . . . pizzazz to her writing. You have to be able to draw a reader in with the very first sentence of a book, not half way through it. I'm sure that this author has a wonderful career in literature ahead of her, but this was a lousy way to draw in a new reader. I probably won't read anything else by this author, and if I do, it will be in the distant future. I hate to write bad reviews, but sometimes it can't be avoided. Now, just because I didn't like Shadowed By Grace, doesn't mean that you won't. I encourage you to read some more reviews to see if it's something that you might be interested in. Taste in books is different for every reader, and you may be looking at the cover of your next favorite book (even if it wasn't mine).

 

 

~The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book by The Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not paid to review this product and all thoughts expressed above are completely my own and unbiased.