Review and Giveaway: A Picture of Hope by Liz Tolsma October 28, 2021

About the Book

Book: A Picture of Hope

Author: Liz Tolsma

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: October, 2021

A Photojournalist Risks Her Life to Save Children

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

Journalist Nellie Wilkerson has spent the bulk of the war in London, photographing pilots taking off and landing—and she’s bored. She jumps at the chance to go to France, where the Allied forces recently landed. She enlists Jean-Paul Breslau of the French underground to take her to the frontlines. On the journey, they come upon an orphanage where nuns shelter children with disabilities. Can they help save them before the Nazis come to liquidate it?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. Please visit her website at http://www.liztolsma.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter (@LizTolsma), Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. She is also the host of the Christian Historical Fiction Talk podcast.

More from Liz

Why Another WWII Novel Set in France

You may well read the back cover of my latest release, A Picture of Hope, and wonder why on earth we need another WWII novel set in France. After all, Kristy Cambron just had one. Melanie Dobson and Sarah Sundin will be coming out with theirs in 2022. So why did I feel the need to write my novel with the same setting?

First of all, I’m a Francophile. I love all things French. It started when I took French in high school. Everyone else was learning Spanish, but I wasn’t into being part of the crowd. There were only a few of us in the class, and it was great fun. We had a wonderful teacher. Being able to pull out some of that French, refine it a bit, and use it in the book was a blast. But I also love French food (who doesn’t?) and everything else.

Secondly, I hadn’t written about France before. When I wrote this proposal at least five or six years ago, I didn’t know France would be so hot. God did, and the book came about in His perfect timing. I’d explored the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the Philippines. Such a shame that I was leaving out France, so I set about to write a novel located in that country.

Thirdly, there was so much good material to pull from. The French resistance, while small, did good work and sacrificed a great deal to get Jews out of the country and into Switzerland or Spain. The books that Kristy, Melanie, Sarah, and I write are all so different. Only the setting is the same. And when I found out that the famous mime Marcel Marceau was part of the resistance, I couldn’t help but giving him a cameo. Be on the lookout!

Along the way, I discovered some truly heartrending incidents that took place in France. They also compelled me to write this book. I long for the world to remember what happened so that we will never forget. And so that the atrocities committed there will never be repeated.

Fourthly, this was originally the third book in a series. Don’t worry – it’s a stand-alone. Maybe someday I’ll get to publish the other two. The women in the series are all American journalists in Europe. One is a reporter, the other is a broadcaster, and so I decided to make Nellie, the heroine in A Picture of Hope, a photojournalist. And where better to take pictures than on Omaha Beach soon after D-day. How she gets there is based on a very interesting true story, so be sure to read to the end for that one.

There are so many stories about WWII to be told and so many countries that participated in the conflict in one way or the other. The ground is so rich that we aren’t plowing the same parcel. You’ll find all of these books to be very different from each other, each with its own message, its own voice, and its own plot.

The focus in my book is on children with Down syndrome. I have a background in special education, and my husband and I adopted a child from the Philippines with an intellectual disability, so I’ve always had a heart for people with special needs. My daughter brings us so much joy that I wanted to share a glimpse into what these remarkable people are truly capable of.

So that is why I wrote a WWII novel set in France. Make yourself a cup of café au lait, butter up a croissant, and enjoy A Picture of Hope!

Blog Stops

A Baker’s Perspective, October 28

Life of Literature, October 28

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 28

Genesis 5020, October 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 29

The Book Chic Blog, October 29

Blogging With Carol, October 29

Texas Book-aholic, October 30

Sodbuster Living, October 30

Spoken from the Heart, October 30

Elly Gilbert, October 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 31

Inklings and notions, October 31

Labor Not in Vain, October 31

CarpeDiem, October 31

Splashes of Joy, November 1

Reviewingbooksplusmore, November 1

Life, love, writing, November 1

For Him and My Family, November 1

deb’s Book Review, November 2

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, November 2

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, November 2

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 3

Betti Mace, November 3

Worthy2Read, November 3

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 3

Daysong Reflections, November 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 4

Vicky Sluiter, November 4

Southern Gal Loves to Read, November 4

Older & Smarter?, November 5

By the Book, November 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 5

Connie’s History Classroom, November 6

For the Love of Literature, November 6

Bigreadersite, November 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 6

Rebecca Tews, November 7

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 7

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, November 7

She Lives To Read, November 8

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 8

Where Faith and Books Meet, November 8

Pause for Tales, November 9

Christian Bookaholic, November 9

Through the Fire Blogs, November 9

To Everything There Is A Season , November 9

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, November 10

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, November 10

Mary Hake, November 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and copy of A Picture of Hope!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/12b83/a-picture-of-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway

My thoughts:

Liz Tolsma is a wonderful author and this is another great book by her. I actually heard and interview she did about this book and how the character of Claire is very dear to her and the reason why. It made this read even more sweet.

Although not everything is sweet. She deals in the realities of the war and the horrible things that took place to people.

At first Nellie kind of irritated me because she just went off and did things without thinking of the consequences but she definitely grew on me and I lived her more at the book went on.

Overall, a great read and I highly recommend this book if you like historicals.

Grab your copy at your local bookstore, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com or your favorite retailer.

A copy of this book was given to me through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

Review and Giveaway: There is a Season by Andrea Boeshaar October 25, 2021

About the Book

Book: There Is a Season

Author: Andrea Boeshaar

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: September 1, 2021

To onlookers, Carrie Ann Bell Collier might appear to be the dutiful wife, sitting at her unconscious husband’s bedside. But she feels like a hypocrite. Instead of trusting her intuition, she allowed herself to believe Peyton was dead. And then she fell in love with his best friend, Eli Kent.

Except, Peyton wasn’t dead, and now Carrie will do anything to keep him alive.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Andrea Boeshaar was born and raised in Wisconsin but now lives in South Carolina. She had her husband Daniel have been married more than 40 years.  They have 3 grown sons, 1 beautiful daughter-in-law, and 5 grandkids.

Andrea’s publishing career began in 1994 when her first novel was released by Heartsong Presents book club (Barbour Publishing). In 2007, Andrea earned her certification in Christian life coaching and she’ll soon earn her bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Meanwhile, Andrea continues to write. Her latest novel is There is a Season: A Civil War Novel. It’s book 3 in her Shenandoah Valley Saga. Recent historical short novels include: Give Me Thine Heart, Love’s Guiding Light (Steeple View Publishing).

For more information and to sign up for her newsletter, log on to her website. https://andreaboeshaar.com/

More from Andrea

At last the long-awaited third and final book in Andrea Boeshaar’s Shenandoah Valley Saga is available for purchase. Discover the final outcome of the lives of the characters you came to love in Books 1 and 2.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, October 22

Connie’s History Classroom, October 23

Bizwings Blog, October 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 25

Genesis 5020, October 25

Inklings and notions, October 26

For Him and My Family, October 27

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, October 28

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 29

Betti Mace, October 29

Bigreadersite, October 30

deb’s Book Review, October 31

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 31

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 1

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 2

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 3

Simple Harvest Reads, November 3 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, November 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Andrea is giving away the grand prize package of a themed basket and a $50 VISA gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/12b7f/there-is-a-season-celebration-tour-giveaway

My thoughts:

This was a very interesting take on what can happen when you think your husband is dead and you fall in love with someone else. I had no idea how Andrea was going to work this all out and I had no idea how I wanted it to work out. I wanted everyone to be happy but I didn’t k know if that could be possible.

And Nurse Emory, yeah, I wanted to trust her at first but as time went on it became clear there was something going on and it wasn’t good. What was she up to? What we her agenda?

This series has been very interesting and I have enjoyed each book. I highly recommend them all.

Grab your copy at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your favorite retailer.

A copy of this book was given to me through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

Riverbend Gap by Denise Hunter October 21, 2021

About:

She came in search of the family she’d always wanted—and found the kind of love she’d never dared imagine.

When Katelyn Loveland’s car veered off a winding Appalachian Mountain road, she thought she was done for. That is until Cooper Robinson, local sheriff’s deputy, came to her rescue. And though Katie narrowly escaped her brush with death, she still fell. Hard.

She wasn’t the only one. But soon Cooper learns that the woman he’s more attracted to than any he’s ever met is his brother’s new girlfriend—and therefore unquestionably off limits. Yet, despite their best efforts, Cooper and Katie can’t seem to avoid running into each other. Or ignore the undeniable chemistry between them.

As they grow closer, Katie shares secrets from her past and the real reason she moved to their small North Carolina town. She also wins over Cooper’s welcoming and bighearted family. But they don’t know that her feelings for Cooper keep growing—all while she’s dating his brother. Soon the stakes of their emotional connection become higher than either could have imagined.

Katie stands to lose the first family she’s ever had, and a scandal could doom Cooper’s campaign for sheriff. Suddenly they find themselves on the edge of another precipice—and they’re forced to make a decision that could change their lives forever.

My thoughts:

A great beginning to a new series by Denise. From the beginning you know there is going to be a lot of tension and it’s tension that makes it hard for the reader to deal with because you can’t really find fault with either option. You will have to read the book to see what I am talking about.

Katie’s backstory is also very interesting and how she is wrestling with that during this journey.

Also, the setting is beautiful and makes me want to visit the area.

I can’t wait to see which Robinson the next book will be about.

Visit Denise here.

Grab your copy at your local bookstore, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com or your favorite retailer.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Unknown by Vanessa Hall October 20, 2021

About:

He knew there was a cost. He just didn’t know how great it’d be.

Gabriel Kelly returned to Russia for one reason—to bury his parents. After ten years in the United States, he hadn’t expected to return to his childhood home in the face of tragedy. However, after short days in Moscow, he begins to consider if the same call that cost his parents’ lives is now upon him.

Sofia Rykova’s dreams finally came true when she became a principal soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet. One night, though, an old crush walks back into her life, making her wonder if there is more to life than ballet. Gabe Kelly is just as she remembered, just as she longed for—yet religion stands between them.

Unknown to Gabe and Sofia, danger lurks closer than either would have guessed. The deaths of Gabe’s parents grow more suspicious by the day, and Gabe and Sofia are drawn into the midst of a plot neither can escape. Will obedience to God’s call—in spite of their fears and desires—result in a price too steep to bear? 

My thoughts:

You never know what to expect when you start a book by an author you have never read and at first I wasn’t sure if I was going to get into this one. Oh, but I did. Only a few chapters in and I knew something terrible was going on and paths were crossing that could not end well.

One thing I really appreciated about this book was the faith element. So many times a book is called Christian but we don’t here the Gospel. Not the case in this book. It plays a central role in our characters stories.

I highly recommend this very interesting read. Give Vanessa a try if you like romantic suspense, you won’t be disappointed.

Grab your copy at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or your favorite retailer.

A copy of this book was given to me. All opinions are my own.

Provenance by Carla Laureano October 19, 2021

About:

From two-time RITA Award–winning author Carla Laureano comes a story of romance, transformation, and the beauty of belonging.
Los Angeles interior designer and former foster kid Kendall Green is in high demand, both for her impeccable eye and for her uncanny ability to uncover the provenance of any piece. But for all her success, skyrocketing costs have put her California home and her business in jeopardy. Then an unexpected inheritance provides a timely solution: a grandmother she never knew has left her a group of historic properties in a tiny Colorado town on the edge of ruin.

To young, untried mayor Gabriel Brandt, Jasper Lake is more than another small town—it’s the place that saved his life. Now, seeing the town slowly wither and die, he’s desperate to restore it to its former glory. Unfortunately, his vision is at odds with a local developer who wants to see the town razed and rebuilt as a summer resort. He’s sure that he can enlist the granddaughter of one of its most prominent former citizens to his cause—until he meets Kendall and realizes that not only does she know nothing of her own history, she has no interest in reviving a place that once abandoned her.

In order to save his beloved town, Gabe must first help Kendall unravel the truth of her own provenance—and Kendall must learn that in order to embrace the future, sometimes you have to start with the past.

My thoughts:

This is an excellent book. I really appreciated the faith that was throughout. I think that is often missing in Christian books so I enjoyed that is was such an important part of the book and the characters.

I loved the town of Jasper Lake, it made me want to visit it. I loved the smallness and quaintness of it.

Kandall’s journey is very interesting and I wondered how and if she would find herself back in Jasper Lake to stay. You will just have to read to find out. But it is a great book!

Visit Carla here.

Grab your copy at your local bookstore, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com or your favorite retailer.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Review and Giveaway: Saving Ebenezer by S. Daniel Smith October 14, 2021

About the Book

Book: Saving Ebenezer

Author: S. Daniel Smith

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: October 12, 2021

Much had changed in seven years. Scrooge had given all to rid himself of the guilt and shame of his miserly ways. Nearly saved Tiny Tim, too, who was only slightly bigger at his death than Christmas Eve seven years prior. Scrooge had the best doctors working on the boy’s condition, all of them happy to have Scrooge pay for this treatment or that, but never quite figuring out exactly what was wrong. Still, Tim had started the pathway of a bright future.

Until pneumonia struck. In a fortnight, Tim had gone from spry and hopeful to weak and discouraged. And then dead.

As Ebenezer Scrooge watched the simple casket lowered into the near-frozen muck on December 20^th, 1850, there could be no mistaking the fact that a piece of him was being buried as well.

And that was why Ebenezer Scrooge was angry.

The old Scrooge was back. Joy had given away to sorrow in the meanest of ways, for it sprung upon the old man with such ferocity that he had no defense. Powerless, and angry, that was Ebenezer Scrooge, all right. Joy had given way quickly to pain and sorrow, the likes of which Ebenezer Scrooge had never experienced before.

Ebenezer Scrooge, heartbroken and frustrated, begins to ask questions about faith. Much like the original story, he is given a guide to help him find the answers. As he struggles to understand death, sorrow, and poverty in terms of faith, he finds one answer to all his questions: Jesus Christ. The book ends with Ebenezer finding faith, health, and love.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Dan Smith is a Christian, a husband, a father, a career US Navy sailor, and freelance writer living in Virginia Beach, VA with his wife and three children. His publishing history goes back 21 years, when he was first published in the magazine Pentecostal Messenger.

Dan specializes in writing about life in the military, especially as it affects Christians in service. He has also tackled the issue of cystic fibrosis, the autism spectrum, and a host of other topics.

More from Dan

“I have always loved the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. From the original novella to The Muppets, I’ve been fascinated by the story. Only one thing was truly missing, and that was the real hope Christians find in Jesus Christ. In that way, Saving Ebenezer: The Continuing Saga of a man named Scrooge is my offering to my Lord. I did my best to retain the style and language of the original, as well as to stay true to the original story and characters, while offering a glimpse at the hope we have in Jesus.

The biggest reason I wrote the book is to show the need for Christ. I do my best to keep from being preachy, and I believe you’ll find the book entertaining with a point. I can’t wait to hear what you think!”

Blog Stops

The Write Escape, October 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 14

Genesis 5020, October 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 15

deb’s Book Review, October 16

Texas Book-aholic, October 17

Labor Not in Vain, October 17

Inklings and notions, October 18

For Him and My Family, October 19

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 20

Cats in the Cradle Blog, October 20

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, October 21

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 22

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, October 23

Mary Hake, October 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 24

Connie’s History Classroom, October 25

Denise L. Barela, Author, October 25

Betti Mace, October 26

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, S. Daniel is the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

To celebrate his tour, Bradley is giving away the grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/122da/saving-ebenezer-celebration-tour-giveaway

My thoughts:

This was a quick and interesting read. I love A Christmas Carol so it was fun to read this new and imagine what could have happened to Ebenezer after his change of heart. And how about his spiritual relationship with the Lord?

It was also fun to meet up with some old characters from the original book. This author did a good job maintaining Dicken’s unique tone as well.

If you enjoy the classical story I am sure you will be pleased with his sequel.

Grab your copy at Amazon, or your favorite retailer.

A copy of this book was given to me through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

Review and Giveaway: A Life Redeemed by Olivia Rae October 11, 2021

About the Book

Book:  A Life Redeemed

Author: Olivia Rae

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 16, 2021

Everyone has a secret, who can a queen trust?

Upon Queen Elizabeth’s order, Audrey Hayes travels to the borderlands of Scotland to learn where the fierce Laird Armstrong’s loyalties lie. Is he aligned with his mother’s English roots in support of the queen, or does he hold with the beliefs of his father, who wishes to see Mary of Scots on the English throne? The fate of Audrey’s family rests on her success in finding the answer.

After losing his lands in a wager and being betrayed by his kin, Gavin Armstrong entered a loveless marriage to obtain the funds to buy back his family home, Warring Tower. Now a widower, struggling against countless border wars, he is on the verge of losing his home and lands again. With few resources, he reluctantly makes another risky wager, one he cannot hope to win without trusting the secretive Audrey Hayes, a woman he suspects is an English spy.

As the two work together to save Warring Tower, their attraction to one another grows. But when Audrey finally gains the information she seeks for Queen Elizabeth, she realizes that the only way she can save her family is to betray the man she loves.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Olivia Rae is an award-winning author of historical and contemporary inspirational romance. She spent her school days dreaming of knights, princesses and far away kingdoms; it made those long, boring days in the classroom go by much faster. Nobody was more shocked than her when she decided to become a teacher. Besides getting her Master’s degree, marrying her own prince, and raising a couple of kids, Olivia decided to breathe a little more life into her childhood stories by adding in what she’s learned as an adult living in a small town on the edge of a big city. When not writing, she loves to travel, dragging her family to old castles and forts all across the world.  

Olivia is the winner of the Angel Award, Book Buyers Best Award, Golden Quill Award, New England Readers’ Choice Award, Southern Magic Contest, and the American Fiction Award. She is an Illumination Award Gold and Bronze medalist. She has also been a finalist in many other contests such as the National Readers’ Choice Awards, and the National Romance Fiction Awards. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.

More from Olivia

My novel, A Life Redeemed takes place in 16^th Century England and Scotland. A very popular dish at the time was the meat pie. Back then making such a dish took a lot of time. My Grandmother made a similar dish with modern day ingredients that you can whip together in no time. Cheesy meat pie is a real family pleaser and a delicious bit of history.

Medieval Cheesy Meat Pie

1 pound ground beef

½ cup chopped onion

1 – 8 oz. can of tomato sauce

¼ cup parsley

1 – 3oz. can chopped mushrooms (drained)

1/8 teaspoon pepper

¼ teaspoon dried oregano

2 packages (8 rolls) crescent rolls

3 eggs

Shredded cheese (mixed cheddar and mozzarella)

In skillet, brown beef, onion (drain). Stir in tomato sauce, parsley, mushrooms, pepper and oregano, then set aside. Unroll one package of crescent rolls, forming 12×6 inch rectangle. Seal edges and perforations together.  Roll to fit in 9-inch pie plate, trim. Separate one egg and set aside the yoke. Beat egg white with remaining two eggs. Spread over half the dough. Spoon meat into shell, arranging cheese on top. Pour remaining egg mixture over cheese. Roll out second package of crescent rolls, sealing on top of pie. Beat remaining egg yoke and a tablespoon of water, brush on top of dough. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. If pastry gets too brown, cover with foil. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Blog Stops

Pause for Tales, October 9

Labor Not in Vain, October 9

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 11

Genesis 5020, October 11

Bigreadersite, October 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 14

Texas Book-aholic, October 15

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 16

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, October 16

deb’s Book Review, October 17

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, October 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 18

Connie’s History Classroom, October 19

Mary Hake, October 19

Inklings and notions, October 20

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 21

For Him and My Family, October 22

Betti Mace, October 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Olivia is giving away the grand prize packaged of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/11fe0/a-life-redeemed-celebration-tour-giveaway

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was excited to read the second. I have to say I really did like this one too. The bombs that were dropped throughout really had me questioning and guessing what was going on and who was on whose side.

I did have trouble keeping straight who followed what faith and which one was supposedly considered “wrong” by the POV character. But other then that I really enjoyed the book and the romance that brewed between our main characters.

It is also interesting to learn the history that took place during that time.

Grab your copy at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your favorite retailer.

A copy of this book was given to me through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

The Petticoat Spy by Elva Cobb Martin October 8, 2021

About:

A Charles Town belle and a blockade runner ignite fireworks in more ways than one during the American Revolution. See the cover and sale on Amazon. 

To Anna Grace Laurens, the war is like a distant bad dream until her family’s Charles Town plantation is burned and her parents murdered by those loyal to the king. She flees on horseback and leaps into the Cooper River to escape her pursuers.

As John Cooper Vargas sails his sloop down the river, he spots a woman diving into the water. After firing on the Tory raiders chasing her, he rescues her and offers to take her with his parents to an island hideaway for the duration of the war. But she has other plans, including revenge for her parents’ deaths. She insists he drop her off in Charles Town, even with the British planning a massive attack by land and sea to retake the city, the Pearl of the South.

John employs his sailing skills for the patriots, risking capture and death, but he enjoys his skirmishes with the British navy blockade to bring goods from the islands to aid the cause. But when Charles Town falls to the British, he docks his ship in a secret cove and joins Francis Marion’s militia. This decision lands him wounded on a harbor prison ship where more men die than on the battlefield.

Anna Grace braves the deprivations, first of a city barricaded against the British, and then one surrendered and ruled by fists of iron under the English flag and injustice. Can she find a way to rescue John before it’s too late?

As both American and English armies gather near Yorktown, Virginia, for a pivotal battle, can John and Anna’s love for each other and their faith in God preserve them and help forge a new nation?

My thoughts:

This book starts with a very intense scene and then doesn’t really let go. I don’t think I have read anything by Elva before but this was very good and very interesting. I don’t read a lot of books that take place in the Revolutionary War era and I kind of forget about all the division and drama that took place during this time.

The romance was interesting too because Anna Grace seems to have a commitment to another man yet we know the John is the hero so how will they come to care for each other? Guess you’ll have to read to find out.

Visit Elva here.

Grab your copy at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your favorite retailer.

A copy of this book was given to me. All opinions are my own.

Review and Giveaway: The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady by Sharon J. Mondragon October 4, 2021

About:

A knitting group’s change of scenery changes lives in unexpected ways
 
Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran had a good thing going: meet every week in the quiet of their peaceful chapel and knit prayer shawls. No muss, just ministry. That is, until their pastor boots them out of the church in his last-ditch effort to revive the dwindling congregation.
 
Uptight Margaret isn’t having it. Knitting prayer shawls where people can watch is the most ridiculous idea she’s ever heard of, and she’s heard plenty. Prayer belongs in the church, not out among the heathen masses. How are they supposed to knit holiness into these shawls if they’re constantly distracted by the public? But with no choice, the others embrace the challenge. They pack their knitting bags and drag Margaret—grumbling the whole way—to the mall with them. She can’t wait to prove them all wrong when it fails miserably, and show the pastor that she always knows best.
 
Without the familiar mold the group has been stuck in, their own losses, pain, and struggles rise to the surface. And the people and situations they encounter every time they try to sit quietly and knit are taking them a lot further out of their comfort zone than they ever imagined. Can they find the courage to tackle the increasing number of knotty issues they learn about in the community–or will the tangle be too much to unravel?
 
Sharon J. Mondragon’s debut is warm and delightful, full of real laughter, grief, and personality. It beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ.
 
To read an excerpt of The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady click here.

About Author:

Sharon J. Mondragón writes about the place where kindness and courage meet. Her debut novel, The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady (originally titled The Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry) was the 2017 winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis award in the Short Novel Category, and she has also been recognized by The Saturday Evening Post where her short story, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” was an Honorable Mention Awardee in the 2014 their Great American Fiction Contest.
 
Mondragón has been active in prayer shawl ministry since 2008 and currently serves as facilitator for the prayer shawl ministry at her church, St. Paul Episcopal in Waxahachie, TX. She also knits with the Circle of Healing at Red Oak United Methodist Church. She is a Level 2 Certified Knitting Instructor through the Craft Yarn Council and teaches beginning knitting at a local yarn store.

Mondragón is the mother of five grown children and has four grandchildren. After 26 years as an Army wife, she has settled in Midlothian, TX with her hero/husband, her laptop, and her yarn stash.
 
Visit Sharon Mondragón’s website and blog at www.sharonjmondragon.com and follow her on Facebook (Sherry Mondragón) and Twitter (@SJ_Mondragón).

Giveaway:

Click here to enter to win.

My thoughts:

What a fun book. I really enjoyed it and it made me want to pick up my knitting needles again!

We get the point of view of many different characters. I love the reality of what these characters are going through. The big question was what was Margaret going through. She has something going on in her life but the reader doesn’t find out right away. Although I had my suspicions.

The truth is we all have something going on in our lives and we don’t always know what someone might be going through.

There is a little bit of everything in this book and I am sure you will enjoy it.

Grab your copy at your local bookstore, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com or your favorite retailer.

A copy of this book was given to me. All opinions are my own.

The Healing of Natalie Curtis by Jane Kirkpatrick October 1, 2021

About:

She came to the West for rest . . . what she found was a passion.

Classically trained pianist and singer Natalie Curtis can’t seem to recapture the joy that music once brought her. In 1902, her brother invites her to join him in the West to search for healing. What she finds are songs she’d never before encountered–the haunting melodies, rhythms, and stories of Native Americans.

But their music is under attack. The US government’s Code of Offenses prohibits America’s Indigenous people from singing, dancing, or speaking their own languages. Natalie makes it her mission not only to document these songs before they disappear but to appeal to President Teddy Roosevelt himself, who is the only man with the power to repeal the unjust law.

Award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick weaves a lyrical novel based on a true story that captivates to the very end.

My thoughts:

I don’t typically read Jane’s books because I struggle to get into them but I wanted to give this one a shot since the main character was a musician and I thought I might like this story.

Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I really wanted to like it but I really couldn’t get into it. The setting was interesting and what Natalie was trying to accomplish and prove but it just wasn’t for me. I am sure many people will enjoy this book though, it just wasn’t my style.

Visit Jane here.

Grab your at your local bookstore, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com or your favorite retailer.

A copy of this book was given to me through the publisher. All opinions are my own.