11.09.2015

Vendetta ~ Review

Vendetta
The Nikki Boyd Files #1
By Lisa Harris

The First 48 hours are the most critical...
It was suppose to be a day remembering her best friend.  But their plans quickly changed with the report of a missing teen.

In a case that takes a too close to personal familiarity Special Agent Nikki Boyd is in a race the clock to locate a missing teen. Is she looking at an abduction, a run-away, or a lost teenager?  As the clues point to a link from Nikki's own past, a new sense of urgency adds to the tension.

If you want suspense look no further than Vendetta.  Nikki Boyd is a woman on a mission - she's determined that no other family will have to go through what her's has.  A 16 year old girl has gone missing and Nikki and her friend Tyler Grant happen to be in the vicinity when the initial report comes in.  But what was originally a missing person quickly becomes something bigger and potentially more dangerous.

Are you ready for a new series that will keep you in suspense wondering who the abductor is and whether or not they can find Bridget in time?  This fast paced book takes place over just a couple of days bringing the reader into the action.  And an unexpected twist puts everyone in danger.

I really was drawn into this book - finishing it on a Saturday afternoon.  I have to admit I'm looking forward to the second book in this series (of which there is a short excerpt) and what comes next for Nikki.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.



About the Book:
No one needs to push Nikki Boyd to excel on the Tennessee Missing Persons Task Force. The case of her own missing sister, still unsolved after ten years, is the driving force in her work. When a Polaroid photo of a missing girl shows up at a crime scene, Nikki quickly recognizes similarities to the past. The closer she gets to the abductor, the more she feels this case has become personal, and she is not the hunter . . . but the hunted.

With this explosive first book in The Nikki Boyd Files, award-winning author Lisa Harris takes you on a fast-paced pursuit of justice that will have you holding your breath until the heart-stopping finish.

Lisa Harris is a Christy Award winner and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from Romantic Times. The author of nearly thirty books, including Dangerous PassageFatal Exchange, and Hidden Agenda, Harris and her family have spent twelve years living as missionaries in southern Africa. They currently live in Mozambique. Learn more at www.lisaharriswrites.com.

11.03.2015

An Amish Christmas Gift ~ Review

An Amish Christmas Gift
Three Amish Novellas
By Amy Clipston, Ruth Reid, and Kelly Irvin

If you love a Christmas romance and Amish fiction you will delight in this new Christmas collection of three novellas.

In all three stories our main character feels love, marriage, and a family of her own has passed her by. She is destined to be an old maid, at least that's what she is trying to convince herself.

First up is Naomi's Gift - Naomi King has twice been rejected in love.  Her mother frowns upon her previous behavior, her anticipation of becoming a wife, a mother.  Some say Naomi is too eager for marriage.  But those who truly know her know the truth.  Is it too late for love when gossiping tongues wag?

When a chance meeting with young Susie Schmucker introduces Naomi to widower Caleb, Naomi is determined to guard her heart though a friendship only with this young girl and her father may prove problematic.  

But Christmas miracles can involve the heart... Will Naomi finally receive the gift her heart has been seeking?

The second gift found within this wrapping is An Unexpected Gift.  Abigail Kemp has in her words the "gift of talking."  Unfortunately for her future prospects her gift is not appreciated by the young men in her community.  In fact her gift may keep her single.

But when an act of "defiance" means Abigail has to find a job, she finds a short term one caring for Micah Zook's grandmother.  Now if she can just keep her keep her chatter from ending her job early Abigail just may be able to buy her horse.  

But Abigail has more than just her gift of talk she has a caring heart - a heart that just may get her into trouble or may finally lead her to love just in time for Christmas.

A Christmas Visitor is the final story to delight your Christmas reading.  Frannie Mast has been sent to her aunt and uncle's home to get her away from Rocky Sanders an Englischer who has found a way into her heart.  Frannie is determined to stay in her faith, separation from her family is not something she wants.

But when Rocky shows up in Bee County, Texas, following Frannie all the way from Missouri pushing him out of her heart just became a lot harder.  But Rocky only wants what's best for the woman he loves.  Can he give her up if she decides family and faith have more of her heart than Rocky does?  Or will this be the Christmas that brings these two people a true gift of the heart?

An Amish Christmas Gift is a gift that you will want to share with your fellow book friends.  Looking for a December book club selection that won't disappoint - you've found it.  And if you want to steal away for a few moments of quiet time during the holiday rush this book may be what you are looking for.

I was provided a copy of this book through the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.  

About the Book:
Naomi's Gift by Amy Clipston
Naomi has started to think that she isn't meant to find love, but she might receive more than she ever hoped for this Christmas.
Twenty-four-year-old Naomi King, who has been burned twice by love, has all but given up on marriage and children. As Christmas approaches-a time of family, faith, and hope for many others-Naomi is more certain than ever her life will be spent as an old maid, helping with the family's quilting business and taking care of her eight siblings. Then she meets Caleb, a young widower with a 7-year-old daughter, and her world is once again turned upside-down.
An Unexpected Joy by Ruth Reid
Abigail has driven other suitors away, but can Micah find a way to show her he cares?
Abigail Kemp has managed to frighten off every bu who's ever driven her home from a singing. Sure she will live to be an old maid, Abigail starts saving her money to buy a horse so she can at least have some independence.
Micah Zook is looking for a caregiver for his grandmother, and Abigail needs a new job. He never expected that Abigail would talk so much . . . or that his grandmother would keep finding ways to set the two of them up.
Despite Abigail's constant chatter, she and Micah become friends-until Micah makes a decision that leaves Abigail feeling betrayed. With Christmas in their midst, can Micah find a way to reconcile with Abigail and to reveal what's on his heart?
A Christmas Visitor by Kelly Irvin
Frannie Mast returns to Bee County for Christmas, but her heart stays back in Missouri with an Englisch farm boy.
Frannie knows her parents have the best of intentions when they send her back to Bee County, Texas, to live with her aunt Abigail and her husband Mordecai. After all, she knows nothing can come of a relationship with Rocky, the handsome but Englisch farmer boy back in Missouri. It's best to put those feelings aside, no matter how hard it is. But all bets are off when Rocky follows Frannie to Texas to plead his case. Could he be the Christmas gift to end all gifts?

We Had a Job to do ~ Review with Giveaway

We Had a Job to Do
By Theresa Anzaldua

This book is a journey through the days and years leading to World War II. But it is a personal glimpse into individual lives and the path that took each one into a war that wasn't suppose to be. After years of economic growth and prosperity the United States experienced an almost over-night reversal. Banks had failed, loans were immediately due, and jobs were gone.

The land that everyone of coming to was no longer a land of plenty. And this would be a nearly decade long state. It was only when war came to America that change began - jobs were found with the war machine that was growing in America. Military expansion resulted in jobs, both in the service and manufacturing

We Had a Job to Do is the story of those who found a second chance to improve their lives through their service to their country.  We are so focused today on the single individual who made a contribution that has over-shone that of other we have forgotten that it takes many to accomplish a goal.  Well, take a step back and partake of these individual experiences.

Throughout are photos taken from this time period which add a layer to the book as personal recollections are shared with short historical facts about the world.  The plight of the Japanese American, German prisoners of war, liberation of concentration camps,

This book might not be as indepth as others that focus on World War II but it is also appropriate for older grade school students.  With Veterans Day soon to be upon us this might be an excellent resource to share with younger readers as one discusses the importance of this day.  Would also be a great classroom or homeschooling resource.

I was provided a copy of this book through iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:

This heartfelt tribute to World War II veterans is history that reads like fiction.

Follow a soldier who fought in Patton’s Third Army and who landed on Omaha Beach at 9 a.m. on D-Day; a female Army Air Forces nurse who made helping veterans her life’s work; a fighter pilot who flew with the African-American unit known as the Tuskegee Airmen and who was on one of the teams that won the first Top Gun meet after the war; a guard in a top-secret intelligence base outside of Washington, D.C. where top German weapons scientists were interrogated; a female aircraft mechanic who served in the Navy and is still active in veterans affairs seventy years later; a gunner on a B-17 heavy bomber who was shot down and spent fourteen months in German prison camps; an airman in General Curtis LeMay’s 20th Air Force, the unit that dropped the atomic bombs, and more.

Get to know some of the patriots who served in World War II.

Buy the book:    Amazon


Author's Bio:

The author is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, B.A. (English Literature and Philosophy) and M.A. (Philosophy) and Harvard Law School, J.D. Her mother served in World War II in the U.S. Army, her father served in the U.S. Navy, her maternal uncle served in the war in the British Marines Commandos and fought in Normandy on D-Day, and another maternal uncle was killed in a training accident in Texas while serving in the U.S. Army. Her grandfather was wounded fighting for Britain in World War I.

Connect with the author:   Website    Facebook

Giveaway:​
Prizes:

Win 1 of 9 gift sets including a copy of “We Had a Job to Do
one (3’x5’ American flag) and one gently used Glen Miller CD


a Rafflecopter giveaway

10.31.2015

The Horse of My Heart ~ Review

The Horse of My Heart
Stories of the Horses We Love
Edited by Callie Grant

The Horse of My Heart is a collection of stories about horses and the people who have loved them and had their lives changed by them.  Some of these stories will bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your lips.

All animals have a special place in my heart and I couldn't pass up the chance to read this book where others shared their love of horses.  The grace and beauty is shared as well as some of the attitudes that make some horses a "problem child".

But overall these stories are how horses (and animals) have enriched the various authors lives - teaching them something about them-self that they never knew.  Responsibility, hidden strengths, a capacity to see past oneself - animals allow us to become more than what we were.

I loved the story "The Pasture Bully".  This story reminded me of our Charlotte and her protecting our other horses from our bully horse Wyatt (the baddest horse in the West Central Wisconsin region).  Horses are each unique and surprising in their own way.

This is the perfect book for any horse lover and would be a well-loved present.  With the holidays coming this would be a nice surprise to find on the family bookcase.  I know when I was a kid this would have been my go to book on days I had to stay home for a cold.

Get ready for some whinny good reading.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through their Revell Reads program in exchange for my honest review.

Shining coat flashing in the sun. Silky mane rippling in the wind. A toss of the head and the stamp of a hoof.

Few of God's creatures are as noble and soul-stirring as the horse. Even those of us who aren't lucky enough to have horses of our own seem to have an innate desire to connect with these beautiful, regal beasts. As children we read stories about them, collected models of them, and tacked posters of them up on our walls. Throughout history they have carried us and calmed us, pulled our loads and pulled at our heartstrings. They give us a taste of wildness and yet make us feel at home. 

In this inspiring collection, you'll meet horses who show up at the right time, who help their humans learn important truths, and who rescue the very people who rescued them. These true stories of horses and the people who love them are sometimes touching, sometimes humorous, and sometimes miraculous. Always they are inspiring, like the horses themselves. They will touch your heart, renew your spirit, and show you that surely God had us in mind when he created these magnificent creatures.


Callie Smith Grant is the editor of The Cat in the WindowThe Cat on My Lap, The Dog Next Door, and The Dog at My Feet. She is also the author of several nonfiction books for young readers and adults, as well as many animal-themed stories and poems that can be seen in Guideposts anthologies and in magazines such as Small Farmer's Journal.

Sofia's Tune ~ Review

Sofia's Tune
Ellis Island #3
By Cindy Thomson

The past is best left to the past - that's what Sofia's family believes and the secrets of the past are destroying her Mamma's mind.  A tragedy kept hidden for 19 years has shaped the Falcone family, following them from their old life in Italy to their new life in New York.  And when an old photograph is discovered new questions arise - plaguing Sofia with what ifs.

But 1903 New York is not the land of promise many had dreamed of as Antonio Baggio has discovered.  His father was dead and there are questions that no one seems willing or able to answer about his death.

When Sofia and Antonio's quests bring them together little do they realize the changes that will result. Both in their own lives and in lives of those around them.

Sofia's a world quite different from our own - one doesn't share their problems with every stranger who happens by.  In fact problems and troubles were not even discussed with family and close friends.  So when Sofia was brought into the world outside of Little Italy asking for help from those who lived in Hawkins House and were associated with Mrs. Hawkins and the Benevolents. But sometimes we have to ask for help, it isn't a sign of weakness, insufficiency, or a betrayal.  And when Sofia admits that she needs help her world begins to change for the better and she truly starts to become an American by adding what she was being offered to what she already was.

Those who read the previous Ellis Island books will be delighted to know that Annie and Grace are in this book as well - though they are supporting characters.  But it is nice to see how their lives have progressed.  You can read Sofia's Tune as a standalone book but if you want a well rounded awareness of Annie, Grace, Mrs Hawkins take time to read Grace's Pictures and Annie's Stories. This book, unlike the previous two, focuses on the Italian immigrant community rather than the Irish community.  Who knew that the region of Italy one was from was so important in how one was accepted or rejected among the immigrants.

And one last observation don't you just love the cover - Luigi is the dog and he plays a fairly important part throughout the whole book. (And for those who want to know - he makes it through the whole book)

I was provided an advance proof of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:
In Sofia's Tune, we meet Sofia Falcone, a young woman who has been living in New York only a short time when she is stunned to discover a family secret, one that soon sends her beloved mother into a mental institution. Scrambling to keep her job and care for her mother, Sofia is convinced confronting the past will heal all wounds, but her old world Italian family wants to keep the past in the past. 

During this time, she encounters Antonio, a Vaudeville pianist with a street-smart dog, seeking to discover why his father was mysteriously killed. Their crossed paths uncover a frightening underworld in Little Italy. Bringing the truth to light may cost Sofia's mother's sanity, Antonio's career, and the livelihoods of countless immigrants. Change is on the horizon, but it may not bring what they expect.

10.30.2015

99 Prayers for Children ~ Review

99 Prayers for Children
Complied by Juliet David 
Illustrated by Elina Ellis

Prayers for every day,
Prayers for special days,
Graces, blessings, praises:
A classic treasury for children.

Learning to pray is sometimes one of the hardest concepts for one to grasp.  How does one pray to God.  God, we are told, is always with us yet we can't see Him. How can we talk to someone we can't see with our eyes or hear with our ears?  What are we suppose to say to God?

This book will help your child (and perhaps you) learn how to pray.  With prayers that are from Bible verses, poetry, saints of old, and even original to this book one will get an idea of how to pray from an early age.  All too often the prayers one learns during childhood are a rushed through ditty that doesn't really mean anything.  

This book is one that will be a perfect addition to your family devotion time.  With the holidays approaching this would be lovely gift for that special young person in your life.

I was provided a copy of this book by Kregel in exchange for my honest review.

About the book:

A companion prayer book to 99 Stories from the Bible with delightful illustrations in a strong vibrant style and prayers for all occasions. The prayers are a combination of traditional and modern and provide an introduction to family prayer time with young children, bringing talking to God to life in the heart of every child.