Litfuse Reviewer

The Promise of Palm Grove by Shelley Shepard Gray

Book Review

The Promise of Palm Grove by Shelley Shepard Gray was an amazing book.  I have read several books by this author and I have loved all of them.  I have become a huge fan of Amish fiction and in my opinion Shelley writes the best books for this genre.  I loved this book because it was a nice change from some of other books I have read before.  I loved all of the characters in this book and it has made me want to go and visit Pinecraft because I want to experience what it would be like.  Even though I know that this is a fiction book I still would love to experience the place where this story takes place.  If you love Amish fiction than this is one that you have to read.

The Promise of Palm Grove

About The Book

The Promise of Palm Grove (Avon Inspire, January 2015)

Leona must decide: Does she follow the path set out before her? Or take a chance with only the promise of what could be to guide her?

A young Amish woman finds herself torn between the man she’s pledged to wed and the man her heart desires in this heartwarming story of chance, duty, and choice in the face of love—the first volume in the beloved New York Times bestselling author’s new Amish Brides of Pinecraft series.

Amish bride-to-be Leona is thrilled to be in Florida, on a mini-vacation in the pretty town of Pinecraft. Her girlfriends think she’s happy because she’s away from the stress of wedding planning. They have no idea that Leona’s real joy is in being away from her fiancé.

Edmund is a good man, and will make a decent husband . . . just not for Leona. The more time she spends with him and his overbearing ways, the less she wants to be his wife. Her cousins are sure Edmund is the right man for her—and their certainty makes Leona begin to doubt herself. But when a chance encounter with a wayward cat brings her face-to-face with a handsome, fun-loving Amish man named Zachary Kauffman, Leona’s faced with two vastly different futures.

Shelley Shepard Gray

About The Author

Shelley Shepard Gray is a two-time New York Times bestseller, a two-time USA Today bestseller, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Holt Medallion winner. She lives in Southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.
Find Shelley online: website

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Margaret Margaret

Betting on Hope by Debra Clopton

Book Review

Betting on Hope by Debra Clopton was a good book to read.  I really liked Tru from the start of the book right up until the end of the book.  Maggie on the other hand wasn’t always my favorite but I loved how she always kept trying and didn’t give up on anything.  I also loved how hard she worked to keep her column and was willing to do pretty much anything to keep her job.  Overall this was a good book there were slow spots for me but is still such a sweet story that I don’t think it matters about the slow spots.  If you love romance novels than I would for sure recommend this one to you.

Betting on Hope

About The Book

Betting on Hope (Thomas Nelson, February 2015)

A bet gone wrong. A small town’s meddling. And a cowboy intent on saving his ranch.

Maggie Hope is an advice columnist whose background leaves her with little advice to give . . . and it’s beginning to show. When Maggie fills in at an interview with champion horse trainer Tru Monahan, the on-camera chemistry between them is undeniable. Maggie’s bosses know this is the opportunity she’s been looking for to launch her career—and their bank accounts. In order to save her column, Maggie takes Tru up on the bet that he can teach her to ride a quick-stepping cutting horse like any cowgirl, despite the fact that she has never been on a horse. And in the meantime, she can get the scoop on the man under the cowboy hat.

Tru has been on the competition circuit for longer than he’d like, but he knows it’s the only way he can afford to keep the Four of Hearts Ranch that means so much to his ailing grandfather. So when his sponsors see the opportunity for Tru’s fans to get to know the star on a more intimate level, he knows he must oblige. To his dismay, Maggie not only invades his small town of Wishing Springs, but she also invades his heart, and that is something he cannot let any woman do-for her own good.

In Wishing Springs, Maggie finds what she has always been looking for: a community and a home. But when her past catches up to her, it threatens everything, even the tender hope that this town holds all of her heart’s desires.

Debra Clopton

About The Author

Debra Clopton is a multi-award winning novelist and has written more than 22 novels. Along with writing, Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their local Cowboy Church. Debra’s goal is to shine a light toward God while she entertains readers with her words.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Margaret Margaret

Miracle At The High Grounds Cafe by Max Lucado

Book Review

Miracle At The High Grounds Cafe by Max Lucado was a great  book to read.  I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book when I first started it but once I was a few chapters into the book I didn’t want to put it down.  There were aspects of this book that I had never seen before and I loved that about this book.  I don’t want to spoil any of it with you guys so I won’t go into the details of this book but it was an amazing book.  I also like this one more than others I have read because it is a shorter book and lately with the headaches I have been getting I am not able to read much so shorter books are great for me right now.  If you love Christian fiction than you don’t want to miss this one!

Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe

About The Book

Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe (Thomas Nelson, February 2015)

What if you could ask God anything? What would you ask? And how would he answer?

Chelsea Chambers is on her own. After a public split from her NFL superstar husband, Chelsea takes a bold step out of the limelight and behind the counter of the Higher Grounds Café, an old-fashioned coffee shop in dire need of reinvention. But when her courage, expert planning, and out-of-this-world cupcakes fail to pay the bills, this newly single mom finds herself desperate for help. Better yet, a miracle.

Then a curious stranger lands at Chelsea’s door, and with him, an even more curious string of events. Soon, customers are flocking to the Higher Grounds Café, and not just for the cupcakes and cappuccino. They’ve come for the internet connection to the divine. Now the café has become the go-to place for people in search of answers to life’s biggest questions.

When a catastrophe strikes and her ex comes calling, Chelsea begins to wonder if the whole universe is conspiring against her quest to make it on her own. After a shocking discovery opens her eyes to the unseen world around her, Chelsea finds the courage to ask, and heaven answers in a most unexpected way.

Max Lucado

About The Author

More than 120 million readers have found comfort in the writings of Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.
Find Max online: website, Facebook, Twitter

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Margaret Margaret

A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliot

Book Review

A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliot was an okay book.  I have read tons of books in this series and this one just wasn’t one of my favorites.  I did love the mystery aspect of the story but overall this book just wasn’t one for me.  The book is well written and the author does a great job of making you feel like you are their with the characters but I just couldn’t get into the book.  I know that there are people who would really enjoy this book so I would still recommend it to anyone who loves the Quilts Of Love series.

A Stitch in Crime

About The Book

Thea’s first quilt show is coming apart at the seams!
Thea James has accepted an assignment as co-chairperson for Larkindale’s first quilt show extravaganza. Juggling the new assignment with running her antique business, she’s already feeling frayed when things start to unravel.

Mary-Alice Wentworth, a much-loved town matriarch, respected quilt judge, and Thea’s dear friend, is covertly conked on the head during the kick-off Quilt Show Soiree, throwing suspicion on her guests. It also appears that a valuable diamond brooch has been stolen during the attack. The family is furious. But is it because of their mugged mother or the missing diamonds?

When a renowned textile expert goes MIA and the famous Wentworth heritage quilt disappears, Larkindale’s reputation as a tourist haven is at risk. Thea attempts to piece the mystery together and save the town’s investment in the quilt show before Mary-Alice is attacked again . . . with far worse results.
Learn more about this book and the series at the Quilts of Love website.

About The Author

Author and speaker Cathy Elliot nourishes her night-owl habit by creating cozy mysteries and more on her trusty laptop in Anderson, California. Like the protagonist in her new mystery, Cathy is an avid quilter. Besides collecting (too much) cool fabric, she also enjoys hunting for antique treasures.

 

Quilts Of Love

About Quilts of Love

Quilts tell stories of love and loss, hope and faith, tradition and new beginnings. The Quilts of Love series focuses on the women who quilted all of these things into their family histories. A new book releases each month and features contemporary and historical romances as well as women’s fiction and the occasional light mystery. You will be drawn into the endearing characters of this series and be touched by their stories.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Margaret Margaret

Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden

Book Review

Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden was a great historical fiction book to read.  I loved the characters in this book.  This is one of the few books that I loved all of the characters in it.  Most of the time I like one or two but this time I like them all even the ones that weren’t very nice to Anna.  I really liked Luke and I loved that he was talking care of his nephew.  It made him even sweeter in my head because not many men would step up and take care of their nephew.  I loved the setting of this novel as well because I have read my share of historical fiction and this one had more of a unique setting than some of the others I have read.  I loved reading about Anna working in the library because for most of us bookworms working there would be so amazing.  I loved everything about this  book.  If you love historical fiction than I know you will love this book.

Beyond All Dreams

About The Book

Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they’ve ever dreamed for their futures?

Anna O’Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across the baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. Thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help.

Luke Callahan was one of the nation’s most powerful congressmen before his promising career was shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship. Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglements with members of Congress.

From the gilded halls of the Capitol where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation’s finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they’ve ever dreamed for their futures?

Elizabeth Camden

About The Author

Elizabeth Camden is the author of six books and a RITA and Christy Award winner. With a master’s in history and a master’s in library science, she is a research librarian by day and scribbles away on her next novel by night. Elizabeth lives with her husband in Florida.
Find Elizabeth online: website, Facebook

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Margaret Margaret

Brush With Love by Rachel Hauck

Book Review

Brush With Love by Rachel Hauck was a sweet story to read.  I loved how this was a shorter story as well.  There is something about short stories that at times makes me love them more that longer books.  This is such a sweet story and it is super easy to read if you have a few hours of time to pass.  I loved the characters in this book and the setting of the book.   To me these characters felt like they could have been real people and people that I would have liked to know.  I have read other books by Rachel and I don’t know that she has ever written a book that I haven’t loved.  If you love romance novels that I would for sure suggest this one.

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About The Book

Ginger Winters is a gifted hairstylist with scars no one can see. The last thing she expects from the New Year is a new chance at love.

Overcoming a childhood tragedy, Ginger emerges from the pain and trauma with a gift for bringing out the beauty in others. From the top big city salons to traveling the world as personal stylist to a country music sensation, success was almost enough to make Ginger forget her she would never be one of the beautiful people.

Almost. Now that she’s back home in Rosebud, Alabama and running her own salon, the truth remains: Ginger is still that girl, forever on the outside looking in. But she needs her confidence this weekend. She’s the acclaimed “beauty-maker” for the Alabama society wedding of the decade.

When high-school crush Tom Wells Jr. also returns to town and shows up at her shop looking for a haircut, Ginger’s thinly veiled insecurities threaten to keep her locked away from love, Despite Tom’s best efforts, Ginger can’t forget how he disappeared on her twelve years ago and broke her heart. Can she ever trust him again?

When Tom challenges her to see her own beauty, Ginger must decide if she will remained chained to the past or move freely into a new, exciting future.

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About The Author

Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, best selling author of critically acclaimed novels such as The Wedding Dress, Love Starts with Elle, and Once Upon A Prince.

She also penned the Songbird Novels with multi-platinum recording artist, Sara Evans. Booklist named their novel,Softly and Tenderly, one of 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, Rachel worked in the corporate software world before planting her backside in an uncomfortable chair to write full-time in 2004.

She serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and leads worship at their annual conference. She is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker.

Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pets, and writes from her two-story tower in an exceedingly more comfy chair. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan.

Find Rachel online: website, Facebook, Twitter

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Margaret Margaret