Christian Fiction

Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer was a book that I fell in love with.  This book combined two of the things that I currently love.  It combined reading, and it also combined my love for real crime / cold cases.  I also love this author writing, so this book had quite a bit to live up to, and I am happy to say that I enjoyed this book and was sad when I was done reading it.    I loved trying to figure out what happened to Maggie right along with the characters in this book.  I wasn’t able to figure it out before we find out the whole story so I loved that about this book.  Since this is Christian fiction, you don’t have to worry too much about what is going to happen during the book.  There is one thing that bugged me throughout the book and was Meghan’s mom Diane.  She reminded me of a pissed off teenage throughout the book, and I spend more time annoyed with how she acted and the things that she said to Hazel and Meghan.  All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and I am sure anyone who loves cold cases would also like this book.

About The Book

Decades of Loss, an Unsolved Mystery,
and a Rift Spanning Three Generations

Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears.

Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can’t understand her mother’s overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother’s inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan—a cold case agent—cherishes her grandmother’s lavish attention and affection.

When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel’s painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help bothwomen recover all that’s been lost?

About The Author

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of twenty-nine novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women’s fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and nine grandchildren.

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The Pretender by Ta’Mara Hanscom

The Pretender Ta'Mara Hanscom

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

The Pretender by Ta’Mara Hanscom was a book I thought I would really enjoy but in the end, I was bored throughout most of the book.  There were parts throughout the book that I did like but they never lasted long, and I always ended up bored and wanting to pick up something else to read.  This is the first book I have read by this author, and I don’t know that I will get any others to read.  This book was well written, but I just didn’t connect with the author and the characters in the book.  This does happen from time to time, and it makes me sad when it does happen, and I have to review the book because I hate having to leave reviews like this one.  Like I said it was well written and I am sure that it will be a great book for other people it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

About The Book

Set in South Dakota in 1975, where eighteen-year-olds could order 3.2 beer in a bar, and loaded guns were kept under the counter.
Frankie Valli sang “My Eyes Adored You,” and American soldiers returning from Vietnam struggled with their new reality.
It’s within this tumultuous season of American history that Tillie Caselli meets Noah Hansen, and they are never the same again. Their lives were mysteriously intertwined-and had been for many years-yet they had no idea.
From the moment they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but a deliberate omission will keep them apart—and that same omission will be responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride’s deception.

About The Author

Born and raised in South Dakota, Ta`Mara loves to write about the Great Plains and the beauty and people of Italia. While her husband and children manage their two pizza ristoranti, Ta`Mara works full time on The Caselli Family Series, and ministers to women. It is Ta`Mara s prayer that as the readers explore the truths in these volumes, they will come away with a new perspective on love, forgiveness, obedience, and God’s plan for marriage
Find out more about Ta’Mara at https://www.tamarahanscombooks.com.
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The Pretender Ta'Mara Hanscom

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2017 Margaret Margaret

Many Sparrows by Lori Benton

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Many Sparrows by Lori Benton isn’t one of my favorite historical fiction books that I have read in the past year or so.  I had a tough time getting into the book, and I also had a hard time wanting to read this book.  I found that when I would put it down that, I wouldn’t go right back to it.  I read several other books while I was reading this one which isn’t something that I usually do.  I think my biggest problem was how slow this book seemed to go.  There were quite a few places that I wondered why they didn’t cut them out.  I felt bad for Clare throughout the book because of all of the horrible things that she had to go through.  I know that they only reason I kept reading what because I wanted to know what going to happen to Clare and how things were going to turn out for her.  If you love historical fiction novels than I would pick this book up or at least read other reviews to see if it would be a right for you.  If you have read this book what did you think of it?

About The Book

Either she and her children would emerge from that wilderness together, or none of them would. . . .
In 1774, the Ohio-Kentucky frontier pulses with rising tension and brutal conflicts as Colonists push westward and encroach upon Native American territories. The young Inglesby family is making the perilous journey west when an accident sends Philip back to Redstone Fort for help, forcing him to leave his pregnant wife Clare and their four-year old son Jacob on a remote mountain trail.
When Philip does not return and Jacob disappears from the wagon under the cover of darkness, Clare awakens the next morning to find herself utterly alone, in labor and wondering how she can to recover her son . . . especially when her second child is moments away from being born.
Clare will face the greatest fight of her life, as she struggles to reclaim her son from the Shawnee Indians now holding him captive. But with the battle lines sharply drawn, Jacob’s life might not be the only one at stake. When frontiersman Jeremiah Ring comes to her aid, can the stranger convince Clare that recovering her son will require the very thing her anguished heart is unwilling to do-be still, wait and let God fight this battle for them?

About The Author

Lori Benton was raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American history going back three hundred years. Her novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history. When she isn’t writing, reading, or researching, Lori enjoys exploring and photographing the Oregon wilderness with her husband. She is the author of “Burning Sky,” recipient of three Christy Awards, “The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn,” Christy-nominee “The Wood’s Edge,” and “A Flight of Arrows.”
Find out more about Lori at http://loribenton.blogspot.com.
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Rule Of Law by Randy Singer

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Rule of Law by Randy Singer was a really long book, and I struggled with wanting to read it.  I know that has to do with the fact that I am so over politics in this country that when it came to reading a book that has to deal with that, I had no patience for it.  I did push my way through and kept reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen.  I really only finished the book because I wanted to know what ended up happening with the Seals and their families.  I was a huge fan of Paige, and I was always rooting for her and hoping that she didn’t stop fighting for what was right.  I know part of the reason that I did like this book was that it didn’t shock me that something like this would be happening because I have no doubt that the people in our government would do something like this and then try and cover it up.  Like I said I did struggle with staying interested and reading this book, but I am sure if you love books like this then you will enjoy it more than I did.  I also think I am going to tuck this book away and read it again in a few years when I feel differently about the subject matter in this book.

About The Book

For the members of SEAL Team Six, it was a rare mission ordered by the president, monitored in real time from the Situation Room. The Houthi rebels in Yemen had captured an American journalist and a member of the Saudi royal family. Their executions were scheduled for Easter Sunday. The SEAL team would break them out.
But when the mission results in spectacular failure, the finger-pointing goes all the way to the top.
Did the president play political games with the lives of U.S. service members?
Paige Chambers, a determined young lawyer, has a very personal reason for wanting to know the answer. The case she files will polarize the nation and test the resiliency of the Constitution. The stakes are huge, the alliances shaky, and she will be left to wonder if the saying on the Supreme Court building still holds true.
Equal justice under law.
It makes a nice motto. But will it work when one of the most powerful people on the planet is also a defendant?

About The Author

Randy Singer is a critically acclaimed author and veteran trial attorney. He has penned more than ten legal thrillers, including his award-winning debut novel “Directed Verdict.” In addition to his law practice and writing, he serves as a teaching pastor for Trinity Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He also teaches classes in advocacy and ethics at Regent Law School and serves on the school’s Board of Visitors.
Find out more about Randy at http://www.randysinger.net.

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Mercy Triumphs by Jana Kelley

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Mercy Triumphs by Jana Kelley was a good book.  This is the third and final book in the series, and I am sad to know that the characters are leaving because after reading three books with the same basic characters I am sad to see them go.  I have read the other two books in the series so if you want to know what I thought about them, you can click here and here to read them.  That being said you can read this book without having read the other two, but if it were me, I would read all of them in order so that you know the back story and how they ended up where they are when you start reading this book.   Like the first two, I really enjoyed this book, and it is such a unique storyline.  I know one of the reasons that I have loved this series as much as I have is because it has given me an idea what it would be like to live in Sudan as a Christian.  I am sad to see these stories come to an end, but I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.  I also loved the pace that this book was written because it wasn’t super slow or super fast.  If you are looking for something that is a little bit different to read I would recommend this series of books to you.

About The Book

Mia, an American Christian, has lived in Sudan so long that persecution, harassment, and danger have become commonplace for her. Her tough outer shell threatens to harden her heart while her newly Christian friends, Halimah and Rania, former Muslims, are forced to live in exile outside Sudan. All three quickly discover that escaping danger in one place only means facing even greater challenges elsewhere. As God’s mercy becomes evident in their lives, they must choose whether or not to offer mercy to those who don’t deserve it.

Third, in a trilogy, Mercy Triumphs opens the reader’s eyes to modern-day persecution and the life of Muslims in Sudan. Based on real-life events,
Mercy Triumphs reveals some of the struggles Christians face when living under Islamic law. The reader will be inspired to pray for new believers, those who are persecuted for their faith, and even for the salvation of the persecutors.

About The Author

Author of the captivating novel “Side by Side,” Jana Kelley is a Texan who hardly ever lives in Texas. Raised in Southeast Asia, Jana developed a love for cross-cultural living early in life. Her love for writing came soon after. Jana returned to Texas to attend East Texas Baptist University. She and her husband married a month after she graduated, and by their second anniversary, they were living in a remote African town. After 13 years living in Africa and the Middle East, Jana, her husband, and their three boys moved to Southeast Asia where they currently live.

Find out more about Jana at http://www.janakelley.com.

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The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories by Celeste Fletcher McHale

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories by Celeste Fletcher McHale was a sweet story. I loved the plot of this book because I am sure it has happened in the real world before and I always love books that could happen. This is the first book I have read by this author, and I would like to read her other book that she has released. When I think about this book, I just keep thinking about what a sweet story this book was. I did find that this book was predictable, but I loved that I haven’t read a book with this plot before. I felt bad for Jacey and everything that she had to have gone through to get her to where we meet her in this book. I didn’t care that much about Colin throughout the book which isn’t uncommon when I read books in this genre. I was able to predict what was going to happen but I was okay with that because I did enjoy this author writing. If you are looking for a new Christian romance book to read I think that you would enjoy this book just as much as I did.

About The Book

Jacey met the man of her dreams a year ago—and hasn’t seen him since. Finally relocating him as the pastor at her best friend’s wedding was the very last thing she expected.

A year ago, Jacey was trapped on a rooftop during a flood with perfect strangers, including a family and a man named Colin. After two days there together, she had no doubt that Colin was the man of her dreams. When they were finally rescued he tucked his phone number into her pocket. But an accident with the rescue boat left her hospitalized with amnesia and PTSD . . . and his number nowhere to be found.

Now, Jacey has still only recovered bits and pieces of her memory from that time. She clearly remembers Colin—but not his last name or any other details that would help her locate him. She’s trying to immerse herself in the joy of her best friend’s wedding . . . when she looks up at the end of the aisle only to discover Colin there in the minister’s role. Shock is an understatement.

On one hand, she’s elated to see him again. And then reality sets in. She never intended to get married or have kids. And being a minister’s wife was definitely never on her list. Was Colin not the man she thought he was? Or has the amnesia changed her more than she realized?

With the typical wit and honesty Celeste Fletcher McHale is becoming known for, it’s time for Jacey to take a fresh look at her life. Could this string of unexpected events have been setting her up for something far better than what she had planned for herself?

About The Author

Celeste Fletcher McHale is a Southern Lit author from Central Louisiana. Her debut novel, The Secret to Hummingbird Cake, is being released through HarperCollins Christian Publishing in February 2016.

Celeste earned a history degree and currently lives on her century-old family farm. She enjoys family, writing, football, baseball, and raising a variety of animals.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2017 Margaret Margaret