A Daughter’s Dream by Shelley Shepard Gray

June 4, 2016

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.

A Daughter’s Dream by Shelley Shepard Gray was another great book. Just like I said in yesterday’s post about that author being my favorite for books that take place during WWII this author is my favorite for books having to do with the Amish. I have pretty much read all of her books and me when I see she is releasing a new book I know I have to pick it up because I love all of her books. This is the second book in the series, but you don’t have to read the first book if you don’t want to. I did review the first book, and you can click here to read that review if you are interested in that book. These characters weren’t my favorite of all the characters but I still actually enjoyed the book. I love that I got to check in with the characters from the first book because I liked them. I loved this book, and I can’t wait for the next book to come out. I recommend any of her books to you if you are looking for something new to read because I know you won’t be let down by any of her books.

About The Book

A Daughter’s Dream (Avon Inspire, May 2016)

A young teacher and farmer discover they have much in common, especially when it comes to healing old wounds from the past . . . and finding love in one another.

Rebecca Kinsinger has always dreamed of being a teacher. But when she’s given the opportunity she’s been waiting for at Charm Amish School, she’s dismayed to discover that teaching is hard work—work she’s afraid she’s not very good at.That is, until Lilly Yoder joins the class. A thirteen-year old who’s just lost her parents, Lilly is in need of someone like Rebecca. For the first time since starting her new job, Rebecca feels a sense of purpose. But when she meets Lilly’s uncle, Jacob, his good looks and sweet, easy-going temperament are hard to ignore. How can she even entertain romantic thoughts of Jacob when his niece is her student?

Suddenly becoming Lily’s sole caregiver, Jacob Yoder never thought he’d be a single parent—or a farmer. Having been living in Florida as a carpenter, Jacob feels more at home wielding a hammer than a backhoe. The only bright spot in his life is Rebecca Kinsinger. As Lily and Rebecca develop a bond, Jacob’s fondness for the pretty teacher grows, too.

But when a fateful accident brings them together, Rebecca and Jacob must choose between duty and desire. Will they follow the path before them? Or set out to find true happiness . . . and true love?

About The Author

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, 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.

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Rhinestone Cowgirl by Denice Christensen

May 31, 2016

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Serenade Book’s 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.

Rhinestone Cowgirl by Denice Christensen wasn’t my favorite book, but it is a sweet story. It seems like I have read a ton of books like this one lately and I just wasn’t the biggest fan of this one. I did enjoy the authors writing, and I would love to check out more books by her in the future. I found that this book was predictable, and I wasn’t the biggest fan of the characters in this book either. If you love Christian romance novels then I think you would enjoy this book but it just wasn’t the right choice for me.

About The Book

What could make a city girl fall for a country boy? Debut author Denice Stewart invites you to find out!

After her big-city relationship goes sour, Tory Thompson is looking for a new career, a new location, and a fresh start. The last place she expected to land–or find love–was back in tiny Wheaton, Oklahoma. Without the windfall her grandmother left her, Tory would have nowhere to go when her life in the big city goes wrong. But the will stipulates that Tory has to work with her childhood crush, Dane. And that’s a disaster waiting to happen…

Dane Eckland has a new landlord for his leased farmland—but Tory’s not what he was expecting. He’s already had his heart broken by one Thompson woman. All he wants is to keep his head down and work the land. But working with Tory stirs up emotions he’d thought long buried, and he can’t resist the city girl’s brand of charm.

Then Tory’s past comes calling, and she has a new goal: prove she’s a small-town girl, after all.

About The Author

“I write because I must – the characters in my head simply will not be quiet until I have let them have their say on the page.

I was an avid reader as a child, and throughout high school. I would constantly remind my parents when they would find me awake at one a.m. that I could have been doing far worse things in the middle of the night than reading. This did not save me from being forced to put the books down and go to bed.

And if I am fortunate enough to tell a story that keeps someone awake at night because they must finish the book, then I will be thrilled.”

Denice Christensen is an Oklahoma native, and lives in the small town where she grew up. As a single mom with three kids, she feels like her life is a comedy most of the time, so writing romantic comedy makes sense to her. In between being a small business owner, a writer, and a mom, occasionally she finds time to sleep. Rhinestone Cowgirl is her debut novel.

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Song Of The Blackbird by DB Michaels

May 28, 2016

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from the Killion Group 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.

Song Of The Blackbird by DB Michaels was a book I knew I would probably like right from the start. I am a huge fan of TV shows that take place in jails and prisons, so when I got offered this book to review, I knew I had to check it out. I did enjoy the book but at times it was slow for me, and that made it hard for me to read it for long periods. This is a book that I had to read a little bit at a time and take a break from time to time. I did enjoy the authors writing, and I loved the characters in this book. The author made me feel as if I was in prison with Emma and I love when authors can make me feel like I am with the characters in the book. I think most people would enjoy this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for something different to read.

About The Book

Healing must start from within…

Desperate to reconnect with her half-brother, Emma Edwards takes her new medical training and secures a doctor’s job at the prison where he’s serving a sentence. But what she finds there is worse than she ever imagined…tough rules and even tougher men, gangs powered by drug money and corruption. Emma must find a way to keep her brother alive until he’s freed even if that means lying to the one man she should be able to trust….

Unless you find someone to share your pain….

Warden Maxim Chambers doesn’t believe a woman should be working in a penitentiary, especially one like Emma – a woman even a hardened man like him can’t get off his mind. He’s spent too many years building walls around his heart to let himself care about anyone. But when Emma is almost hurt in a prison assault, Maxim can’t deny his feelings for her. But what is the connection between Emma and the prisoner named Sam?

And accept your past.

When secrets are revealed, danger and death run through the prison. Only the truth can save Emma and Maxim…if it’s not too late.

Song of the Blackbird immerses you in a whole new world – a gritty, violent world where things you have always believed turn out not to be true. It is a compelling story of sorrow and loss, of hope and second chances, and most of all, of the power of love.

About The Author

DB Michaels is a life-long reader who fell in love with the field of medicine during college. Double boarded in internal medicine and emergency medicine, she enjoys using her skills to help those in need. Working as a doctor in the prison system inspired her to write Song of the Blackbird, the first installment in her Albatross Prison Series. Though the book is fictional, it illustrates the power of love, hope, and second chances.

DB’s first passion has always been books and she is happiest when she is absorbed in a great novel or writing. When she has time off, she likes to watch old movies, dally in the sun, and spend time with her family.

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Daughter Of Mine by Laura Fabiani

May 25, 2016

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from the author 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.

Daughter Of Mine by Laura Fabiani was a slow start for me but after I was three chapters or so in I didn’t want to put the book down. At times, I found that I frustrated because I wasn’t sure how to pronounce the names of some of the characters and that always bugs me because I love to know how to say their names. This has nothing to do with the book, but it is just something that I wanted to bring up. This book did have slow parts like I said but I had to know how it all ended, so I was willing to push through. I was also intrigued because this book has to do with adoption and since I have been touched by adoption, I am always super interested in books that have something to do with adoption. All I all I did enjoy this book and I hope that the author will write more because I would love to read more books by her. I think this is a book that almost anyone would love and that everyone should check it out.

About The Book

Tiziana Manoretti is an only child in her late twenties blessed with loving parents, a promising career, and a best friend who fiercely protects her. When her mother falls seriously ill and the relationship between her parents becomes suddenly strained, a carefully hidden family secret is revealed and Tiziana’s seemingly idealistic world is turned upside down. After discovering she was born in a Naples orphanage and subsequently given up for adoption, Tiziana sets out for the small town of Gaeta in an attempt to find her birth parents. Meanwhile, her best friend Christopher is sending her mixed messages, causing her to wonder if there is more to their relationship than just companionship. As she becomes intertwined with a handful of interesting characters who help her uncover her past, Tiziana needs to decide whether her feelings for Christopher are deeper than she realizes. She discovers herself and others all while her family’s resilience and love for one another is tested when confronted with a shocking truth. The answers lie in a box found in a closet in Italy, and Tiziana must determine if she wants to embrace the heartache and the pain from her past in order to learn forgiveness and find peace in the future.

About The Author

My name is Laura Fabiani and I live in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I’m an author, book reviewer and blogger since 2009. My reading tastes vary greatly and I read both fiction and non-fiction. I review adult, YA and children’s books, since I love reading to my children. I review books for pleasure and learning. I prefer books free of profanity, explicit sex, violence or paranormal themes. I post my reviews on my blog Library of Clean Reads, Goodreads, and Amazon.

As of January 2014, I have started iRead Book Tours in collaboration with Author Marketing Experts. I now coordinate virtual book tours for authors. Find us at http://www.iReadBookTours.com.

I have a degree in Special Care Counseling and have worked as a psychiatric child counselor and as a special education technician at various institutions. I hold a diploma in Writing for Children and Teenagers and an advanced certificate in TESOL from the Canadian Institute of English. I am currently working in a community centre developing and implementing adapted programs for senior’s with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. I am married to a wonderful man, have two children and I’m trying to write my second novel. It’s a busy life!

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The Boy Next Door: Inspirational Romance Anthology (Hometown Romance)

May 24, 2016

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Serenade Book’s 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 Boy Next Door: Inspirational Romance Anthology (Hometown Romance) was a great collection of books. I am going to talk a little bit about each book, so you know what I think about each one. The one thing I loved about this book is that there are several stories so if one didn’t work for me I could just go on to the next story.

The Chef Next Door by Lenora Worth

I enjoyed the characters in this story. They all seemed super relatable and like they could exist in the real world. This story was predictable to me and usually when it comes to stories like that I don’t end up liking the book, but I did enjoy this story.

Reclaiming Brynn by Susan Crawford

I would have to say that this one was one of my favorites because I felt like I could relate the most to the characters. I felt like this because my biological parents were/are still drug addicts so I understand what Brynn went through. I enjoyed Garrett as well. This was a well rounded story that I can see most people enjoying.

Special Delivery: A Seaside Romance by Gayle Roper

This was an okay story just not my favorite of the bunch. I don’t have much to say about it because I didn’t enjoy the story as much as I did the others. It was well written but just not the story for me.

Autumn Skye by Kathleen Y’Barbo

I liked Autumn and this story. I didn’t find it to be the most original, but I still enjoyed it. I enjoyed the author’s style of writing, and I was a huge fan of Bonnie Sue right from the start. I am always a huge sucker for characters like her because they remind me of some of the people I took care of when I worked in a nursing home.

O Little Town of Bethany by Rene Gutteridge & Cheryl McKay

I couldn’t get into this story, and I am not sure why. For some reason, this book was super hard for me to get into and to finish. It is ones like this one that make me glad that they are shorter than some books. I know that this book will be right for some people, but it is just one of those that didn’t work for me.

About The Book

A collection of five contemporary romance novellas for one low price–check out these new titles from some of your favorite inspirational romance authors:

These five women aren’t looking for love, but they might find it closer than they think…maybe even right next door.

The Chef Next Door by Lenora Worth
The whole world saw Alice get fired on network TV. Now she has to go home and face her high school crush, the boy next door. Brice wants Alice in his life, no matter what it takes. But she’s been burned once…will she take a chance on him?

Reclaiming Brynn by Susan Crawford
Medical resident Brynn Harper will do anything to help an at-risk teenaged patient—even go toe to toe with the one man she’d rather forget. Her former best friend Garrett has changed his life, but how can Brynn ever trust the man who once abandoned her?

Special Delivery: A Seaside Romance by Gayle Roper
When Kelli accepts a package delivered to the wrong address, she gets a lot more than misdirected mail. She gets a mystery that brings the unexpected into her life in the form of the boy next door—and a threat they’ll only survive together.

Autumn Skye by Kathleen Y’Barbo
Autumn is good at one thing: cutting ties. But the boy next door has her thinking the impossible. Maybe for the first time ever…she should stay. If only Nate wasn’t hiding secrets of his own…

O Little Town of Bethany by Rene Gutteridge & Cheryl McKay
Holly’s high society life leaves her empty, so she flees everything she knows and relocates to the one place she never forgot: the small town of Bethany, Georgia. Bethany is as quirky as its residents…and just what she needs. Especially as she begins to fall for the boy next door…

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Sister Eve And The Blue Nun by Lynne Hinton

May 23, 2016

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.

Sister Eve And The Blue Nun by Lynne Hinton was interesting, to say the least. This is the third book in the series, and this is the first one I have read. You don’t have to read the other two first, but it might help, and I know I wondered from time to time what had happened before, but you don’t need to read them to understand this book. This book has one of the unique stories I have read in a while because of the main character is a Nun and also investigates murders. The only reason I got this book is that of the fact that Eve is a Nun and rides a motorcycle, and I had to know more. I enjoyed this book because even though it is a typical mystery book I like that the Eve was different from any other main character that I have ever read about. I enjoyed this book so much so that I am going to pick up the other books in the series and read them. If you are looking for something a little different to read this summer then I would tell you to pick up this book and give it a try. If you have read it what did you think of it?

About The Book

When Sister Eve returns to the monastery, the last thing she expects there is murder.

After solving several mysteries with her father at the Divine Private Detective Agency, Sister Eve finds herself torn between her calling as a nun and the thrill that comes with detecting. She knows she’s been using her father’s health as an excuse to extend her leave of absence from the monastery, but that excuse is running thin. She prays that a return visit to the monastery for a conference on the Blue Nun will help bring clarity to her calling, but when the conference speaker is murdered, Sister Eve’s two worlds collide.

Sister Eve knows the number one suspect, the victim’s brother and monk in residence, couldn’t possibly have committed the crime, and she’s determined to find the real killer. To do so means she must track down some mysterious newly discovered writings from the Blue Nun, said to date from the 17th Century, when the sister bi-located to the New Mexico region from her home in Spain. Could these texts from long ago be the key to today’s mystery? And will they offer any guidance to Sister Eve as she chooses which calling to follow?

About The Author

Lynne Hinton is the pastor of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The author of numerous novels including Friendship Cake, Hope Springs, Forever Friends, Christmas Cake, and Wedding Cake, she lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The World As I See It

General Fiction

A Daughter’s Dream by Shelley Shepard Gray

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Rhinestone Cowgirl by Denice Christensen

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Song Of The Blackbird by DB Michaels

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Daughter Of Mine by Laura Fabiani

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About The Author

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The Boy Next Door: Inspirational Romance Anthology (Hometown Romance)

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