Review

The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

Winter Book Review

The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck was another great book by this author.  I have read several books by this author and I have loved them all so this story had a lot to live up to and I love that it was everything that I hoped it would be.  I have to say that Jimmy was my favorite out of all the characters.  I think it was because of his personality and he seemed the most relatable to me.  I loved that the story was told from different time periods because that gives you a better understanding of  the characters and why things happened like they did.  If you love Rachel’s books or are just looking for a great chick lit book than I would for sure recommend this book to you.

The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

About The Book

An old, forgotten chapel holds the key to love and forgiveness.

Retired hall-of-fame football coach Jimmy Westbrook never imagined anything would come of his labor of love—building a wedding chapel for Collette Greer, the woman he fell in love with in 1949. But now a realtor wants the land the chapel sits on, and he sees no reason to hang onto the past.

Photographer Taylor Branson is trying to make a life for herself in New York. Leaving her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, she put a lot of things behind her, including her family’s string of failed marriages. When she falls head-over-heels for Jack Gillingham, a top ad man, their whirlwind romance and elopement leave her with doubts. Jack, while genuine in his love for Taylor, can never seem to find the right way to show her he really cares.

When a post-mortem letter from Taylor’s Granny Peg shows up, along with an old photo, she is driven to uncover family secrets and the secret to her own happiness, starting with an assignment to photograph an unknown, obscure wedding chapel back in Heart’s Bend.

Taylor begins a mission to convince Jimmy that the chapel is worth saving—and that forgiveness and healing might happen within the chapel’s walls . . . for both of them.

Rachel Hauck

About The Author

RITA finalist and award winning author Rachel Hauck writes from sunny central Florida.

With strong southern stories, she infuses faith and real life into the lives of her fictional characters.

Rachel loves to encourage new writers and is the book therapist for My Book Therapy and writing community founded by
Susan May Warren.

Rachel graduated from Ohio State University with a BA in Journalism. She’s and avid OSU football fan.

Visit her web site to find out more and click on the icons to follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

http://www.rachelhauck.com

 

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A Moment of Weakness by Karen Kingsbury

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

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A Moment of Weakness by Karen Kingsbury was a book that at first I didn’t like but by the end I loved the book and the characters.  This is the second  book I have read by this author and I have fallen even more in love with this author than I was before.  I wasn’t a huge fan of Jade and Tanner’s parents throughout the entire book.  I know it is because of  how they acted towards each other and if I am being honest small town crap just bugs me.  I really did like Jade and Tanner though so that made reading the book not so  bad.  This is the second book in the series but you don’t have to read the books in order so if you just want to read this one you won’t be lost.  This book was a super easy read and one that I was able to read in a couple of days so you don’t have to commit tons of time to read this one.  If you love chick lit I know you will love this book as much as I did.

A Moment of Weakness by Karen Kingsbury

About The Book

Had they found each other again after all these years, only to lose everything that matters most?”
“As children, Jade Conner and Tanner Eastman were best friends–until scandal drove them apart. Then, one golden summer, they find each other again. Through endless days they share their hearts and souls and dreams of forever. Then, in a moment of weakness, they make a decision that will tear them apart for nearly a decade.

In their own separate corners of the country, Jade and Tanner have become fighters for religious freedom. Now Jade’s unfaithful husband is determined to destroy her in a custody battle that will rock the nation and shake people’s understanding of faith and freedom. Could Jade lose her only child because of her faith? Only one man can help her in her darkest hour. And only one old woman knows the secret about that summer and the truth that can set them all free.”

Karen Kingsbury

About The Author

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury is America’s #1 inspirational novelist. There are more than 15 million copies of her award-winning books in print, including several million copies sold in the past year. Karen has written more than 40 novels, ten of which have hit #1 on national lists.

Karen has a true love for her readers, and she has nearly 100,000 friends on Facebook along with more than 7,500 followers on Twitter. The popular social networking sites have allowed Karen daily interaction with her reader friends.

Karen is best known for her Life-Changing Fiction (TM) and for creating unforgettable characters. When speaking before women’s groups – some with more than 10,000 in attendance – Karen makes audiences laugh and cry with her compelling story-telling. She likes to tell attendees they have, “One chance to write the story of their lives,” and her talk focuses on reminding women to live every day loving well, laughing often, and finding true life in Jesus Christ. Karen routinely speaks before more than 100,000 women each year.

Karen’s latest novel, Above the Line, Take Three, released March 23rd, 2010. Take Three is the third in the Above the Line Series. Look for the final installment in this series, Above The Line, Take Four to hit stores June 22nd, 2010. Shades of Blue, Karen’s latest stand alone title, hit stores in October, 2009. Karen’s newest series, Above The Line Series began with Take One, which released in March, 2009. The second book in this series, Take Two released in June 2009.

Karen’s recent title, This Side of Heaven landed in the #5 spot on the CBD Bestselling Fiction List. Also, Karen’s novel, Sunset landed #2 on the New York Times Best Seller’s List. Karen has also written many best selling series including The Redemption Series and the Firstborn Series. Her fiction has made her one of the country’s favorite storytellers. Several of Karen’s novels are being considered for major motion picture movies. Her emotionally gripping titles include the 9-11 Series, Even Now, Ever After, and Between Sundays.

Karen is also a public speaker, reaching more than 100,000 women annually through various national events. Karen and her husband, Don, live in the Pacific Northwest with their six children, three of whom are adopted from Haiti.

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The Thread That Binds by Alice Hayes

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The Thread That Binds by Alice Hayes was an amazing book.  I love that the author brings such different women together and have them all connect.  I like it because it made me realize that you never know someone else story is and what they are going through.  I loved this author’s writing and how she made me understand why the characters did the things they do and I was also able to understand the character’s background and where they had come from.  She did all of this without bogging you down with too many details and spending too much time on their backgrounds.  It is a hard thing to not over do the amount of back stories that authors give but she did it just right and she has become of my new favorite authors.  If you love books that take place in modern times than this is one you aren’t going to want to miss.

The Thread That Binds

About The Book

Sherice is a new mother, a sonographer, quilter, and wife; an overworked young woman whose elderly mother is slipping away from her.

Sylvie is a newlywed and recent immigrant, unemployed and virtually penniless. Her husband’s paycheck can’t even cover prenatal care, let alone a baby, and her due date is only drawing nearer…

Joanne’s unconventional pregnancy turns her world upside down, redefining her career and relationships, and even bringing to the surface long-buried demons from her past.

Payton is seventeen, pregnant, and on the run. She flees to her uncle in Georgia with the hope of making a fresh start, but discovers making it on her own is harder than she could ever have imagined.

Gloria is trapped in an unhappy marriage; in love with someone else. Her life is falling apart. With a baby on the way, would it be selfish to flee?

Five women, once strangers, form bonds. Set in modern day Georgia, this is the story of friendship that blossoms in the land of country music, sweet tea, and secrets kept locked tight behind closed doors. Moving, funny, and at times heartbreaking, The Thread That Binds is a lesson in empathy, strength, and the beauty of love.

Alice Hayes

 

About The Author

Originally from Winchester, England, Alice’s plans to read law at a British university were disrupted when she fell deeply in love with Georgia, USA, while studying abroad. After moving all over Georgia, Alice has finally settled in Athens and has no plans to go anywhere else.

She is a single mother to a three-year-old girl and a 65 lb hound dog. She likes coffee, wine, and anything edible with the words ‘salted caramel’ in its description.

At the time of publication, Alice is a 24-year-old history student working full time in a law office, and writing fiction at every stolen moment. She hasn’t slept in approximately two years. Her first published novel, The Thread That Binds won third place in World’s Best Story contest.

Connect with the author:  Website   Twitter

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The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

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The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson was a good book.  This is a retelling of the fairy tale “Rapunzel” and if I am being honest I vaguely remember the story so I can’t really say much at it in that sense but I can talk about the writing and the things I liked about it and the things I didn’t like about it.  I really enjoyed the author’s writing and this entire story.  This was a quick read and even though it was about 225 pages the reading of it was super easy and light hearted.  I loved watching as Rapunzel goes through adapting to a new city along with learning how to read.  This story brought the fairy tale to life and made it even more relatable to younger generations.  If you love fantasy books than I would for sure recommend this book to you.

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

About The Book

The Golden Braid (Thomas Nelson, November 2015)

The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower…

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel, in turn, rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to him than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery are about to be revealed after seventeen years. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

Melanie Dickerson

About The Author

Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.

 

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A Thousand Shall Fall by Andrea Boeshaar

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A Thousand Shall Fall by Andrea Boeshaar was a good book.  I have been a huge fan of historical fiction books lately so I really enjoyed this story.  This is the first book I have read by this author and I can’t wait to check out other books by her and also reading the next books in this series.  At first I wasn’t a huge fan of Carrie.  I thought she was crazy for putting herself in danger in order to find and bring back her sister who ran off with a peddler.  After  few chapters she did grow on me but I still thought she was crazy.  I really like Peyton throughout the entire book and I loved that he kept Carrie safe and I love that he seemed like a stand up guy that all women want to meet and marry.  If you love historical fiction that takes place during the civil war I know you will love this book as much as I did.

A Thousand Shall Fall by Andrea Boeshaar

About The Book

A story of love, hope, and healing set in the midst of the Civil War Nineteen-year-old Carrie Ann Bell is independent and spirited. The only thing she really fears are the Union soldiers fighting against her Confederate friends. When her youngest sister runs away from home, brave Carrie Ann is determined to find her and bring her back. Disguised as a soldier, she sets off–only to find she’s fallen into the hands of the enemy.

Her childhood friend Confederate Major Joshua Blevins has warned her against these Yankees: they’re all devils, ready to inflict evil on unsuspecting young women. When Colonel Peyton Collier arrests her for her impersonation of an officer, it seems to confirm all her fears.

Soon, though, she finds herself drawn to the handsome, gallant colonel. He rescued her, protected her, and has been every inch the gentleman. Carrie Ann discovers that her foe has become her ally–and more than that, someone she could love. But the arrival of Joshua in the Union camp as a spy will test her loyalties. Will she protect someone who has been like family or be loyal to this stranger to whom she wants to offer her heart? When her world is being torn apart around her, whom should she trust?

Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, A Thousand Shall Fall is framed around compelling characters and a very romantic setting in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Andrea Boeshaar’s extensive research guarantees historical accuracy and romance genre enthusiasts and Civil War buffs alike will enjoy the Christian perspectives on actual historical events.

Andrea Boeshaar

About The Author

Andrea Kuhn Boeshaar has been married for more than 30 years. She and her husband, Daniel, have three adult sons, daughters-in-law, and two precious grandchildren. Andrea’s educational background includes the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, where she studied in English, and Alverno College where she studied in Professional Communications and Business Management.

Andrea has been writing stories and poems since she was a little girl; however, it wasn’t until 1984 that she started submitting her work for publication. Eight years after that, she was convicted about writing for the Christian market. She read books in her genre (Inspirational Romance & Women’s Fiction), studied the market, and worked hard to hone her craft.

 

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The Migrant Report by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar

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The Migrant Report by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar was a very interesting book.   I loved this book because it takes place in another part of the world and has to do with a culture I don’t know much about so I was intrigued by this story.  I love how the author talks about issues and things that are taking place in the middle east so that people who don’t know what is going on can have a sense of some of the things that are going on.  I loved everything about this book and I love the author’s writing as well.  This is an author who I know I will be reading more books by her because she is an amazing author.  If you love to read books that teach things than I know you will love this book as much as I did.

The Migrant Report by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar

About The Book

Against the glittering high-rises of the capital, Manu, a recent arrival from Nepal, drips his days away on a construction site, cut off from the world outside the labor camp. His sister despairs of finding him among the thousands of migrant workers flooding into the Arabian Gulf to build the country’s infrastructure. Manu and Sanjana must keep their younger siblings out of poverty, even if at their own expense.

Police captain Ali’s hopes of joining the elite government forces are dashed when his childhood deformity is discovered. His demotion brings him face to face with a rising pile of unexplained dead bodies and also an aspiring journalist who is unlike any local girl Ali knows. In danger of flunking out of university, Maryam is searching for an original story that will appease her professor and keep her family’s machinations for marriage in check.

Can the unlikely trio fit the pieces of the puzzle together before agency thugs get to Manu?

Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar

About The Author

Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar is a South Asian American who has lived in Qatar since 2005. Moving to the Arabian Desert was fortuitous in many ways since this is where she met her husband, had two sons, and became a writer. She has since published eight e-books, including a momoir for first time mothers, Mommy But Still Me; a guide for aspiring writers, So You Want to Sell a Million Copies; a short story collection, Coloured and Other Stories; and a novel about women’s friendships, Saving Peace.

Her coming of age novel, An Unlikely Goddess, won the SheWrites New Novelist competition in 2011.

Her recent books have focused on various aspects of life in Qatar. From Dunes to Dior, named as a Best Indie book in 2013, is a collection of essays related to her experiences as a female South Asian American living in the Arabian Gulf. Love Comes Later was the winner of the Best Indie Book Award for Romance in 2013 and is a literary romance set in Qatar and London. The Dohmestics is an inside look into compound life, the day-to-day dynamics between housemaids and their employers.

After she joined the e-book revolution, Mohana dreams in plotlines. Learn more about her work on her website at http://www.mohadoha.com or follow her latest on Twitter: @moha_doha.

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