In The Field Of Grace by Tessa Afshar

June 8, 2016

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

In The Field Of Grace by Tessa Afshar wasn’t the right fit for me. I had a really tough time getting through this book but that is just because I am not a huge fan of biblical fiction books. It was well written and I did like the characters I just have a hard to getting into the books is all. I really enjoyed the authors style of writing but I just couldn’t get into the book and it took me a long time to get through it because I just wasn’t really interested in the story.

About The Book

Without wealth or family, the widow Ruth left her people and followed Naomi, her beloved Hebrew mother-in-law, to rebuild Naomi’s home in Israel. Provisions gone and starvation at the door, Ruth used all that she had left–a strong back and a willing heart–to gather grain in a field, abandoned after the harvest.

Tormented by others, Ruth is shocked to find the owner of the field watching her. Talking to her. Bringing food to her and Naomi. Boaz tells himself his kindness toward Ruth is repayment for the love she has shown to his cousin Naomi. But his heart knows better.

About The Author

Tessa Afshar is the popular author of several works of biblical fiction. Her novel, Harvest of Gold won the prestigious 2014 Christy Award in the Historical Romance category. She was voted “New Author of the Year” by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader’s Choice Awards 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. Her book, Harvest of Rubies was a finalist for the 2013 ECPA Book Award (formerly known as the Gold Medallion) in the fiction category. World Magazine chose Harvest of Rubies as one of four notable books of the year. Tessa was born in Iran to a nominally Muslim family, and lived there for the first thirteen years of her life. She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as cochair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last seventeen years in full-time Christian service in New England.

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Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

June 7, 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.

Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan was a fun book to read. I enjoyed this book, and I was sure if I was going to because some the fact that it takes place in England and all of the British slang that was used but I found that I was smiling throughout the book because I could see people speaking like they did in the book. This is the first book I have read by this author and I enjoyed it so much so that I am going to read other books by her. This is the second book in this series, but you don’t have to read the first one to understand this book. I loved that Polly lived in a lighthouse, but my favorite part of the entire book was Neil, her pet puffin. This book is very well written and even though there was a lot of slang in it I was still able to understand what was going on and what the characters meant. This book is written well, and I loved everything about it. Like I say all the time I like books where I feel like the characters would exist, and that is how I felt about the characters in this book. If you love contemporary fiction books than I know, you will love this book like I did.

About The Book

The New York Times bestselling author of Little Beach Street Bakeryand Christmas at the Cupcake Café returns with a delightful new novel—with recipes!—that is already an international bestseller and is perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Meg Donohue, and Sophie Kinsella.

For fans of Jojo Moyes and Elin Hilderbrand, an irresistible novel—moving and funny, soulful and sweet—about happiness, heartache, and hope. And recipes.

A thriving bakery. A lighthouse to call home. A handsome beekeeper. A pet puffin. These are the things that Polly Waterford can call her own. This is the beautiful life she leads on a tiny island off the southern coast of England.

But clouds are gathering on the horizon. A stranger threatens to ruin Polly’s business. Her beloved boyfriend seems to be leading a secret life. And the arrival of a newcomer—a bereft widow desperately searching for a fresh start—forces Polly to reconsider the choices she’s made, even as she tries to help her new friend through grief.

Unpredictable and unforgettable, this delightful novel will make you laugh, cry, and long for a lighthouse of your own. Recipes included.

About The Author

Jenny T. Colgan was born in 1972 in Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland, UK. After studying at Edinburgh University, she worked for six years in the health service, moonlighting as a cartoonist and a stand-up comic, before the publication of her first novel Amanda’s Wedding in 2000. In 2013, her novel “Welcome to Rosie Hopkin’s Sweetshop of Dreams” won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists’ Association. She is now working on her next novel.

She mostly lives in France, with frequent visits to London. She occasionally writes for The Guardian newspaper, as well as a TV series.

Her Doctor Who novel Dark Horizons is published under the name Jenny T. Colgan.

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Saul Bellow – Quote Of The Week

June 6, 2016

This week’s quote is by Saul Bellow.

What do you think of this week’s quote by Saul Bellow?

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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Weekly Wrap-Up

June 3, 2016

I can’t believe we are already in June and yet it seems like the new year just started last week. I wish I could say that my life has calmed down, but I don’t see what happening anytime soon, so let’s just get right into the posts from the past week.

Song Of The Blackbird by DB Michaels

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.-Quote Of The Week

Rhinestone Cowgirl by Denice Christensen

June Book Reviews 2016

Anchor In The Storm by Sarah Sundin

Those are all of the posts from this past week, and I hope I will see you back here next week!

Anchor In The Storm by Sarah Sundin

June 2, 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.

Anchor In The Storm by Sarah Sundin was a good book. This is the second book in the series, and I did review the first book so if you missed that review you can click here to read it. If you have been around for a while, you know that I love books that take place during WWII, and this author is one of my favorites when it comes to books like this. I am ways excited when I see a book by her come up for review because I know I will love it. I love that you get to catch back up with the characters from the other books in the series as well. I think these characters might be some of my favorites that I have read about because they seemed the most relatable to me. I also love that this author makes all of her characters so different instead of making them all the same like some other authors do. If you love historical romance and books about WWII, I know you will love this book as much as I did.

About The Book

Anchor in the Storm (Revell, May 2016)

One plucky female pharmacist + one high-society naval officer = romance-and danger

For plucky Lillian Avery, America’s entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg’s attentions only annoy—even if he is her brother’s best friend.

During the darkest days of the war, Arch’s destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves—and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian’s trust and affection?

Sarah Sundin brings World War II to life, offering readers an intense experience they won’t soon forget.

About The Author

Sarah Sundin is the author of Through Waters Deep, as well as Wings of the Nightingale and the Wings of Glory series. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist’s mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force. Sarah lives in California.

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