Rosanna's Gift by Susan Lantz Simpson

Book Description

In Southern Maryland's serene Amish country, one young woman's life is changed by an unexpected request . . .

"She's yours." Until now, Rosanna Mast's hopes for the future have all revolved around handsome Henry Zook. But when a young Englisch girl places her newborn daughter in Rosanna's arms and utters those words, shock quickly turns to fierce, protective devotion. Between helping her midwife mamm and caring for her own siblings, Rosanna has plenty of experience with babies. And who wouldn't love a sweet-natured boppli like little Mollie? Yet to her dismay, Henry has no intention of ever taking on another man's child. Instead, it is steady, thoughtful Paul Hertzler who becomes Rosanna's staunch supporter.

Paul knows he should have acted sooner on his feelings for Rosanna. Now, as her dream of adopting Mollie meets unexpected hurdles, he sees a way to help. Rosanna would do anything to keep baby Mollie--perhaps even agree to marriage. But will Rosanna continue to hold him at arm's length, or see that he longs to offer her the love and family she deserves?

My thoughts:

I have read several books penned by Ms. Simpson and have to say I enjoy her writing so much.  I live near and shop in the community she writes about in her books so that's another reason I have been drawn to her novels.

Rosanna's Gift is my favorite novel penned by Ms. Simpson because the storyline was intriguing from the very beginning. I know that young women who cant' keep their babies put them up for adoption but I was totally unprepared for a mother to give her baby to a young Amish woman. especially since the young Amish woman was just as shocked as I was.  Rosanna was chosen by the unwed mother to care for and raise her child which was heartwarming after it was revealed why the mother chose her. 

Rosanna's family was supportive by offering to help her in any way they could and she is going to need a lot of emotional support when the baby's aunt decides she wants to be involved in her nieces life. .Paul is one of my favorite characters, he's a person outside of the family who proves he'll be there for Rosanna and Mollie no matter what.  I loved his devotion to them and how he stood by Rosanna no matter what she was facing.

I was fully engaged from the first page to the last page in this well written and interesting novel.  I look forward to reading more from Susan Lantz Simpson. For fans of sweet, clean and Amish fiction  this book would be a perfect read and is suitable for readers of all ages.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this novel.  All opinions are my own. 

Foreve Hidden ( The Treasures of Nome 1) by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse

Book Description

For Havyn Powell, growing up on her grandfather Chuck Bondrant's dairy outside the 1904 gold-rush boomtown of Nome, Alaska, offered all she needed. She had the love of her mother, two sisters, and grandfather. But now, at 23, Havyn realizes the stability of her life may soon vanish. Havyn is determined to find a way to keep the family together, but her grandfather's health is declining and everyone seems to be holding secrets from each other, including the handsome, dark-haired stranger who recently arrived.

John Roselli arrives in Nome looking for a steady, consistent job. He has grown tired of the promises of getting rich quick and just wants an honest job with honest pay. His grandfather once knew a Chuck Bondrant, and so when John arrives at the dairy, he's quickly offered a job--and a path to more if he wants it.

Havyn's plan for helping out the family means using her beautiful singing voice and her sisters' musical talent at a local roadhouse. They're an immediate hit, and it looks like her plan will be a success. But the spotlight brings with it dangerous eyes that covet Havyn and are jealous as she and John grow ever closer. But will they realize the peril before it's too late?

My thoughts:

I loved meeting the Powell family in Forever Hidden.  Three musically gifted sisters, their equally gifted mother and the grandfather who loves his family more than anyone or anything else. I adore a storyline with strong family dynamics and Ms. Peterson and Ms. Woodhouse certainly brought the love of family to life within the pages of their latest novel. 

In 1904 in Nome, Alaska readers get to know this family and the secrets they keep and on my goodness do they have a lot of secrets but they also have a deep love for each other as they face the daily work of farming and illnesses but through it all their love of music and for each other helps them get the through the hard times.   I loved the distinct personalities of the three sister, they can be feisty, sweet natured but no matter what they are feeling family always comes first. They have their disagreements, especially when their grandfather hires John as a foreman on the farm.  Not exactly a popular decision shared by everyone but he was the perfect addition to the storyline  I absolutely adored him, he's kind, a hard worker and an all around good guy.

I loved everything about this book, from the engaging character to the amazing storyline. 

Overall, I thought this book was well written, thoroughly researched and the story flowed perfectly.  I am a huge fan of both authors and this novel, so it's going to be difficult to wait for the next book in the series.  I think this book is a must read. 

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.  I was under no obligation to write a review all opinions are completely my own. .

A Promise to Keep by Melony Teague

Book Description

Research librarian Savannah Sanderson wants nothing more than to escape into her happily-ever-after novels with their larger-than-life fictional heroes. But a promise to her late husband has her attending her dreaded twenty-year high school reunion, drinking ghastly punch, and taking desperate measures just to keep her vow, even if she has to hide behind the décor to do it.

Once a reckless troublemaker, Michael McCann fled town after graduation. Now a professional technical rescuer, he’s back for the reunion, but on his trip down memory lane, he soon comes face to face with unresolved issues, namely Savannah.

Before the night is over, a pact between these two old friends will lead them on an adventure into uncharted emotional territory where Michael must confront his past regrets and find the courage to reveal the truth. But can Savannah fly from her sheltered nest and risk her heart on a real-life hero?

My thoughts:

A Promise to Keep is a fantastic and impressive debut novel.  In the heart-stirring story of Savannah Sanders and Michael McCann who reconnect at their high school reunion., the author crafted characters who I genuinely loved.  Savannah will break your heart as the widowed young woman who is only attending her 20th high school reunion to keep a promise she made to her dying husband. Savannah doesn't really want to be there, but a promise is a promise, right?
Luckily Michael is looking for an escape route, too but it involves his dear friend Savannah. This is where the laugh out loud moments begin.  Michael is funny, kind, sweet and quite adventurous as Savannah soon discovers when they begin to spend time together.

It was great fun traveling with the characters but this book isn't all fun and games, it's an emotional read blended perfectly with action and a little drama.  Ms. Teague penned a beautiful and heartfelt  story with within the pages of this book.  The emotions are real and powerful and the characters are ones that I will think of occasionally because they seemed so real to me.  I look forward to more of this authors work and highly recommend this book.
I received a copy from the publisher.  All opinions are completely my own.

#hfvbt Blog Tour of The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen by Collins Hemingway and Giveaway

The-Marriage-of-Miss-Jane-Austen-Volume-III

by Collins Hemingway

Publication Date: November 4, 2017

eBook & Paperback; 338 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Goodreads

In the moving conclusion to "The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen," Jane and her husband struggle with the serious illness of their son, confront a bitter relationship with the aristocratic family who were once their friends and face the horrific prospect of war when the British Army falters on the continent. The momentous events of the Napoleonic wars and the agonizing trials of their personal lives take Jane and Ashton to a decision that will decide their fate—and her future—once and for all.

Amazon           Barnes & Noble          IndieBound

Praise for The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen 

Hemingway again displays his notable ability to recreate time and place, moving on from the heady days of Jane Austen's early love to a marriage beset by difficulties and a country at war. Hemingway ... vividly and authentically portrays the times. ... [T]his is a lively, compelling read, [a] sobering but moving finale to Hemingway's successful trilogy. —BlueInk Review

Immensely satisfying ... Marriage is lively, compelling, and fun. ... [Her] relationship with her husband Ashton still sparkles. Marriage is a lovely ode to their connection. ... Hemingway has combined Austen's humanity with her fiction and created a Jane that lives and breathes on the page. Audiences will want her to be real... It offers a wonderful, imagined alternate life for the well-loved author. —Claire Foster, Foreword Review

‘Enjoyable … an imaginative, well-researched series.’ —Kirkus Reviews

My thoughts:

This is the third book in the series and since I haven't  read the first two, it didn't deter me from enjoying this imaginative account of Jane and Ashton's marriage.  We know that Jane did not marry but it was a interesting to read how her life may have been with a husband and sick child to contend with.  

The writing was descriptive, the storyline was interesting and compelled me to imagine a marriage of Jane Austen.  Honestly, I often imagine the characters, the time period and the experiences in much of what I read.   After awhile, I could believe that most of what I was reading could be true which is sure sign, Mr. Hemingway is an incredible author.

     Meet the Author

Collins' passion for literature, history, and science enable him to create complete, sharply drawn fictional characters fully engaged in their complex and often dangerous worlds. His fiction is shaped by the language of the heart and an abiding respect for courage in the face of adversity.

As a nonfiction book author, Collins has investigated topics as diverse as corporate culture and ethics; the Internet and mobile technology; the ins and outs of the retail trade; and the cognitive potential of the brain. Best known for the #1 best-selling book on business and technology, Business @ the Speed of Thought, which he co-authored with Bill Gates, he tackles challenging topics with clarity and insight, writing for the intelligent but nontechnical reader.

For more information please visit Collins Hemingway’s Website and Blog

You can also find him on 

Facebook     Twitter     Pinterest     Instagram     Goodreads

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on January 17th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.

– Only one entry per household.

– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.

– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, December 16

Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Tuesday, December 17

Review at Jackie and Angela's Book Reviews

Tuesday, December 19

Review at Books and Zebras

Guest Post at Library of Clean Reads

Saturday, December 21

Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Friday, December 27

Review at Pencils & Pages

Saturday, December 28

Excerpt at What Is That Book About

 Wednesday, January 1

Review at Older & Smarter

Thursday, January 2

Review at The Book Junkie Reads

Friday, January 3

Feature at Celtic Lady's Reviews

Monday, January 6

Review @ya.its.lit

Thursday, January 9

Excerpt at I'm All About Books

Friday, January 10

Review at The Lit Bitch

Review at Peaceful Pastime

Monday, January 13

Review at Jackie and Angela's Book Reviews

Tuesday, January 14

Review at Impressions In Ink

Thursday, January 16

Review at Amy's Booket List

Friday, January 17

Review at WTF Are You Reading

Review and Excerpt at To Read, Or Not To Read

The Little Book Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin

Book Description

Bookshop owner Sarah Smith has been offered the opportunity to exchange bookshops with her new Parisian friend for 6 months! And saying yes is a no-brainer – after all, what kind of a romantic would turn down a trip to Paris? Even if it does mean leaving the irresistible Ridge Warner behind, Sarah’s sure she’s in for the holiday of a lifetime – complete with all the books she can read!

Picturing days wandering around Shakespeare & Co, munching on croissants, sipping café au laits and people-watching on the Champs-Elysees Sarah boards the plane. But will her dream of a Parisian Happily-Ever-After come true? Or will Sarah realise that the dream isn’t quite as rosy in reality…

My thoughts:

I had heard so much about this book so when I had an opportunity to read it, I decided it would be a fun read, which it was.  I liked the premise even if it seemed a bit far-fetched to me but it turned out to be a rather interesting and a pleasant light read.

I liked Sara and the passion she has for books but boy is she in for a surprise when she meets the staff she manages in the Paris book shop.  I had to sympathize with her at first but after awhile it got on my nerves to  see her try so hard and not gain any respect for the first few chapters.

As the story progressed, I did become more interested and started to enjoy her adventures and the relationships she had with her new friends.

Overall, this was an enjoyable  book to read with a few likable characters and wonderful descriptions of Paris.

I received an e-copy from the publisher and have given my honest opinion.

On The Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White Book Review

Book Description

Against Every Warning, She’s Drawn Ever Closer to the Man Known as “Black Heart”

All of England thinks Major Phillip Camden a monster–a man who deliberately caused the deaths of his squadron. But he would have preferred to die that day with his men rather than be recruited to the Admiralty’s codebreaking division. The threats he receives daily are no great surprise and, in his opinion, well deserved.

As nurse Arabelle Denler observes the so-dubbed “Black Heart,” she sees something far different: a hurting man desperate for mercy. And when their families and paths twist together unexpectedly, she realizes she has a role to play in his healing–and some of her own to do as well.

With Camden’s court-martial looming, an old acquaintance shows up, intent on using him in a plot that sends the codebreakers of Room 40 into a frenzy. With their fragile hopes for the future in the cross hairs, Arabelle and Camden must hold on to hope–and to each other–if they want to survive.

Series: The Codebreakers (Book 2)
Paperback: 390 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (January 7, 2020)

My thoughts:

On Wings of Devotion is such a compelling book that it was hard for me to stop reading it once I started.  I had waited for this book since finishing the first book, The Number of Love so I knew this would be good but I didn't realize just how good it would be and that I would so caught up in the storyline from the very first page.

Arabelle Denler is an amazing character, she's strong, caring, forgiving and the perfect woman for Phillip Camden who is called Black Heart.  I loved them separately and I loved them together.  Quite honestly I didn't love him immediately because I had viewed him negatively in the first book but Ms. White made me love and root for him to live his best life in this artfully crafted novel. 

There is one scene in the book where I was completely surprised but extremely proud of the spunk Arabelle showed to a certain young man that had me laughing as  I read it.  

I loved everything about this beautifully crafted story that flows at a perfect pace. with a bit of danger, a lot of suspense and truly wonderful characters.  My only complaint is having to wait for the next book in the series. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

                                                                                                        

 Meet the author

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

Purchase Links

Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Christian Book     Roseanna's Shop Signed

Roseanna's Social Media Links

Blog     Facebook     Pinterest     Instagram     Twitter     Website

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Home For Christmas by Candee Fick

About the book

Grace Mitchell's dream of creating music derailed when she saw firsthand how fame could change a person. After choosing a more stable career, she's content to build her future in backwoods Missouri until the reminder of her broken heart walks in the door of her father's bait shop.

Tyler Sherwood left it all behind for a chance at the national spotlight, but a backstage revelation changed everything. Embarrassed to face his family after his failure, he retreats to a rustic cabin to regroup...and comes face to face with an intriguing young woman and an old guitar.

When sparks fly, will they leave her singing or singed? Can the message and the music reignite dormant dreams and bring him home for Christmas?

If you like prodigals, faith-filled romance, and country music, then you'll love this final chapter from the Wardrobe series by Candee Fick.

My thoughts:

I have enjoyed each and every novella in this five book series by Candee Fick. Stories of faith, family and friends are my favorite which is one of the reasons why this series has resonated with me.

All of the novellas are sweet, clean reads that can be read in a day and can be shared with readers of all ages.  Home For Christmas is the story of Grace Mitchell, Tyler Sherwood and their families.  Both Grace and Tyler have identical twins,  are musically gifted and share some of the same struggles.  I loved Grace's father, a man of wisdom and one who makes guitars which was an interesting piece to the storyline.  As sorry as I am to see the series end, this was a wonderful conclusion and my personal favorite.

I received a complimentary e-copy.  All opinions are my own.