For The Love of Christian Fiction: April 2018

Friday, April 27, 2018

Review: Julie

Welcome to this stop on the Julie by Catherine Marshall Reissue Celebration Blog Tour with JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Julie

Author: Catherine Marshall

Publisher: Gilead Publishing

ReIssue Date: April 17, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance Fiction

Links*: Goodreads l Amazon l ChristianBook l Book Depository l Itunes

*A New York Times bestseller*
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Will the dam hold?

Julie Wallace has always wanted to write. Trying to
escape the Great Depression, Julie’s father buys the
Alderton Sentinel, a small-town newspaper in flood-prone Alderton, Pennsylvania, and moves his family
there. As flash floods ominously increase, Julie’s investigative reporting uncovers secrets that could
endanger the entire community.

Julie, the newspaper, and her family are thrown into a perilous standoff with the owners of the steel mills
as they investigate the conditions of the immigrant laborers. As the Alderton Sentinel and Julie take on a more aggressive role to reform these conditions, seething tensions come to a head.

When a devastating tragedy follows a shocking revelation, Julie’s courage and strength are tested.
Will truth and justice win, or will Julie lose everything she holds dear?

TO PURCHASE A COPY*

Amazon l ChristianBook l Book Depository l Itunes

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MY THOUGHTS

I'll be completely honest with you. This book was not for me. It was a slow moving book in my opinion and I could not get into it. I didn't care at all for the writing style, it seemed very clipped and fragmented. The first person also kind of threw me...(I'm finding I'm not the BIGGEST first person fan)

I was very surprised this book didn't work for me since it is totally in my genre wheelhouse! I enjoy stories about the Great Depression, and how cool was this premise?! I so wish it would have worked out better!

I know that this is definitely for other people, but it just wasn't for me.

In the end I had to DNF it, so I don't have a real rating.

*I received this book in exchange for my honest review* *All opinions are my own*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catherine Marshall (1914-1983), “The New York Times” best-selling author of 30 books, is best known for her novel “Christy.” Based on the life of her mother, “Christy” captured the hearts of millions and became a popular CBS television series. Around the kitchen table at Evergreen Farm, as her mother reminisced, Catherine probed for details and insights into the rugged lives of these Appalachian highlanders. Catherine shared the story of her husband, Dr. Peter Marshall, Chaplain of the United States Senate, in “A Man Called Peter.” A decade after Dr. Marshall’s untimely death, Catherine married Leonard LeSourd, Executive Editor of “Guideposts,” forging a dynamic writer-editor partnership. A beloved inspirational writer and speaker, Catherine’s enduring career spanned four decades and reached over 30 million readers.

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GIVEAWAY

(1) Winner will win:

$25 Amazon Gift Card
Bookmark Swag
Necklace (exact or similar & *subject to change)
Print Copy of Julie

(Only Gift Card open internationally. Others open to US Mailing Addresses)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TOUR SCHEDULE

JustRead Publicity Tour Landing Page

April 23
Backing Books
Beautifully Broken
Glamamamas Goodies
Glimpse of Our Life
The Power of Words
Remembrancy
Just Commonly
Book Reviews by Steph

April 24
All of a Kind Mom
Amanda In PA
Locks, Hooks and Books
Two Points of Interest
This Chattanooga Mommy Saves
Savings in Seconds
Veronica's 'Views
Meagan Davenport
Faery Tales Are Real

April 25
As We Walk Along the Road
Texas Book-aholic
Book by Book
Christian Chick's Thoughts
Bibliophile Reviews
Moments
Quilting Along Life's Way
Girls in White Dresses
Mom 2 Mom Connection

April 26
A Baker's Perspective
Impressions In Ink
A Room Without Books is Empty
Christian bookaholic
Mocha with Linda
Lighthouse Academy
Running Through the Storms
Coffee Addicted Writer
Live. Love. Read.
Thoughts from Mill Street
God's Peculiar Treasure Rae

April 27
For the Love of Books
I'm Hooked on Books
She Lives to Read
Becky J Miller
Jami's Words
Ponderings of a Poet & Procrastinator
Have A Wonderful Day
Pause for Tales
Hope for Today's Heart
Neverending Stories
Jen Around the World
Maureen's Musings
Singing Librarian Books
Splashes of Joy
Katherine Scott Jones
My Full Cup

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Friday, April 20, 2018

Review: Unraveling

Unraveling

"Eliyana Ember doesn’t believe in true love. Not anymore. After defeating her grandfather and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what’s right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she’s trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about—like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.

Now that the Verity is intertwined with her soul and Joshua’s finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something—or someone—is missing?

When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her link to Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections—and keep herself from falling for him in the process?"

Author: Sara Ella

Length: 368 pages

Format: hardcover, e-book, audio

What happens when happily ever after starts to unravel?

WOAH! Intense doesn't EVEN begin to describe this book! I was floored by book 1 ("Umblemished") and Sara did it again with book 2.

I was lucky enough to buddy read this book with my friend Jessi. (the sweetest booktuber! You can check out her channel here)
And thank the Lord I had someone to read it with, because I was BURSTING with "WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!!?" moments every 20 pages. Sara can SERIOUSLY write a plot twist and cliffhanger! MAN!
There aren't many authors who can keep me on my toes from beginning to end of a book AND also surprise me. I honestly think Sara might be the only one at the moment. And as much as I LOVE my normal romances, I love spicing up my life every once in a while.

I was #TeamJoshKy for a while in the first book. (I liked them both so I couldn't decide) But by the end of book one I was #TeamKy ALL. THE. WAY.
Book two started and I was still holding Ky close to my heart, but I started feeling bad for Joshua. I began to pity him and it made me like him more than I should've.

I would like to nip any fear in the bud right now...I am 100% #TeamKyForever

It got to the point where I was so annoyed with Joshua's character (he is written like that) that I wanted him out of the picture permanently. HOWEVER! Leave it to Sara to leave me questioning all I know AND leave me hanging for another two weeks. (Man I NEED to know how this trilogy ends...PRONTO!)

Ky, (am I the only one who really likes the name Kyaphus?) was SO great! I LOVED his scenes with El, being able to read each other's minds. *insert ALL the heart eyes* He was so snarky, and sassy, and sarcastic, and romantic, and just glorious. I LOAFED HEEM!

Eliyanna grew a lot in this book. Like I said in my review of book 1 here, El's character was slightly annoying but I'm anxious to see how she's going to apply her new found maturity and strength in book three.
I loved that she started coming out of her shell of self pity and embraced her situation, with a pretty level head in my opinion.

I'm also excited to see how her relationship to Ebony comes into play in "Unbreakable". I really enjoyed seeing a shift in Ebony's character. LOVE A GOOD REDEMPTION!

There were SO many Disney princess references throughout this book and it made my Disney lovin' heart SO HAPPY! It was fun picking out clues and trying to decide which fairytale/princess it belonged to.

I'm thrilled I found this author, and I love her work. She writes like she's telling-well-a story. I was transported to a make believe world with unfathomable things are a normal occurrence.

I can't decide which has been my favorite book so far, all I can say for sure is I LOVE this series and I LOVE this author!

I rated this a 4.5/5 stars. It was GREAT and I cannot wait to get my hands and eyeballs on a finished physical copy of the third and final book in this trilogy.
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P.S. Thanks for buddy-reading with me J! I had so much fun becoming friends and reading this glorious work of art. Here's to many more buddy-reading sessions.

Friday, April 13, 2018

Review: Her Texas Cowboy

Her Texas Cowboy

"The sweetest reunion in Texas…

When Rachel Maddox returns to her hometown of Fredericksburg, Texas, avoiding her ex is much easier said than done. Still nursing the broken heart Rachel caused years earlier, rancher next door Hunter McDermott figures he can be cordial for the brief time she’s in town—maybe they can even be friends. But how do you forge just a friendship with someone you’ve always pictured as your bride?"

Author: Jill Lynn
Length: 224 pages
Format: e-book, mass market paperback

She's trying to prove to the town she's changed.

He's trying to himself he isn't his father.

Will they realize it's all been in their heads?

Or will they miss out on the second chance they've been given?

I haven't picked up a love inspired contemporary in quite some time. (Historical is typically my genre of choice) But I am SO glad I picked this one up!

Let's start with Hunter. (I seem to always start with the girl)

He was such a beautiful character. 😆 From his looks *wags eyebrows* to his heart. He was the real MVP! He was so genuine, with a love for his town and it's people. He was a great friend to Rachel even when she didn't know she needed him. He was such a patient person! Whether working with the teens or working on tearing Rachel's walls down, he kept an easy laid back energy. And I, for one, LOVED him!

He was dealt a low blow when he was a child. I I loved seeing the backstory of him using that to build his relationship with God, and in its weird way, how it affected his relationship with Rachel.

Rachel, now she was a tough cookie to crack. But I loved her for it! You get more of Rachel's background in book 1, but even I could see that she grew a lot in the 6 years she's been gone.

She was so stubborn, and sassy, and under that "wanna-be" tough girl she had a super soft inside.

I loved her wit and sass SO MUCH! I want to be like her when I grow up. 😂

Her determination to right what she had done in her past, and reach out to young people just like her was admirable. It really made her character pop, she had such a great big heart...like the size of Texas.

*wink wink see what I did there?!*

I loved the other characters in this book! There was such a great family dynamic, and if you know me you know I love a good family dynamic! They were all so wonderful and I smiled every time I got to interact with them.

The banter between Rachel and Hunter made my life like 3,000% better. I didn't even know I was missing it. It brightened my day so much! Banter makes or breaks a book, and it MADE this book! Whether it was the main characters or the side characters it was GREAT!

I did not read the other two books in this series, and though I will be picking them up, I wish I had picked them up before this one. I was able to follow along throughout the book, and enjoyed it immensely, but I feel like I would've been in book heaven had I read them all in order.

I loved Jill's style, it was so laid back and easy. So real. She also got me to laugh...quite a few times. Yeah, she's my new BFF y'all! (She just isn't aware of it yet)

I rated this a 4.5/5 stars. It was such an amazing, quick light read and I CANNOT wait to pick up more books by Jill! Especially books 1 & 2 of this series.

Quotes:

"What happened to the country girl I knew? The one who could ride as fast as the boys. Wasn't afraid of snakes. Got dirtier faster than anyone else."

"Most of that was true, but I faked the part about the snakes. I was afraid of them. Just didn't want to admit it. If I had, you would have tormented me with them."

He laughed, the lines on his face softening. "Well played."

His looks were easy to swallow, like the first sip of hot coffee on a frigid morning. And those dimples--they were overkill. Shouldn't God have spread out some of that attractiveness instead of depositing it all in one man?

"Did you cook?"

"Puh-lease. You really think I've changed that much? I can only handle meals with four ingredients or less."

*I received this book in exchange for my honest review* *All opinions are my own*

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Author Spotlight: Rachel Fordham

Author Spotlight:

Rachel Fordham

Rachel Fordham has long been fascinated by all things historical or in the words of her children “old stuff”. Often the historical trivia she discovers is woven into her children’s bedtime tales. Despite her love for good stories she didn’t attempt writing a novel until her husband challenged her to do so (and now she’s so glad he did). Since that time she’s often been found typing or researching while her youngest child naps or frantically writing plot twists while she waits in the school pick-up line. In addition to her passion for storytelling she enjoys reading, being outdoors and seeing new places. Rachel lives with her husband and children on an island in Washington state.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook |

BONUS: Rachel is offering a FREE ebook; visit her webpage for more details!

The Hope of Azure Springs

"Seven years ago, orphaned and alone, Em finally arrived at a new home in Iowa after riding the orphan train. But secrets from her past haunt her, and her new life in the Western wilderness is a rough one. When her guardian is shot and killed, Em, now nineteen, finally has the chance to search for her long-lost sister, but she won't be able to do it alone.

For Azure Springs Sheriff Caleb Reynolds, securing justice for the waifish and injured Em is just part of his job. He's determined to solve every case put before him in order to impress his parents and make a name for himself. Caleb expects to succeed. What he doesn't expect is the hold this strange young woman will have on his heart."

Debut author Rachel Fordham invites historical romance readers to the charming town of Azure Springs, Iowa, where the people care deeply for one another and, sometimes, even fall in love.

Preorder your copy today!

"The Hope of Azure Springs"

Click here to add "The Hope of Azure Springs" to your Goodreads list!

Friday, April 6, 2018

Review: Head in the Clouds

Head in the Clouds

"Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.

When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn't uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon--and intrigues him at the same time. But he can't afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.

When Isabella's uncle comes to claim the child--and her inheritance--Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man's evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?"

Author: Karen Witemeyer

Length: 366 pages

Format: paperback, e-book, audio

She's searching for her 'happily ever after'.

She runs into the man who might just be her 'Prince Charming'.

Can they stand the evils trying to take away their perfect fairytale?

👏 ALL 👏 THE 👏 FEELS 👏

Towards the end of March I just felt like I needed to re-read something on my shelves. (Crazy, I know! Considering the piles of unread books I own) But sometimes you just need to grab a favorite and revisit that wonderful world. I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted, but I just knew I wanted something. (Sounds like me when I'm hungry 😏)
A few weeks ago I talked about some life changes on my booktube channel. (You can subscribe here) One of those being me becoming a live-in nanny to two crazy, but also adorable toddlers.
So I knew I wanted to re-read, I've been in the mood for a Karen Witemeyer book, and I wanted something with a governess or something in it. BAM! I was home last weekend so I grabbed the PERFECT match for me: Head in the Clouds.

Every time I read this book it. gets. better! I don't even know how it's possible, but I'm so glad it is!

The plot. The characters. The banter. The suspense. The romance.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

A young woman who was so in love with the idea of love she threw cation to the wind, only to be heartbroken when reality hits her upside the head like a fryin' pan!

Somethin' about Addie just made me smile constantly! Maybe it's the fact that she ALWAYS wears yellow. (Didn't know that many shades exist, but I'm very happy they do) Or maybe it was her quirkiness. Or maybe her "daddy didn't raise no hothouse flower" attitude. Whatever it was I adored it, and I want to be her best friend! PLUS she was a bookworm, I mean c'mon if that doesn't seal it I don't know what will!

Though she had so many FANTASTIC attributes ,she had one major downfall. She moved to fast, and on her own terms. She didn't wait for God's timing or will. And honestly this is a downfall I share with her. Sometimes I get so caught up in my day-to-day life, that I forget to slow down and listen. To take time to simply WAIT.

This book, though light and fun and giggly and just all goodness, made me sit up and pay attention. I love how Addie learned to wait upon God, and learned to trust Him no matter His timing, knowing it's ALWAYS perfect. It made me reexamine and want to change how I wait.

I also LOVE Karen's use of the cloud in this story, her small take on the children of Israel in the desert. It was such a great symbol, and was used marvelously!

Gideon. (Be still my ever beating heart)

Here's a quick tid-bit about Alysha...she's not a fan of British accents. I hear the gasps, I know. HOWEVER! If I had a Gideon stumble into my life, I'd learn to love his accent. Okay?! He was SUCH an amazing character, and he shall be my book boyfriend for eternity. (I CALL DIBS! 😉)

He took in a young girl out of the kindness of his own heart, and loved her like a daughter. Though he was born an English gentleman (a baron's son no less) he still wanted to make his way in the world, and knew he'd have to get his hands dirty to do it. He loved God, his English family, his makeshift American family, his land, his horse, and his flock. He was just so full of love, laid back and down to earth. He was a protector, a knight in shining armor. I just love him! And the dimples don't bother me either. 😍

On top of downright loving the main characters, I loved the rest of the cast - save the bad guys -

They were fun & relatable! They just felt like a smorgasbord of a family. It was great!

This book hit ALL the sweet spots, and I'm so glad I picked it up. It was the most perfect thing, thank you Karen! 💕 This will forever be a favorite & I know I will be re-reading this and recommending for YEARS to come!

OF COURSE this was 5/5 star read! Though I think it deserves all the stars.

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Quotes:

Sometimes it was just no fun being an adult.

"You plowed him with a pitchfork?"

"I sure did. Daddy didn't raise no hothouse flower, you know."

She wanted to run out to greet her husband, yet a proper English wife would never do something so undignified. But then, Gideon hadn't married a proper Englishwoman, had he?

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God's way might not always be clear, but it could always be trusted.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Blitz: First Love Forever Romance Collection

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Title: First Love Forever Romance Collection

Authors: Suzanne Dietze, Cynthia Hickey, Marcia Gruver, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Martha Rogers, Lorna Seilstad, Connie Stevens, and Jennifer Uhlarik

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Release Date: April 1st, 2018

Genre: Historical Romance Fiction

Links*: Amazon | Goodreads | Book Depository | CBD | Itunes

A first love is never easily forgotten...

and coming face to face with that person again can be awkward when the heartstrings are still holding on to the “what ifs.”

In settings from 1865 to 1910, nine couples are thrown back on the same path by life’s changes and challenges. A neighbor returns from law school. An heiress seeks a quick marriage. A soldier’s homecoming is painful. A family needs help. A prodigal son returns. A rogue aeronaut drops from the sky. A runaway bridegroom comes home. A letter for aid is sent. A doctor needs a nurse. Can love rekindle despite the separation of time and space?

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Author Spotlight:

Connie Stevens

Connie Stevens is an author of historical Christian fiction whose stories reflect God's grace and encourage deeper exploration of His love.

TO CONNECT WITH CONNIE:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

In Due Season by Connie Stevens

1901 – Whitley, Kansas: Leah Brown accepts her role of town spinster until Gareth Shepherd unexpectedly steps back into her life. Now she’s faced with a choice. Can she forgive the man who jilted her?

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Giveaway:

(1) Winner will win a prize pack consisting of one print copy of First Love Forever Romance Collection, (1) Print copy of My Heart Belongs in Mackinac Island by Carrie Fancett Pagels (or any other one of her released titles), a pair of handmade earrings (*style subject to change from what is pictured), additional book swag and a $20 Barnes & Noble Gift Card. (Only Gift card open internationally. All items open to US mailing addresses.) To Enter, use the Rafflecopter below. Be sure to stop at every stop on the tour for additional entries.