Rescued Hearts by Hope Toler Doughtery

Rescued Hearts (Mantle Rock Publishing, September 2017)

Children’s clothing designer Mary Wade Kimball’s soft spot for animals leads to a hostage situation when she spots a briar- entangled kitten in front of an abandoned house. Beaten, bound, and gagged by the two thugs inside, Mary Wade loses hope for escape when a third villain returns with supplies.

Discovering the kidnapped woman ratchets the complications for undercover agent Brett Davis. Weighing the difference of ruining his three months’ investigation against the woman’s safety, Brett forsakes his mission and helps her escape, the bent-on-revenge brutes following behind.

When Mary Wade’s safety is threatened once more, Brett rescues her again. This time, her personal safety isn’t the only thing in jeopardy. Her heart is endangered as well.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT HOPE TOLER DOUGHERTY}

Hope Toler Dougherty holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University as well as York Technical College. A member of ACFW, RWA and SinC, she writes for Almost an Author. Before writing novels, she published non-fiction articles on topics ranging from gardening with children to writing apprehension. She cheers for the Pittsburgh Steelers, ACC basketball, and Army West Point Football. Hope and her husband, Kevin, live in North Carolina and chat with their two daughters and twin sons through ooVoo.

Find out more about Hope Toler at http://hopetolerdougherty.com.

My take:  Imagine being out on a bike ride and seeing a kitten in distress.  Of course you do the humane thing and stop to help the kitten.  The next thing you know you are being kidnapped!  That is the situation Mary Wade finds herself in at the start of this book and that is just the start of the book.  The rest of the book is jammed packed with action and does he or doesn't he back and forth with both of the main characters.  This is a great thriller that has you wondering what will happen next.  Recommend if you like your thrillers with a side of handsome guy coming to the rescue. 

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for honest opinion from Litfuse.  

The Pretender by Tamara Hanscom

The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise (Reata Publishing, September 2017)

Set in South Dakota in 1975, where eighteen-year-olds could order 3.2 beer in a bar, and loaded guns were kept under the counter.

Frankie Valli sang “My Eyes Adored You,” and American soldiers returning from Vietnam struggled with their new reality.

It’s within this tumultuous season of American history that Tillie Caselli meets Noah Hansen, and they are never the same again. Their lives were mysteriously intertwined—and had been for many years—yet they had no idea.
​
From the moment they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but a deliberate omission will keep them apart—and that same omission will be responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride’s deception.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT TA’MARA HANSCOM}

Born and raised in South Dakota, Ta`Mara loves to write about the Great Plains and the beauty and people of Italia. While her husband and children manage their two pizza ristoranti, Ta`Mara works full time on The Caselli Family Series, and ministers to women. It is Ta`Mara s prayer that as the readers explore the truths in these volumes, they will come away with a new perspective on love, forgiveness, obedience, and God’s plan for marriage

Find out more about Ta’Mara at https://www.tamarahanscombooks.com.

My Take : First of all I wasn't sure about this book but I am looking forward to reading the next in this Family saga.  This book will have you engaged and before you know it you will be almost down and wonder how all the time went by.  You may not like the way this book goes but it will have you wanting to read the next one.  I thought it was a great book from a new author.  

I received a review copy from Litfuse in exchange for an honest review

Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Bringing Maggie Home(WaterBrook, September 2017)

Decades of loss, an unsolved mystery, and a rift spanning three generations

Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears.

Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can’t understand her mother’s overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother’s inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan—a cold case agent—cherishes her grandmother’s lavish attention and affection.

When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel’s painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that’s been lost?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT KIM VOGEL SAWYER}

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a highly acclaimed, best-selling author with more than one million books in print, in several different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband Don, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope and redemption. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and grandchildren.

Find out more about Kim at http://www.kimvogelsawyer.com/.

My take:  What a roller coaster ride of a book.  I loved all the intricate personal relationships and how each relationship was in some way affected by the incident that happens in the first chapter.  How one devistating incident can affect other generations to come is very well represented in this book.  I liked the mystery that was involved in this book along with the relationship between the mothers and daughters and the grandmother and granddaughter.  I hope to have relationships with my grandchildren like the one depicted in this book.  I can see this book being loaned to others but not given away because I will want to read this again.  Recommended

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion.  

Mercy Triumphs by Jana Kelley

Mercy Triumphs (New Hope Publishers, September 2017)

Three women. Three impossible circumstances. One merciful God.

Mia, an American Christian, has lived in Sudan so long that persecution, harassment, and danger have become commonplace for her. Her tough outer shell threatens to harden her heart while her newly Christian friends, Halimah and Rania, former Muslims, are forced to live in exile outside Sudan. All three quickly discover that escaping danger in one place only means facing even greater challenges elsewhere. As God’s mercy becomes evident in their lives, they must choose whether or not to offer mercy to those who don’t deserve it.

Third in a trilogy, Mercy Triumphs opens the reader’s eyes to modern-day persecution and the life of Muslims in Sudan. Based on real-life events, Mercy Triumphs reveals some of the struggles Christians face when living under Islamic law. The reader will be inspired to pray for new believers, those who are persecuted for their faith, and even for the salvation of the persecutors.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT JANA KELLEY}

Author of the captivating novel “Side by Side,” Jana Kelley is a Texan who hardly ever lives in Texas. Raised in Southeast Asia, Jana developed a love for cross-cultural living early in life. Her love for writing came soon after. Jana returned to Texas to attend East Texas Baptist University. She and her husband married a month after she graduated, and by their second anniversary, they were living in a remote African town. After 13 years living in Africa and the Middle East, Jana, her husband, and their three boys moved to Southeast Asia where they currently live.

Find out more about Jana at http://www.janakelley.com.

My take:  This the third book in a trilogy.   I have read the First book Side by Side and you can click the link to find out what I thought of that book.  I haven't read the second book but I will probably go back and read it at some time.  Like the first book this book takes a look at three ladies and what they have to do to be a Christian in a Muslim nation and especially the dangers they face after converting from being a Muslim.  I always think after reading this type of book of how easy we have it in this country as far as being a Christian compared to other countries.   Our time I fear is coming though.  If you are interested in finding out what it might be like for a Muslim to convert to Christianity then this trilogy will really open your eyes. 

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. 

His Guilt by Shelley Shepard Grey

{MORE ABOUT HIS GUILT}

His Guilt: The Amish of Hart County (Avon Inspire, July 2017)

A suspenseful tale of an Amish man who will risk all to protect the woman he loves

Mark Fisher has returned home to Hart County, determined to put the past behind him. Two years ago, after being wrongly accused of assault, he left the Amish community, though never forgot his home. When the one person who had helped him through his rough times asks for help, Mark returns. But it is pretty Waneta Cain who makes him want to stay…

Neeta is one of the few people in Hart County who doesn’t believe Mark is guilty of hurting anyone. However, his worldliness and tough exterior do make her uneasy. As she begins to see the real man behind all the gossip and prejudice, she wonders if he is the man for her.

Just when Mark starts to believe a new life is possible, a close friend of Neeta’s is attacked. Once again, everyone in the community seems to believe he is guilty. But what hurts most is Neeta’s sudden wariness around him. When another woman is hurt, a woman who is close to both Neeta and himself, Mark fears he knows the real culprit. And time is running out. Will Mark be able to find him before Neeta becomes his next victim?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT SHELLEY SHEPARD GRAY}

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.

Find out more about Shelley at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.

My Take:  This book is the second in a series but it definitely can be read alone. This book is about believing in someone even when events seem stacked against them.  Mark is accused of an attack on a local woman.  He is cleared but not before the damage is done to his reputation.  Seems as if most people in the Amish community believe he was guilty.  So he moves away until his parents die and he inherits the family home.  There are really nothing but bad memories there but he is determined to remodel the house and make it a home.  He gets a job at the local nursery where the owner believes in his innocence.  There he starts to work with Waneta who has misgivings at first but decides to give him the benefit of the doubt and starts to get to know him.  Things start to get scary when there are attacks on other women and people believe that Mark is responsible.  This book was good as it kept me guessing and had me wondering if Mark really was the culprit.  A good clean mysery/suspense book.  

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion.

Home to Paradise by Barbara Cameron

Home to Paradise (Abingdon, February 2017)

Highly anticipated final book in The Coming Home Series from best-selling Amish author Barbara Cameron.

Rose Anna Zook has watched her two older sisters marry two Stoltzfus men and has always thought she and John, the third Stoltzfus brother, would marry, make a home together, and have children. But John has other ideas. He’s enjoying his Rumschpringe in the Englisch world a little too much and isn’t interested in returning to the Amish community—especially to marry.

Rose Anna is determined to bring her man back into the Amish fold. John is equally determined to live his life free and unencumbered. Who will win this battle of wills? Will love prevail?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT BARBARA CAMERON}

Barbara Cameron has a heart for writing about the spiritual values and simple joys of the Amish. She is the best-selling author of more than 40 fiction and nonfiction books, three nationally televised movies, and the winner of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. Her books have been nominated for Carol Awards and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award from RWA’s Faith, Hope, and Love chapter. Barbara resides in Jacksonville, Florida.

Find out more about Barbara at http://barbaracameron.com.

My Take;  Even though this is the third book in this triology I was able to read it with no problem and I hadn't read either of the first two books.  I liked reading this book as it seemed to shed a little light on the practice of the Amish young folks taking some time to run around before they join the Amish Church.   It also showed the Amish doing volunteer work in the community which you don't read about very much.  I will probably go back and read the other two books in this series because I found this book to be very good.  

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. 

The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green

The Mark of the King (Bethany House, January 2017)

Sweeping historical fiction set at the edge of the continent

After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720s French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict.

When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne’s brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on?

With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king’s mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT JOCELYN GREEN}

Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning author of ten books to date, including “Wedded to War,” a Christy Award finalist in 2013; “Widow of Gettysburg”; “Yankee in Atlanta”; and “The 5 Love Languages Military Edition,” which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. A former military wife herself, her passion for military families informs all of her writing as well as her numerous speaking opportunities. Jocelyn graduated from Taylor University with a BA in English and now lives with her husband and two children in Iowa.

Find out more about Jocelyn at http://www.jocelyngreen.com.

My Take:  I really enjoyed this book.  There was alot I learned about the start of Louisiana and the fight between the French and the English for land and settlers.  I also learned about how harsh the time could be especially toward women.  I thought the use of the different Indian tribes in the fight between the two countries was interesting.  This book kept my attention and had be turning the pages with anticipation about what would happen next.  

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Of Stillness and Storm by Michele Phoenix

Of Stillness and Storm (Thomas Nelson, December 2016)

“I felt torn between two worlds. Each with its own mystery. One more captivating than the other, but the other more real and breathing.”

It took Lauren and her husband ten years to achieve their dream—reaching primitive tribes in remote regions of Nepal. But while Sam treks into the Himalayas for weeks at a time, finding passion and purpose in his work among the needy, Lauren and Ryan stay behind, their daily reality more taxing than inspiring. For them, what started as a calling begins to feel like the family’s undoing.

At the peak of her isolation and disillusion, a friend from Lauren’s past enters her life again. But as her communication with Aidan intensifies, so does the tension of coping with the present while reengaging with the past. It’s thirteen-year-old Ryan who most keenly bears the brunt of her distraction.

Intimate and bold, Of Stillness and Storm weaves profound dilemmas into a tale of troubled love and honorable intentions gone awry.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT MICHÈLE PHOENIX}

Born in France to a Canadian father and an American mother, Michèle Phoenix is a consultant, writer and speaker with a heart for Third Culture Kids. She taught for 20 years at Black Forest Academy (Germany) before launching her own advocacy venture under Global Outreach Mission. Michèle travels globally to consult and teach on topics related to this unique people group. She loves good conversations, mischievous students, Marvel movies and paths to healing.

Find out more about Michèle at http://michelephoenix.com.

My take:  This book takes a look at a rare situation of a missionary spouse not being fully invested.  It takes a look at a wife who is a reluctant to be a missionary while her husband is the almost the perfect missionary.  She doesn't get the support that she needs in her marriage and as a parent as they have a 13 year old son who is a very reluctant participant and he becomes very depressed.  I can understand a bit as I am a preacher's kid and my dad wasn't home much as he was always at a meeting or visiting or some other ministry but he wasn't gone for weeks at a time.  But on the other hand my husband is a truck driver and was gone for weeks at a time during our children's young years.  Anyway all that to say that even though ministry is important your first ministry is to your family.  This is a good book that will make you think and make you feel for the characters. 

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinions. 

Miscarried Joy by Tanika Fitzgerald

Miscarried Joy: Moving Beyond Incredible Pain to Extraordinary Faith (Nyreepress Publishing, October 2016)

Faith over fear. Patience over frustration. Pain with a purpose.

In Miscarried Joy, Tanika transparently shares her deeply personal and disappointing experiences of losing her babies due to miscarriage. There were times when she felt God was the cause of her pain. However, her journey through the lives of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth and Naomi, revealed quite the opposite—God had allowed her pain for a much greater purpose. Each of these women had something in common: they learned to surrender their will and trust God’s plan beyond the pain. They were pushed to a posture of prayer that led them from questioning God to have total confidence in Him. Tanika discovered that this season of waiting didn’t show up simply to challenge her, but to change her.

With biblical depth, heart-filled transparency and a voice of passion, you will:

—Understand God’s heart in the midst of incredible pain
—Discover the importance of trusting God’s plan over your own
—Arm yourself with the strength to let go of bitterness and comparison to appreciate the beauty of your story
—Learn and implement spiritual principles and strategies to walk boldly in faith
—Embrace God’s delay and birth contentment in your season of waiting

What have you miscarried? What purpose have you had difficulty conceiving? Is it a calling you fear stepping into? A vision that has not yet come to pass? Miscarried Joy has something for anyone who needs help pushing through incredible pain to conquer discouragement, walk in faith and birth their purpose. God’s delay in your life could be a set up for your greatest calling to be fulfilled.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT TANIKA FITZGERALD}

Tanika Fitzgerald is a lover of Christ, a wife to her husband, Maurice, a loving daughter and sister. She is passionate about equipping women to grow spiritually, live balanced lives and helping them to be ARMED for victory in every area of life. Tanika has been called to minister to others through her passion and gift of writing to inspire women all over the globe. She is also the visionary behind “ARMED Magazine”—a publication created to “Spiritually Equip for you Victory in Battle.” Her inspirational writing has been featured in numerous publications including “Hope for Women Magazine,” “Black and Married with Kids,” and more. Tanika has also interviewed powerful voices in the Christian community, including Lady Serita Jakes, Sheryl Brady, Charles Jenkins, Earnest Pugh, and more! Tanika is a woman who is passionate about her relationship with Jesus Christ, family, giving to others, laughter, having fun, and enjoying every moment that life brings!

Find out more about Tanika at http://www.tanikafitzgerald.com/.

My Take:  I can't image how it must feel like to have a miscarriage let alone three in one year.  It would be very easy to blame God for this but in this book the author helps other women who have miscarried to get past the grief and to look to God for comfort during the grief.  I would recommend this to any woman who has gone through a miscarriage or even anyone who would just like to help women through this terrible time of loss.  

I received a review copy from Litfuse is exchange for my honest opinion.