"The One Who Waits for Me" Review

The One Who Waits for Me by Lori Copeland was sent to me as a review copy by Harvest House Publishers.

The months just after the end of the Civil War are a tumultuous time for everyone, especially for those in the South. But for Beth Jornigan, her sister Joanie, and her friend Trella, it seems to be a perfect time to finally escape from under the oppressive thumb of her uncle.

For soldiers Grey Eagle, Pierce, and Preach, the end of the war means finally going home. When they come across three young women on the run, the soldiers reluctantly agree to help the trio. What they encounter on the journey is not what any of them expected, but maybe what God had planned all along.

Author Lori Copeland is a prolific Christian writer, but from my recollection, this is the first of her novels that I have read. The story grabbed my interest from the beginning, with the soldiers travelling home and the sisters escaping from their uncle.

Which is why I felt rather let down as I kept reading. As I got to know the characters more (especially Beth and Pierce), what I thought would be interesting about them kind of got annoying as the story progressed. The character of Beth was supposedly so spunky and independent, but she kept acting childishly and always needed rescuing (and it usually was from something of her own naïve doing). It also seemed as if the relationship between Pierce and Beth was father-child instead of a romantic relationship, which gave it a weird feeling.

My favorite characters were Joanie (Beth’s sister) and the nuns at the convent where Beth and Joanie find temporary sanctuary. Joanie was so sweet, and her faith shone like a bright light, which had a huge impact on Beth. Sister Mary Margaret was a delight, and I liked how the nuns were portrayed. I enjoyed how God brought all of these people from different backgrounds together as friends.

As far as the romantic piece of the novel, I thought the relationship between Joanie and Grey Eagle was the best. The relationship between Trella and Preach was predictable, but the one between Pierce and Beth felt forced.

As far as writing, I really enjoyed the witty banter among the three soldiers. They seemed to be good friends, and their conversations were amusing. However, it was sometimes hard to keep up with who was speaking in the dialogue. Because of all of the characters and the story being told from several different points of view, the story seemed choppy rather than having a smooth overall flow. I also thought the ending was a bit abrupt and maybe needed an epilogue or something. (Maybe there will be other books to come? If so, it is nice to have that noted somewhere on the cover or back of the book.)

Something that bothered me in this book that I just have to mention is the feelings of Pierce about the war. (I realize that this is a character in a fictional book, but please bear with me). Pierce fought for the North even though he was from the South because he felt all men should be free. However, after seeing the plight of the newly freed slaves after the war (they had nowhere to go and had a difficult time providing for their families), he to wonders what he fought for. Maybe I am taking it to the extreme, but he seemed to regret fighting to end slavery. Again, I realize that this is a character in a book, but it just didn’t sit well with me, and it contributed to me not liking the book as much as I could have.

The One Who Waits for Me tells a story that involves serious subjects and situations but had an overall sweet feeling that didn’t always ring true. Fans of Lori Copeland should still give it a try.

I will give The One Who Waits for Me by Lori Copeland ... 2 ½ BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book free from Harvest House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Falling to Pieces" Review

Falling to Pieces by Vannetta Chapman was sent to me as an advanced review copy by Zondervan Publishing. It is a Shipshewana Amish Mystery, and it is the first of a three-book series.

When Callie Harper arrives in the small, mostly Amish community of Shipshewana, Indiana, she encounters more than just her late aunt’s dusty quilt shop in need of an owner. She stumbles upon a murder.

Deborah Yoder, a young Amish woman living in Shipshewana, needs Daisy’s Quilt Shop to remain open. Her friends’ livelihoods depend on it. But she never thought that becoming friends with Daisy’s niece, Callie, would lead to piecing out a murder mystery.

Callie and Deborah, an unlikely pair, join forces to keep Daisy’s legacy alive and to find out once and for all who is targeting the citizens of Shipshewana.

I have read several Amish books lately, and my main criticism of them is that there are so many characters who are introduced so quickly that it is very difficult to keep them all straight. I understand that this is just the nature of an Amish novel, since Amish families are typically very large. In this case, the author of Falling to Pieces does a great job of introducing the characters at a slower pace so that I didn’t feel overwhelmed in the beginning. (And there is a handy glossary at the beginning of the book to help with the Amish words). The author also was able to keep the minor characters minor and allow me to become more involved with the main characters.

While it was nice to be able to ease into the character introductions, once the initial plot was presented, I thought the story got off to a little bit of a slow start. Maybe it was my particular frame of mind (being busy) that week, but it took going back to the book several times before I got truly involved in it.

Once I did get into the plot, I enjoyed it. I liked the mix of Amish and “English” characters and the setting of Shipshewana. The mystery genre is something that added nicely to the Amish novel. Having that as the major part of the plot was intriguing. The characters in Falling to Pieces refer to Agatha Christie novels several times. While I think Agatha Christie novels are a little more complex in their mysteries than this novel is, I can see the correlation. Both are more on the lighter side of the suspense/murder mystery genre; although I think I would maybe compare this novel to Murder She Wrote rather than Agatha Christie! (That was for you, honey.)

Even though I spent the entire book trying to figure out the mystery, which was fun, I was a little disappointed with the ending. I felt more needed to be said on the matter. I am hoping this is because there are two more books coming in this series and not just that it had a somewhat unsatisfactory ending.

Falling to Pieces is a refreshing new way to tell a story of the Amish way of life, and the mystery storyline is a nice added touch.

I will give Falling to Pieces by Vannetta Chapman … 3 ½ BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book free from Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Remembering You" Blog Tour

About the book:

Thirty-five-year-old Ava Andrews' dream job is interrupted by an unusual request --  to fulfill her 84-year-old grandfather's last wish by joining him on a battle site tour of Europe. Ava is sure her boss will refuse her request. But, instead, he gives her a directive of his own -- to videotape the tour and send it back as mini-segments for the show she produces.

As if juggling these two things isn't hard enough, Ava is soon surprised again ... twice. First, the pair soon meet up with Paul, her grandpa's best friend, and his grandson Dennis. The same Dennis who just happens to be Ava's first love. Then, they all head for the tour of Europe, only to discover the tour is cancelled. Unwilling to let down her grandfather or her boss, Ava and Grandpa Jack, Paul, and Dennis head out on their own.

Before she knows it, Ava and Dennis are swept down memory lane as they visit the sites that are discussed in the history books. And even though Ava is videotaping old soldiers, she can see their youth, their hopes and fears, and the pride in their eyes. Soon Ava learns the trip isn't just for them ... it's for her too -- especially for her faith and her heart.

Read an excerpt, watch a video and find out more here. http://www.triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#RememberingYou

Link to buy the book: http://www.triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#RememberingYou

About the Author:

Tricia Goyer is the author of thirty books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. On Tricia's weekly radio show, "Living Inspired", she shares stories of inspiration and encouragement. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas, where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

For more about Tricia and her other books visit http://www.triciagoyer.com/.


My Take:

As I have noted before on my blog, the World War II era has not normally been my favorite time period to read about in historical fiction. But, the three books I have read in the last year that tell about that time period have been good.

What I especially liked about how this story was told was that it was written about a grandfather and granddaughter. I enjoyed the tenderness and love that was shown between Ava and Grandpa Jack, even when things were difficult and emotions were tense. Personally, neither of my grandfathers served in World War II. One was probably too old, as he was in his 30s by then. He was also a pastor. My other grandfather was only 17 in 1944. He did enlist that year, but was given a medical discharge shortly after enlisting.

However, I did have a Great Uncle who served in the Army in World War II. I empathize with Ava in this story, because she didn't realize until it was almost too late that she should record her grandfather's stories. My Uncle Oscar was not very outspoken, but I know he would have told me stories of his time in the war if I had only asked.

The romance part of this novel was nice, if predictable. I felt the tension between Ava and Dennis was a little stretched out. I realize that this is usually the case in novels, but it seemed as if things could have been solved earlier on if they had just made time to talk and be honest. (Ava was so pushy with everything else, that it seemed as if she would have been pushy with this!) But, the 'first love' aspect of this story was sweet.

The basis of this story is one of the worst eras in human history:  World War II and the Holocaust. Tricia Goyer deals with this horrific era with dignity and respect, weaving a thoughtful story of faith and what it means to be a true hero.

I will give Remembering You by Tricia Goyer ... 3 ½ Bookworms.



Read what other reviewers are saying here: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13439289

About the Contest:

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her novel, Remembering You, with a KINDLE Touch Giveaway for you ... and for the friend of your choice. Then on 11/29 she'll be wrapping up the release of Remembering You with a Book Chat Party!

During the first half of the party Tricia will be chatting, sharing a sneak peek of her next book, and giving away a ton of great stuff. Then she'll head over to her website for a Live Chat! Readers will be able to chat with Tricia via video or text.

Don't miss your chance to win a Kindle Touch for yourself ... and to "remember" a friend this holiday with a Kindle Touch for them!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Brand New Kindle Touch and a Kindle Touch for a Friend (winner's choice!) 
• A copy of Remembering You by Tricia Goyer for each

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 29th. Winner will be announced at Remembering You Facebook Party on 11/29. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away copies of her other WWII books and gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com. So grab your copy of Remembering You and join Tricia on the evening of the 29th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How much do you know about WWII?) and lots of giveaways.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

"Wings of a Dream" Review

Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer was sent to me by Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing Group. This is the first historical fiction novel by this author.

Rebekah Hendricks dreams of doing something more with her life than just living on a small farm in Oklahoma. When her aunt falls ill, Rebekah jumps at the chance to go to Texas to tend to her. It doesn’t hurt that her aviator beau, Arthur, is in training relatively close to where her aunt lives. Rebekah thinks this is her chance to finally get off of the farm and have some adventures.

But the country is still fighting the Great War and is now in the midst of a war at home: a pandemic of Spanish influenza. Rebekah is thrown into the midst of both when she arrives at her aunt’s home. The flu has hit the town of Prater’s Junction hard, and Rebekah finds herself caring for the sick and also taking charge of four children who have lost their mother while their father is fighting for freedom in France.

The adventures in which Rebekah finds herself are not the ones of her dreams. Only God can change her heart and turn His dreams into her dreams.

My first impression of this novel was that it was nice, but I wasn’t sure if it was going to be any more than that. As I kept reading, however, I was confronted more and more with the immense journey that the character of Rebekah is taking. She thought she had her life all planned out. She thought she knew what she wanted. She thought she knew where the Lord was leading.

Proverbs 16:9 (NASB)

“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

Because of the circumstances that she was in (World War I and the Spanish flu outbreak), Rebekah grew in her faith. She realized that God is in control and can change your heart. (Rebekah figured this out over a span of only a few months. It took years for me to get to that same point, and of course I still struggle with it from time to time).

I can relate to the struggles of faith, if not the circumstances, that Rebekah faces in this book. She wants to do something exciting with her life, and she thinks in order to do that, she must leave the ‘mundane’ life that she knows. At the beginning of the book, Rebekah relates doing something important with doing something exciting. Over the course of the novel, she realizes that being in the center of what God wants you to do with your life is the best place that you can be.

As you can probably tell, I really enjoyed the story in this novel and the journey of growth that Rebekah takes. As far as structure, I felt the author did very well with writing realistic dialogue and with developing characters that elicit strong emotions. Sometimes, however, I felt the overall story got a little lost in the anecdotal parts that were told along the way. Since you were following Rebekah’s journey in this story, we followed her fully, in every detail, even the routine. I will forgive this, though, since this seems to be the point of this novel.

I also thought that a climactic scene at the very end of the novel stepped too far out of reality to be in keeping with the rest of the book. Everything up until that point had been so realistic, and then there is an occurrence that I just didn’t think would actually happen that way in real life. The scene was fine; I just didn’t think it would happen in exactly that way. (Sorry to be so cryptic, but I don’t want to ruin the story for everyone!)

Something fun from this novel was that it was neat to see a character named “Nola Jean.” This is my mom’s name (well, “Nola Ann,” not “Nola Jean,” but still…), and it is rare that we hear this name anywhere!

In Wings of a Dream, Anne Mateer has written a novel of journeys: to faith, to new dreams, and to true love.

I will give Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer … 4 BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"Jump Off the Hormone Swing" Review

About the Book:

Let's face it:  PMS and peri-menopause symptoms can alter how you feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Offering wise counsel, practical help, biblical wisdom, and humor, Lorraine Pintus explains how hormones affect your body and relationships; suggests coping strategies; and helps you keep a positive, God-honoring perspective through it all!

In Jump Off the Hormone Swing, Lorraine Pintus shares openly about the inner tension a woman can feel at certain times of the month between wanting to love her neighbor on one hand, and wanting to strangle her and shoot her ugly dog on the other. While many books discuss the physical and emotional symptoms of hormones, this is the first to explore in depth the spiritual aspects. Jump! is a mentoring book, not a medical book. The focus is on attitude, not anatomy. Lorraine shares insights from her own journey as well as wisdom from 1,500 women she surveyed. Sound biblical wisdom is laced with humor because after all, when it comes to hormones, you either have to laugh or cry, and laughing is better!

About the Author:

LORRAINE PINTUS graduated from the University of Nebraska with a BA in journalism and dabbled briefly in politics as a lobbyist and press manager for a gubernatorial candidate. She has been a media relations manager for Frito-Lay/PepsiCo., Inc. and with her husband owned an IBM store before becoming a promotion manager for the University of California, Irvine. Lorraine now proudly serves as "vice president" of the Pintus Household where she is wife to Peter and driver to her teenage daughters Mandy & Megan. In her spare time, she writes books and travels all around the world with her dear friend and co-author of Intimate Issues, Linda Dillow. Lorraine and Linda speak to tens of tousands of women each year, telling them of the hope and healing they can know through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Find out more here: http://lorrainepintus.com/

My Take:

Up until a few years ago, I never really thought I had issues with hormones. I had some symptoms of PMS, but nothing too bad.

After getting pregnant and having my daughter, everything changed. My hormones and cycles have been so out of whack since then. I even currently take medication because of issues with one hormone. And I have more PMS symptoms that I have ever had in my life.

That's why this book was so good for me, and why I would recommend it to all women! I can't tell you how many times I thought, "How does she know exactly what I am thinking?" or "I am so glad I am not the only one to think/feel/do that!" while reading this book. Bringing the spiritual aspect into this topic really tied everything else (the practical, the mental, the physical) together into a whole.

There is also a 10-week Bible Study in the back of the book, which was such an excellent resource. I was able to incorporate it into my regular Bible study easily.

Lorraine Pintus has created a wonderful tool to help women understand themselves more fully while realizing that ultimately we are accountable to God. This book helped me come to a place where I can better handle every day of the month knowing that God's grace, strength, and forgiveness are always available to me.

For more information on this title, please click here.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book free from Moody Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The Muir House" Review

The Muir House was sent to me by Zondervan Publishers as a review copy. It is by Mary DeMuth and takes place in the small but growing town of Rockwall, Texas. Willa Muir, recently of Seattle and fleeing a proposal from her boyfriend, returns to her hometown of Rockwall amid some interesting circumstances.

The house Willa grew up in is being turned from a funeral parlor into a bed and breakfast by the caretaker. Willa’s father passed away several years ago, and Willa’s mother is currently in a nursing facility where she suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. The main reason for Willa’s return, however, is to once and for all find out the truth of her childhood.

An old friend, an old boyfriend, and a surprising new friend all play a role in Willa’s search to find home.

Let me say first that I enjoyed the setting for this book. The town of Rockwall was small (everyone knew what everyone else was up to) and Southern (…mmm…sweet tea…) without being over-the-top.  I have never lived in Texas, but I have lived in the South, and I appreciated the author’s honest portrayal of small town Southern life without it being  too stereotypical.

I also enjoyed many of the characters in this novel. Willa’s Seattle boyfriend, Hale, was fun, quirky, and outspoken about his love for Jesus. The other supporting characters in the book were very interesting, as well.

My excitement over the supporting characters, I think, is what made the rest of the novel somewhat uninteresting for me. While the other characters were good, I found the main character, Willa, to be one-dimensional. She was so obsessed with finding out what happened in her past, that she was not living her life in the present. However, maybe that was what the author was trying to portray:  how being consumed by one (possibly bad) thing can take your entire focus away from what can truly bring you joy in life. Even though this might be true, Willa’s voice in the novel was still depressing, and she was constantly switching her feelings back and forth about her ‘boyfriends,’ which for me just got old after a while. I just thought the endless back and forth plus the constant whining from Willa was boring.

Luckily, the ending of this book, I thought, was pretty good. I enjoyed the author’s portrayal of forgiveness and also of the true meaning of home.

Overall, I thought The Muir House had a plot that was a little too drawn-out but that was redeemed somewhat by the setting and the secondary characters.

I will give The Muir House by Mary DeMuth… 2 BookWorms.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book free from Zondervan Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"To Have and To Hold" Review

Take a trip back in time to beautiful Bridal Veil Island

When Audrey Cunningham moved with her father to his ancestral home on Bridal Veil Island, Georgia, she hoped the beauty and remoteness of the place would keep him sober and close to God. But now wealthy investors are buying up land to build a grand resort on the secluded island--and they want the Cunninghams' property.

Contractor Marshall Graham can't imagine why Boyd Cunningham would ask him to look after Audrey. Marshall has no desire to be saddled with caring for the fiery young woman who seems to think the worst of him. But when someone appears to be sabotaging the construction work at the resort and Audrey's life is endangered, Marshall realizes she holds more of his heart than he thought and he'll do anything to keep her safe.

Amid a time of growth and change for Bridal Veil, can Marshall and Audrey find a foundation on which to build a love to last forever?

My Take:

From the opening chapters of this novel, the descriptive writing skill of these authors was apparent. I loved the written images of the fictional Bridal Veil Island. It almost seemed as if the island was actually the main character of the book.

Which was a good thing, since I didn’t really feel connected to any of the other characters in the book.
First of all, there were so many investors and workers who were on Bridal Veil for the construction project that I just couldn’t keep them all straight. (Maybe that was why I was confused about who was responsible for the construction sabotage at the end…maybe not.)

Also, while others might feel that the character of Aunt Thora was feisty and funny, I just found her annoying. And rude. And prejudiced. And very dangerous. (Why was this woman allowed access to a shotgun?! She was pretty much crazy with it!) Plus her interpretation of Scripture is irreverent.

I sympathized most with Marshall, who seemed as if he just wanted to do the right thing and to do a good job. I also appreciated that Audrey’s character did seem to grow throughout the novel, even if I didn’t really connect with her very well.

The plot of this book was nice, the pacing was good, and reading about life on the island was relaxing. I don’t think I was ever really bored by the story in this book (except for maybe the parts where they talked about the construction that was taking place on the island), but I wasn’t captivated by this story, either. The mystery involving the possible sabotage of the construction was too lightweight to be interesting. Plus, the conclusion of the mystery was pretty much impossible to guess on your own. If it takes almost three pages to explain the ‘mystery’ at the end of the book, then you haven’t given me enough clues along the way to figure anything out for myself.

To Have and To Hold is a nice, sweet novel with a great setting that just didn’t hold my interest as much as I would have liked.

I will give To Have and To Hold … 2 ½ BookWorms.

To Have and To Hold was written by Tracie Peterson & Judith Miller and is the first in the "Bridal Veil Island" series by these authors.

It was sent to me as a review copy by Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing Group as part of their Reviewer Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The Doctor's Lady" Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for a copy of

The Doctor's Lady!

And the winner is....

Gwendolyn G.

I will be sending an email to you today.

Congrats, and I hope you enjoy your copy of The Doctor's Lady 

by Jody Hedlund!

"A Lasting Impression" Blog Tour

A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she'll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?

Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.

The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton's home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.

About the Author:

Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Nashville Tennessee, along with their two adult children who live near by. And don't forget Jack, their precious--and precocious--silky terrier.

For more information please visit http://www.tameraalexander.com/ 



Buy the book here.

Read what others are saying about A Lasting Impression here.




My Take:

When I first saw that this book, set at the Belmont Mansion in Nashville, Tennessee, was available to review, I was excited. Having lived in East Tennessee (about 3 hours from Nashville) for 9 years of my life, I was excited to read it and see how a book based on this landmark would be portrayed.

What I found was a historically rich tale that definitely did justice to one of Tennessee's most famous homes.

From the first time Claire enters the Belmont Mansion, the oppulance is apparent and is described so well that you can actually see what you are reading. The characters in this novel are engaging as well, and the pace of the story is mostly on target.

At 426 pages, this one is a long one. I think this is mostly due to the many descriptions of the surroundings and of the characters' actions. The story didn't get bogged down, but, even though I enjoyed the pictures the words painted in my mind, at times the descriptions did get a little long. I also thought the resolution to the story was a tad short, considering the length of the novel.

If you enjoy sweeping Southern sagas, this is one you might want to pick up.

I will give A Lasting Impression ... 4 Bookworms.

About the contest:

Kindle Fire Giveaway and Facebook Party from Tamera Alexander!

While Tamera and her book,  A Lasting Impression, are traveling across the country virtually
(with a few international stops as well!), she will be hosting a Kindle Fire Giveaway (11/4 - 11/15) and preparing for a lavish Southern-Style Facebook Party (11/15) (dripping with hospitality, of course). She will be giving away Southern Food Baskets, books, and an array of other fabulous freebies! Don't miss a
minute of the fun. Swoon!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Brand New Kindle Fire (shipped as soon as it releases)
• A copy of A Lasting Impression and 3 other special books Tamera wants you to have (for Kindle)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 15th. Winner will be announced at A Lasting Impression Facebook Party on the 15th. Tamera will be wrapping up the A Lasting Impression celebration with an author chat and giving away Southern Food Baskets (Loveless Cafe Food Baskets, books, Amazon & Starbucks gift certificates, and copies of Christy Jordan's Southern Plate cookbook), six gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com, and copies of A Lasting Impression! So grab your copy of A Lasting Impression (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Tamera on the evening of November 15th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How
much do you know about the 1860's?) and lots of Southern-inspired giveaways (complete listing here).

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 15th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group through Litfuse Publicity. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."



"Belonging" Review

Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher was sent to me as a review copy by Zondervan Publishing. It is the first book in the “Where the Heart Lives” series by this author.

Felicia Kristoffersen arrives in the town of Frenchman’s Bluff, Idaho, in 1897 determined to make a way for herself that is better than what she had in Wyoming. She is to be the town’s new school teacher, but not everyone here is completely welcoming.

The mercantile owner in Frenchman’s Bluff, Colin Murphy, is one of the people in the town who is unsure of hiring another single, female teacher. He feels Felicia is inexperienced, and he knows that a single gal is just looking for one thing: to catch a husband. Colin doesn’t want to see yet another school teacher leave after just one year (or less). His young daughter, Charity, whom he is raising alone since her mother died, needs to have every educational advantage that Colin himself didn’t have, and he is not quite sure Felicia is the teacher to fill that need.

Felicia must prove to the town that she is the right person for the job. Colin must learn to see that all things can work together for good. They will both have to hold fast to and even rediscover a faith that can truly sustain them through any circumstance.

Many of the books I have read recently have started off with a bang. I am partial to these types of books, because they pull me in right from the beginning. Belonging sort of eased its way into the story instead. So much so that I will even say that it got off to a pretty slow start. The thing that was good about the slower process was that I was able to really get involved with the two main characters, especially Felicia, so that I cared what happened to them.

However, during this slower start to the book, once Felicia arrived in the town of Frenchman’s Bluff, minor characters just came from everywhere! So, while I felt that I knew Felicia and Colin very well, it was difficult for me to keep up with who was who among all of the townspeople.

In this novel, most of the story is told from the perspective of Felicia and Colin. However, several times during the book, the point of view switches to a more minor character named Kathleen Summerville. I felt this was rather unique, considering that most novels of this type are told from just the perspectives of the two main characters. I am still unsure, even days after finishing this book, whether or not I liked this way to tell the story. It did make it possible for the reader to get “more of the story,” since Kathleen and Colin and Felicia were sort of in a love triangle. I really liked how Kathleen’s story ended, though, so it was nice to know more of her thoughts and feelings.

One thing that stood out for me in this book was how strong Felicia was in her love of God and in her faith. She took time out to pray and to study Scripture and to just be with her Father. When she faced difficult times, she relied on the promises of God from His Word. This is one thing that is often missing from Christian fiction, to my great sadness. In this story, though, Felicia relied on Christ and Scripture, and she was able to be a great example to the people in the town.

While it is rather predictable and somewhat slow to begin, Belonging is a nice, easy read that is well written and has main characters that are enjoyable.

I will give Belonging by Robin Lee Hatcher … 3 1/2 BookWorms.

 

 

 

 

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."



"The Doctor's Lady" Review & Giveaway

The Doctor’s Lady by Jody Hedlund was sent to me as a review copy by Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing group.

The year is 1836, and Priscilla White is preparing to travel to India to serve as a missionary when the Mission Board delivers some unwelcome news:  if she is to be sent as a missionary, she must be married.

Dr. Eli Ernest has already travelled once to Oregon Country, and his dream is to return there to set up a clinic and mission for the Nez Perce tribe. Upon his return back East, he discovers that his fiancé is no longer interested in returning to Oregon with him, nor is she interested in marrying him.

Caught between their desire to reach the people of the West for the Lord and the rules of the Mission Board, Priscilla and Eli make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives, for better or for worse.

Have you ever played the computer game Oregon Trail? I will be giving away my age here, but I used to love playing that game on our Apple IIe computers at my elementary school! In the game, players set out from the East to brave the Oregon Trail. Before you leave, you are given money to purchase supplies for the trip. Along the way, you encounter obstacles that would have actually happened on the real Oregon Trail: flooded rivers, dwindling food supplies, bad weather, and illness. In the game, if you do not make it to Oregon, you could just try again the next day.

But for the people who actually traversed the Oregon Trail in those early American pioneer days, there was no ‘trying again the next day.’ In fact, few white women even attempted the dangerous trip, and until 1836, those who did try did not make it into Oregon Country.

In The Doctor’s Lady, author Jody Hedlund creates a fictional story of the true story of Marcus & Narcissa Whitman and Henry & Eliza Spalding, missionaries who traveled west in 1836 to establish a mission in Oregon Country. Narcissa and Eliza are lauded as the first white women to successfully cross the Continental Divide and travel to the far American West.

I was very interested to read a book about the Oregon Trail. I have always enjoyed stories of the American pioneers (the Little House on the Prairie series being one of my favorites of all time), and I was interested from the beginning in the story of Pricilla and Eli and their marriage of convenience. So I was a little disappointed to not find out until the end of the book that this story was based on actual events! I definitely think I would have enjoyed this novel more if the information on Marcus and Narcissa had been given to me at the beginning. While the story was enthralling, it would have come alive even more for me if I had known ahead of time that most of the events were true. However, I guess the author probably didn't want to give away the ending to the story before you had even read the book!

As for the fictional aspect of the story, the characters, even the minor ones, were extremely well-developed. The descriptions of the surroundings and the circumstances made me feel as if I was right there travelling along with them. Priscilla goes through her own spiritual journey at the same time as she is going on the physical journey of being on the Oregon Trail, and this aspect of the story was done very well. I also felt that the author handled the infertility of Priscilla well. Her emotions and the situations relating to her infertility were genuine. I did, however, get somewhat impatient with the development of the romance between Eli and Priscilla. It was like a tennis match at times—will they get together?—will they not get together?—do they really love each other? – do they even like each other?—it got tiring for me towards the end.

Since this novel is authentic in its descriptions, it is grittier than some. I would even go so far as to give this book more of a PG or PG-13 rating, since there are mentions of attempted rape and other scenarios that I would consider to be more adult in nature.

The Doctor’s Lady is a thoroughly-researched fictional account of a woman’s journey across thousands of miles to serve her Lord on the mission field of the West. It paints a picture of what so many before us sacrificed in order to share the gospel of Christ with those who had never heard it before.

I will give The Doctor’s Lady by Jody Hedlund … 4 BookWorms.

Giveaway:

I have an extra copy of this book that I would love to give away to one of my readers!

Please fill out the entry form below by November 11th. I will announce the winner on my blog on Monday, November 14th.
(US residents only, please.)

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for a copy of

The Doctor's Lady!

And the winner is....

Gwendolyn G.

I will be sending an email to you today.

Congrats, and I hope you enjoy your copy of The Doctor's Lady 

by Jody Hedlund!