Fresh from the Bookshelf: Blessing by Lyn Cote {Book Review}

I am not usually interested in Quaker or Amish series when it comes to books. I don't know why. I guess they just aren't my type. But I stepped out of my box after reading the back cover for a new book from award winning author Lyn Cote...her book Blessing is book 2 in her Quaker Brides series and I hoped that my experience and love of her other books would make this one an excellent summer read.

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Blessing by Lyn Cote, follows the story of Blessing Brightman a Quaker widow and Gerard Ramsay, a handsome wastrel from a wealthy Boston family. The setting is 1848 when the two hottest topics in America are women's rights and abolition. The two of them meet while Gerard is attempting to save his cousin from a supposed promiscuous gathering...a WOMEN'S suffrage meeting. He discovers his cousin is in the company of a well-bred young lady and her friend, Blessing. Knocked on his heels with the radically unconventional discourse he has with Blessing right from the beginning, Gerard resents her independent spirit and desires nothing more than to get back at her...for she is for everything he ISN'T. And she's a...free thinker! (Gasp!)

Blessing is intrigued by Gerard, but he takes a place on the back burner, because she has more important things to deal with...her rescuing of the abused and neglected on the docks of the shady side of Cincinnati, OH and her covert role on the Underground Railroad. Everything starts changing the day that Gerard shows up in Cincinnati and keeps popping up everywhere she goes.

Gerard doesn't know why, but he can't get Blessing out of his head. He determines to push her aside in his thoughts as he attempts to start a new life for himself now that his hard-nosed father has cut him off without a cent. Determined to extract revenge on his father by being everything his father DOESN'T want him to be, he sets out to involve himself with men of less than stellar reputations as he tries to get interest in building a racetrack in gambling loving Cincinnati.

Enter a series of crazy events and Gerard finds himself caught up in Blessing's business of rescuing the lost souls. Will her secrets about her previous dangerous marriage prevent her from allowing herself to seek love? Will Gerard's conflicting thoughts about a woman's role in society allow him to accept Blessing for who she is? Will they even have a chance to love when the city's racial tensions threaten to destroy any chances they have?

What Are My Thoughts?

I honestly couldn't put it down! I read it all in one day because I HAD to know what happened next! Neither character is a typical "romantic" novel figure. Each had dreadful baggage that threatens to eat them alive. Blessing fights love because she knows how much she had to surrender and how it destroyed her in her previous marriage. Gerard fights EVERYTHING as he struggles to learn who he really is away from his domineering father. Gerard isn't your normal classic honorable figure either. We see him drunk as a skunk in a gutter, we see him thirst for revenge, and we see a dreadfully abhorrent past.

I think it was these imperfect aspects of the characters that made it intriguing. And to make it even better, it wasn't even resolved until the last few pages of the book, so you had to read it all the way to the end!

I was a bit bummed to learn that this was book TWO in the Quaker Brides series, after I had finished the story. I hate to read books out of order, because I fear I will miss important things about the characters in the story, but I am happy to say that I never felt this way about this book. The plot was flushed out well and the characters were very well developed and stood on their own. I am curious though to go back and read book 1 Honor which is about Blessing's mother to learn more about her. There is also a book 3 coming out called Faith which will be released in April 2016.

How Would I Rate The Book?

This book held my interest from beginning to end. It was an excellent book and I liked it a lot! I loved that it was full of history relating to the time period prior to the civil war in Cincinnati, OH. This is because Cincinnati is just 2 hours away and I love learning more about its background. There is a lot of information where I live about the Underground Railroad, since Kentucky was the last state to cross for many to get into free Ohio. It made me want to go visit the Underground Railroad museum in Cincinnati even more!

Blessing (Quaker Brides)

by Lyn Cote

ISBN: 978-1414375618

Available as Paperback and Kindle

About the Author

In 1997, Lyn Cote's first book, Never Alone, was chosen for the "new" Love Inspired romance line. Since then, Lyn has had over thirty-five novels published. In 2006 Lyn's book, Chloe, was a finalist for the RITA, and her book Her Patchwork Family was a finalist for the Carol Award in 2010 and Her Healing Ways won in 2011. These are two of the highest awards in the romance genre. 

Lyn's brand "Strong Women, Brave Stories," always includes three elements: a strong heroine who is a passionate participant in her times, authentic historical detail and a multicultural cast of characters. Lyn also features stories of strong women both from real life and true to life fiction on her blog http://BooksbyLynCote.com {taken from her Amazon bio}
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Fresh from the Bookshelf: Chance of Loving You {Book Review}

There are times that I like a light read. Something with good heart-warming stories, but that moves fairly quickly and doesn't require a major plot connection to enjoy. Because of this, I really enjoy novellas--a series of short stories by different authors, all put together in one book. When I had the opportunity to review Chance of Loving You, a romance collection by Terri Blackstock, Candace Calvert and Susan May Warren, I jumped on the opportunity and hoped it would be the type of book I enjoyed.

The links on this blog and in the posts may be affiliate links.  Please see my disclosure policy for full details and thank you for your support!

Chance of Loving You is a collection of three short stories revolving around the theme of the risks we take for love, yet each of the stories stands alone. Each story is also followed by a recipe!

For Love of Money

by Terri Blackstock

For Love of Money explores the fun idea of someone giving you a lottery ticket and it being the winning 20 million dollar ticket! This story takes it even further as it follows Julie and Blake as they experience this--but there's a kicker--Blake left the ticket as an IOU when he discovered he didn't have enough money for a tip at the restaurant where Julie was his waitress. Now she owns half the ticket--and half the 20 million dollars! They explore their instantaneous attraction to each other, as they deal with being thrust into the limelight and overnight millionaires. She is desperately trying to kick off her fashion design business, and he wants to design vehicles for the handicapped--can they deal with their attraction AND their instant fame without losing everything--including their reliance on God in the process? A recipe for Double Chocolate Cinnamon Cookies is included.

The Recipe

by Candace Calvert

The Recipe follows the escapades of Aimee Curan, a hospital dietary assistant, as she tries to win the Vegan Valentine Bake-off and prove to herself and the world that she's finally found her calling--cooking! Lucas is a CSI photographer who runs into Aimee while she's caring for one of her patients--his grandmother. Both are drawn to each other, but have inner battles getting in the way of love. Aimee can't see past her desire for success and recognition, and Lucas just can't let go of his rapidly fading away grandmother. Will they be able to take a chance on love, even if they both lose their heart's greatest desire? A recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble is included.

Hook, Line & Sinker

by Susan May Warren

Abigail Cushman is a grad student with a hunger for books and a fierce competitive spirit. Ross Springer is a senior trying to fill his brother's shoes leading the school's social events and trying to leave his mark on New Haven--one of the Christian college groups he is in charge of. Abigail is in love with Ross. Ross is in love with Abigail--But there is a problem. Ross is convinced that Abigail was in love with his recently deceased older brother Scotty and she still is hurting from his cruel declaration of such at Scotty's funeral. Now Abigail, leader of the Christian group Sojourners, is dealing her greatest challenge yet--can she lead the struggling Sojourners to victory in the big Deep Haven fishing contest--and beat Ross' New Haven group? Can she learn to fish from books alone and real in the prize--and maybe Ross' heart? A recipe for Tropical Salsa is included.

My Thoughts

I thought this was a pleasant read. Each story was definitely a stand alone and was well written.

For Love of Money actually reminded me a lot of the 1994 movie It Could Happen to You where a police officer offers to share his lottery ticket with a waitress in lieu of a tip. Perhaps the author had recently watched that movie and was inspired! LOL!

My favorite character in Hook, Line and Sinker was actually the mysterious fisherman at the contest who kept popping in and out, and seem to know everything there was about fishing--even what was in Abigail and Ross' tackle boxes. It was a very cute reveal when everyone learned the identity of this old fisherman.

Out of the the three stories, I think I liked the story of Aimee and Lucas, in The Recipe, the best. Aimee just had this spunk and quirkiness about her and this "love me with all my faults" personality that appealed to me. I thought the story had the most depth of all of them, despite its abbreviated length.

These books are contemporary inspiration fiction, which while it's not my favorite genre (I prefer the historical inspiration fiction), they are still heartwarming stories with a faith based plot--did I mention they all included recipes?? I'm a massive recipe freak-so I am copying these down to try! I would love to eat them all!

The reason I am giving it 3 1/2 stars is because I didn't LOVE the book--but I definitely liked it, enjoyed it, and would recommend it. If I had liked all the stories as much as the middle story, it probably would have gotten a 4 star rating. 

Chance Of Loving You

by Terri Blackstock, Candace Calvert, and Susan May Warren

ISBN #978-1496405371

Available as Paperback and Kindle

Chance of Loving You is a romance collection by Terri Blackstock, Candace Calvert and Susan May Warren. You can stay in touch with each of these inspiring authors to learn more about what they have in the works!

Terri Blackstock --view author info or connect on Facebook

Candace Calvert --view author info or connect on Facebook

Susan May Warren --view author info or connect on Facebook

*****

Fresh from the Bookshelf: Paper Hearts {A Review}

I love inspirational fiction. I love romance. So I REALLY love good inspirational romantic fiction. When I was offered a chance to review a new to the market (as of January 2015) book by author, artist, and playwright Courtney Walsh called Paper Hearts, I jumped on the opportunity.

Paper Hearts is a sweet heartwarming story about an “old maid” living in the romantically obsessed town of Loves Park. With a mother who signs her up for every online dating website she finds, a town that pities her for being the “last single girl” left in town,  and the unfortunate happenstance of being the great-great granddaughter of the founders (who were much revered for their great lovestory) of the town, Abigail Pressman is sick of everything related to love and marriage. She just wants to be left alone to run her much loved store, The Book Nook…and to buy the neighboring store, so she can live her dream of expanding her business to incorporate her love of antiques and local handmade crafts. She doesn't have time for love and considering all her history with it, she isn't sure she even wants it.
Unfortunately, she becomes an unwilling volunteer for the Valentine Volunteers who gather in her store to continue Loves Park’s tradition of stamping mail with the city’s romantic postmark.  To make matters worse, she suddenly gets a new landlord who is converting the building she wanted for herself into a medical clinic…and he’s threatening to end her lease. And he just happens to be extremely attractive. Can she keep herself heart whole as she tries to save her business to fulfill her dreams? Will finding a series of paper hearts, full of love messages, from an anonymous couple in the mail to the Valentine Volunteers, the key to rescuing her dreams…and possibly releasing her heart? I really fell in love with both Abigail Pressman and Dr. Jacob Willoughby. I thought their characters were very well written and they each had a very good back story. I think that of the two, I actually preferred the doctor. He was so full of pain when he arrived in the story, that it was interesting to see how he was able to release his anger and guilt over time.  
The best part of the story were the paper hearts.  I just loved the concept and It was so well described that I could totally envision it.  Imagining Abigail’s store dripping with love note paper hearts, the people gathering to add their notes to the collection, the coziness of a small town bookshop…it was described so vividly that I just wanted to be there.
My least favorite character was Kelly. She was the epitome of a man-eater and oh how I just wanted to shake her. LOL. Totally a barracuda who was determined to have Dr. Willoughby at all costs and didn't care who she took down to do it. It was so nice when she FINALLY left the story!
The only thing about the story that I didn't like was all the mention of Valentine’s Day since it’s not a holiday I celebrate, but I don’t think it took away from being able to appreciate the overall plot and love story. 
There was mention of a town called Sweethaven in the book, and I discovered that the author Courtney Walsh has a series called Sweethaven Summer. I am definitely going to check it out now that I've “met” this author. 

If you love a sweet heartwarming romantic story that will make you giggle and sigh, I recommend that you give Paper Hearts a look! And for even more fun, check out this super cute book trailer (did you know they do those??) from Tyndale Press:

Paper Hearts by Courtney Walsh ISBN# 978-1414398693 Available as Paperback and Kindle

Fresh from the Bookshelf: Tattler's Branch by Jan Watson (Book Review)

If you have followed the life of Copper and her family through the Troublesome Creek series...and then walked in her daughter Lilly's shoes as she experiences life as a female doctor in the mining town of Skip Rock then you will be happy to read this latest novel by Jan Watson! And if you've never even HEARD of Copper or Lilly or Skip Rock or Troublesome Creek--you will STILL enjoy this book!

Tattler's Branch (Print)
Tattler's Branch (Kindle)

Now if you have been a reader of my blog for awhile, you know that I have this thing about reading books that are part of a series. I have to read them in order. I don't like starting a book only to discover it's really part of a long line of books. I hate missing all that backstory! Well, I have NOT read ANY of the Troublesome Creek series. No, not a single one! So getting this book to read meant going against everything I do! LOL! But I think that gives me a good edge on the review, right?

So here goes...
Lilly Corbett Still is a small-town doctor of Skip Rock, a tiny coal community in the Kentucky mountains...

Let me say that it was this first sentence on the book summary that caught my attention because I LIVE in Kentucky! I KNOW about these small coal towns because they still exist!

The book begins in the year 1911 with Armina, Doctor Lilly's good friend and neighbor who accidentally witnesses a murder of a woman by a man. She passes out and when she wakes up a bit later, she discovers that a baby is alone in a house near the scene of the crime. She sees the male perpetrator leaving the house to obviously bury the body, so she grabs the baby and a few diapers off the clothesline. She is discovered in the next chapter lying on the floor of her home after having a seizure like episode...and she now has NO memory of the day before. It is about this time that Doctor Lilly discovers the baby on Armina's bed. Not just any newborn baby...this baby has Down's Syndrome, Cleft Palette and a Heart Murmur...most definitely a special needs child.

From here the story takes off...we see inside of Doctor Lilly's mind as she ponders how she can best help this precious handicapped child. Armina starts to get better as the book continues, but still has no memory of the day and so throughout the book you are just waiting to know when it will come back to her...if it will! Then a few chapters in you meet Shade Harmon who is the baby's father--and murderer of her mother and we see the complexity of his character...his love for his missing child, his desire to get her back, and yet his careless attitude towards the fact that he's just committed murder.

Thankfully there was PLENTY of backstory worked into the book to satisfy me since I have this THING about jumping into series at the middle or end. I didn't feel like I was missing too much. 

The characters of this book are mostly women and they are STRONG women...doing more than the stereotypical roles that society placed on them. This was a very nice aspect of this book--I also liked that the book didn't play down the fact that the community was a poor one. The people were scraping by. I loved the language and references--definitely in character with the Kentucky mountains.

The only character I really had an issue with was Armina. We are told at the beginning that she is just twenty years old...but throughout the book you have to keep reminding yourself of that because she comes across as an old woman. I would have like to either had her age been increased or to keep referencing things that show us that she really is just a twenty year old girl. And just six years younger than the Doctor. You can still have an "old soul" and be twenty years old...without it coming across like you are elderly.

So how do I rate the book?
I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. It was intriguing. It held my attention and yes, it can stand alone for any poor reader who grabs it unaware that it's #7 in a line of books. LOL!

Interestingly enough I had considered reading the Troublesome Creek series but had put it down not intrigued enough by the plot summary. Now that I have read this one, I am finally willing to go back and start at the beginning to see HOW Doctor Lilly becomes the amazing woman she is...by meeting her mother Copper. LOL!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale Press as part of their book review bloggers program.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.

Here are the other books which tell all the backstory of Doctor Lilly's life and about her family...

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As a side note---I just realized that the author Jan Watson has been writing for Kentucky Living...one of the magazines that I get being that I LIVE in Kentucky. Very nifty. ;0)
***
Here is a bit of Q&A between Tyndale Press and the author about her novel!

About the Author
Jan Watson won the 2004 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest for her first novel, Troublesome Creek. Her other awards include being named the Best Kentucky Author in 2012 by Kentucky Living magazine, a nomination for the Kentucky Literary Award in 2006, and second place in the 2006 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest sponsored by the Faith, Hope, and Love Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Tattler's Branch is Jan's seventh novel. As a registered nurse for 25 years at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, she incorporates her nursing experience in the hospital’s mother/baby unit into her novels. Jan resides in Kentucky.
Visit Jan online at www.janwatson.net

Q and A with Jan Watson about Tattler's Branch

(courtesy of Tyndale Press)

1. What was your inspiration for this book, Tattler’s Branch?

I wrote this book because the people from Skip Rock Shallows had more stories to tell. I was reading my local paper one morning and came upon a story concerning something dramatic that had happened on a creek called Tattler’s. I could see Armina there.

2. Tell me about your main character Lilly Corbett Still. Was this character based on anyone in particular?

No, Lilly Gray Corbett Still is totally a figment of my imagination. Lilly is one smart and courageous young woman. I do love anything medical, so Lilly allowed me to indulge a bit in the medical practice of the time. If I were to live any of my characters’ lives, I would choose Lilly’s. She is so strong and determined. And kind—Lilly is very kind.

3. What lessons or truths will your reader find in the pages of this story?

A central truth in each of my books is that everyone is important and unique. Every person has a story to tell and that story is worth hearing.

4. How do you expect Lilly’s story to resonate with your readers?

I believe my readers will appreciate Lilly’s strength in the face of adversity.

5. As a writer, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story?

I especially enjoyed the relationship between Lilly and Armina. Armina is naturally funny and Lilly handles her prickly humor with aplomb. I also liked exploring the character of Shade Harmon. I learned a lot from Shade (including some things I didn’t need to know). The relationship he had with his first wife is especially telling.

The way he loved his baby girl touched my heart. Not to give anything away, but there’s a line in the book where Lilly says, “The ground at the foot of the cross is even.” I just love that she said that.

6. What is your hope for this novel? How would you like it to impact readers?

I want my readers to be entertained with wholesome, faith-affirming, thought provoking fiction.

7. What big questions will this novel get your readers thinking about?

I hope this humble story will inspire readers to look beyond a person’s earthly circumstance and ask themselves who that being really is and what lesson God sent them here to teach.

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Fresh from the Bookshelf: The Outcast by Jolina Petersheim (Book Review)

"Raised in an Old Order Mennonite community, Rachel Stoltzfus is a strong-willed single woman, content living apart from mainstream society until whispers stir the moment her belly swells with new life. Refusing to repent and name the partner in her sin, Rachel feels the wrath of the religious sect as she is shunned by those she loves most. She is eventually coerced into leaving by her brother-in-law, the bishop. But secrets run deep in this cloistered community, and the bishop is hiding some of his own, threatening his conscience and his very soul. When the life of Rachel’s baby is at stake, however, choices must be made that will bring the darkness to light, forever changing the lives of those who call Copper Creek home."

So reads the back cover of this newly released Inspirational Fiction book The Outcast by Jolina Petersheim --a modern retelling of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic "The Scarlet Letter". Are you intrigued yet?
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Let me start by saying...I don't pick Amish (at they lump all Amish/Mennonite based books into) fiction to read for pleasure. It's not my style and I usually avoid it. Don't ask me why--I really don't even know. I just don't. LOL! But this book called to me. It said "give me a try" and I admit I was curious about the Nathaniel Hawthorne link.

The Mennonite community setting for this book works perfectly. Especially since it is set in modern times! It would have been impossible to pull off a strict old order society any other way. So that was brilliantly done. 

I actually want to go back and re-read The Scarlet Letter now just to compare the stories!

One of the first things you will notice about this book is the narrative voice--We see two "voices" in this book. The primary voice is that of the principle character Rachel. We "see" her thoughts, emotions, actions... everything through her telling of events. It's the second voice that is unusual as it is in the form of Amos, a newly deceased father of two of the other characters. And I do mean newly deceased. He is being buried in the first chapter! LOL! He seems to speak on behalf of his two son's Tobias and Jacob (both of whom are the main men of the story) and chimes in little random comments to help the reader get to know them more clearly. But I admit it took me a while to "get" him and his purpose to the story....I'm not sure I could even explain it. You just have to read it to understand.

The two lead females in this story are aptly named Rachel and Leah--identical twin sisters. Rachel moved in with Leah and her husband to help after Leah gives birth and is on bedrest. It is while she is living with her sister that everything (and by that--I mean THE incident) happens. In fact, the story seems to progress almost backwards in time as it starts AFTER Rachel's illegitimate baby is born and is several months old. And from there it slowly adds pieces of the past events in until you finally see everything clearly. It's a very clever way to tell the story.

This story tackles so much within it's pages. Not only do we get an in depth view of the Amish/Mennonite life (both of which the author clearly knows backwards and forwards) but it explores the complexities of lust, sin, betrayal, family loyalties, single parenting, conflict between medicine and religion, repentance and forgiveness. Talk about a griping story!

Did I mention the added layer of a mother having to deal with childhood cancer in her baby?  That aspect alone held me captive!

Even once I had determined for myself the answer to the burning question "Who is the father of Rachel's baby?" I didn't put it down--and not just because it wasn't over yet! No, by that time, I was rooting for some characters, hating others...not to mention cheering and crying as more of the plot unfolded.

And I do mean crying---there were times I just had tears trickling down my cheeks while I read.

The story ends with a definite twist (you won't see it coming!) but with a very satisfactory resolution.

This book would not be my typical selection off the shelf--but anytime I become emotionally involved with the characters, I have to give the book a perfect score! The Outcast most definitely earned 5 out of 5 stars with me and I am eager to see what comes next from the author!

If you like Amish Inspirational fiction--you will LOVE this book.

If you don't like Amish fiction, but enjoy inspirational fiction in general--I think you will still LOVE this book.

I applaud Ms. Petersheim for taking on multiple issues and not letting them get away from her. This book is NOT a light read (and not really for young girls due to subject matter)--but well worth your time and emotional investment.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale Press as part of their book review bloggers program. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.