Tour and book giveaway May 29-June 12

CONTEST CLOSED

Becky Due

My Review

This is a help book for all abused women and girls. It tells of Rebecca's life of being abused by a past boyfriend Roy. She is happily married to a wonderful man and is a rich lady with everything she could ever want, but, she can never forget what happened to her a few years back.

She started dating Roy because her boss set her up with a friend, but sometimes he would be nice and then sometimes see, like a different person. When she decided to break it off with him she had no idea of the man she was dealing with.

Even after he was sent to prison and she found out he was released she didn't tell her husband and let him go on a business trip.  She was always watching over her sholder and though she saw him everywhere.

My thoughts on this book. It really opened my eyes to what is going on in this world. I am so thankful that I have never had to deal with this abuse. Beware if you are sentive on explicit sex and words that it offend. The book will be a great read for anyone that has ever been abused so thanks to Becky Due for writing it.

Thanks to Word Press for sending me a copy for review:

Giveaway of Returning Injury, you must be a follower of my blog leave a comment with your email address so I can get in touch if you win.  Without these your comment will be entered for the book.  The giveaway will run from May 29-June 16 and the winner will be announce June 17.

Becky Due, like the main characters of her novels, spent many years running from her life, looking for love, crying a little and laughing a lot along the journey of finding herself. Through writing, Due found her passion. She is the author of several books and is currently working on her next novel.

Happily married she and Scott live in Colorado, Florida and Alberta, Canada with their two “kids” Buddy the Cat and Shorty the Pug.

My Review:

Pam and Mark Walker live in Lumby and run an inn that had been restored from an old Monk's Abby. Their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary was coming up and they were having a week long celebration with Mark's relatives. This was the same week as their Fair so everyone would have something to do. Pam and Mark were really good friends with the Monks and the Nuns that lived near them.
There was also Hank "the plastic Eagle"
What a surprise when the relatives started coming in, the first one was Mark's sister Lynn, who they were looking to be there. Her ex-husband had cheated Mark out of a lot of money, so she and Mark had not spoken since. She arrived and just sit in the car talking to something, and as she got out they saw she had been talking to her cat, Coco. Out came Mark's dogs, up of the roof of Lynn's went Coco and she couldn't get her down. Coco was a show-winning champion Seal Point Birman and was pregnant by a top-rated Seal Point Birman stud, so she though.

Pam's mother Kay, had to be picked up at the airport with a friend. It happened not to be the friend they were looking for her to bring, Surprise!!

Then came Nancy, Mark's sister with her famous radio talk show husband Carter and their son Corey. Next was a brother Patrick, his wife Elaine and their sixteen year old daughter Jessica. Jessica so did not want to be there, she had brought all her laptops and every type of electronic equipment that she had as she stayed on the internet all night, unknown to her parents.

What a week Mark and Pam had before their renewal of vows. There was trouble every way they turned, from Coco, Carter, who set his radio show up live from their sitting area, to all the contest in the fair that Mark had decided to enter, and then there was Jessica.

This is the first of the Lumby books that I have read, but it was so funny.  This book is to be released on July 6, 2010.  Be sure to pre-order your book from any bookstore or on line.
This book, an unedited pre-release edition was sent to me FSB Associates for review.

Author Bio

Gail Fraser had a successful career in corporate America holding senior executive and upper management positions in several Fortune 500 and start-up corporations. She lives with her husband, Art Poulin, and their two dogs near Saratoga Springs, New York.

Maggie Brendan is a member of American Christian Writers and the American Fiction Writers Association.  She is the author of "No Place for a Lady" and "The Jewel of His Heart.  You can find her here on her blog and order her books from Christianbooks.com or buy in any bookstore.

A Love of Her Own

                                                      by
                                       Maggie Bredan

From back of book:

Still cautious after a broken engagement, April McBride fully intends to guard her heart when she travels to Lewistown, Montana, to attend her brother's wedding. One look around the small mining town convinces April that doing so won't be difficult-just a bunch of dusty shops, bad service, and ill-bred cowboys. But a run-in with horse trainer Wes Owen opens up vast possibilities for frustration, embarrassment, friendship, and....love?
Can April and Wes see past their differences to envision a future together? Or, are they destined to live the rest of their lives alone?



My Review:

April McBride is a spoiled daughter of a large rancher in Colorado and used to having everything handed to her. She loved horses and loved to ride in her blue jeans and boots. She didn't care what others though of her she wanted to do things her way.

Her parents had gone abroad when the news came that her brother Josh was getting married, so she set out on the train for the wedding that was taking place in Montana. She left and got part of the way then had to take a stage coach, she encounter a doctor, a woman with her baby and she didn't like either one. The stage coach had a broken wheel so they would have to wait until help came along. She talked the driver into letting her use on of the horses as she could not miss her brother's wedding. She changed into her levis and boots and left the others behind. She arrived in Billings with her hat and jeans on so everyone thought she was a man. April ran into the church where the wedding was going on just the way she was dressed and didn't have time to talk to her brother much before he left on his honeymoon.

April decided to wait in Billings, Montana until Josh came back and found out there were no rooms at the hotel for her and she was not used to doing anything for herself. She had to stay at a boarding house and even do her own washing! She meet up with Wes at the boarding house and though he was a dirty looking cowboy. But, how her mind changed at the time went on.

What kind of life did she live in this dirty town and what all did she find herself involved in? What will she be doing by the time her brother comes home?

I could just go on and on but I better not tell the entire story, the author may not like for me to give away everything.

This book was provided to me for review by Revell publishing and the Author.

                             TEXAS ROADS

                                              by

                                     Cathy Bryant

Dani Davis loves being a first grade teacher in Dallas but the rest of her life has not been so well. Losing her father, her husband and a fight with her mother puts her on the road to Miller Creek to visit her Aunt Beth and maybe find a place she can call home. She did not know that Aunt Beth knew a secret that Dani finally finds out.

As she was on the back roads to Miller Creek she ran out of gas, locked her keys in her car and had on high heeled shoes, also dressed in a designer suit, but as she started walking the rain started. Finally an old beat up truck came alone and she didn't know is she should get in with a stranger or not, but she did go with him and he was dirty. He dropped her off at a general store where the old men contragrated and they were willing to help her.

Steve and Dani immediately get off on the wrong foot as they both lived in Miller Creek. Miller Creek is a small, down-home town in Texas that immediately makes you feel like you are right at home. She had not seen her aunt since she was really small but fell in love with her right from the start.

The town was falling apart and no one had to money to do repairs, Steve was the mayor as well as worked on the ranch with his father. He had always been at home at Mama Beth as every one in the town called Dani's aunt.

Dani just needed to get away from Dallas for a short time as her mother was very controlling. But she fell in love with Miller Creek and decided to move there.

The town was trying to get some supporters to help finance of the upgrade of the town so that they could get some tourist. Someone finally helped up would not let anyone know who it was, they went through a lawyer.  As the town worked to upgrade the town someone started to break out the windows and such.

As the story comes to an end the secret comes out and sends Dani into a tailspin. Finally Dani realizes that her home is with God. Then in the romance department, true love does finally conquer all.

Cathy Bryant has crafted this novel so skillfully with twists and turns upon twists and turns, much like an old Texas road. Cathy always writes the best books, her next book in this series will be coming soon, be sure to look out for it.

This book was sent to me by the author in order for me to review in my own words.  You can purchase this book here or at Amazon

Ink on paper is as beautiful to me as flowers on the mountains; God composes, why shouldn’t we? ~Audra Foveo-Alba

Just the facts…I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, and now make my home in beautiful Geneva, Ohio. I’ve been married to James for 15 wonderful years (really, they have been wonderful!) We have three terrific children, three dogs, and an overwhelmed cat. We have also raised cattle, pigs, and chickens at various times over the years. We would have gone into the goat business, but I had to draw the line somewhere. I started writing in 2000, and published my first short story a year later. Since then I have authored several short stories, novellas, novels, and have done a lot of freelance non-fiction work. I have also worked as an editor. I have a Masters degree in Special Education, emphasis on teaching the blind and visually impaired, and a Bachelors in Early Childhood/Elementary Education. I have taught all age groups ranging from age 4 to age 18. A few of my favorite things: my relationship with Christ, chocolate (of course!), autumn, a satisfying book, good friends, a sense of humor, people who don’t take themselves seriously, haunting melodies, NFL football, and did I mention chocolate?

A Summer Secret

by

Kathleen Fuller

In Middlefield, Ohio Mart Beth Mullet was growing up in an old order Amish community the same but different as the one in Lancaster County, but wore a different dress code and called everyone that was not Amish Yankee instead of Englisher.

Mary Beth was thirteen and had a twin brother and two younger ones, so she was always trying to get away from them to be alone to write and sketch.

There was an old a banded barn on the next property and it was leaning and rotten and the parents told the children never to go into it. Mary Beth didn’t feel that way about it and had started going there to be alone. She had carried snacks and a blanket and also left her sketchbook under her blanket. She started noticing things moved or missing so she begins to think that maybe she didn’t have as much stash as she thought. Then she found a button on the floor of the barn and she knew that her family didn’t use buttons. One day her twin brother followed her down to the barn and then the mysteries begin.

They would tell their parents, as they knew there would be trouble for disobeying. Who was in the barn as no one was supposed to go there. She hated to have to share it with her brother Johnny but she knew he would tell Mami and Daed and they would be in trouble for sure.

In a thunder storm lighting hit the barn and it burned, but was they mysterious person still in there? Mary Beth and Johnny finally told Mami and Daed they were so afraid. But sometimes even if we do things that we were told not to do something good can come from it. God has a plan and if we follow him, everything will be in His will.

I was furnished a free copy of this book by Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program. In no way does this alter my opinion of this book.

See A list of Kathleen's book here

A Note from Wanda

Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be a writer. When I was in the second grade, I wrote my first poem about a moth. Luckily, I received encouragement from my teacher. During my teen years, I wrote skits that my church teen group performed during special holidays.

It wasn’t until 1980, that I took a course on writing for children and teenagers. I became serious about a career as an author. Soon after that, I began to write stories, articles, poems, and devotionals, which appeared in a variety of Christian publications. Later, I had 5 books of puppet/ventriloquist scripts published. *These books are currently available by contacting me. (wanda@wandabrunstetter.com)

My first novel was released by Barbour Publishing’s book club, Heartsong Presents, in Dec. 1997. I have now written nearly fifty books, with over 4 million books in print. Many of the novels I've written are Amish-themed.

Betsy Nelson returns to her childhood home to care for her ailing father, a faithful minister who served the town for years. William Covington, a confirmed bachelor, comes to town to become the new pastor. Can Betsy and William find common ground on which to work together for the better of the townspeople?


WATCH THE NEW VIDEO




My Review:

This is the second book in the series BRIDES OF LEHIGH CANAL, but I have not read the first one.  This is the first book I have ever read of Wanda's that was not Amish. I have all her Amish books in my collection.

Betsy had moved away from Walnutport, Pennsylvania when she was younger as she had made a folo of herself over a local young man and he had married someone else.  She moved to New York City and was lead to the Lord by and started to help the Salvation Army.  She worked at all types of things to help people and children.
Her father was a Bishop in the local perish until he had a heart attack and that is when Betsy came home to take care of him.  The Deacons had called another young man to come and meet the people at the church to see if he would become their new pastor. 
She was turned off on men because of the way she had acted when she was younger.  William Covington the man that was called to meet with the men at the church.  He was turned off on marraige also because he had been jilted at the alter. 
Well before I give the complete story away I need to stop and just say that you need to buy this book and read it, it is GREAT!

You can get it at any Christian Book store and also online at Christianbooks.com and Amazon,

This book was supplied by Goodreads in order for me to review.

Stephanie Grace Whitson

A Patchwork Life

How old are you?

Old…….er. I was born in 1952 in East St. Louis, Illinois. I remember the Beatles when they were new, the Vietnam war, black and white television, St. Louis before the Gateway Arch, and listening to the St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series with players like Lou Brock, Orlando Cepeda and Tim McCarver.

Where are you from?
Southern Illinois from 1952 until 1974 Chicago from 1974-1975 Nebraska from 1975 until now.

Where did you go to college?
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Class of 1973.

Where did you learn to write?
I don't know. I've always loved to write and my junior high and high school teachers seemed to think I had a "knack" for it. I have a B.A. in French and took one creative writing class after I moved to Nebraska.

What about the fiction writing?
I began "playing with imaginary friends" (writing fiction) when, as a result of teaching my four homeschooled children Nebraska history, I was personally encouraged and challenged by the lives of pioneer women in the West. I began writing scenes in the life of a Nebraska pioneer woman for my own entertainment. That story took on a "life of its own," and became my first book Walks the Fire which was published by Thomas Nelson Publishers in 1995.

Do you have children?
Five. Two married, three singles (I am step-mom to one, although hopefully not an evil one.)

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Ride Kitty, travel, quilt (I have a red and white appliqué quilt in the frame), volunteer at church or the International Quilt Study Center, read read read about France, Italy, Hawaii, quilts, writing (yes, when I'm not writing I read about writing), savor good coffee,attend live music performances in small venues, and listen to Luciano Pavarotti, Keali'i Reichel, Josh Groban, Taj Mahal, Brooks Williams, Shannon LaBrie, Michael Card, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Schubert, Handel, Chopin, Danny Ho, Keb Mo, Vance Gilbert. . .so much music, so little time.

What are your core beliefs?
Every word of the Bible is true. Jesus Christ is alive. He walked this earth as a man without giving up His deity and died on a cross to close the gap between me and a holy and just God. He took my sins upon Himself on that cross and on the day I placed my faith in Him, God accepted his death on my behalf, thereby erasing my personal debt for my own sins and crediting Christ's righteousness to my account. Christ intercedes for me and because of what He did for me on the cross, I am a child of God, held in the everlasting arms, protected from all arbitrary harm, and promised eternal life. Death is only a temporary separation for those who know Christ and therefore I will someday see not only Jesus, but also many of my loved ones face to face. Heaven is a real place and I am going there. Hell is also a real place and those who do not know Christ are going there. "Graves are only doorways cut in sod," to quote Calvin Miller. What I do here on earth has consequences for time and all eternity and God works all things out for my eternal good and His eternal glory. It is my utmost duty to use my creative gifts to share the blessed hope of eternal life with those around me.

                                        Sixteen Brides

In 1872, sixteen women are lured to Nebraska with the promise of free land, independence, and an opportunity to start over after the devastating loss of their husbands. What they find when they arrive in Plum Grove, Nebraska is a story of hope, new beginnings, forgiveness, and love. Add in a conniving man who tricked these women into coming west and you have a recipe for conflict. When six women decide to ditch his plans, the fun begins in earnest.

Tales of heartbreak, romance and cowboys sweep you away as this story unfolds in the lives of the six women that started over in Four Corners, Nebraska with their new homes and lands. Ella is a strong woman that loves to farm with her mother Zita. Hettie slipped in without anyone knowing she was not one of the brides she had been a doctor’s wife. Caroline is as southern as you can get. Ruth was a widow with a young son, and then there was Sally,  they all stuck together. They meet Linney a young girl that worked in the store at Plum Grove. The tales just gets deeper and deeper as the story unfolds.

I love Stephanie Grace Whitson’s books, she always writes a story that keep you spellbound.

I received a complimentary copy for purpose of review from Bethany House Publishers.

The Author

Judith Miller is an award-winning author whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her novels, two of which have placed in the CBA top ten lists. In addition to her writing, Judy is a certified legal assistant. Judy and her husband make their home in Topeka, Kansas.

 Somewhere to Belong (Daughters of Amana)

                           by

                    Judith Miller

This is a new faith to me, I had never heard of it until I started reading this book. I thought it sounded like a cult at first until they started talking about Jesus and then I knew that it was a community as the Amish, but believed different.

A story of two very different girls, one of the girls is a young woman, the other a teenager Johanna Ilg has lived her whole life in Amana, but wants to see the outside world until a secret is revealed that changes everything about the world she thought she knew. She must confront her family and find out the answers to her questions. Will she break her mother's heart to seek these answers?

Berta Schumacher has lived a privileged life in Chicago before being moved to Amana by her parents. Berta does not share this desire to live such a life as her family and she makes that clear as she rebels against the ways of Amana and its people. Will her heart ever soften to the ways of these plain people or will she continue to live a life of rebellion and discontent?

Judith Miller has done an excellent job with this book.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for the free review copy of this book and I am under no obligations to post a positive review.

Ths second book in this series can be ordered from Christianbooks.com
More Than Words, Daughters of Amana Series #2