Life in Defiance Social Media Tour

As a fan of Mary DeMuth's writing, I am happy to be part of her social media tour this week.


This book is the third in the Defiance Texas Trilogy, and although I would recommend reading all of them in order, you can also understand and enjoy this book from what is revealed in the character's thoughts and dialogue.


Mary's writing is always exceptional, very lyrical and literary feeling. She is a true wordsmith. This book is written from the main viewpoint of Ouisie Pepper, mother of two and wife of the local pastor. Although Mary is a pastor's wife herself, she states at the end of the book that Hap Pepper is nothing like her loving husband.


As an ACA (adult child of an alcoholic) parts of this book were hard for me to read. I felt so sorry for the children and Ouisie, and sometimes found myself angry at Ouisie for not taking better care of them. But, we also know she dearly loves her children, just doesn't know how to save them and herself. We do see her grow in strength and determination and looking to God for help by the end of the book


If you like suspense, you will be caught up in the mystery of who killed Daisy Chance in the first book and is still roaming the woods in this one. When the killer was revealed, it was unexpected, very well-done, Mary!


I hope you will check out Mary's website at http://www.marydemuth.com/ and her blog at http://www.relevantprose.blogspot.com/ and find out more about this enchanting author and her other books.


I did receive a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.

150th Blog Post! Review of A Claim of Her Own by Stephanie Grace Whitson

As I got ready to start this post, I noticed that it was my 150th since beginning my blog. Hard to believe! For this post I want to do a review of a book I read several months ago by Stephanie Grace Whitson. I had already read her contemporary series set in Paris (A Garden in Paris) and Italy (A Hilltop in Tuscany) ,and loved both of them!

While A Claim of Her Own is a historical, it still has the superb writing style that attracted me in Mrs. Whitson's other books. The author is a master of characterization, description of both people and setting, all with a spiritual message that is not contrived or forced. This book chronicles the perilous journey of Mattie O'Keefe as she travels to Deadwood, South Dakota seeking her brother. It also tells of her spiritual journey as she searches for gold, but finds true treasure instead. I highly recommend this book and all other books by this author. You can check out more about her and her other books at www.stephaniewhitson.com

This month's winner is...Lisa Harris

Lisa wins a copy of Sharlene MacLaren's Abbie Rose. If you leave a comment during the month of June you will be entered into a drawing for Finding Jeena by Miralee Ferrell.

I usually am able to finish reading the book before I post about it, but this month has included 2 computer problems, our youngest daughter's college graduation, getting a proposal ready for an agent and editor, a bad sinus infection and guests this past holiday weekend with a cookout for 10 one night and a fish fry for 6 another, on top of ordinary life--or maybe that is my ordinary life!

So, this month I will copy the back cover blurb of Miralee's new book to whet your appetite. "Jeena Gregory thought she'd made it. She has everything a woman could ask for and a budding career promises more. But when rumors around town cast her boss in a shady light, Jeena starts to question her employer's integrity. Was she wrong to trust this man and this job?
When the boss disappears, salaries go unpaid, and Jeena overhears several hush-hush phone calls, she realizes her carefully crafted world is crumbling. Shaken to the core at the threat of losing everything, Jeena is suddenly confronted with her prejudices--and with a God she had long forgotten."

All I can say about what I have read so far, is "there but for the grace of God go I" or any of us.
I will tell you a little about the author. This is Miralee's second book for Kregel, and she also has 2 books pubbed in the Love Finds you in... series by Summerside Press. And you can find more about the author and books at her website http://www.miraleeferrell.com/ or her blog at http://www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com/

My company left this morning, so I am off to read for awhile! Hope you will join me in enjoying this book which was a gift from the author/publisher for the means of reviewing.