March 1st bookdrawing...and the winner of Board to Death is...Peg Phifer! And read on for a review of the book you can win if you leave a comment during the month of March--Words Spoken True by Ann Gabhart.

Suspense with Lots of Sizzle!

Ann Gabhart said this book has more romance than most of her books, and I agree. And the romance sizzles from the moment Adriane Darcy meets Blake Garrett. But there are two problems--she is engaged to someone else and Blake runs a newspaper that rivals the one her dad (and Adriane) put out in Louisville, KY. Since this is the town where I was born and grew up the first eighteen years of my life, I enjoyed learning much about the early history during the newspaper wars and the political life of the mid-nineteenth century. But Ann weaves the facts into the story in such an interesting way that you'll want to stay up past midnight to finish it like I did!

And for suspense lovers, the newspapers covers several murders of young women in the city that builds to a very nail-biting scene near the end. I guarantee if you love romance and suspense you will love this book! And isn't the cover beautiful?!

I hope you will come back tomorrow to hear Ann's own words about writing romance. And you can leave another comment on that post for an additional chance to win this must-read book on April 1st! Please leave an email so I can contact you if you win. All those with US mailing addresses are eligible.

Book Review--A Woman Called Sage by DiAnn Mills

DiAnn Mills writes historicals and contemporaries, doing great jobs at both. The last couple books I read of hers were contemporary mystery, and I loved both of them and their characters, so I wasn't surprised when I also found myself falling in love with Sage Morrow and Marshall Parker Timmons, two very unconventional characters in a story set in Colorado in the 1870s and 1880s.

Sage is half Indian and has survived a tragedy by becoming a bounty hunter. Marshall Timmons is a nice guy with a tough job. This book contains murder, kidnapping, and some shooting, but also has wonderful spiritual themes and, like all DiAnn Mills books, a heart-stopping romance! I highly recommend this book to anyone searching for a great read!

Book contest and book review of The Sheriff's Sweetheart by Laurie Kingery
I just finished this book today, so decided to use it for this month's book drawing (winner to be announced on May 1st). As usual, the rules are to leave an email addy where you can be reached for a US mailing address. Also last month's winners are not eligible this month so as to give more people a chance.

This was a delightful book with a well-plotted out story. People/events that appeared early in the story were brought back in at just the right time to play their part in the drama. I fell in love with both the hero and the heroine. Sam Bishop realizes he needs a change of scenery and lifestyle. He finds both, with the added bonus of love, in Simpson Creek, Texas. Prissy Gilmore lives up to her name as the feisty daughter of the local mayor.

This is the third book in the Brides of Simpson Creek series, but you don't have to read the others before this book as I hadn't, but still found myself caught up in the lives of the town's characters. And I hope it will be a continuing series with more of the Spinsters' Club Society women finding their perfect mate. This book is just being released, so you should be able to find it on the shelves of your local bookstore. For the first two books in the series, you will need to check used bookstores or http://www.eharlequin.com/ You'll be glad you did!

Book Review--Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

This latest book by Jenny B. Jones is laugh-out-loud hilarious! In fact, I finished it last night at midnight and was afraid I would awaken my husband in the next room with my outbursts of laughter. But, it also has such a grand spiritual lesson of realizing how special we are in God's eyes as His children. And how all our days--past, present and future--are in His hands. At least, that was the spiritual takeaway for me.

It starts out as a rich guy/poor girl "Cinderella" story, but has so many twists and reversals and characters who aren't quite who you thought they were, you wonder how it can ever turn out with a happy ending. As the back cover announces on the invitation: "You are cordially invited to the wedding of the year with the most unlikely bride and groom. Save the date...and say your prayers."

I hope you will join me and Jenny B. Jones' huge fan club on this inspiring journey from Charleston's South of Broad crowd to the homeless of the city and their angel band of helpers. You'll grow along with the characters, and that's always a good thing!

Book Review--Angel Sister by Ann Gabhart

I have read several of Ann Gabhart's novels, and I must say this is my favorite so far! As Lauraine Snelling opines on the back cover, this is "a jewel of a story."

From the opening scene, we are swept away to the dark and not-so-dark days of the depression shown in the daily lives of three sisters by blood and one sister of the heart. This book is written in several points of view, including the parents', but the main one is Kate Merritt, the middle daughter. Kate's quick actions and tart tongue sometimes get her into trouble, but she has a heart as soft as the freshly creamed butter her mother churns and a mind as sharp as a nail fashioned by her father on his blacksmith's anvil.

I don't want to reveal much detail of the story because I want you to get the enjoyment of reading it for yourself, but I will advise you to hold onto your bonnet as the story ramps up to an electrifying ending. A must read! 5 stars! And I am not just saying that because the author and publisher sent me this book to review!

And do check out Ann's blog at http://www.annhgabhart.blogspot.com for more of the backstory behind this book and a chance to win autographed copies of Angel Sister and also some gift cards to buy other books.

Happy New Year to all, especially to Diane F. who is starting off the new year with a new book...And to you, dear reader, who could win an autographed copy of Mirrored Image by Alice K. Arenz, reviewed below.

Diane is the winner of my monthly book drawing for a copy of Highland Blessings by Jennifer Hudson Taylor. I have contacted her, but if I don't hear back by next Saturday evening, I will have my hubby draw another name.

Mirrored Image by Alice K. Arenz is a must read. I just finished this book last night, and it is a well plotted out mystery with enough red herrings to stock a fish store!

I have read and enjoyed the author's first two books, which were cozy mysteries, but this mystery fits more in the suspense category as you find yourself trying to figure out which of the characters could be the murderer.

I don't want to give any plot points away, so will just second one of the back of the book blurbs by Patti Shene, editor of Starsongs Magazine: "...a roller coaster ride that leaves you breathless. Arenz grips the reader with a fierce intensity that starts with the first sentence and keeps you up all night until the last page is turned."

I know Alice personally, and don't know how such a sweet person can write some of these diabolical characters, but she succeeds at making them very believable.

I hope you will leave a message with your email addy this month to be entered in the drawing which will be held on Feb. 1st for this copy. And if you can't wait, I suggest you check out this and her other two books which I have also reviewed on this blog last year and order one or all of them. Alice's website is www.akawriter.com

Book Review--Take Your Best Shot by Austin Gutwein

My TBR pile is overflowing so I plan to do more book reports the rest of the year. This book which is subtitled "Do something bigger than yourself" is based on the true story of Austin Gutwein who watched a video from World Vision at the age of eight that changed his life and so many others. It chronicles what one child can do to make a difference in our world. One of the inspiring quotes in the book is what young William Pitt said to William Wilberforce in the movie Amazing Grace. "We're too young to realize that certain things are impossible! So we will do them anyway!" That is a good description of this story of Austin and the many other children who have already made a difference in our world. Each chapter ends with a Bible verse and a short devotional that challenges the reader to ask how he/she can make a difference. Very inspirational reading for adults and older children.

Book Review and Book Contest--The Big 5-0 by Sandra D. Bricker

I hope you will leave a comment on any post during the month of April to be entered into the drawing on May 1st to win a copy of this great book. All those with an American mailing address are eligible, except last month's winner. And all you have to do is make sure you leave a way for me to contact you if you win. Simple.

Although I passed the "Big 5-0" eleven years ago, this book touched my heart as I'm sure it will ladies of any age. I also loved the main setting--Captiva, Florida, one of our favorite places to vacation. An added bonus was reading about the various familiar sites and restaurants and the key lime pie! Makes me hungry for a slice just to type it.

Widow Olivia Wallace dreads her upcoming 50th birthday, but not for the usual reasons. She has a string of bad memories associated with birthdays. Her next-door neighbor and her neighbor's mom who lives in Sanibel, work it out for Olivia to dog-sit the mom's beloved Boofer (a character in himself!) while the mom visits her daughter.

While there, Olivia meets two men, a father and son who both seem to fall for her. She can't imagine what can go wrong on this birthday! If you want to find out, you will have to read the book, so leave a comment or run out and buy it. You'll be glad you did.

This book which is an ARC copy was a gift from the author and publisher, Abingdon Press, for the purposes of review.

Thanks and Book Review--Once in a Blue Moon by Leanna Ellis

First of all I wish to thank all those who left a comment on my last post about my 8 year old granddaughter's story. She sat on my lap last night while I read them to her, and she was so pleased and encouraged! And if you haven't read it yet, be sure to check it out and let her know what you think. I believe she will be giving writers some stiff competition in a few years! She's already got engaging characters and the drama of conflict and a race!

Now I want to share my review of Once in a Blue Moon, a very intriguing book! I met Leanna Ellis at last year's ACFW conference when we sat near each other in Donald Maass' class. I loved meeting this friendly lady, and I love her writing!

When I first started this book, it felt different from most of the books I read--not in a bad way, but in a good, intriguing way. The heroine, Bryn Seymour, is good at many things, including writing obituaries and investigative newspaper reporting. She is willing to let herself fall from an airplane, but not into a relationship. Even her relationships with her daughter and grandmother are strained by a secret she has kept since she was nine years old--the day Apollo 11 landed on the moon, and the day her mother who worked in the space industry died.

Bryn meets many quirky characters along her journey to find out if there was any conspiracy concerning her mom's death. She also meets a man who isn't what she thinks when they first meet. There are many twists and turns, and I found myself wondering what was true and what wasn't. I don't want to give away any more of the plot, but I hope you will read this book for yourself and find out what happens only "Once in a Blue Moon." I will let you know that you can expect a happy ending since Library Journal had this to say about it: "Sharp prose and an appealing love story make this tale a winner." I second that emotion!

Book Review, Fields of Grace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

It is always a privilege and honor to read and review a book by Kim Sawyer, as she is one of the first writer friends I made at the first ACFW conference and she is one of the authors I pray for each day. She's also one of the sweetest people I know. Kim's writing has grown over the years, and this was one of my favorite books she has written.
Fields of Grace is a fictional story which begins in the real historic town of Gnadenfeld (which means "Field of Grace") which was the birthplace of many of Kim's Mennonite ancestors. It connected with me on many levels--farming, a sea voyage, family hurts and healings, and God's grace.
Although happy in their village, Lillian Vogt sets out on the voyage to America to help her son avoid serving in the Russian Army. She knows there will be many adjustments to make, but has no idea of the horrors she will face on the ship and the many other losses and lessons she will undergo on the first year in her new home. As you read this book, you will experience the journey and growth with her, so be prepared to shed some tears along the way.
I think this must have been one of the hardest books for Kim to write as she had to take her characters through many trials on their journey of grace. Although the main characters come to an understanding and love for each other and for God and His grace, I hope there will be a sequel to this story so we can see God's grace continue to work in the lives of the next generation.

Book Review--The Light Across the River by Stephanie Reed

I have fallen behind on my book reviews, so plan to post several more between now and Christmas to help you in your gift buying. And remember to leave a post with your email addy for one chance at our drawing for this month, The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry. And also come back on Oct. 31st for a special chance to win a copy from Christina herself as that is the last day of her 2-month-long blog tour.

The book The Light Across the River is the sequel to Across the Wide River, but you don't have to read the first one to enjoy the second. They both portray a family involved in the Underground Railroad in Kentucky, one of the things which first attracted me to this book since that is where I live.

To whet your appetite I want to share a quote from the back cover by author Susan K. Marlow "This book has everything--history, action, suspense, adventure--all nicely blended in a page turning story of real people living out their convictions."

This book is a fictionalized account of the Rankins, a real family, and real events such as the saving of the slave Eliza about whom Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin. It is listed as Juvenile Fiction, but I would recommend it for adults as well, in fact for anyone with an interest in the people, both young and old, black and white, who let their lights shine during this dark period of our country's history. It is published by Kregel, so can be ordered from them or at www.amazon.com I also hope you will check out the author's website at www.stephaniereed.turboflanges.com Happy reading and gift buying! Remember--a book is a gift that keeps on living in the reader's mind long after they close the covers!

Book Review--Menu for Romance by Kaye Dacus

I am happy to tell you about a book that will dish up some romance for you, served Louisiana style. Meredith Guidry is a party-planner extraordinaire, and Major O'Hara is a locally famous chef. They've worked together for years, but both refuse to give voice to their growing attraction to one another.

Meredith tries to date some other guys to get her mind off Major. He finally decides to tell her his family secret that has always kept him from commitment, but is involved in a car accident on the way. With cracked ribs and a broken leg, he has to admit he can't always take care of everything, while growing in admiration of Meredith's strength of character and heart.

Meredith and Major were well-rounded secondary characters in Ms. Dacus' first book Stand-In Groom. I'm glad they got a book with their own story, and I hope we will see many more books about this family and its various members in future books.

So go out and satisfy your romantic appetite by buying this second book by Kaye Dacus and enjoy a well-written, funny and endearing romance. Consider it a yummy dessert without calories!

Contest winner and new book contest and review--Snow Melts in Spring by Deborah Vogts

Congrats to Sharon Ball who wins a copy of Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills. I have another great book to offer this month. Anyone with a US mailing address who leaves a comment and a way to be contacted is eligible to win Deb Vogt's debut novel. The release date for Snow Melts in Spring is today, July 1.

I met Deborah Vogts several years ago at one of the first ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conferences. I am so happy for her success at landing super-agent Rachelle Gardner and having her first novel published by Zondervan. Congrats to Deb and Rachelle! You can check out more about both of these ladies and this book at www.cba-ramblings.blogspot.com

Deb loves the Flint Hills area of Kansas and has written a lovely story placed in this lovely setting. Deb also loves horses which play a main part in this story. Here's a snatch from the back cover blurb to whet your appetite for this book. One person will win it, and I hope the rest of you will buy or order it soon! Happy reading!

"Mattie Evans grew up in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Although her family has lost their ranch, she still calls this land home. A skilled young veterinarian, she struggles to gain the confidence of the local ranchers. Fortunately, her best friend and staunchest supporter is John McCray, owner of the Lightning M Ranch. They both love the ranch, and neither can imagine living anywhere but in the Flint Hills.
When Mattie is called in to save an injured horse, she finds herself unwillingly tossed into the middle of a family conflict. Secret pain, passions, and agendas play out against the beautiful landscapes as love leads to some unexpected conclusions about forgiveness and renewal."

Book Review--Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills

I just returned from the Write to Publish Writing Conference 5 days ago and all the aspects of great writing are still swirling through my head from the many wonderful teachers and the classes I attended .

I have to say that this book by DiAnn Mills is definitely great writing and then some--well written hero and heroine you immediately feel drawn to--with high morals, yet flawed like the rest of us; also well-rounded minor characters; superb description; exciting plot with escalating conflict and tension; and many unexpected twists and turns that will keep you reading long past your bedtime like I did!

Here is the back blurb description of the heroine: Paige Rogers is a former CIA agent who lost all she treasured seven years ago when her entire team was killed in a covert mission. She blames their leader--Daniel Keary, a just-announced candidate for governor of her state--whom Paige believes betrayed them. Disillusioned and afraid for her life, she disappears and starts a new life as a small-town librarian."

If you read this book, I guarantee you'll never look at your librarian with the same eyes! And you'll be caught up in this book like a movie unfolding before your eyes. Come to think of it, this book would make a great movie!

DiAnn has graciously offered to mail a copy of Breach of Trust to our winner this month. Please leave a comment by June 30th to be eligible for the drawing on July 1. And leave your email addy or some way of contacting you if you win. Must have US mailing address.

I'm on a roll...in wooden shoes!

I think there is a mixed metaphor hiding in my title somewhere! I'm on a blogging roll as I seldom blog two days in a row, but all your comments and congratulations on my 100th post have inspired me. Plus I wanted to pass along the info below about Robin Jones Gunn's latest Sisterchick adventure--Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes. (That's Robin in the photo above wearing the wooden shoes!)

The latest Sisterchick book will be in stores on May 5--that's next Tuesday, just in time for Mother's Day gifts. If either of my daughters are reading this, hint, hint!

Here's a summary from Robin's newsletter: "Summer and Noelle, two pen pals since 4th grade, meet for the first time in the land of tulips and windmills. An abnormal mammogram sends Summer on a quest to fulfill her lifelong wish before she begins the same struggle her mother fought against breast cancer. The story of these two Sisterchicks is brimming with hope and cheer and will bring encouragement for any woman who has faced a fearful future."

Since I have read many of Robin's books, I can tell you that reading one of her stories will encourage ANY woman, so buy it for yourself if you don't get it as a Mother's Day gift.

And in case I don't post again before Mother's Day, prayers for blessing on all women the world around. Even if you aren't a mother, or if, like me, your mother is living in your heart instead of on this earth, I'm sure you can find some woman who needs a word of encouragement and hope--and maybe a gift of a book! Hint, hint!

Book Review--A Promise for Spring by Kim Sawyer

If you have been following my blog for very long, you've read several reviews of books by Kim Vogel Sawyer. Besides being a wonderful author, she is a dear friend, and I am always happy to have the privilege to read and review her books. But you will have to buy your own copy, as I don't use her books as giveaways, although I do share them with neighbors!

Kim has a soft, gentle voice and demeanor, and her books are soft and gentle reads with much emotion, and you become so involved with the characters that you feel like you want to sit down and talk with them even after you finish reading the book!

A Promise for Spring is no exception. I usually empathize with the heroines in novels, but in this story, I felt great compassion for both the heroine, Emmaline Bradford, and the hero, Geoffrey Garrett. The young couple had been promised to each other back in England, their home country. Neither knew it would be five long years before they would see each other again, or how much each would change during that time. It reminded me of when my husband was overseas in the Air Force and I was back in KY attending college. Although our time apart was a little less than one year, we still had many adjustments to make to each other and the changes that had taken place in our lives.

Imagine traveling half a world away to marry a person whom you haven't seen for five years. Emmaline and Geoffrey have both gone through huge changes in their relationship with each other and with God. They each need to renew their faith in Him and in each other before their new life together can flourish. I hope you will buy and read this book to find out if and how a "well-bred Englishwoman" will "become a wildflower bride."

Robin Grant wins again and new book contest

Our winner of Megan DiMaria's book Out of Her Hands is Robin Grant. Robin is one of my faithful few bloggees. She is the only person who will not be eligible for March's contest. Anyone else who has a USA mailing address and leaves a message on one of my posts during the month of March will be entered in the drawing to take place on April 1st or shortly thereafter. (If you scroll down to previous posts, you can read about the mission trip I will be taking to a Ukrainian orphanage March 19-31st, so depending on flights, jet lag, etc. I may be a few days late with the drawing. Also prayers for our team and all those we will meet with over there are much appreciated.)

The book you can win this month is Love Finds You in Valentine Nebraska by Irene Brand. It is autographed by Irene who is a very prolific writer of over forty-five books with over two million copies in print! Very impressive! I have met Irene, and she is as sweet as she is prolific!

Here is a blurb from her website www.irenebrand.com
"A thoroughly modern young woman is drawn into an ancient feud that has nothing to do with her--or so she thinks. When Kennedy Blaine inherits Circle Cross Ranch in Valentine, her first impulse is to sell it. Her second impulse is to travel to Valentine, a town that seems to have come right out of the pages of an old western, and visit the ranch. Kennedy finds herself charmed by the ranch--and by its attractive manager, Derek Sterling. She questions her decision to sell the Circle Cross, especially when her cousin, Smith Blaine, mysteriously conceals the identity of the person who wants to buy it.But when Kennedy decides to spend the summer in her ancestral home, she's subjected to a series of harassments. When Kennedy and Derek try to discover who's behind these offenses, they're drawn into a feud that just might divide the town--and place Kennedy's own life in danger."

While on her site, you can also see a YouTube video about the book and check out more about Irene and her many fine stories. So hurry on over there and discover a whole library of books to order. And leave a post here for a chance to win a copy of this one.

Book Review--Love Finds You in Miracle, KY by Andrea Boeshaar

As a native Kentuckian, I can assure you that Andrea Boeshaar has the mood of a small town in the Bluegrass state and its down-home folks and their friendliness shown very realistically in this book. As a retired elementary teacher, I can also tell you that the author does a wonderful job of portraying the heroine, Meg Jorgenson, as a caring, involved teacher. Meg moves from Chicago to Miracle to get a fresh start at life, and to renew her relationship with her grandmother. Meg grows very close to one of her students, and the student's father. It will take several miracles to work out God's will in the lives of these realistic characters. I hope you will read this book to find out how that happens. Finding Love in...followed by a name of an actual town in the United States is a new series by Summerside Press. This book was the first one I read in the series, and I enjoyed it so much I am now on my third! So hurry up and order this book. I bet you will enjoy it so much that you do the same!

Book review--Love Finds you in Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell

I just had to stay up late last night to finish Miralee Ferrell's latest book--Love Finds you in Last Chance, CA. This book is one of the first in a new series by Summerside Press. All the books start with "Love Finds you in... followed by the name of a real town in the USA. Miralee and her husband visited Last Chance and she describes it as "now a ghost town with only one small shack and a cemetery attesting to the thriving mining town that once existed."

Using that bare bones scene as a starting point, Miralee has written a fascinating fictional story set in 1877. The hero and heroine are both characters you will find yourself falling in love with. Add some quirky secondary characters and some missing cattle and gold, and you have a page-turner that will keep you up late reading to find out what happens next. I hope you will check out this book and this series of books for some great reading.

Book Review-- Out of Her Hands by Megan DiMaria

Megan DiMaria's second book lives up to the writing standard (4 1/2 stars Romantic Times magazine!) she set in her first novel, Searching for Spice. In Out of her Hands, the heroine we met and loved and identified with in Searching for Spice, Linda Revere, continues on her journey as a working mom, wife, and everywoman who continues on her journey to learn to trust God more.

With her best friend moving across country, the need to help her widowed father-in-law move on with his life, and her son set to marry an unbeliever, Linda's life often seems out of control until she remembers that it is all out of her hands anyway, and in the hands of the only One who can make sense of it all.

I hope there is a third book in this delightful series. Leave a comment anytime this month to be eligible to win a copy of this book in my monthly drawing. (See last post for requirements.) And if you haven't read Searching for Spice, be sure to get a copy of it. Happy Reading!