An Outlaws Christmas

An Outlaws Christmas

McKettrick's of Texas Novel

Linda Lael Miller

Sawyer is on his way through Blue River, Texas when he's shot. It's dark and snowy and he can't see who fired the shot. He had agreed to come be a temporary marshal. So his first day in town isn't very promising. Arriving at the local school house he loses consciousnesses from the blood loss. Piper, the single school teacher, isn't exactly thrilled to be saddled with this bleeding man. She knows her reputation will be ruined if she takes him into her home. But she can't exactly leave him in the snow, bleeding to death.

The characters were fun and enjoyable. I haven't read anything by this author before and was pleasantly surprised. The additional characters also add depth to the story. I wouldn't mind reading another book about several of them. There are a few loose threads that aren't followed through at the end or in the epilogue, but it didn't really bother me. The story ended well, but left some openings for another book about the family.

Chesca and the Spirit of Grace

Chesca and the Spirit of Grace

Lara O'Brien

Chesca's biggest dream is to ride Malley, a wild stallion on her family farm. She lives in a magical world of talking animals who are her friends. No one else hears the animals and sometimes Chesca would rather be with the animals than people. But when her small farm in Ireland is threatened and life as she knows it begins to unravel, Chesca must find a way to save her family. Chesca uses the story of the Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley to help her family, her animals, and the farm.

 

I know I'm an adult, but I really enjoyed reading this story. My 8-yr-old son read it and I heard him laughing several times. So clearly he enjoyed it as much as I did. His favorite part was the talking animals. 

The story is fun and magical. But it also brings out the importance of family, loyalty, and courage. The author was able to write a story that will capture both the young and the old in a tale filled with fiction and fact.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Me and My Big Mouse

Me and My Big Mouse

Ethan Long

Michael has a very big problem. It's his very big pet mouse. Mouse is embarrassing and annoying him. His breath is terrible, he makes very loud noises, and Michael can't ever be by himself. So he tries to leave Mouse at home. But Mouse gets lonely and cries. Finally Micheal figures out a way to have some personal space without hurting his pet mouse.

The illustrations are hilarious and fit perfectly with the story. The story is sweet and my children enjoyed it. The humor is mostly in the illustrations, but the words help bring it all together.

I received this book free of charge from Goodreads in exchange for my honest review.

Stuck Together

I won't be putting this little note in my review on the retail sites, but I wanted you let you, as my blog readers, know what happened with this book. A couple of weeks ago we had a house fire. Unfortunately I was about 3/4 of the way through this book and the only thing that survived was a portion of the cover. I was enjoying the book and also knew that Bethany House was expecting a review from me. So I was pretty upset when I found that piece of the cover while sifting through the ashes. I emailed Bethany House as soon as I returned to the hotel room. They quickly responded and told me that they had marked the book as already reviewed so I didn't have to worry about it while I was dealing with my house. But they sent me another copy just to read. Bethany House is awesome!!!

So even though I didn't have to, I like this author and I wanted to write this review as a thank you to Bethany House.

Stuck Together

Trouble in Texas Book 3

Mary Conneally

Tina joined her brother in Broken Wheel after her aunt kicked her out. She barely knows him, but he's the only family she has. Her mission field is to picket the local saloon. But her picketing days are soon numbered when more trouble than just a glass of whiskey rolls into town.

Vince has a grudging respect for Tina, but is sure that he can never marry. His mother is crazy and his father is cruel. So he admires her and finds ways to spend time with her, but refuses to marry her. Escaped prisoners, drunk cowboys, and an elderly lady with dementia add to the chaos and craziness that make up Broken Wheel, Texas.

I've enjoyed the other two books in this series so it was no surprise that this one was so fun to read. Since I've read the other books I knew who all of the characters were and enjoyed reading more about them. I probably wouldn't recommend this book as a stand-alone, because of the characters from previous books. The characters are comical, caring, and realistic. The author did a great job of keeping my attention and interest through the entire book. The sense of family between the men who weren't brothers was heartwarming. I was disappointed when everything wrapped up at the end. I was really hoping this series would continue for a while. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for her next book.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

A Woman of Fortune

A Woman of Fortune

A Texas Gold Novel

Kelli Coates Gilbert

Claire is living the perfect life. She has wealth, amazing children, and a wonderful husband who adores her. She glosses over the minor negatives and sees what she wants to see. Until one day everything comes crashing down around her. Her family is falling apart and her husband is on his way to jail for fraud. Every single thing she thought she knew about her family is becoming a lie.

The story flowed smoothly and I read the book quickly. I liked some of the characters and really, really disliked others as I'm sure was the author's intention. The plot was an interesting angle that mirrored a true story. But I couldn't really grasp the focus of where the story was supposed to go. The author pulled faith, trust, resilience, and the sacredness of marriage into the story and did a great job. But the plot seemed plucked out of a section of the character's life and I wasn't given more than a brief glimpse before it ended. So I have really mixed feelings about the book. I enjoyed the writing style so will definitely be checking out the other books by this author.

I received this book free of charge from Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.

Four Boots One Journey

Four Boots One Journey

A Story of Survival, Awareness, and Rejuvenation on the John Muir Trail

Jeff Alt

Jeff, an avid hiker and backpacker, has married a wonderful woman. But Beth's idea of a vacation includes a hot shower and soft bed. So when he tries to convince her to join him she isn't interested. Several years after their wedding they experience the loss of a loved one. This spurs Beth to hike the John Muir trail with Jeff to raise awareness about depression.

I enjoy the author's style of writing. It reminded me a bit of the book A Walk in the Woods. He tells the story in an honest and refreshing way that makes me want to lace up my hiking boots and find some trails. The author tells of their experiences, while also peppering the story with his thoughts about life and about the aspects of depression. It was a fun and informative little book to read.

I received this book free of charge from Direct Contact in exchange for my honest review.

Hearts in Vegas

Hearts in Vegas

Colleen Collins

Frances is a P.I. for an insurance company and is going under cover to investigate some coin and jewelry thefts. While undercover she meets Braxton, her body guard assigned to her by the man she is investigating. His past is a secret and she can't tell the truth about hers. So how are two people ever supposed to get to know each other if both of their current lives are a lie?

I just reviewed the first book in this series and enjoyed it. So I was looking forward to reading this one. The plot is more complicated than the first book. The quirky family is back again and just as entertaining. Drake from the previous book is Braxton's brother so he is in quite a bit of the book. He is even more annoying in this book. In fact, I really disliked him. But the rest of the characters were fun and the plot was full of humor and intrigue. I enjoyed the plot twists and character that the author added to the book.  

I received this book free of charge from Goodreads in exchange for my honest review.

Sleepless in Las Vegas

Sleepless in Las Vegas

Colleen Collins

Valerie is being mentored in the P.I. field. Her home is in Las Vegas, the city that never sleeps. She is  desperate to get into the field, but her boss doesn't think she's quite ready. Valerie takes on a job while her boss is out of the office that has her accidentally spying on another P.I. To correct her mistake, she ends up working for him to solve an arson and put a man behind bars. 

The plot was interesting and kept my attention. I enjoyed the quirkiness of the main female character. The main male character was slightly annoying. He didn't really appeal to me. But his family made up for it. The author did a good job of writing an intriguing story that was both romantic and humorous.

I received this book free of charge from Goodreads in exchange for my honest review.

Miracle in a Dry Season

Miracle in a Dry Season

Appalachian Blessings Book 1

Sarah Loudin Thomas

Perla has returned to Wise, West Virginia to stay with her aunt and uncle. But this time she returns with a young girl and no husband. She just wanted a place to stay where she wouldn't be ostracized for her bad choices and where hopefully the rumors wouldn't run her out of town. Casewell is an elder in the church and a very eligible bachelor. Perla knows there is no way that he would ever consider a fallen woman, but for some reason she can't help sharing her secrets with this quiet, steady man. 

I'd reviewed the novella that was a sort of prequel to this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. (See review here.) I once again loved the characters and the sweet simplicity of the little town. The side characters added depth and heart to the story. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning and saw a beautiful little town with flaws and spirit as I read. While I enjoyed the romance and plot in the story, I also really loved the way the author wove the plan of salvation and the difficult act of forgiveness in so seamlessly. The miracle is not so much about something tangible as it is a miracle of the heart.

It isn't often that I find an author that I can truly add to my favorites list. It's even rarer that this is a new author, just getting started. But this author has definitely made the cut. I look forward to her next books.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Women of the Word

Women of the Word

How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds

Jen Wilkin

Lost about how to really study the Bible and feeling like what she knew barely scratched the surface, the author started on a journey to learn how to study the Bible more effectively. She begins by pointing out several hit or miss methods and shows how they can be inadequate. She then outlines five steps to learning how to read and study the Bible with purpose. The next five chapters follow these five steps. The book ends with a conclusion how how to studying the scriptures points us to our Savior.

I have often fallen into some of the "unhelpful habits" that the author mentioned. This little book really helped give me perspective and clarity. I enjoyed her friendly, common sense approach. It felt more like a chat with a friend than a lecture. The points that she brings out are not only helpful, but spot on in terms of getting the scripture to apply to our hearts AND minds. It's definitely a book I'll be keeping and sharing with others.

I received this book free of charge from Crossway in exchange for my honest review.

The Chopped Cookbook

The Chopped Cookbook

Use What You've Got to Cook Something Great

Food Network

The creators of the Food Network show Chopped have come together to make a cookbook that shows you how to use the basic ingredients you might typically find in your kitchen and create a wonderful meal. The main intent for the book is to take the "What's for dinner?" question and turn it into a great meal.

The book begins with with a basic pantry list and gives some tips on how to season different foods. The recipes are divided up into easy to use sections. Each section has tips and ideas on how to get creative with some basics to make a very tasty meal.

Pictures fill almost every page. The tips are helpful and most of the recipes contain ingredients I already have or regularly purchase. The instructions are basic and easy enough to follow. Most of them appear to be quick as well. The book does not contain anything weird and crazy like the show, but it will give you ideas when you are coming up lost for ideas.

I received this book free of charge from WaterBrook in exchange for my honest review.

A Match of Wits

A Match of Wits

Ladies of Distinction #4

Jen Turano

Agatha is a reporter for the New York Tribune. But someone wants her dead so she is currently in Colorado writing stories about the wild west. She stumbles upon an old friend in desperate need of help. At least Agatha thinks he needs help. Zayne is quite sure that he is fine and has no intention of returning to New York. 

This is the first book I've read by this author so that might have affected how I viewed the story. I felt the book was fine as a stand-alone, but since I haven't read the previous three, I can't be sure.

The story was full of wild and crazy stories about the escapades of the main female character, Agatha. Most of them seemed a bit far fetched for the time period, but were still amusing. Agatha was a bit annoying to me, since she seemed to have very little regard for the feelings of others. Both main characters came across as incredibly selfish and self-centered. The main male character seemed a bit weak and almost unmanly to me, but several reviewers mentioned more character development in previous books. It was a interesting and even fun at times book to read, but it didn't entice me to read the previous books in the series.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Death Takes a Ride

Death Takes a Ride

The Cate Kincaid Files Book 3

Lorena McCourtney

Cate has dropped by H&B Vintage Auto Restorations to give someone a ride to church. What she doesn't expect is a murder. Cate is still a waiting on her P.I. license to arrive, so technically she isn't supposed to investigate a murder. But when the business partner asks her to investigate another issue she gets pulled into everything before she realizes what she's into.

I hadn't had the pleasure of reading anything by this author before. I didn't know what I was missing. I could not put this book down. It was funny, entertaining, and well written. The author did a great job of mixing a little bit of romance, lots of mystery and intrigue, and subtle mentions of God.

I haven't read the first two books in the series, but was still able to enjoy this book. I enjoyed the author's sense of humor that she infused into the story. The main female character was quirky and klutzy, but endearing. I can't wait to get the first two books.

I received this book free of charge from Baker Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Forget Me Not

Forget Me Not

Karen Cogan

 Miranda, a school secretary, finds herself falling in love with a coach at the school. Paul is perfect and their relationship is moving quickly towards marriage. So when several disasters things happen it threatens the love they hold dear. Can they both trust God to handle the hurt and sorrow?

The story is sweet and has some Christian elements. The plot deals with family illness and death and I felt the author handled these subjects well. The romance was clean and a bit puerile. Based on the actions of the couple, I felt the book was more YA than adult. But overall it was a sweet story.

I received this book free of charge from Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.

Love Comes Home

Love Comes Home

Rosey Corner Book 3

Ann H. Gabhart

The Merritt sisters are so thankful the war is over and their husbands can come home. Except Tori's husband, who died in a concentration camp. Life resumes when everyone is home. But it isn't the same for any of them. Tori can't seem to let go of her grief. Kate learns being strong can't fix everything. Evie can't be satisfied with what life has handed to her. And Lorena finds out that her memories aren't what she thought they were.

A tiny bit of romance, a whole lot of faith and family, and a little bit of history are all thrown together to make a family saga that is both enjoyable and heartwarming. The story wasn't overly romantic or dramatic. But it was sweet and had great characters. The author did a great job of showing the story. I think this book could work as a stand alone. There isn't any indication on the book that this is the third one in the series, so I was a bit lost at times trying to figure out what the book was talking about. I would definitely recommend reading the first two before this one. But it was a good story and I intend to read more by this author.

I received this book free of charge from Baker Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Appalachian Serenade

Appalachian Serenade

An Appalachian Blessings Novella

Sarah Thomas

Delilah's experience with marriage wasn't great. So when her husband passes away she feels relief. She moves to Wise, West Virginia to stay with her sister and family. But after she overhears a conversation between her sister and brother-in-law she decides to look for a job.

Working at the general store is more fun than she imagined and the owner is wonderful to work for. But Delilah has her heart set on having children before she is too old. Her faith is tested and her ideals are changed more than she imagined.

This novella is just a little taste of the series Appalachian Blessings which comes out this summer. The story was short, but hit all of the major points for me. It has romance, lessons of faith, and family. The characters were fun and well rounded. The romance was sweet without being over the top. This has story has had the desired effect. I will be checking out the first book in the series when it comes out.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

The Husband List

The Husband List

Rx for Love

Cindy Kirk

Mitzi grew up incredibly poor. She's had to fight her way up to become an orthopedic surgeon. So her husband list includes a man with serious ambition who is well on his way to reaching his goals. It certainly doesn't include ex-convict Keenan. She knows he was falsely accused and admires his dedication to his sister. She trusts him as the pilot who takes her to clinic and as a best friend with all of her secrets. But can she trust him with her heart?

The characters were realistic and likable. The book was more about feelings than any real plot, but it was still an enjoyable read. The author has written Christian fiction previously so I was expecting it to be a clean romance. It definitely has some aspects that would NOT be found in any Christian romance. So if you are uncomfortable with that sort of book, then definitely don't get this book. But if you don't mind a few bedroom scenes than this is a good summer read.

I received this book free of charge from Harlequin in exchange for my honest review.

The Prince's Cinderella Bride

The Prince's Cinderella Bride

The Bravo Royals

Christine Rimmer

Lani has fallen in love with the Max, a prince. The problem? She's the nanny and comes with quite a bit of baggage. It's so clique and she's just not ready for everything that will come along with that type of relationship. She's decided to end things before they get too complicated.  But Max has waged an all out war to change her mind.

The story was sweet and the characters were likeable. It's a fun, quick read. My complaint would be all of the angsty, drama. The two characters had more baggage and issues than the typical couple. So most of the book was either the two misunderstanding each other or trying to help each other through a crisis of some sort. It was romantic, so I enjoyed it. But I'd prefer more plot and less drama.

I received this book free of charge from Harlequin in exchange for my honest review.

9 Traits of a Life-Giving Mom

9 Traits of a Life-Giving Mom:

Replacing My Worst with Gods Best

Sue Detweiler

Every single mom out there has had moments of frustration, loneliness, and feelings of being overwhelmed. We have the choice to give in to our frustrations or turn them over to God.  The author has taken the fruits of the spirit and in a clean and concise manner has presented a book that should be a requirement for every mom. There are eleven chapters with study guides to accompany them. The chapters aren't long so it will work for a busy mom, but can also be studied more in depth, making this perfect for small groups or Bible studies.

I picked up 9 Traits for a Life-Giving Mom by Sue Detweiler because I'm a mom and I'm always up for anything that will help me be a better one. I have read quite a few parenting books since I first found out I was going to be a mom. But none of them has reached me so well and spoke to me so elegantly as this book has. The author wrote in terms that every mom will be able to relate to. She shares real life experiences and backs up her thoughts with plenty of scripture. The entire way through the book I was being pointed in the direction of God and my need for Him. I felt encouraged and affirmed as a great mom. But I also felt convicted and inspired to put more of my faith in my Savior and become an even better mom through Him.

The author encourages trust, faith, and total dependence on God. I simply read through the book so that I could write this review. But I will be going back to savor each chapter and go through all of the scriptures and discussion questions. I can't recommend this book enough.

You may purchase this book on Amazon or at other retail stores.

I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.

The Revealing

The Revealing

The Inn at Eagle Hill Book 3

Suzanne Woods Fisher

Naomi is now a single mom with children and step-children after the death of her husband. Her step-son is in jail and a stranger is making claims that are not only unsettling, but threaten to throw off the entire balance of the family. Life just seems to be more complicated for everyone in the family.

I'm good about reading the description of a book and starting to read it before noticing that it's a book in a series. I did that with this one. So there were several times that I knew it would have been more helpful to have read the first two books. I wouldn't consider this book to be stand-alone. But in spite of my error, I really enjoyed the story. It was fascinating and despite my moments of confusion, it was a great read. The characters are well developed and the plot has lots of twists. There seemed to be several stories going on at the same time, as is typical with large families. But they all flowed well together and made the story more interesting. The writing draws you in and has prompted me to pick up the first two books in the series so I can see what I missed.

I received this book free of charge from Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.

Treat Yourself

Treat Yourself

70 Classic Snacks You Loved as a Kid (and Still Love Today)

Jennifer Steinhauer

 If you've ever enjoyed an Oreo or Twinkie as a child and wanted to return to those blissful moments than check out this cookbook. Bright colorful pictures and easy to use (for the most part) recipes make this book a favorite. The author also adds a personal touch and bit of whimsy by writing a bit of history or her own personal feelings about each recipe.

I really enjoyed browsing through the book. The recipes look fun and do-able for me. As a huge fan of dessert, I was delighted to see several favorites here. But there were also some that I didn't recognize and look forward to trying. I'll definitely be keeping this and trying out quite a few of the recipes.

I received this book free of charge from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

The Princess Within

The Princess Within For Teens 

Discovering Your Royal Inheritance

Serita Ann Jakes

Most teenagers deal with feelings of insecurities, hurt, and insignificance. But most of us would love to be Cinderella - after the ball - when her prince comes knocking on her door. We want to feel special, beautiful, and worthy. So how do we accomplish this? The author takes the reader on a spiritual journey that shows how God wants each of us to find our Princess within to become the young women he's designed us to be.

Each chapter begins with a modern day telling of Cinderella. Next is a play list of music that will fit with the topic. Quizzes, personal stories from different people, and Bible verses help to bring the subject home and make it real. The chapters end with a section called "What's Your Story?" that helps the reader to make the topics more personal and applicable. The book ends with several pages of resources for girls to turn to if they are dealing with a specific problem.

The author did an outstanding job of writing in a way that teenagers will find relate-able. The chapters focus on a different aspects, but they all tie in together. I was a bit distracted by the multitude of things in each chapter, but I'm sure this will help keep the attention of the young girls it's intended for. It's definitely a book I can recommend and I will be keeping it for when my daughter reaches this age.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Samantha Sanderson On The Scene

Samantha Sanderson On The Scene

Robin Caroll

Samantha is not with the "in" group. So she has a hard time feeling sorry for all of the troubles that Nikki, a mean girl, seems to be suddenly having. But when Nikki begins to be bullied she decides to help her out. No one should be a victim of a bully regardless of how mean they are to others. So she uses her position on the school paper to write a series on bullying. And with the help of her best friend, Makayla, she tries to solve the mystery of who is bullying Nikki.

The plot is realistic and engaging for the intended age of middle school girls. Even as an adult, I enjoyed the story and read it quickly. The subjects of bullying, divorce, and trust were handled well and in a Christian manner. My only complaints would be concerning the grey areas that the girls dealt with concerning sharing gossip and invasion of privacy. The parents were either completely oblivious or didn't really punish their daughter about them. But overall it was a good book that I can recommend to to anyone with middle school girls.

I received this book free of charge from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Diane Page - Author

Last week I reviewed a children's book by Diane Page. She's written two other children's books that I thought you might like to check out. I'll tell a little about each book and give links where you can purchase them.

This is the book I reviewed last week. It's precious and my children enjoyed it.

Read my review here.

Purchase this book on Amazon or other places where books are sold.

 

The next book in the series is about when Little Boy and Bobbs get a new neighbor. The story shows how Little Boy and Bobbs try to get to know the girl next door.

Purchase this book on Amazon or other places where books are sold.

 

The third book by this author is about a little boy and a kangaroo who take a trip through the zoo, while learning their colors.

Purchase this book on Amazon or other places where books are sold.

 

The author (Diane Page) and illustrator (Bruce Bigelow) have done a great job in captivating the attention of young children while imparting concepts they need to learn.