Review of Hearts Journey by Linda Hoover

 

Series: Heart’s Desire

Publisher: Independently Published

Release Date: September 1, 2023

Author: Linda Hoover

Genre: Historical Christian Romance

This journey isn’t about the distance they travel but the trust they discover . . .

After narrowly escaping an arranged marriage, Boston socialite Julia Phillips joyfully marries the man she loves. But shopkeeper Jacob Anderson has farming in his blood. After their wedding in June of 1880, he takes Julia to Iowa where their best-laid plans soon fall apart. As they learn to rely on each other and God’s provision, He leads them to a promising opportunity. Julia bravely steps into her new role as a farmwife; with help from a few friends—and a sense of humor—she learns the skills necessary to care for her family. Just as Jacob and Julia become established within their close-knit community, a shocking loss threatens to divide them and destroy their dreams for the future. Is God still leading their journey, or have they lost their pathway home?

Fans of Jeanette Oke and Karen Witemeyer will enjoy this sweet continuation of Jacob and Julia’s love story.

“This lovely, faith-affirming story will steal your heart from the beginning chapter and carry it through to the satisfying ending. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.” —Kathleen E. Friesen, author of Hearts Unbroken

To Order Your Copy

MY REVIEW

Julia coming from Boston and home of privilege marries Jacob from New York. The story is set in the 1880s and they decide to purchase a farm in Iowa, even though neither one has any experience with farming. Julia never set foot in a kitchen or cleaned house. After a long trip by train and wagon, they arrive in Carsonville, but not without disappointment along the way.

Trusting God to lead them to the farm they desire, they meet neighbors who insist on helping them to fit into farm life. The entire story is faith-based and filled with God's blessings, but always in his timing. It's about family, forgiveness, relationships, love, understanding, and compassion.

The main characters showed great faith, strength, and endurance in their new life. The other townspeople showed kindness and a warm welcome. I loved seeing the other characters who were not saved, finding their way to Christ. The ending was great and a total surprise.

I received a complimentary copy of the book and a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

Review of Mail Order Deception by Karla Gracey

 

There's loyalty... and then there's love. Which will triumph when the chips are down?

Jane has always been shy and quiet, but she’s gaining confidence in her abilities as a dressmaker, and she’s ready to take on new challenges. She’d love nothing more than to have a husband and children to complete the picture, so when she’s dared to place an ad in the paper, she does it… much to everyone’s surprise.

Bookkeeper Mark doesn’t really want a wife. He’s been burnt before, but he thinks he should have a family, so when he sees Jane’s ad, he begins writing. But he’s shy too, and when she comes to New York to purchase dressmaking fabric, he sends his twin brother, Peter, to meet her in his stead.

As soon as Peter and Jane meet, the stars collide and their whole story changes. They fall for each other immediately… The only problem is, Jane believes that Peter is Mark, and when their relationship is confined to letters again, she can’t understand why he seems so different on paper. She doesn’t love the Mark who writes to her… She loves the Mark who talks to her.

Peter is stuck… He can’t betray his brother, but can he really betray his heart when it’s so clearly telling him that Jane is his love?

The deception can’t go on forever, but how can Peter tell Jane who he really is? Doing so could lose him both of them…

Eagle Creek is never without a new tale of love and heartache, and this one will have you gripped immediately. Lose yourself in a story thick with deception and longing, and hold your breath as you wait to see if love truly can find its way to the surface.

Order

MY REVIEW

The story starts off in 1884, in Texas. Jane Brown, an orphan turns 16 and works as a housekeeper when she leaves. Cook becomes her close friend and so does Marianne, the lady of the house. When Marianne gets married and moves to Eagle Creek, Montana, Jane moves to be with her. Once Jane is settled in, she takes a job working as a dressmaker for Mrs. Albert and then moves into her own small house. Jane thinks she is doing well by herself but gets talked into answering an ad for a wife in the newspaper.

There were some funny moments, some intense surprises, and a sweet ending. Great characters, a surprising deception, forgiveness, and a sweet romance. This is my favorite book from Karla Gracey and highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and a positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Julie

Review of "The London Forgery" by Heidi Eljarbo- New Release

 

1973. Art historian Fabiola Bennett sees herself as a prudently observant deer who becomes a daring and even mischievous lioness if the situation calls for it. And that’s exactly what’s required when greedy criminals steal, forge, and tamper with treasured artwork. When the crooks add murder to their list of crimes, the chaos is complete. 

A mysterious note is delivered anonymously at the door of the National Gallery in London, and the director immediately calls Fabiola’s office in Oslo and pleads with her to come without delay. The message is confusing, but it seems one of her favorite eighteenth-century portraits is in trouble. Fabiola hops on the first plane and meets up with her vibrant side-kick Pippa Yates and the ever-loyal Detective Inspector Cary Green from New Scotland Yard. But she is not naïve enough to think untangling the purpose and meaning of the mysterious note will be as simple as a walk in Hyde Park. These things never are. 

1750. Newly married Robert and Frances Andrews, members of the landed gentry of Suffolk, England, hire young and talented Thomas Gainsborough to paint their wedding portrait. Their desire is a lovely conversation piece showing their wealth and class, an artwork to remember them by for generations to come. Little do they know the gifted artist portrays their personalities exactly how he perceives them, and the artistic symbolism is not as flattering as they’d hoped for. Even the looming clouds in the distance promised a troublesome future. This is the first book in a new dual timeline series by Heidi Eljarbo—an intriguing spin-off from the much-loved Soli Hansen Mysteries. 

Fans of Lucinda Riley, Rhys Bowen, Kathleen McGurl, Kate Morton, and Katherine Neville will love this cozy historical art mystery, which takes the readers back to the nostalgia of the groovy seventies and the classical Georgian era of the eighteenth century.

To Order on Amazon

Heidi Eljarbo writes historical fiction. She grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and she never truly imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, all of which have come in handy when working as a freelance writer, magazine journalist, and painter.

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have a total of nine children, and fifteen grandchildren—so far—in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier.

Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter.

Heidi’s favorites are family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

If you would like to know more, please visit:

Official Author Website:
https://www.heidieljarbo.com/

https://www.facebook.com/authorheidie...

https://no.pinterest.com/heidieljarbo/

Twitter: @HeidiEljarbo

MY REVIEW

The first in a new series, "The London Forgery" is a fast-paced, non-stop action read filled with mystery, suspense, and intrigue. Fabiola Bennet, the daughter of Soli Hanson, is also a specialist in art. Faiola discovers that one of the paintings at the gallery is a forgery. In an attempt to discover where the original is, she finds danger, lies, and conspiracy.

The storyline is set in dual times but is easy to go back and forth, as the author makes it seamless keeping in period with both. The characters are amazing with lots of layers and the story is full of adventure, so much so that I couldn't put it down.

The historical aspects are well-researched and transported me to the world of art and the problems that can entail. This story is a fantastic read and one I hated to see end. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

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Review of "Countdown" by Lynette Eason

 

A stalker who wants to finish what he started. A US Marshal who's vowed to protect his charge. And one woman who is determined to put the past to in the past.


Flight paramedic Raina Price has been running so long it's hard to stop. To escape a dangerous stalker, she changed her name and disappeared, building a new life with the help of a friend from her time in juvie. It feels good to put her energies into saving people's lives, but because her stalker was never found, she's never stopped looking over her shoulder. And one can only run so far before the past finally catches up.

US Marshal Vincent Corelli's job is to hunt down fugitives and protect those who are assigned to him. When Raina is almost killed right in front of him, he vows to protect her at all costs--whether it's his job or not. Together they work to solve the mystery of Raina's past. But someone is out to make sure Raina doesn't live long enough to do it.

Order on Amazon

MY REVIEW

Another edge-of-your-seat romantic thriller. I never fail to be entertained by her books. Highly recommended.

Raina's worst nightmare returns as she braces for a new assault. This time, U.S. Marshall, Vince Covelli is determined to protect her.

As I read the pages, the explosive action kept me wondering how it all would end. It had me surprised more than once and the ending was a total surprise I didn't see coming. A great storyline, awesome characters, and a page-turner of a story kept me wanting more.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and voluntarily choose to review it.

Blog & Review Tour for "A Father for Her Boys" by Danielle Grandinetti

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for A Father for Her Boys by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Father for Her Boys
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: August 22, 2023
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance

A family scarred by tragedy… 

Will find hope in an unlikely gardener 

A summer escape to the quaint little town of River Cove is just what auntie turned mom Sofia Russo—and her troubled, energetic nephews—needs. It’s a chance to heal from grief and her broken foot. But a surprising friendship with compassionate gardener Nathaniel Turner shows Sofia just how much she’s been missing…and how much she stands to lose when summer ends.  

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

My Review

Sofia tries to hold herself together after the death of her sister. She now has her two nephews to care for as a single parent. She decides to get away to spend the summer on River Cove housesitting. Her future takes a different turn when she meets Nathaniel. They both are dealing with personal loss and she is healing from a foot injury which complicates things.

The author does an excellent job of describing the town, the people who live there, and the main characters. I enjoyed their story and was totally engrossed from the beginning. A sweet romance with two young boys that added a wonderful aspect, and a storyline that brought together a feel-good ending, made this story perfect.

My first read by this author and I highly recommend it. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and voluntarily choose to review it.

Also Available

 

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About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti is an inspirational romance author fueled by tea and books, and the occasional nature walk. A 2023 Finalist in the FHLCW Reader’s Choice Award, she has also won the UNW Distinguished Faith in Writing Award and the CROW National Excellence in Story Telling Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons.

Connect with Danielle by visiting daniellegrandinetti.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback of A Father for Her Boys & a $15 Amazon Gift Card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 23, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 30, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review of "The Hill" Movie in Theatres 8/25 Based on a True Story

 

RICKEY HILL
The Baseball Legend and Inspiration for THE HILL movie.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas to a poor Baptist preacher, Rickey Hill’s life was a symphony of trials. Despite adversity, from poverty, bullying due to the braces on his legs, and balancing expectations and dreams, Rickey’s relentless pursuit of his passion in baseball made him one of the greatest hitters the game has ever seen. His life is proof that every day is a canvas for growth, an opportunity to overcome hurdles and emerge stronger. Rickey’s journey is more than just a success story – it’s an inspiration for all to never let go of their dreams.

A FUN BACK STORY

The story of Rickey Hill is a true-life drama of perseverance, faith, and talent emerging from a childhood of hardship, physical pain, and living in the shadow of his loving yet stern father. In adapting  a film of Hill’s story, director Jeff Celentano (Glass Jaw, Breaking Point) recognized right away the potential for greatness a movie made from it could have — much like Rickey himself had a potential on the baseball field that needed to be nurtured before it could fly.
 
“I began this journey fifteen  years ago,” says Celentano. “It all started when my brother, Mark, happened to be sitting in the lobby of a hotel next to a stranger. That stranger turned out to be Rickey Hill.  My brother had overheard Rickey talking on the phone to someone about how a film about Rickey’s life had been in the process of getting made, but quickly fell apart.”
 
“Mark struck up a conversation with Rickey and said, ‘You have to meet my brother, Jeff — he’s the perfect person to get your film made,’” Celentano continues. “Sometime after that, I met Rickey and flew to Fort Worth, Texas, to meet Michael A. Blubaugh, who owned the rights to Rickey’s life story.”
 
Shortly after that meeting, the rights were secured and Celentano proceeded to climb the mountain that was THE HILL.

Enter the Giveaway- Giving away 3 packs of 4 Movie Tickets

https://www.blessedfreebies.com/the-hill-film-giveaway.html

My Review

Set in 1975 Texas, Pastor Hill, and his family are forced to leave the church he pastors. and their home, with no destination in mind.  Just when they are at their worst, God sends an answer. It's exactly what the family needs.

Ricky Hill, the pastor's son is in leg braces, but is fascinated with baseball and wants to pitch. His father refuses to let him.  Ricky has been given a gift but has to go through what seems like insurmountable odds.

The Hill is an uplifting and motivational movie that will bring tears to your eyes and a renewed warmth to your heart in knowing how God's plan is always perfect.  Faith is believing that God's power can take you through any trial if it's his will for your life. Highly recommended.

A family movie that everyone will enjoy. Get your tickets at your local movie theatre. You won't want to miss this one!

Maeve's Pledge Spotlight by Linda Shenton Matchett

 

About the Book

 

Book: Maeve’s Pledge

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 21, 2023

Pledges can’t be broken, can they?

Finally, out from under her father’s tyrannical thumb, Maeve Wycliffe can live life on her terms. So what if everyone sees her as a spinster to be pitied. She’ll funnel her energies into what matters most: helping the less fortunate and getting women the right to vote. When she’s forced to team up with the local newspaper editor to further the cause, will her pledge to remain single get cropped?

Widower Gus Deighton sees no reason to tempt fate that he can find happiness a second time around. Well past his prime, who would want him anyway? He’ll continue to run his newspaper and cover Philadelphia’s upcoming centennial celebration. But when the local women’s suffrage group agrees that the wealthy, attractive, and very single Maeve Wycliffe acts as their liaison, he finds it difficult to remain objective.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

 

More from Linda

When asked to contribute a story to the Suffrage Spinsters series, I immediately sat down and researched the suffrage movement. I was surprised to discover that the crusade to get women the right to vote began the 1830s. Nearly twenty years later, a women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York, an event considered the actual “birthplace” of women’s suffrage.

 

The history of suffragism in America is fascinating because of the large percentage of women who were against getting the right to vote. As I continued to delve into the history of the movement, I unearthed many references to an incident that occurred at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton decided to write a document similar to the US “Declaration of Independence,” call it the “Declaration of the Rights of Women,” and present it at the Exposition’s July 4^th celebration.

 

Their request to speak was summarily dismissed, and in fact, few women were able to obtain tickets to the event.

 

Undeterred, Anthony came up with an alternate plan. On July 4th, in the midst of Richard Henry Lee’s speech (grandson and namesake of one of the Declaration of Independence signers), she marched down the aisle inside Independence Hall and handed a scroll tied in a festive navy-blue ribbon to the host, then turned and made her way out of the building, distributing copies to the clamoring crowd as she went. Outside, she read the document aloud as the remaining copies were distributed. Newspapers covered her presentation and printed portions of the document. Word spread, and countless newspapers outside of Philadelphia picked up the article.

 

I knew I had my story, and I hope in some small way Maeve’s Pledge honors those tenacious men and women who fought to gain women the right to vote.

 

Blessings,

Linda Shenton Matchett

              Blog Stops

By The Book, August 15 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 16

Simple Harvest Reads, August 17 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, August 17

Bizwings Book Blog, August 18

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 19 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 20

Artistic Nobody, August 21 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, August 22

Stories By Gina, August 23 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 24

Sylvan Musings, August 25 (Author Interview)

Connie’s History Classroom, August 26

The Book Club Network, August 27

Bliss, Books & Jewels, August 28 (Author Interview)

           Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Visa Gift Card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/27320/maeve-s-pledge-celebration-tour-giveaway 

Under the Blue Skies Takeover and Review Blitz by Tricia Goyer and Elly Gilbert

 

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Under the Blue Skies by Elly Gilbert & Tricia Goyer hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Under the Blue Skies 

Series: Big Sky Amish #3 

Authors: Elly Gilbert & Tricia Goyer 

Publisher: Sunrise Publishing 

Release Date: August 8, 2023 

Genre: Contemporary Amish Romance

Thomas Smucker moved to West Kootenai for a fresh start—one where he could make his own decisions and build a life away from his deceased father’s harsh reputation. But when a tragedy occurs, he finds his five-year-old niece in his care. Now, he has to build a life he didn’t want and face a past that he longed to escape.

Lovina Graber dreams of a husband and family of her own, but a lifelong limp and disfigured face have her doubting it will ever happen. Instead, she’s content working as a scribe for The Budget and spending her days helping her parents and the less fortunate in her community. Well, mostly content. And then there’s that secret anonymous column she’s been writing too … 

When a newly arrived bachelor becomes an instant father, Lovina feels compelled to come to the rescue, helping Thomas care for his Englisch niece as he works toward gaining custody. Although Thomas and his niece clash at every turn, Lovina finds herself building a bond with the girl. Could this be the family she’s longed for? 

Afraid he’s too much like his anger-driven father, Thomas has no plans to ever marry or have children, despite the sparks between him and Lovina, and his growing fondness for his niece. When he finds out Lovina’s secret—and believes she’s perhaps not the person he thought—he strikes out in caring for Emily on his own. 

But when his custody is threatened, he must do what’s best for his niece. The only problem is he’s not sure what that is. Can he and Lovina work together to fight the lies they’ve believed all their lives—and fight the system to get back their girl? 

Find out in this third installment of the Big Sky Amish Collection.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Christianbook | BookBub

My Review

As Amish stories go, I feel this is one of the best I've read this year, and can't wait to read more from them. The descriptions of the countryside, community, and the main characters brought the story to life. The main characters Lavina, Thomas, and sweet Emily had many layers to them which evolved as the story continued.

I admired Lavina from the beginning, even though she was struggling with self-doubt. Thomas grew on me over time. His niece, Emily was precocious but loveable and often caused me to laugh.

Family issues, insecurity, hope, healing, and a sweet romance completed the story well. I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and willingly choose to review it.

More Books in this Series

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About the Authors

Elly Gilbert lives in central Kentucky with her husband, daughter, and twin sons. A lifelong bookworm, she finds joy in reading and writing inspirational fiction and devotions for adults and teens. When she’s away from her desk, you can find her scoping out the nearest nacho joint with her family or snuggled up with her rescue dogs, Gus and Bella. She adores leopard print, never turns down dessert, and believes that when it comes to earrings, bigger is always better.

Connect with Elly by visiting ellygilbert.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tricia Goyer writes out of her passion for God and her love for family and others. The author of more than 70 books, she writes both historical fiction and nonfiction related to family and parenting.

This USA Today best-selling author has won a two Carol Awards and a Retailer’s Best Award. She was also an ECPA Gold-Medallion Nominee and a Christy Award Nominee and won Writer of the Year from the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference. 

Tricia’s contemporary and historical novels feature strong women overcoming great challenges. She is a beloved author of Amish fiction, having written the Big Sky and Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.

Whether for fiction or nonfiction, Tricia’s writing style is vivid and heartwarming, allowing readers to take home more than engaging stories, but also messages that inspire faith and hope. Her goal is to write stories that matter. 

Connect with Tricia by visiting triciagoyer.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Under the Blue Skies and a $10 Sunrise Shop gift voucher!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 16, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 23, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

New Release on Aug 8th- Summer in the Spotlight by Liz Johnson

 

A hurricane may have destroyed her livelihood on Prince Edward Island, but she's determined to save her community

Kelsey Ahern has performed at the Victoria Playhouse on Prince Edward Island every summer since she was seven. But when a hurricane destroys the building, it's not just her memories that are in jeopardy. Her future as a teacher and drama coach are too. She teams up with Levi Ross, the facilities director at the high school, to produce a benefit show to raise money to rebuild the theater. He has a reputation for being able to fix anything, and Kelsey is sure there's more to the quiet man than meets the eye.

For his part, Levi has admired Kelsey for years, but he can't seem to find the words to tell her. When a popular weatherman arrives in town to cover the aftermath of the hurricane and takes an interest in Kelsey and her show, Levi realizes that the time has come to speak up--or lose the heart of the woman he longs for.

Join New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson for a season of rebuilding, restoration, and romance with this final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series.

Order from Amazon

Order from Publisher

My Review

A very moving and inspirational clean romance set on Prince Edward Island. There is a hurricane that destroys part of the school and the Victoria Playhouse Theatre. Kelsey with some help from the community plans to have a play as a fundraiser in order to get funds to restore the building. That's when things get complicated.

The storyline is one of unexpected events, family struggles, and love. The main characters Kelsey & Levi have many layers and the story has a combined element of mystery, deception, and a sweet romance.

I was hooked from the beginning and enjoyed the journey. I can't wait to read more from this author. I loved the author's style of writing and felt connected to the story even though I hadn't read the first two in the series. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and voluntarily choose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Julie