The Inn at Ocean's Edge

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Inn at Ocean’s Edge (Thomas Nelson, April 2015)

Claire’s visit to a luxury hotel in Maine awakens repressed memories, threatening all she holds dear.

In 1989, Claire Dellamare disappeared from her own fourth birthday party at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine. She showed up a year later at the same hotel, with a note pinned to her dress but no explanation. Nobody knows where Claire spent that year—and until now, Claire didn’t even know she had ever been missing.

But when Claire returns to the Hotel Tourmaline for a business meeting with her CEO father, disturbing memories begin to surface . . . despite her parents’ best efforts to keep them forgotten.

Luke Rocco lost his mother under equally mysterious circumstances—at the same time Claire disappeared. After a chance encounter reveals the unlikely link between them, Claire and Luke set out together to uncover the truth about what happened that fateful year.

With flashbacks swimming just beneath her consciousness and a murderer threatening her safety, Claire’s very life depends on unscrambling her past . . . even if her family refuses to acknowledge it. Someone—maybe everyone—is hiding something from Claire Dellamare, and it will cost her everything to drag the truth out into the light.

MY THOUGHTS:

Wow!! I absolutely LOVE Romantic Suspense, do you?? Well, if you do then this is a MUST READ!!!

Colleen Coble had me from the first page all the way through to the very last one. The twists & turns kept me guessing and OMG, the surprises she had in store made The Inn @Ocean's Edge that much more amazing!!

Both Claire and Luke had secrets, issues, and so many unanswered questions in their past. Once they meet, sparks fly!! Together they decide to investigate their pasts, and my oh my, the journey they each take is unbelievable!!

I highly recommend this book, but it needs a warning... If you begin this book in the evening-you may not get any sleep because you will not be able to fall asleep!!!

Thank you to Litfuse for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review!

Heart of a Bookworm gives The Inn @ Ocean's  5 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥'s

The Legacy ~ Review

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Doug Anderson has been drifting slowly but steadily away from both his family and his faith. His parents, along with Christina, a young woman taken into the family during a crisis pregnancy, have been trying to reach him before he falls too far. But sometimes you have to hit bottom before you're ready to grow up and give your life over to God. Christina's feelings for Doug have been growing, even though he writes her off as not worth his time. Will Doug's own crisis finally clear his vision and help him focus on what he has right in front of him?

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the final book of the Restoration Series by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley! I ALWAYS read books by these authors and this one is one of my favorites to date.  The Legacy can be read as a stand alone, however, I would really recommend reading the other books in the series in order and then read this one. This book is about the youngest son, Doug, and there is a lot of connection between the family that would be better appreciated having read them all in order.

Doug has gone off to college leaving many things behind, sadly, he also left behind his Faith in the Lord.  He's started hanging around a crowd that parties a lot and has also met someone. Back at home his friendship with Christina has become so strained and just keeps growing further & further apart. Christina is the one who is seeing things on social media that alerts her to Kyle's behavior. 

Will Christina open up to Doug's parents? Will Doug continue on the same path, spiraling out of control or will his crisis teach him to see what's right in front of him? 

The Legacy is my favorite of the Restoration Series and just like any and all books from these authors, you feel like you've known the people in the story forever. I immediately was engrossed in Doug's story and recommend this book to all! 

Thanks to Revell for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review!

Jaded by Varina Denman

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Jaded

David C. Cook (March 1, 2015)


by

Varina Denman


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

An avid reader and blogger, Varina Denman enjoys writing fiction about Christian women and the unique struggles they face. She seems to have a knack for describing small town life, and is currently working on a three book Texas series which will soon be published by David C. Cook. The first book in the series, Jaded, won the 2013 ACFW Genesis contest for romance.


Varina attended three Texas universities over a span of five years, majoring in four subjects and earning zero degrees. However, she can now boast sixteen years as a home educator, volunteering in the local cooperative where she has taught numerous subjects including creative writing and literature.


Even though Varina has spoken at ladies’ retreats and taught women’s Bible classes, she finds the greatest fulfillment facilitating prayer groups. She lives in Burleson, Texas, where she helps with Family Ministry in her home congregation. Varina is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and North Texas Christian Writers.


ABOUT THE BOOK

As a child, Ruthie was shunned by the local congregation. Thirteen years later, Ruthie’s heart begins to stir when an attractive single preacher arrives. But their relationship is bitterly opposed—unearthing a string of secrets which threaten to turn the church, the town, and her world upside-down.


Jaded is the rare novel that is both love story between a woman and man ... and God and His church. Plunging deep into the waters of shame, forgiveness and restoration, it will resonate with every woman who’s experienced a loss of heart ... and a thirst for hope.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Jaded, go HERE.

The Tomb

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Tomb

Howard Books (March 17, 2015)

by

Stephanie Landsem


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A word from the author:
I write historical fiction because I love adventure in far-off times and places. I’ve traveled since I was a teenager—backpacking through Germany and Eastern Europe, studying German in Salzburg, eating gelato in Italy, and riding camels in Morocco were some of the highlights. Travel kindles my imagination, fuels my love of history, and introduces me to one-of-a-kind characters. It’s the best kind of research.


When I can’t travel, I read. I love fiction, of course, but I’m often found behind a stack of history books or searching the web for historical tidbits. How people lived together, worked, and what they ate (I love food!) is usually what catches my imagination. No matter where or when we live, people are more alike than they are different. I love to find the similarities between our lives and those of the men and women of the ancient world.


I make my home in Minnesota with my husband of 22 years, four children, three fat cats, and a tortoise named Moe. When I’m not writing Biblical fiction, I’m feeding the ravenous horde of kids and their friends, volunteering at church and school, battling dandelions, and dreaming about my next adventure – whether it be in person or on the page.


ABOUT THE BOOK

In this captivating retelling of a classic biblical story, Jesus shocks the town of Bethany with Lazarus’s resurrection from the dead, leading Martha—a seemingly perfect woman trapped by the secrets of her past—to hope and a new life.


Everyone in Bethany admires Martha—the perfect Jewish woman. She feeds and clothes her loved ones, looks after the family farm, and meticulously follows every precept of the Pharisees’ strict laws. But Martha is hiding a secret. At her sister’s marriage feast, she gave her heart and her innocence to a young musician who promised to return and marry her, but instead betrayed her love and abandoned her.


Seven years later, only two people in Bethany know of Martha’s secret sin: her brother, Lazarus, and Simon, the righteous Pharisee to whom Martha is betrothed. When Lazarus falls ill, Martha is faced with a choice: send for Jesus to save her dying brother—risking the wrath of Simon who threatens to betray her—or deny Jesus’ healing power and remain trapped in her tomb of secrecy and lies.


Meanwhile, on the shores of Galilee, Isa roams the wilderness, tortured by demons and knowing only that someone is waiting for him. When he is healed by Jesus, he finds that seven years have passed since his descent into madness. Isa journeys home to Bethany only to find he is too late to win back Martha’s love.


When Martha risks all to heal Lazarus, will Jesus arrive in time, or will he—like Isa—come too late?


If you would like to read the first chapter of The Tomb, go HERE.

Halo Found Hope ~ Review

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Machines beeping, the blur of medical staff running, a crash cart whizzing into an ICU room—was there any hope?

A young woman lay, packed in ice, as doctors attempted to somehow stop the swelling in her brain that threatened to take her life… and her family waited.

Six days turned into eight weeks. She awoke to discover that she was not the same. She saw two of everything, couldn’t feel half of her face, couldn’t hear from one ear, and could not speak. She couldn’t even tell anyone that she felt hopeless… or could she?

Halo Found Hope is the story of a beautiful, busy wife, and mother of three whose life changes instantly with the diagnosis of a rare brain tumor. An exceptional ENT, a brilliant neurosurgeon and a dedicated medical team tackle the tumor, setting off a series of unbelievable miracles. Helo’s story is not one of survival, or of salvaging a life through a broken body. It is not about endurance through pain, but victory because of it. While the family heard her silence, God heard her prayer. Helo’s story is simply this: Wherever you are and whatever you are going through, God is right there. He doesn’t need to be re cognized by you, to be there for you. He can replace fear with courage and discouragement with determination, if you let Him. Helo did, and that is how she found hope.

MY THOUGHTS:

Inspiring. Intense. Extraordinary. Uplifting. These are just some of the words I would use when describing this amazing true story! Why you ask? Well, because Helo is a Mom of 3, happily married, and living life as many of us do, until one day she finds out she has a brain tumor - a very RARE brain tumor at that. How she and her family dealt with that diagnosis and all that lie ahead of them will explain it all! 

Halo Found Hope takes you from the diagnosis all the way through to Helo's very intense rehabilitation. Imagine going into the hospital thinking you would be there for a week or less but end up being there for 8 weeks, and then, having to go through months and months of therapy. But Helo wasn't the only one effected - Her husband and children were as well. She asked the Lord to make something beautiful out of this, and truly HE did. 

Helo shares from her heart and encourages any and all who hear her story! If you know anyone who needs to be encouraged, or lacks inspiration, and who has lost Hope.... Share this book with them!! They will thank you and my guess is that person will pass it along to someone else who needs hope or inspiration and so on it goes! I am so thankful I was able to read this amazing story! 

Thank you Litfuse for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review!

Hands Down Heart of a Bookworm gives it 5 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥'s

Dauntless by Dina L. Sleiman

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Dauntless

Bethany House Publishers (March 3, 2015)


by

Dina L. Sleiman


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A word from the author:


Since selling my first book, I have also become an acquisitions editor for the company. I am a member of the Inkwell Inspirations blog, HEWN Marketing, ACFW, and a contributor to Christian Review of Books. I hold publishing credits in poetry and songwriting, and I was the writer and featured teacher in a nationally distributed instructional dance video for children. I have written several songs about the plight of the Islamic people, which have been produced in association with the Christian Broadcast Network. In addition, I have taught college and high school classes in writing and literature, as well as homeschool classes in the fine arts, and now enjoy teaching at writers conferences throughout the nation.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Where Legend and History Collide,
One Young Woman Will Fight for the Innocent


Born a baron's daughter, Lady Merry Ellison is now an enemy of the throne after her father's failed assassination attempt upon the king. Bold and uniquely skilled, she is willing to go to any lengths to protect the orphaned children of her former village--a group that becomes known as "The Ghosts of Farthingale Forest." Merry finds her charge more difficult as their growing notoriety brings increasing trouble their way.


Timothy Grey, ninth child of the Baron of Greyham, longs to perform some feat so legendary that he will rise from obscurity and earn a title of his own. When the Ghosts of Farthingale Forest are spotted in Wyndeshire, where he serves as assistant to the local earl, he might have found his chance. But when he comes face-to-face with the leader of the thieves, he's forced to reexamine everything he's known.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Dauntless, go HERE.

Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe ~ Review

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe (Thomas Nelson, February 2015)

What if you could ask God anything? What would you ask? And how would he answer?

Chelsea Chambers is on her own. After a public split from her NFL superstar husband, Chelsea takes a bold step out of the limelight and behind the counter of the Higher Grounds Café, an old-fashioned coffee shop in dire need of reinvention. But when her courage, expert planning, and out-of-this-world cupcakes fail to pay the bills, this newly single mom finds herself desperate for help. Better yet, a miracle.

Then a curious stranger lands at Chelsea’s door, and with him, an even more curious string of events. Soon, customers are flocking to the Higher Grounds Café, and not just for the cupcakes and cappuccino. They’ve come for the internet connection to the divine. Now the café has become the go-to place for people in search of answers to life’s biggest questions.

When a catastrophe strikes and her ex comes calling, Chelsea begins to wonder if the whole universe is conspiring against her quest to make it on her own. After a shocking discovery opens her eyes to the unseen world around her, Chelsea finds the courage to ask, and heaven answers in a most unexpected way.

Learn more and purchase a copy at Max’s website.

MY THOUGHTS:

I was so curious when I saw that Max Lucado had come out with a fiction book! I have only known him to write some seriously good books, some of which I read on a daily basis, but they are definitely Non-Fiction! 

Anyways, when I saw the book cover, and that it was written by Mr. Lucado, I knew instantly I wanted to read it! I'm very glad I did!! I'll admit, the beginning made it a tad bit difficult to keep reading... BUT, I'm so glad I didn't give up because it got soo much better!!

While Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe is fiction, Mr. Lucado did an excellent job of sharing how a very real situation (spiritual warfare) is happening all around us and our prayers are ever so important!! It is such a cute story and one that would benefit all who read it!! 

Thank You Litfuse for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review!