Hidden in the Heart ~ Review

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Everything Claire wants seems to be beyond her reach…
After losing her mother to cancer and suffering a miscarriage soon after, Claire Ferguson numbs the pain with alcohol and pills, and wonders if her own life is worth living.
Adopted at birth, Claire is convinced she has some unknown genetic flaw that may have been the cause of her miscarriage. She must find a way to deal with the guilt she harbors. But exoneration will come with a price. With her marriage in trouble and her father refusing to answer any questions about her adoption, Claire begins the search for her birth mother. For the first time in her life, she really wants to know where she came from. But what if the woman who gave her life doesn’t want to be found?
Hidden in the Heart has been nominated for a 2013 Grace Award and is on the long list for an INSPY award


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Catherine West is an award-winning author who writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. Her first novel, "Yesterday’s Tomorrow", won the INSPY for Romance, a Silver Medal in the Reader’s Favorite Awards, and was a finalist in the Grace Awards. Catherine’s second novel, "Hidden in the Heart", was also a finalist for a Grace Award. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. She and her husband have two college-aged children.

MY THOUGHTS:


WOW! What a story this is! Claire Ferguson is a broken woman. She's lost her Mother, had a miscarriage, and is separated from her husband. Turning to alcohol and drugs is her only way of escaping the pain and the grief. Needless to say, I had a hard time with her in the beginning. She continually pushes everyone away, declines any help her loved ones attempt to give her, and when they ask her to go "get help", well that just isn't going to happen! They say, some just have to reach the bottom before they can even begin to look up, or more importantly, within.

The journey Claire takes is full of up and downs and every emotion I had was touched more than once for sure! Catherine West is such an awesome author and Hidden in the Heart is just a perfect example of how very true that is! Hidden in the Heart is a tough story to read but soooo worth the tears and frustration, because when you see the redemption play out before your eyes, you will be saying Hallelujah!!

Thank you Litfuse for allowing me this amazing book in exchange for my honest review! A 5 Star INDEED!


Happy Reading

Stress Test - Review

About the Book:
Matt Newman is enjoying his last shift in the ER---until he's kidnapped! He escapes, but waking up in the ICU, he discovers he's accused of murder. With his freedom in the hands of a red-headed lawyer who doesn't like doctors, and the kidnappers looking to finish the job, can Matt survive this stress test?

My Thoughts:

I am a HUGE FAN of author Dr. Richard Mabry's books! I really never even question "will his next book be as good as his last one?" and with each new book I read, I can honestly say, they just get better and better!

Stress Test is a fast paced Suspense thriller that will keep you turning pages until there are no more pages to turn! Dr. Matt Newman has finally gotten his life where he wants it...New girlfriend that is most likely "The ONE!" and he has a new job teaching until one day when he is attacked and kidnapped! Matt has no idea how this happened or better yet WHY!! And before you know it, that perfect life is forever changed on that day.

He finds that he is wanted for a murder and looks to lawyer Sandra Murray for help. Will she believe him and will his girlfriend stick with him through all of this? Will he EVER get his life back?

AS usual I give Dr. Mabry 5 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥'s !! I LOVED Stress Test and would recommend it to any and ALL!! Be sure to find out how to enter Dr. Mabry's giveaway! All info is just below


Richard Mabry is celebrating the release of Stress Test with a Nook HD Giveaway! Enter today.

One winner will receive:

• A brand new Nook HD
• A $15 gift certificate to BarnesandNoble.com

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 27th. Winner will be announced on 4/29/13 at Richard's blog.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

The Dance ~ Review

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Jim Anderson is a successful businessman, and his wife, Marilyn, is the perfect wife. And why wouldn't she be? He gives her everything she needs. That's why Jim never expected to come home one day and find Marilyn gone.
After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn has had enough of feeling unloved and neglected. She wants to experience some measure of happiness before she's too old to enjoy it, even signing up for dance lessons, something Jim would never do. What will it take for Jim to finally become the man Marilyn needs him to be?


MY THOUGHTS:

I was so excited to read Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley's newest book and the 1st in their Restoration Series! With their name on the Front cover, you have high expectations, right!? right!

Jim and Marilyn are sadly, a very common example of many marriages today. Each is set in their "roles" and they have grown further apart as the years go by. For Marilyn, she had been crying out how unhappy she was and Jim just wasn't hearing exactly what she was saying or how serious she was.

The Dance is excellent and portrays a perfect look at what it takes to really work at putting your marriage back together, healing the wounds, and finding love all over again.

I really didn't think Jim was ever going to "get it." He frustrated me immensely! But I loved the journey Jim took and how he had his eyes opened! Marilyn's journey was totally different of course, but just as moving. I so appreciated how their children's thoughts and perspectives played a role, because no matter how old they are or even if they have moved out and lead a life on their own, they are still affected.

Overall, The Dance was excellent and I highly recommend it on so many levels! I CANNOT wait until book 2 is out!

Thank you Donna and Revell for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review!

Happy Reading :)

The House At The End of Hope Street

About the book:
A magical novel about an enchanted house that offers refuge to women in their time of need

Knocked off-kilter by the Worst Event of Her Life, Alba Ashby finds herself in front of a house in Cambridge, England, that she's never seen before. There, a beautiful older woman invites her to stay on the house's usual conditions -- she'll have ninety-nine nights, and no more, to turn her life around. With nothing left to lose, Alba takes a chance and moves in.

She soon discovers that 11 Hope Street is no ordinary house. Past residents have included Virginia Woolf and Dorothy Parker, who have hung around to help newcomers -- literally, in talking portraits on the wall. Here Alba begins a journey that will heal her wounds -- and maybe even save her life.

The House at the End of Hope Street is a charming, whimsical novel of hope and feminine wisdom that is sure to appeal to fans of bestselling authors Jasper Fforde, Lev Grossman, and especially Sarah Addison Allen.

Author Bio:
Menna van Praag, author of The House at the End of Hope Street, is a freelance writer, journalist and Oxford graduate. She is also the author of Men, Money and Chocolate, an international success, already translated into twenty-six languages. She lives in Cambridge, England, with her husband and son.

My Thoughts:
This is my first time to read a book from Author, Menna van Praag. The House at the end of Hope Street is an interesting read to say the least.

Alba Ashby just experienced the "Worst Event of Her Life," and finds herself drawn to a house she has Never seen before. Alba feels strongly there is something very different about this house! She is welcomed by the caretaker, and is given an opportunity that totally intrigues Alba..."You can stay here for ninety-nine nights & then you must go... No rent & no bills. Your room is yours, to do with it as you please, but know this...You take care of the house and it'll take care of you." And so begins Alba's journey.

As I said, The House at the End of Hope Street is interesting. Alba drove me crazy at times but overall I still liked her and enjoyed watching her journey unfold with each page turned. So many intriguing women "live" in the house and I really enjoyed most of them and looked forward to who we might meet next as the story went on.

Sometimes you just have to step out of your comfort zone and do something different. I did that in reading "The House at the end of Hope Street." How was it outside of my "Normal" subject matter? I can say I did enjoy reading Van Praag and am glad I stepped outside of my norm. I give "The House at the End of Hope Street" 3 ♥ ♥ ♥'s

Thank you FSB Associates for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review.

Happy Reading!

BEST READ of the Year SO FAR! Wings of Glass ~ Review

I could not have been anymore excited to learn Gina Holmes had a new book coming out! When it arrived I looked at my schedule to see when I could clear a day to read, because listen,... When reading Gina Holmes, you just CANNOT put her books down!

Wings of Glass touched each and every emotion I have, and at times, I would have given anything to shake Penny and/or do worse than that to her husband, Trent. It is written from a Mothers Heart and I believe that it is why this book is so amazing and able to take such difficult subject matter and turn it into such an incredible story.

Wings of glass is a story of physical and emotional abuse, and the cycles that the abuser and his victim go through, and the grace of God that only HE can give, if only we can accept it, and believe it's freely ours to take. Penny begins her relationship with Trent as a young teen, without any self esteem, and a rather bad example of what love looks like from her parents. Trent is an alcoholic and is very controlling and manipulative, not to mention, no concern about being an adulterer. Sadly, when that is all you have ever known, the idea that things COULD be different don't often enter into your mind, and if they do, fear will typically keep you paralyzed and unable to believe you can do anything differently.

An accident happens and Trent & Penny's life changes dramatically. Penny finds herself in a place she never dreamed, let alone believed, would come. During this time, she also finds the gift of friendship in Callie Mae and Fatima. Together, these women form a bond with one another and Penny's eyes are opened in countless ways. The love and support given to Penny slowly strengthens her but will it be enough to help her finally stand up for herself?

Thank you Gina Holmes, for sharing your gift with all of us.

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingWings of GlassTyndale House Publishers (March 1, 2013)
byGina Holmes



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey now called Novel Rocket and she is also the founder of Inspire The Fire.




Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW Religion bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain, was also named a Christy finalist. Her upcoming novel, Wings of Glass will releases this month. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.









ABOUT THE BOOK

From the bestselling author of Crossing Oceans comes a heart-rending yet uplifting story of friendship and redemption. On the cusp of womanhood, Penny is swept off her feet by a handsome farmhand with a confident swagger. Though Trent Taylor seems like Prince Charming and offers an escape from her one-stop-sign-town, Penny’s happily ever after lasts no longer than their breakneck courtship. Before the ink even dries on their marriage certificate, he hits her for the first time. It isn’t the last, yet the bruises that can’t be seen are the most painful of all.




When Trent is injured in a welding accident and his paycheck stops, he has no choice but to finally allow Penny to take a job cleaning houses. Here she meets two women from very different worlds who will teach her to live and laugh again, and lend her their backbones just long enough for her to grow her own.



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





Happy Reading!

Grave Consequences ~ Review

Book 2 in Lisa T. Bergren's Grand Tour Series...
Cora Kensington faces life-changing challenges when her European tour with her wealthy family takes her through Austria, France, and Italy. As an unseen enemy stalks her, her heart is torn between a dashing Frenchman and a man who's been quietly claiming her affection. Whom will she choose? Will her decision put her loved ones in danger?

My Thoughts:

I have shared many times here on Heart of a Bookworm that Lisa T. Bergren is one of my VERY favorite authors! Having not read book 1 in this series, (Grand Tour) I wondered if I would be lost... honestly, I was very lost!

I've always loved the strong characters and the historical places I travel when reading her books, but in Grave Consequences I just couldn't get there. At times it just went on and on and this a very long book (400+ pgs) so I found myself skimming.

Cora is a strong young woman and is faced with many decisions as the book comes to a conclusion...will I find out the answers? I just don't know but one thing that I do know ~ Lisa T. Bergren remains one of my Favorite authors!!

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

Celebrate the release of Grave Consequences with Lisa T. Bergren by entering to win an iPad Mini!

One "grand" winner receive:

• A brand new iPad Mini
• Grave Consequences and Glamorous Illusions will be pre-loaded onto the Mini!

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 23rd. Winner will be announced on March 25th at Lisa's website.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Shadow Eyes ~ Review

About the Book:

Iris Kohl lives in a world populated by murky shadows that surround, harass, and entice unsuspecting individuals toward evil. But she is the only one who can see them. She’s had this ability to see the shadows, as well as brilliantly glowing light figures, ever since an obscure, tragic incident on her fourteenth birthday three years earlier.

Although she’s learned to cope, the view of her world begins to shift upon the arrival of three mysterious characters. First, a handsome new teacher whose presence scares away shadows; second, a new friend with an awe-inspiring aura; and third, a mysterious and alluring new student whom Iris has a hard time resisting despite already having a boyfriend.

As the shadows invade and terrorize her own life and family, she must ultimately revisit the most horrific event of her life in order to learn her true identity and become the hero she was meant to be.

There is an opportunity for some GREAT GIVEAWAYS at the bottom of this post :)

My Thoughts:

Sometimes I am contacted by the author directly asking if I would review their book and that can be a very good thing! In the case of Shadow Eyes, it was an excellent thing! Dusty Crabtree has been a delight to work with and her book is AWESOME! I love reading a book that when, and IF, you MUST put the book down, you realize that time has just slipped by... Shadow Eyes is one of those books! The story is captivating and deals with teens and the many issues they face today...Some, I can even remember dealing with myself!

The mystery of what happened to Iris on her 14th Birthday and caused her to start seeing these "shadows" was so intriguing, and honestly, kept me turning pages well into the night! This tragic event began a journey for Iris that was, at times, soo intense, and the outcome left me sooo shocked! The friendships, the love interests, and family life for Iris is typical for todays' teen but when you add in the spiritual aspect, in this case, the shadows, it takes on a entirely new light. Spiritual warfare is very real and I feel Dusty opened a door to this that I hope in future books she will delve into a little deeper. But most importantly, I hope she shares where the Victory of that warfare lies... in the hands of Christ.

Shadow Eyes is a great read for any age! I look forward to reading more from Dusty! Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your novel in exchange for my honest review!


There is More from this talented Author!


Dusty Crabtree is hosting a giveaway and a few other exciting things through a Rafflecopter! You can enter below - just click on this link:


a Rafflecopter giveaway


To read Dusty's blog you can go Here
To find her on Facebook go here
To follow her on Twitter go here
To PURCHASE Shadow Eyes!! go here


Enjoy the video for Shadow Eyes!
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