A Steadfast Heart (Wind River Mail-Order Brides Book 2) Kindle Edition by Martha Hutchens

 

Kaitlyn, a mail order bride substitute who comes from a wealthy family, runs to Wyoming to escape her cruel brother. Drew had been burned by wealthy girls and didn't want to trust another. I was quickly pulled into the story and hung on every word. Intricate and very well written, with good faith lessons. Excellent read, satisfying ending.

I received this book free from the author and publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#ASteadfastHeart #MarthaHutchens #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #SunrisePublishing #SpinnerOfYarnsLLC #ChristianHistoricalFiction

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You Are A Child Of God

 

 

What a beautiful book! Makes you feel warm all over. Blessedly reaffirming and scriptural book that you can enjoy as is or color and embellish. It's more than a coloring book. You can use it as a keepsake for your little one, so they never forget how precious they are no matter how old they get. Inspiration for any age. 

Order You Are a Child of God today, in time for Christmas!

https://tinyurl.com/27kby2ez

Giveaway: $10 Amazon gift card 

(Note: This is limited to US winners only. Please submit your full name and email address by 12/14/24 in the comments below. We will not be able to accept winners submitted after this date. You will not be spammed.) 

Many thanks to GoodWorks Mission for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

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• You Are a Child of God is a faith-based children’s coloring book designed to be shared between a child and their caregiver. This helps foster meaningful connections and conversations about God’s love from a young age. 

• You Are a Child of God is more than a book - each page invites children (and adults) to color, creating a calming and creative experience while reading and engaging with Scripture. 

• The book encourages reflection on key biblical truths, making it perfect for family devotionals or bedtime readings, creating special moments between loved ones. 

• The book draws from verses like Psalm 139:13-18 and Jeremiah 29:11 to remind children of their identity in Christ. 

• The holidays are just around the corner, and You Are a Child of God is a thoughtful gift for someone special. Whether it’s for parents expecting a little one, children in your family, or even a friend who loves creative, faith-filled activities, this book offers something meaningful. It’s not just a coloring book - it’s a way to reflect on God’s love and create wonderful memories. It’s also a perfect stocking stuffer for Sunday school students or a unique addition to a family’s faith journey. Give a gift that inspires, and shares God’s love this season! 

• Book Summary: A love note to people of all ages, You Are a Child of God brings together many of the most important messages in the Bible. Highlighting verses from both the Old and New Testaments, the author helps people understand what the Scriptures teach about our unique creation and God's involvement in our lives. This book is fun for kids to color and invites adult readers to meditate on Scripture while engaging their inner child through coloring. 

Cabrini movie trailer

Based on the true story of one woman’s fight for the equality, health, and happiness of immigrant orphans.

Looks like this will be another impactful movie. Showcases the horrible conditions of Five Points and New York City in 1889. These conditions were incredibly bad for all nationalities that lived there. 

Synopsis:

From Alejandro Monteverde, award-winning director of 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮, comes the powerful epic of Francesca Cabrini, an Italian immigrant who arrives in New York City in 1889 and is greeted by disease, crime, and impoverished children. Cabrini sets off on a daring mission to convince the hostile mayor to secure housing and healthcare for society's most vulnerable. With broken English and poor health, Cabrini uses her entrepreneurial mind to build an empire of hope unlike anything the world had ever seen.

Release Date: 3/8

Trailer link: ww.youtube.com/watch?v=lihCRaOj0Lg&t=1s

#CabriniMovieMIN #Momentuminfluencers #ChristianFilm #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #AngelStudios

Abounding Hope: A WWII Christian Romance by Cindy Kay Stewart

 

Based on true events and backed by extensive research, Abounding Hope is sure to delight fans of WWII adventure cloaked in sweet romance. Come to the place where the war began and discover hope in the darkest places.

What an amazing story. Intense, tense, frustrating, so very real. As they hear of German invasions, Irena, a school teacher, refused to leave her city in Poland and those she loved. She also has close friends who had all attended the same high school with her in Europe. They decide to send one of them to get her to leave Poland. He, like Irena is an American and a successful businessman. Their story of escape and rescuing of children from Poland into the neighboring countries and then back again for her family is very detailed, intricate and twisting. I actually had to make myself put it down for a while and regroup. You can't help but hold your breath during some of this story. I'm hoping there will be another book to follow.

I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#AboundingHope #CindyKayStewart #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #HopeSpringsPress #ChristianHistoricalRomance 

Purchase on Amazon (I don't receive anything for this)

About the book

WINNER OF THE TOUCHED BY LOVE AWARD (Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers)

Poland’s looming defeat forces an American teacher to escape with children wanted by the Nazis.

It’s late August, 1939, and the world is on the brink of war. The Nazis are threatening Poland, but American teacher Irena Simmons refuses to flee to safety. She’s dedicated her life to serving in her church and school, and she’s watching over the little German boys she whisked to safety the year before. When her former classmate, Jonathan, surprises her in Lvov and insists she leave with him before the war starts, Irena balks. Nothing will interfere with her work—especially a man making demands.

American shipping magnate Jonathan Huntwell had a crush on Irena in school. When their former classmates select him to travel to Poland and escort her out before it’s too late, he doesn’t expect the inner turmoil she ignites in him. Although honor-bound to aid any friend in trouble, Jonathan acknowledges that Irena is more than an obligation to him. However, he must keep his feelings hidden, or he’ll jeopardize their friendship.

Irena soon discovers that the Gestapo agent she successfully evaded in Germany has found her in Poland, and he’s after her young charges. When the Germans invade, Jonathan is in Denmark on business, too far away to help. As the rising danger threatens everything Irena holds dear, she must find a way to protect those she loves.

Cindy Kay Stewart

Cindy Kay Stewart, a retired high school social studies teacher and current church pianist, writes stories of hope, steeped in love, and anchored in faith. Her manuscripts have won the Touched by Love Award, the First Impressions contest, and the Sandra Robbins Inspirational Writing Award. They've also finaled in the Maggie Award of Excellence and the Cascade Awards and semi-finaled in the Genesis contest. Cindy is passionate about revealing God’s handiwork in history.

A native of Southern California, Cindy has lived on both coasts, including a sojourn in between. She’s currently happy to make her home in North Georgia and enjoy the peaches. Cindy graduated from Bob Jones University, where she went for her "Mrs." degree. She was successful, and after forty-two years, her husband still puts up with her. While at BJU, she also earned a bachelors in elementary education. She later earned a masters degree in secondary education/history from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and School Leadership Certification through Kennesaw State University.

Cindy has always enjoyed telling stories—first to her dolls and teddy bears and then to her neighborhood playmates. She wrote her first book of stories and poems in second grade.

Cindy’s desire to write Christian novels was kindled after college, but it wasn’t until her daughter married that she had time to invest in the art of writing and publishing fiction. She had to promptly forget everything she’d learned about writing in school and develop a new skill set. That skill has grown through the years.

Cindy loves to research and “dig up” fascinating nuggets from history to share with her readers. She enjoys surprising people by weaving true historical events into her fiction—especially those happenings that seem too unbelievable to be true. But they are and she can prove it!

Cindy loves playing the piano and singing in the choir at her church. She’s an extrovert, which sometimes gets her in trouble. She tends to talk too much and has been known to drive her friends crazy at times. After thirty-two years in education, she retired to pursue her dream of publishing Christian historical fiction.

It’s a good thing that Cindy’s husband is a gourmet cook or the family would starve. She can follow a recipe, but who has time to read one?

Most of all, Cindy loves to point people to Jesus Christ, her Redeemer, and she wants others to experience the same joy He’s poured out on her so abundantly.

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A Summer At Thousand Island House

Sweet summer romance - a quick read. Addie is hired at a resort hotel in the Thousand Islands. Since she had previously been a teacher, she brought those skills to what was kind of a nanny position. Liam is her boss but becomes captivated by her in her new adventures there. Faith filled. Includes interesting lessons about various history in the area. 

I received this book free from the author, publisher and CelebrateLit book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#ASummerAtThousandIslandHouse #SusanGMathis #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #FiveStarNovel #CelebrateLit #ChristianHistoricalRomance

About the Book

Book: A Summer at Thousand Island House

Author: Susan G. Mathis

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 25, 2023

She came to work with the children, not fall in love.

Part-nanny, part entertainer, Addison Bell has always had an enduring love for children. So what better way to use her creative energy than to spend the summer nannying at the renowned Thousand Island House on Staple’s Island? As Addi thrives in her work, she attracts the attention of the recreation pavilion’s manager, Liam Donovan, as well as the handsome Navy Officer Lt. Worthington, a lighthouse inspector, hotel patron, and single father of mischievous little Jimmy.

But when Jimmy goes missing, Addi finds both her job and her reputation in danger. How can she calm the churning waters of Liam, Lt. Worthington, and the President, clear her name, and avoid becoming the scorn of the Thousand Islands community? 

Click here to get your copy! 

About the Author

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than twenty-five times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has eleven in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Peyton’s Promise, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Rachel’s Reunion, Mary’s Moment and A Summer at Thousand Island House. Her book awards include three Illumination Book Awards, four American Fiction Awards, two Indie Excellence Book Awards, and four Literary Titan Book Awards. Reagan’s Reward is a Selah Awards finalist. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, two children’s picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to enjoy the Thousand Islands. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more. 

More from Susan

Behind the scenes at A Summer at Thousand Island House

I’ve been writing about the Gilded Age for several years now. A Summer at Thousand Island House is my eleventh published story, and I had so much fun creating it. The American Gilded Age was a time of rapid technical advances, industrialization, and thousands of new inventions from about 1870-1910. Mark Twain coined the term in his 1873 novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today that satirized the era of social problems that were masked by a layer of thin, gold gilding.

It’s a fascinating time in history, especially in the Thousand Islands. I grew up just twenty minutes from the Thousand Islands in upstate New York. Actually, half of the 1,864 islands are in NY and the other half in Ontario, Canada. All of my books are set during the Thousand Islands Gilded Age, when the wealthy came and scooped up the islands and built lavish summer homes, mansions, and castles. 

It was an era of economic growth and wages were higher than Europe, so massive immigration drew about twenty million to the U.S. shores. Unfortunately, it was also a time of unequal distribution of wealth where the rich got richer and the poor working class suffered. 

Many young women worked as servants until they married, and that’s what my stories are about—those nameless, faithful women who cooked and cleaned and served tables for the rich and famous. These “downstairs” women had fascinating stories to tell, and I plan to tell many of them. 

All my novels are based on a specific place in the Thousand Islands and are the true stories of the owners of that island. So, my plot is generally true. There really was an entertainment pavilion on Staple’s Island where the patrons of Thousand Island House enjoyed all kinds of amenities, including a daycare. And US Presidents, including President Grant and President Chester Arthur (whom you meet), vacationed at Thousand Island House. 

Then I overlay the storyline of the fictional servants to create the story. This makes my stories a bit more challenging, but I love a good challenge. Addison Bell cares for children. Liam Donovan manages the pavilion and Navy Officer Lt. Worthington, a lighthouse inspector and single father, comes and goes. 

And all of my Thousand Islands’ stories have hope as the central theme. Hope for a better future. Hope for love. Hope for healing. A Summer at Thousand Island House also focuses on healing broken hearts and embracing God’s redemption. 

Mathis’s attention to detail and rich history is classic Mathis, and no one does it better.—Margaret Brownley, N.Y. Times bestselling author

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 18
Alena Mentink, July 18
Karen Baney Reviews, July 19
Books You Can Feel Good About, July 19
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 20
She Lives To Read, July 20
Texas Book-aholic, July 21
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 22
Connie’s History Classroom, July 23
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 23
Book Looks by Lisa, July 24
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, July 25
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, July 26 (Author Interview)
Back Porch Reads, July 26
The Book Club Network, July 27
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 28
Holly’s Book Corner, July 28
Cover Lover Book Review, July 29
Blossoms and Blessings, July 30
Blogging With Carol, July 31
Pause for Tales, July 31
For Him and My Family, August 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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/26b9c/a-summer-at-thousand-island-house-celebration-tour-giveaway

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No Ocean Too Wide A Novel by Carrie Turansky

It's hard not to read ahead. 1909 England. Excruciating story of a poor family from London. The father had died and the mother got sick. The oldest girl was in service some distance away. When the rent wasn't paid on time and they didn't have enough to eat, the boy tried to steal some bread to feed them and was caught, starting an avalanche of problems. The three were put into a children's home, then sent to Canada, thinking their mother had died and their older sister didn't care. The story is written with great detail and each character comes fully to life. 

Great injustice and bright light shown on the holes in the system of removing children from England. Between the 1860s and the 1930s, more than one hundred eighteen thousand poor and orphaned children were sent to Canada as British Home Children. Much good was done when good people were involved, but so much cruelty took place for many unfortunate children, and no good system was in place to put it in check. This story also tells of two good men who were sent to investigate the system, and how they became involved. And the relationship of Laura, the oldest daughter and Andrew a wealthy lawyer who helped them all. Excellent read that will keep you on edge throughout. If not for the underlying story of God's grace and love, it would be so much harder yet to read. You feel a relationship with each of the characters as their story is brought to light.

"If she found Jesus in the pages of that Bible, she would have a friend who would never leave her side . . . and that was what she needed most for the journey ahead."

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
#NoOceanTooWide #CarrieTuransky #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

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A Return Of Devotion by Kristi Ann Hunter

A gem!

Recency Christian romance, second in a series. Filled with humor, this is yet serious as well. Haven Manor had been unused when Daphne and Kit moved in and set up a place for women of society who had been ruined and with child that no one wanted. Something Daphne knew about first hand. They gave them refuge, training to be in service, and a safe place where they raised the children. They had done so for about 14 years when the owners' son became the Marquise and decided to come there and live.

William had no idea what had gone on there over the years. He was just glad to escape the Ton and be somewhere peaceful. Or so he thought. Gradually he gets to know Daphne, who tried her best to act as housekeeper and hide it all from him, including her son who looked exactly like William. (His cousin was the father.)

The story is deep, intricate and wound with emotion and humor. I can identify with Daphne's insecurities. Her feelings will twist your heart. So will everyone else's.  You don't have to read the first book to enjoy this, but I highly recommend that you do.

This is an author to love and read everything she writes.  She has built a place with such interesting people, and it's fascinating to get to know them and wonder what will become of the rest of the characters. People of wealth learn they can care and help others that they usually wouldn't interact with. And the girls who were used to that high society life learn about their strengths and talents while deeply caring for others and making a new life.

Thank goodness for chapters in a book so that there is a place to put it down once in awhile. But you may be like me and not want to put it down, reading for more hours at a time than you planned!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
#AReturnOfDevotion #KristiAnnHunter #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

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The Oceans Between Us by Gill Thompson

Depressing. Realistic with a small ray of hope.
Mostly an account of what it may have been like for a young boy who was separated from his mother in war torn England, and sent to Australia. It's hard for me to imagine what it must have been like since I was brought up by two parents in a loving home. A family that always had what we needed. I doubt that most of us feel that things were always rosie, but the kind of existence that these kids experienced was horrendous.

Australia felt that their population needed a white strengthening, and Britain had a long history of shipping people there. Most of these children were orphans, but not all were. They were told that they were being sent to farms where it was sunny, there were oranges to pick off trees as they wanted, they would have horses to ride, and they would become strong. None of it true. I don't understand though - if they really wanted to strengthen their population with these young people, why they mistreated them so and deprived them of food and education. Instead working them to death. Perhaps it was because of the hands they fell into.

This story tells of those sent to a monastery where the boys were mistreated and abused. Not a loving Christian environment. By including the story of the mother who was back in England, it helps show the injustice even further.

It took 43 years for the truth to be exposed about this tragic happening. It’s estimated that 150,000 children were sent to Australia in total, around 10,000 since 1947. The horrors of German prison camps combined with this horrific treatment of people truly illustrates a time when Satan had his way. Its amazing that there is still a human race at all. But at least people are moved by hearing stories like this about what happened.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
#TheOceansBetweenUs #NetGalley

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Until We Find Home by Cathy Gohlke

Captivating!
In Paris, American Claire and her boyfriend, who belongs to the French Resistance, are smuggling French Jewish children out of the country before they are invaded. She is all caught up in the romance of their life and hopes to become a great writer. She is sent alone with the children to the checkpoint, but her boyfriend and her contact don’t show up, so she is forced to get on the boat with the children. A harrowing story in itself, once ashore and again without a contact, she is practically abandoned when she remembers that she once heard that she had an Aunt in England. She knew little beyond the address and is finally taken there. It turns out to be a huge estate in the Lake District and a beautiful place for them to stay, except that her Aunt isn’t thrilled to see them and has been depressed by grief after the loss of her son and husband. Claire doesn’t know anything about children and find it difficult to be moved by them now that the romance of the situation is worn off. She finally gives up on the idea of going back to France. Of course the kids are scared, missing their families and need to be loved as well as cared for. The Americans aren’t received much better than the Jewish children by the community, which makes everything that much harder. Everyone is scared and wanting to protect themselves and their families. It’s a long process for Claire and her Aunt, with struggles and adventure they all learn to live together. David, another American, comes to stay with them for awhile and brings a fresh perspective to them all as well as a new love interest for Claire.  The story is beautifully told with lots of depth, danger, intrigue, love and life lessons in faith and family.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Tyndale Publishers - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.

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Publisher's Description
For American Claire Stewart, joining the French Resistance sounded as romantic as the story lines she hopes will one day grace the novels she wants to write. But when she finds herself stranded on English shores, with five French Jewish children she smuggled across the channel before Nazis stormed Paris, reality feels more akin to fear.

With nowhere to go, Claire throws herself on the mercy of an estranged aunt, begging Lady Miranda Langford to take the children into her magnificent estate. Heavily weighted with grief of her own, Miranda reluctantly agrees . . . if Claire will stay to help. Though desperate to return to France and the man she loves, Claire has few options. But her tumultuous upbringing—spent in the refuge of novels with fictional friends—has ill-prepared her for the daily dramas of raising children, or for the way David Campbell, a fellow American boarder, challenges her notions of love. Nor could she foresee how the tentacles of war will invade their quiet haven, threatening all who have come to call Bluebell Wood home and risking the only family she’s ever known.

Set in England’s lush and storied Lake District in the early days of World War II, and featuring cameos from beloved literary icons Beatrix Potter and C. S. Lewis, Until We Find Home is an unforgettable portrait of life on the British home front, challenging us to remember that bravery and family come in many forms.

Holding the Fort by Regina Jennings

Sweet Christian Historical Romance that leaves you waiting for the next book. Endearing characters. I loved Louisa, who excelled as a singer but was not working in the best of places. When she hears that her brother is in trouble, she heads out to help him, stumbling on an opportunity that goes from misunderstanding to wonderful. Set at Historic Fort Reno, where an actual Cheyenne uprising did happen. Major Daniel Adams is known for having a stiff collar, but he soon finds himself grateful that Louisa is the governess to his two girls, although he can’t quite put his finger on what isn’t right about her. The girls begin to love and learn from Louisa, making it less likely that his mother-in-law will be able to take them away from him. For Louisa it’s a fabulous place to live where she can keep an eye on her brother and it opens a possibility for a new – more respectable – profession. Skillfully written and entertaining (as usual from Regina Jennings), leaving you holding your breath and cheering for Louisa all the way through.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

From the Publisher:
Jennings Winningly Combines Humor, History, and Romance

Louisa Bell never wanted to be a dance-hall singer, but dire circumstances force her hand. With a little help from her brother in the cavalry, she's able to make ends meet, but lately he's run afoul of his commanding officer, so she undertakes a visit to straighten him out.

Major Daniel Adams has his hands full at Fort Reno. He can barely control his rowdy troops, much less his two adolescent daughters. If Daniel doesn't find someone respectable to guide his children, his mother-in-law insists she'll take them.

When Louisa arrives with some reading materials, she's mistaken for the governess who never appeared. Major Adams is skeptical. She bears little resemblance to his idea of a governess--they're not supposed to be so blamed pretty--but he's left without recourse. His mother-in-law must be satisfied, which leaves him turning a blind eye to his unconventional governess's methods. Louisa's never faced so important a performance. Can she keep her act together long enough?

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