Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Flames of Faith

 

As told, this is a 1870s guidebook for Thun Switzerland and the areas nearby as well as a beautiful love story. Claire is obsessed with bringing tourism to Thun and is frustrated that Lucas, an engineer who is building the railroad beyond Thun might be taking the focus, and funding, away from her dream. Interesting story unfolds with these areas beautifully described and brought to life and such charming characters too. Wonderful story.

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.

#FlamesOfFaith #MargueriteMartinGray #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #SylvanReads #ChristianHistoricalRomance #CelebrateLit
@MarguriteMartinGray



About the Book

Book: Flames of Faith

Author: Marguerite Martin Gray

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release Date: February, 2025

1870 Switzerland. One year. A mountain of ideas. And a menacing railroad forging the barrier between dreams and reality.

Claire Pennington formulates a bold plan to avoid the pressure of yet another London season. Her parents grant her one year in Switzerland, yet afterward she must return to England and find a suitor. Armed with a notebook and gumption, she determines to make the mountain town of Thun a tourist destination for all classes of society. However, she does not count on an equally determined railroad engineer set on leaving Thun in the dust.

The rugged mountain terrain grants Englishman Lucas Stanley the opportunity to launch his engineering career. The railroad is the answer to modern travel—expedient, efficient, and competitive, yet conquering the section of track from Thun to Interlaken is harder than he originally thought, especially with opposition from a fiery female. Claire confronts him at every turn, using her enthusiasm and people skills to flame local zeal for change and progress in another direction.

Opposing proposals collide as Claire, Lucas, and the citizens of the quaint Swiss town face an avalanche of decisions and compromises sparked by flames of faith—and perhaps love.

Discover romance and faith in 1870 Switzerland through this standalone novel from the Elements of Hope series where fire, air, water, and earth meet elements of the heart.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Marguerite Martin Gray is an award-winning author of a dozen novels and novellas. She enjoys the study of history, especially when combined with fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish online. She currently lives in North Louisiana with her husband and rescue pets. Her two adult children and two grandsons keep her young and up-to-date.

 

 

 

More from Marguerite

I am a tourist at heart and always have been since I was a child growing up in England as a preteen. A castle, a map, a manor house, a museum, a mystery, a myth in any country or state. Flames of Faith was sparked by a recent train ride from Interlaken to Thun, Switzerland where an old turreted castle rose above the lake and village. A perfect setting for a novel. It spurred thoughts of who visited this area as well as how and when since the terrain made it dangerous and tricky to just visit on a whim on a Sunday afternoon.

Have you heard of Thomas Cook (1850s and onward) and his famous travels all over Europe with tourists by horse, carriage, boat, foot, and finally train? He paved the way for the middle-class citizen to see gorgeous venues like Switzerland and the Alps. What an adventure to have been on one of his early tours! A Slow Train to Switzerland by Diccon Bewes cemented what I wanted to express in this novel.

 



Meet Claire Pennington, my heroine, who encompasses the traits of tourist in all the good senses. She wants everyone to have the opportunity to travel the continent and world as she does. Her bold dream inspires others to possibly regard seeing new sites as a way to refresh and revitalize their own lives.

Hop on board and discover romance and faith in 1870 Switzerland. Be a tourist without leaving your home.

 

 


Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, January 21 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 22
Texas Book-aholic, January 23
Artistic Nobody, January 24 (Author Interview)
Lily’s Corner, January 25
Life on Chickadee Lane, January 25
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 26
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 27
Guild Master, January 28 (Author Interview)
Pause for Tales, January 28
For Him and My Family, January 29
Devoted Steps, January 30
Fiction Book Lover, January 31 (Author Interview)
Books You Can Feel Good About, February 1
Holly’s Book Corner, February 2
Cover Lover Book Review, February 3

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Marguerite is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://gleam.io/sMCBM/flames-of-faith-celebration-tour-giveaway

My reviews

Friday, January 2, 2026

At Morning's Light (Home to Green Creek, Book #2) by Lauraine Snelling , Kiersti Giron

 



I treasure every word of these stories. The love, the grief, the struggles, daily life and Christian lessons. Blending families in the community, neighboring farms and at the boarding house. Loveable characters that feel like family and friends. 

#BethanyHousePublishers #AtMorningsLight #LauraineSnelling #KierstiGiron @LauraineSnelling @KierstiGiron #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

From the back cover:

In her new homeland of Iowa, she must risk heartbreak and uncertainty for her dreams to flourish.

Maya Bredesen and her husband plan to journey from Norway to a new life at her cousin's boardinghouse in America, but on one last fateful fishing trip, a fierce winter storm steals away her husband. With her dreams for the future crushed, Maya is left grieving on the voyage to Iowa, accompanied instead by her brother, who plans to finish his seminary degree.

Arriving at a boardinghouse spilling over with orphans and a newly married couple, Maya struggles to find her place amid the chaos. A new friendship develops between her and Eben Miller, the reserved, kind farmer next door, but just as Maya begins to recover from her wounded heart, more tragedy engulfs her. As she and Eben weather trials together, can they overcome the difficulties this new land holds when it seems so far from becoming home?
 


My reviews

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Hearts in Bloom: A Regency Anthology (Regency Anthologies)

 

Cozy book with 5 stand-alone recency romances. Sweet, clean stories of first loves and the obstacles they encounter along their way to realizing their love. I have a soft spot for the librarian and the town's anonymous Valentine sender, but each tale is special in its own old-fashioned way. A great addition to your library or a beautiful gift. 

entertaining, realistic, easy-to-read, page-turner, romantic, happily-ever-after, wonderful-characters, original

@evershirepublishing @KLynSmith @RosanneELortz @CarolineWarfield @GLRobinson

My reviews

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

A Place to Belong: Josephine’s Story : A Shumard Oak Bend Companion Christmas Novella (Discerning God’s Best) by Heidi Gray McGill

 


Josephine and Jeremiah are both broken and haven't known love or kindness from others as they've grown up. Both have been ready to cut and run for some time. This is the loveliest story of each of their journeys to wholeness and strength. The townspeople weren't the most accepting of either of them, yet they learned to grow and stand their own ground. Wonderful read! I highly recommend this book.

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

#APlaceToBelong #HeidiGrayMcGill #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #HeidiGrayMcGillBooksLLC #HistoricalChristianRomance #Frontier Life #Pioneer Life #CleanandWholesomeInspirationalRomance #ChristianChristmasNovella

original, romantic, page-turner, happily-ever-after, wonderful characters, realistic, easy-to-read

My reviews:

Thursday, September 25, 2025

A Love Not Forgotten: A Second Chance at Romance by Linda Shenton Matchett

 

Nice story taking place after WW2 was over. Chaz is thought to be dead in the war but actually has amnesia. Someone recognizes him and he is reunited with his family and the love of his life - but he can't remember them. Well written story about how they all deal with that, with strong lessons of faith. 

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.

#ALoveNotForgotten #LindaShentonMatchett #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ShortwavePress #ReligiousHistoricalFiction

My reviews

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Tomorrow's First Light (Texas Promise Book 1) by Naomi Rawlings

 


A Western story with a mail order bride. A large family is formed and several friends pull together to take care of each other in book 1 of 5. Love, faith and romance tell the story. They find that sharing and keeping together is the answer. Good read.

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.

#TomorrowsFirstLight #NaomiRawlings #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #CedarLakePress #ReligiousHistoricalFiction

My reviews

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Grow Movie coming to theaters

 

Another fun family movie is coming to the theater! It's great to see more family friendly movies available. The relationship between Dinah and her niece Charlie grows as well as the pumpkin. Looks like good entertainment.

Fall plans just got bigger. #GrowTheFilm is in theaters October 3! Tickets are on sale now. https://growthefilm.com/

Trailer link: here

#GrowMovieMIN @Growthefilm

About GROW

Welcome to the pumpkin capital of the world, where the pumpkins are epic, the rivalries are fierce, and the competition is anything but garden variety. Dinah Little, a no-nonsense farmer with a tough-as-a-pumpkin exterior, reluctantly takes in her abandoned niece, Charlie. Dinah is not quick to affection, and Charlie is not one for sitting still. So she throws her into farm life, sleeves rolled up and hands in the dirt.

Then comes the town’s biggest spectacle, the annual pumpkin-growing contest, a Halloween season tradition that brings out wild stunts, eccentric characters, and record-setting drama. But Charlie has something no one else does, a special knack for connecting with plants that quietly reflects her own longing to feel just as seen and loved.

But as both pumpkin and plot thicken, and rival growers pull every trick in the book, will Charlie and Dinah’s unlikely entry stand tall against the fiercest competition the town has ever seen?

As her pumpkin grows bigger, so does her bond with her aunt Dinah. Together they discover that the real prize is not measured in pounds, but in joy, laughter, and family. What begins as a seed blossoms into an exuberant and hilarious story of crazed competition, found family, and love that grows as boundless as the pumpkins themselves.

GROW is releasing in theaters only starting October 3.

Friday, August 29, 2025

A Week Away The Series

 

Watch "A Week Away" on Angel today, it will get you laughing, singing, dancing, and it just might inspire you to show love to someone in need.

Meaningful. Impactful. It's a musical - it's a series. Realistic. Excellent filming and acting. 
A scarred, jaded kid from the Foster system is dragged into going to a Christian camp for a week. 
Lots of varied and important lessons to be learned - by example in scenarios shown. From fake Christians to true Apostles. Redemption is a choice - the path there is unique to each of us. It's a journey worth taking. Amazing finale. Great voices. We highly recommend watching. 

Now streaming on Angel.

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

#AWeekAwaySeriesMIN #MomentumInfluencers #Angel #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout



Giveaway: $10 Amazon Giftcard
Please submit your full name and email address by 9/17 in the comments below. (We will
not be able to accept winners submitted after this date.) Winner will be chosen at random.

About the Film
THIS MUSICAL SERIES follows a group of teens as they embark on a summer at Camp Aweegaway
— a Christian camp filled with adventure, friendships, and unexpected self-discovery
It’s an expressive and resonant story about identity, trust, and the courage to face what’s within.
A Week Away: The Series offers a tender space for those burdened by doubt and pain to explore
the possibility of hope and the power of a found family.
The story follows a defiant foster teen who is dragged to church camp, determined to resist what
he sees as the hollow promises of faith. But rejection gives way to introspection, and the walls
he’s built begin to crack. As he discovers he’s not alone in the struggle against grief, anger, and
the ache of belonging, he learns that healing can’t be forced— it must be chosen.
A Week Away: The Series is fun and engaging, safe for family viewing, and honors faith-based
principles without being a ‘lesson in Christianity.’
"Christian High School Musical" / "Camp Rock with faith message" / "Disney Channel meets Bible
camp".

Core Messages:
  • Infectious Music & Dance– Music from the writer and producer of your favorite Camp Rock and High School Musical songs.
  • Inspiring and redemptive themes
  • The healing power of friends and family
  • Sheds light on the struggles many teens and adults grapple with.
  • Raises questions of purpose and reason, which can feel unanswerable no matter what phase of life you’re in.
  • Redemption is a choice, and getting there is up to each individual person.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

To Love a Beast (Once Upon a Time in Texas Book One) by Karen Witemeyer

 


Such a beautiful love story. Many places of fluid beauty in prose. He was terribly scarred and disfigured. She isn't bothered by it. She goes to his home to bind his books in his library and breaks through to him in common sense and caring. She can see his beauty through his scars. They see the inner beauty in each other. Meltingly lovely. Add in some evil and danger, a belonging to a new family. A perfect read. Not sappy. 

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.

#ToLoveABeast #KarenWitemeyer #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #CelebrateLit #HopeLightPublishing #ChristianHistoricalRomance 


About the Book

Book: To Love a Beast (One Upon a Time in Texas Book One)

Author: Karen Witemeyer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 10, 2025

Beauty & the Beast in 1800’s Texas.

Once known among New York’s elite as the American Adonis, Everett Griffin now lives as a recluse in the wilds of Texas. The treachery of a former admirer left his face and his spirit riddled with scars, so he hides himself away, his only companions a trio of trusted servants and an oversized dog. Locals whisper of the beastly man who lives in the gloomy manor outside of town and his tendency to attack anyone who dares approach. Everett relishes his fearsome reputation and uses it as a shield to guard his privacy. Until a young woman as stubborn as she is beautiful infiltrates his sanctum and lays siege to his defenses.

When an injury to her father jeopardizes the family’s book binding business, Callista Rosenfeld determines to fulfill the contract herself, and no insufferable client or woman-eating dog will deter her. Finding unlikely allies among Mr. Griffin’s staff, Callista secures her position and sets to work transforming the manor’s remarkable library. Her employer transforms as well, his ill-tempered growls subsiding to reveal a considerate, intellectual nature. Affection blooms as Callista and Everett discover hidden depths in each other, but the evil schemes of a vengeful hunter threaten to leave their love and their lives in tatters.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Voted #1 Readers’ Favorite Christian Historical Author of 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen’s books have won numerous awards, including the prestigious Christy Award, Carol Award, and National Reader’s Choice Award. Karen is an avid cross-stitcher, and makes her home in Abilene, Texas with her husband. Learn more about Karen and her books at her website.

 

 

 

More from Karen

Having Fun with Character Names

I was a college student when the Disney animated adaptation of Beauty and the Beast released, and it instantly became my favorite fairy tale of all time. As a bookish young woman myself, I found Belle so relatable, and the rest of the cast delighted me as well. Throughout my Texas Ever After series and continuing with this new Once Upon a Time in Texas series, I’ve enjoyed paying homage to the Disney characters who inspired my western retellings. To Love a Beast is no different.


Let’s start with our beastly hero, Everett Griffin. The name Everett means “wild boar” and a griffin is a mythological beast with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle. Quite fitting for our Beast. Next is the lovely Callista Rosenfeld, a book binder and novel lover. Callista means “most beautiful,” perfect for our Beauty. Rosenfeld references the enchanted rose that plays such a key role in the fairy tale plot.

Next, we have our supporting cast. Mrs. Potter is our motherly housekeeper who invites Callista to tea on a regular basis. Our stuffy butler playing the role of Cogsworth is Mr. Timens. Notice the TIME in his name that pays homage to the clock-faced Disney character. Everett’s valet and best friend is Ray Lightfoot, who’s name plays with the candlestick image with both his first and last name.

I love having fun with my character names and giving them additional story meaning. You’ll find more Beauty and the Beast Easter eggs in my story as well. Those elements make the story so fun to write, and I hope you will find it incredibly fun to read as well.

Happy Reading!

~Karen

Blog Stops

Maureen’s Musings, June 27
Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 27
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 28
Locks, Hooks and Books, June 28
The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate , June 28
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 29
Inspired by Fiction, June 29
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , June 30
Where Faith and Books Meet, June 30
Devoted Steps, July 1
Sylvan Reads, July 1
She Lives To Read, July 1
Texas Book-aholic, July 2
Blossoms and Blessings, July 2
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 3
Blogging With Carol, July 3
Stories By Gina, July 4 (Author Interview)
Labor Not in Vain, July 4
For Him and My Family, July 5
Holly’s Book Corner , July 5
Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 6
Jodie Wolfe, July 6
The Lit Lady, July 7
Wishful Endings, July 7
Bizwings Book Blog, July 8
Life on Chickadee Lane, July 8
Books You Can Feel Good About, July 9
Mary Hake, July 9
To Everything There Is A Season, July 10
Life Love Writing, July 10
Min Reads and Reviews, July 10

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize of an eBook copy of the book and Beauty & the Beast themed goodies!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54249


My reviews
Barnes and Noble

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Secrets of the Revolution by Megan Soja


This is the second book in the series - we get to follow Hannah and Will. It takes place shortly after the Boston Tea Party when the British decide to button down Boston. Information circulated amongst the Patriots in order to keep on top of everything that was happening in the town and the country. Hannah and Will were recruited to help. It's interesting to see this history brought to life at a time that is rarely mentioned yet was a big part of when and how the American Revolution got its fueled start. We still take our freedom somewhat for granted, yet without all this happening and without people like this who contributed, our lives would be much different. Excellent read, keeps you turning the pages until the end. Looking forward to Libby's story in the next one.

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.

#SecretsoftheRevolution #MeganSoja #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #CelebrateLit #WildHeartBooks #ChristianHistoricalRomance #HarborOfSpies

 


About the Book

Book: Secrets of the Revolution

Author: Megan Soja

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: June 10, 2025

The cause of liberty brought them together. Will it also tear them apart?

Hannah Pierce is determined to keep her father‘s apothecary shop running, despite his failing health, the heavy burden of her mother’s recent death, and the mysterious disappearance of her brother. She’ll do whatever it takes to preserve her family’s legacy, including joining a dangerous ring of patriot spies…and falling for a revolutionary printer with a brave heart.

William Abbott always keeps his promises. He vowed long ago to never abandon those in need like his father did. So when new British acts of Parliament threaten Boston and endanger his family, he throws himself into serving the Patriot cause, using his position at the printing office to gather and spread intelligence. But when his clandestine role in the newly formed spy ring causes him to cross paths with the apothecary’s beautiful daughter, he may find himself fighting for more than the cause.

As tensions in Boston reach a breaking point, Will and Hannah find their bond deepening even as the noose tightens around the spy ring. When promises and determination are not enough to protect the ones they love, they’ll need to trust God if they are to survive what is to come.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Megan Soja is a multi-award-winning author who writes stories with strong faith, rich history, and sweet romance. She lives in western NY with her husband and two daughters and loves having adventures, both big and small, with her family. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, and playing French Horn.

 

 

 

 

More from Megan

In Secrets of the Revolution, my hero and heroine, Will and Hannah, are both drawn into participating in a Patriot spy ring in Boston. As I was planning their story, I drew inspiration from a group of famous real-life spies that operated in New York City during the American Revolution – the Culper Ring.

The Culper Ring was established in 1778 and successfully ran for five years without a single spy being discovered. Even today, we do not know the identity of all the members. They used a variety of methods to communicate, including ciphers, codes, and invisible ink, all of which served as inspiration for details in my story. I even used some of the numerical codes from the actual Culper Code Book to encrypt a letter that Will receives.

While researching the Culper Ring, I came across an especially interesting woman – Anna Smith Strong – and I knew she would be the perfect model for the part that Hannah plays in Secrets of the Revolution.

Anna’s role in the spy ring was to relay signals when information had been left at a specific location. Her family farm on Seaton’s Neck in Long Island provided prime location for her work, and she communicated through a brilliantly simple manner that went undetected throughout its operation. When a message was ready to be picked up amongst the coves of Long Island, Anna would hang a black petticoat on her clothesline, followed by a number of white handkerchiefs to indicate which location to use. Her clothing signal was easily spotted by fellow spy Caleb Brewster, who would periodically row out into the Sound, or Abraham Woodhull, whose nearby farm provided a clear view. The Culper Ring accomplished more than any other spy network during the war, thanks in part to Anna’s work.

As you discover Hannah’s role in Secrets of the Revolution, I hope that knowing Anna’s real history makes my story come to life all the more!

Blog Stops

Giveaway



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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54248


My reviews: