Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Chasing the Horizon by Mary Connealy

 (A Western Light Book #1): (A Suspenseful Historical Western Romance Set on the 1800's Oregon Trail)

I love a good wagon train story and pioneer story, and this is both. With some extra high society influence and villains as well. Ginny has been put into an asylum and her daughter and former employee plot to get her out and go west to hide. Wonderful full dimension characters you either love or hate. Very interesting. Looking forward to spending more time with them in the next book!

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

#ChasingTheHorizon #NetGalley #BethanyHouse #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianHistoricalFiction #FiveStarBooks #MaryConnealy

From the Back Cover

Her only chance at freedom waits across the horizon.

Upon uncovering her tyrannical father's malevolent plot to commit her to an asylum, Beth Rutledge fabricates a plan of her own. She will rescue her mother, who had already been sent to the asylum, and escape together on a wagon train heading west. Posing as sisters, Beth and her mother travel with the pioneers in hopes of making it to Idaho before the others start asking too many questions.

Wagon-train scout Jake Holt senses that the mysterious women in his caravan are running from something. When rumors begin to spread of Pinkerton agents searching relentlessly for wanted criminals who match the description of those on his wagon train, including Beth, she begins to open up to him, and he learns something more sinister is at hand. Can they risk trusting each other with their lives--and their hearts--when danger threatens their every step? --This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

Mary Connealy (MaryConnealy.com) writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series Wyoming Sunrise, The Lumber Baron's Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

My reviews

Friday, March 15, 2024

A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell

 

A new all time favorite for me. I want to stay here and continue to see their inventions, travels and marvels. I was captivated. Thoroughly.  London, England, 1860. All seems teetering on the edge for Clara and her family, with threats of the family's eccentricities being exposed unless she marries a ruthless suitor so he can have access to their funds. Theodore wandered into her Grandfather's clockwork shop and all things flew into motion. This story would be fabulous on the screen with the automatons and with the lessons of Christian faith. Beyond fabulous read. I think I'll always picture the miniature bee and butterfly automatons in her Grandfather's hair. 

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

#ALadysGuidetoMarvelsandMisadventure #NetGalley #BethanyHouse #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianHistoricalFiction #FiveStarBooks #AngelaBell

Description

Miss Clara Marie Stanton's family may be eccentric, but they certainly aren't insane.

London, England, 1860
When Clara's ex-fiancé begins to spread rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, it's all she can do to protect them from his desperate schemes, society's prejudice, and a lifetime in an asylum. Then Clara's Grandfather Drosselmeyer brings on an apprentice with a mechanical leg, and all pretense of normalcy takes wing.

Theodore Kingsley, a shame-chased vagabond haunted by the war, wants a fresh start far from Kingsley Court and the disappointed father who declared him dead. Upon returning to England, Theodore meets clockmaker Drosselmeyer, who hires him as an apprentice, much to Clara's dismay. When Drosselmeyer spontaneously disappears in his secret flying owl machine, he leaves behind a note for Clara, beseeching her to make her dreams of adventure a reality by joining him on a merry scavenger hunt across Europe. Together, Clara and Theodore set off to follow Drosselmeyer's trail of clues, but they will have to stay one step ahead of a villain who wants the flying machine for himself--at any cost.




Angela Bell is a twenty-first-century lady with nineteenth-century sensibilities. She resides in Texas with her charming pup, Mr. Bingley Crosby. One might categorize her books as historical romance, but Angela likes to describe them as “a cuppa Victorian whimsy” because it sounds so much more poetical.

Whenever you need a respite from the modern-day hustle, you’re welcome to visit her parlor at AuthorAngelaBell.com, where she can be found waiting with a pot of tea and a great book.

My reviews

Friday, March 8, 2024

Reverence in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd

 

Right from the beginning both Keturah and Daniel are alone and had been in families that had abusive people. They both need to be loved. They are opposites in many ways but each works hard to achieve their goals. There is a lot they have to learn to get to the lives they need, but they stick with it. Nice read, seems to go fast. 

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.

#ReverenceInTheWilderness #AndreaByrd #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #CelebrateLit #ChristianHistoricalFiction #FiveStarNovel 


About the Book

Book: Reverence in the Wilderness

Author: Andrea Byrd

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 5, 2024

She’s desperate to save the homestead she’s poured her life into…but is a marriage of convenience with him the answer?

Alone in the Kentucky wilderness, Keturah Elliot finds herself bereft of family and facing the looming threat of losing all she has left. After toiling alongside her demeaning father for two years, she cannot bear losing the homestead they built with their own hands. Keturah has no choice but to trust the Lord’s urging—she must marry to protect all she holds dear. But when a candidate presents himself in the form of a wealthy dandy from back East, can she find enough redeeming qualities to accept him?

Haunted by his mother’s death and a lifetime of failure and isolation, Daniel Scott sees little hope of a better situation when he’s sent to a remote Kentucky station. But when he meets a captivating Scottish woman in need of a husband such as he, he’s determined to break the cycle and prove himself once and for all.

Brought together by circumstances beyond their control, can these two opposites overcome their challenges to build the future they both crave?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Andrea Byrd is a Christian wife and mom located in rural Kentucky, who loves to spend time with her family in the great outdoors, one with nature. Often described as having been born outside her time, she has a deep affinity for an old-fashioned, natural lifestyle.

With a degree in Equine Health & Rehabilitation gathering dust and a full-time job tethering her to a desk eight hours a day, Andrea decided it was time to show both herself and her children that it is truly possible to make your dreams come true. Now with over 1,000 contemporary Christian romance novellas sold, Andrea is pursuing her passion of writing faith-filled romance woven with a thread of true history. 



More from Andrea

In many ways, Reverence in the Wilderness is deeply personal for me.

To read about Daniel Scott is to receive a glimpse at my own husband. Dark hair and a golden-brown gaze…and my complete opposite in nearly every way. He is also talkative, entertaining, and gentlemanly. He definitely shares Daniel’s fun-loving and caring nature. Just as God blessed Keturah with Daniel, God blessed me with a man who perfectly complements me while keeping life interesting.

And, not to provide spoilers, but the miscarriage was drawn from one of my own experiences. During my most recent pregnancy, I experienced a threatened miscarriage. I just knew without a shadow of a doubt that I had lost my baby, and in that moment, I glimpsed the hopelessness one would face during a miscarriage. Thanks to the prayers of others and the good Lord above, I was blessed with a healthy pregnancy from then on out and now have a beautiful, healthy baby boy. However, there are so many women who must face that grief and loss in full force. And for always, my heart will break for them. As soon as I returned home from the hospital that night, I knew I had to represent their plight within these pages.

This book is dedicated to every woman who has ever experienced a miscarriage or threatened miscarriage.

Blog Stops

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Andrea is giving away the grand prize 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/2a550/reverence-in-the-wilderness-celebration-tour-giveaway





My reviews

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Protecting the Mountain Man's Treasure (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch Book 3)

 


Almost sneaky, getting you fully invested in these people quickly. Very intriguingly written and artful as it unfolds. I found that I was rooting for each of them strongly right from the beginning. I loved how it unfolded with faithfulness. Nothing over done or prolonged too far. Excellent story, and fits nicely in the series. Looking forward to 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.

#ProtectingTheMountainMansTreasure #MistyMBeller #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #CelebrateLit #ChristianHistoricalFiction #FiveStarNovel 


About the Book

 

Book: Protecting the Mountain Man’s Treasure

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 6, 2024

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, loyalty…and a hidden fortune.

Jude Coulter is far more comfortable in his family’s sapphire mine tucked in the Montana mountains than the bustling streets of New York City where he’s been sent to deliver a shipment of gems. His relief at boarding the train for the first leg of his journey home is short-lived when an accident renders him unconscious.

Angela Larkin worked hard to earn this assignment for the Treasury—an undercover mission to determine the source of the sapphires brought each year for auction in the city. When an accident causes her target to lose his recent memory, Angela jumps at the opportunity to create the ideal ruse. Jude seems surprised to learn the two of them had married and were returning from a glorious wedding trip, but he doesn’t question too strongly.

Yet when an unexpected threat arises, they find themselves dependent on the other to navigate the treacherous journey home. As the danger mounts, so too does an attraction neither of them anticipated. But can this love withstand the revelation of their tangled beginnings?

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain family saga filled with a pretend marriage, amnesia, undercover agents, and a love worth treasuring far more than riches.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

More from Misty

In my latest release, the hero and heroine travel up the Missouri River in a steamboat, and I loved the research for that portion of the story!

Traveling on a steamboat in 1869 was an experience like no other, and took about two months to travel from St. Louis, Missouri to Fort Benton in the Montana Territory. Passengers would step aboard these floating palaces to find ornate decorations, plush accommodations, and the promise of new scenery at every bend in the river. Despite the occasional discomforts of travel—such as noisy engines and the ever-present risk of boiler explosions—passengers reveled in the novelty and the relative speed of steamboat travel.

The Missouri was notorious for its shifting channels, snags, and sandbars, which could easily ensnare even the most experienced pilot’s vessel. Navigating this river required an intimate knowledge of its capricious nature, and the river pilots were worth their weight in gold.

River towns along the Missouri thrived thanks to the steamboats. These towns became hotbeds of economic activity, where goods were loaded and unloaded, and stories from faraway places were exchanged. The arrival of a steamboat was an event, often met with fanfare and excitement by the local populace.

I pray you love the peek at steamboat life in Protecting the Mountain Man’s Treasure! J

Blessings!

Misty

Blog Stops

Alena Mentink, March 1
Wishful Endings, March 1
Lighthouse Academy Blog, March 2 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 2
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 3
Splashes of Joy, March 3
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 4
Where Crisis & Christ Collide, March 4
Madi’s Musings, March 5
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 5
Texas Book-aholic, March 6
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 6
Betti Mace, March 7
Books You Can Feel Good About, March 7
Devoted To Hope, March 8
For Him and My Family, March 8
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , March 9
Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 9
Cover Lover Book Review, March 10
Life on Chickadee Lane, March 10
Blossoms and Blessings, March 11
Mary Hake, March 11
lakesidelivingsite, March 12
Melissa’s Bookshelf, March 12
Holly’s Book Corner, March 13
The Lofty Pages, March 13
Lily’s Corner, March 14
Pause for Tales, March 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize 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/2a3d3/protecting-the-mountain-man-s-treasure-celebration-tour-giveaway





My reviews

Thursday, February 29, 2024

The Chosen, Season 4 Episodes 7 & 8

 



Episode 7
Jesus performs a miracle and heals Lazarus at Bethany after a 4 day delay - after he had died and has started to decompose - and brings him back to life. All the apostles are confused and search for the meaning and purpose of this one man being raised again. This is the last of the more carefree time of Jesus travelling and teaching the people. He knows it's end of His time, and you can feel it. The Sadducee who witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus ran quickly back to Jerusalem to tell the other Jewish leaders that Jesus had now gone too far. They're willing to join with the Romans in order to punish Jesus and his followers. There are many things to be learned by the healing and rising of Lazarus - in the delay, in the faith of the people who are close to them all, and in the resurrection of a man.

Episode 8 
Confusion over Lazarus continues. Events leading up to Jesus going into Jerusalem on what will in later days be known as Palm Sunday. There are still conflicts among the apostles and Jewish leaders. Jesus is laying it out and making it plain that He is going to die. There is a lot of turmoil, but His true believers make way for Him to come into the city - in the way that fulfills prophesy. 

I think that this series is very important in bringing the message of Jesus and our salvation to everyone. I don't think that you can watch it and not be moved by it. I don't like where some things are changed from the bible, so I strongly feel that you should read a bible and compare. It's very important to let the true bible facts sink into your life and mind and let them guide you. The overall message comes through though, and it is about the people whom Jesus chose to be with Him throughout this time in His life on Earth. It's also about the people who are chosen to spend eternity in heaven with Him.

Many thanks to Come and See Foundation, Inc. for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

#TheChosen4MIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianMovie #ComeAndSeeFoundationInc

Giveaway: $10 Amazon giftcard (Note: This is limited to US winners only. If you'd like to enter, please submit your full name and email address by March 7 in the comments below. Winner will be chosen randomly. We will not be able to accept winners submitted after that date.)

Buy tickets today to see Season 4 of THE CHOSEN in theaters!



Synopsis: Clashing kingdoms. Rival rulers. The enemies of Jesus close in while His followers struggle to keep up, leaving Him to carry the burden alone. Threatened by the reality of Jesus’ growing influence, religious leaders do the unthinkable—ally with their Roman oppressors. As the seeds of betrayal are planted and opposition to Jesus’ message turns violent, He’s left with no alternative but demand his followers RISE UP.

About The Chosen: The Chosen is a groundbreaking historical drama based on the life of Jesus (played by Jonathan Roumie), seen through the eyes of those who knew him. Set against the backdrop of Roman oppression in first-century Israel, the seven-season show shares an authentic and intimate look at Jesus’ revolutionary life and teachings. 

With over 200 million viewers, The Chosen is one of the most-watched shows in the world. The series is consistently a top performer across streaming platforms Amazon Prime, Peacock, and Netflix plus a top-rated broadcast weekly on The CW. What started as a crowd-funded project has now garnered over 770 million episode views and more than 12 million social media followers. 

The Chosen is an independent production written, directed, and produced by Dallas Jenkins and distributed globally by Lionsgate.

Monday, February 26, 2024

Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New: Stitch and Embellish Your Stashed Treasures

 


A treasure of a book. Very beautiful and creative ideas for new or vintage items that you can make yourself. Great ideas and suggestions for using items that you have on hand or what to look for. Includes many embroidery stitch designs. Buttons, ribbons, old handkerchiefs, treasured items that might be worn or tattered that can be made into useable and decorative treasures.
#ChristenBrown #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #C&TPublishing




















Create with your stash, both old and new! Put all stashed, hoarded, and handed down bits and pieces to creative use! Popular author Christen Brown walks readers through innovative uses for all kinds of embellishments ― like lace, vintage linens and hankies, trims and ribbons, buttons of all sorts, and vintage notions ― through techniques and projects. If you want to add more unique stash pieces, she provides tips on finding the good stuff, both in-person and online. Get tips for taking care of your treasures, from cleaning vintage finds to fiber identification.

Embroider your stashed treasures with 19 stash project ideas, 3 step-by-step projects, and a robust gallery to get started

Explore a wide variety of projects from feminine to whimsical, functional to frivolous, and old school to contemporary

Christen walks you through adding embroidery stitches with a library of 100+ stitches


About the author
I came from a very supportive family of creative gifted parents; no matter what room of the house I went into I learned something.

I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Merchandise and Design and I continue to experiment in all areas of art and craft.

I am fascinated by design in general; and concentrate specifically in the techniques of embroidery, quilting, ribbonwork, mixed media and jewelry making. 

When people ask me how long something takes me to make, I tell them a lifetime, because everything we do is the sum of that experience and wonderful journey.

Saturday, February 24, 2024

A Cherished Betrothal by Denise Weimer, Scouts of the Georgia Frontier #3

 



A powerful story! Survivors of an Indian massacre, Elspeth and her father, a preacher, forgave them and are missionaries to the Cherokee in the area where they live. Alex is a Patriot soldier and doesn't recall the details of when he and Elspeth attacked even though he bears the scars. A story of love, forgiveness and redemption as well as a story of America. Very real, I found myself wanting to tell my husband when things happened in the story, and could clearly hear their Scottish brogues, nearly slipping and speaking that way myself. Excellent story with strong Christian lessons and faith, beautifully applied. Bravo Alex! I only wish there was a bit more to their tale, that the story had lasted longer. 

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.

#ACherishedBetrothal #DeniseWeimer #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #CelebrateLit #ChristianHistoricalFiction #FiveStarNovel 


About the Book

 

Book: A Cherished Betrothal

Author: Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: January 23, 2024

He rescued her once, but a chance at love will require the ultimate sacrifice.

Alexander Morris bears the childhood scars of the Long Canes massacre that killed his brother and father. Forced by his dark past into the lonely life of Georgia Ranger, Alexander joins the bordering South Carolina Rangers in their revolt against the Crown. When he’s posted to the fort erected to defend the community once decimated by the massacre, duty demands he court the loyalty of his sworn enemies, the fierce Cherokee warriors.

Elspeth Lawrence never forgot the boy who sacrificed himself for her at Long Canes—any more than she forgot the younger sister taken captive. She’s learned not only to forgive, but also to help minister to the Cherokees at her father’s mission. When Alex Morris arrives at nearby Fort Charlotte, Elspeth finds her memories—and her emotions—stirred. He doesn’t even remember her…or the long-ago attack. But the bitterness that simmers just beneath his stoic exterior—as well as her courtship by a local landowner—challenge their undeniable bond.

When Alex uncovers a long-held secret and a plot to sabotage patriot talks with the Cherokees, he must choose between his desire for revenge and his love for the girl he rescued long ago.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

North Georgia native Denise Weimer has authored over a dozen traditionally published novels and a number of novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

 

 

 

 


More from Denise

That Event That Changed You Forever: The Backstory Catalyst of A Cherished Betrothal

Most of us can pinpoint it—a moment in time that forever altered us and the course of our lives. Maybe it was a place. Or a person. For good or bad, we can never go back to who we used to be. The good or bad depends on how we react to that moment, place, or person, doesn’t it? Whether we allow God to make us more like Him because of it.

Both the hero and heroine of my third novel in the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier, A Cherished Betrothal, live with such a moment. Experts in book plotting say our characters should have a dark moment in their backstory. For Alex Morris and Elspeth Lawrence, the Long Canes Massacre of 1760 is that dark moment. Together, they survived the attack of around a hundred Cherokee braves on a group of settlers fleeing across the South Carolina border into Georgia. Alex lost his father and brother, Elspeth her mother while her younger sister was taken captive. With the resilience of the Scots-Irish who formed a barrier between the colonies and the Native Americans, the Long Canes settlers returned to the border of South Carolina later that same year.

A Cherished Betrothal actually begins in 1775, with the South Carolina backcountry on the brink of revolution. Since the childhood attack, Alex has lost his sense of home. He draws his identity from his service as a Georgia and South Carolina Ranger (yes, this tale veers over the border into South Carolina and the fascinating history around the town of Ninety Six) and waits for the opportunity for revenge. He keeps his anger carefully banked, just as Elspeth hides her fear—especially when she has to face warriors who visit the mission for Cherokee children she runs with her minister father. She’s forgiven her enemies, but she can no more prevent her knees knocking upon sight of the braves than she can forget the boy who saved her life fifteen years ago.

It seems God has answered her prayers when Alex shows up at nearby Fort Charlotte. Only…he doesn’t remember her…or the dark moment that shaped both of their histories. Between Elspeth’s not-so-gentle pressure, a Cherokee boy Alex can’t shake as a shadow, and his commanders’ determination to court the Cherokees as allies for the Patriot cause, Alex is forced to look his past in the eye.

Pivoting between Fort Charlotte, the mission school, and the town of Ninety Six where Elspeth’s wealthy Loyalist admirer helps stir conflict, including the first battle of the Revolution in South Carolina, A Counterfeit Betrothal is a tale of unshakeable love and soul-deep healing. I loved this story so much when I was writing it, I wanted to move into Colonial Ninety Six. I hope you will too!

Blog Stops

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away the grand prize 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/2a0cd/a-cherished-betrothal-celebration-tour-giveaway





My reviews