Meghan’s Choice (Known by Heart)

Meghan’s Choice 

(Known by Heart) 

Paperback – 

November 27, 2017

by Donna L.H. Smith  (Author)

• Paperback: 338 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• ISBN-13: 978-1975969288

An unusual ultimatum. A young woman’s bold journey. Two handsome men. An amazing God. That’s Meghan’s Choice.

Meghan Gallagher complies with her father's demand that she work on her own for a year by choosing to tutor eight children in a wild Kansas railroad town. But she had no idea just how wild it was until she was hit by a stray bullet and rescued by a local dance hall girl.

In short order, she meets a dark, handsome cowboy and a wholesome, attractive doctor who both vie for her heart. As things heat up around town, Meghan's love life catches fire as well. Is she scandalous to allow both men to court her at the same time? And—how close a relationship with God does Meghan want? Will she draw near?

Meghan’s Choice was named a semi-finalist in the 2014 Operation First Novel by Jerry B. Jenkins and an honorable mention for the Golden Leaf Award in 2015.

Published in connection with Hartline Literary Agency, serving the Christian book community. Visit us at www.hartlineliterary.com.

My thoughts (reviewed by guest blogger Marilyn Ridgway): An unusual ultimatum from her father resulted in Meghan Gallagher pursing her desire to teach children. She accepted the first job offer and traveled to developing New Boston, Kansas at the request of the executives for the Santa Fe railroad. She was not prepared for all she encountered but she liked the idea of two men wanting to court her after being dumped by Captain Calvin in St. Louis, MO. The two men seemed opposite in ways, but Meghan enjoyed their friendship. She had a lot to learn about surviving without having the luxuries of home and her father’s wealth, along with being exposed to people of ill repute. There were several tense moments that resulted in pages being turned quickly to see what was going to happen with each occurrence and if an individual was going to survive a beating, a gunshot, a tornado, and more. Donna L. H. Smith had a solid Christian message in this book despite all the sin found in Boston as it grew from the railroad coming. There are elements of drama, history, romance and discovering what is the most important aspect of life with God, too. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit Bloggers for the book tour. I was not required to write a positive review but have expressed my own opinion.

Gators, Guts, & Glory

Gators, Guts, & Glory: Adventures Along the Florida Trail (Hiking Adventures) 

Paperback – ebook

July 15, 2019

by Lauralee Bliss (Author)

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: WhiteFire Publishing 
• ISBN-13: 978-1946531704

Wander on the wild and humorous side of adventure with long distance hiker Lauralee Bliss (trail name Blissful), hiking the 1,100-mile Florida Trail from Big Cypress National Preserve to Gulf Islands National Seashore. From alligators and cottonmouths to tenting among the palmettos and walking on water, from forests of cypress knees and lofty pine to the help of trail angels along the way, "Blissful" uncovers the hidden gems of glory in this National Scenic Trail with a unique journey unlike any other.

My thoughts:  A long-time goal of mine was to hike the Appalachian Trail, but due to physical difficulties and handicaps that was a goal that had  to be amended, edited, and changed to standing on the Appalachian Trail.  I'm happy to say I achieved that goal and even  hiked maybe a half a mile of it, which is nothing compared to what Lauralee Bliss did. I imagine her laughing at me, but hey, I achieved that goal. My goal was also to see the ocean for the first time  which I also did on that trip.  I also read a hiking book "Hiking Thru" and lived the experience vicariously through trail journals.  

So when the opportunity came to review GATORS, GUTS, AND GLORY I didn't think too long about it.  A trail in Florida I never heard of. Adventure. Life on the edge. Survivor stuff that takes a special kind of toughness that I don't possess.  But oh, I love to dream.  And I loved to experience the journey from the air-conditioned comforts of home. Because I would never survive a day/night out on the trail, nevermind weeks and weeks of it. Not I.  

Lauralee Bliss writes a firsthand account of what, how, why, when, and what for that will have other armchair adventurers enthralled and might even  help some real life adventurers to plan their own  journey  through mosquito alley, gator swamps and  woods filled with poisonous trees (who  knew).  Add in quick sand (aka sucking mud) and cotton mouths, you will have the stuff nightmares are made  of....or maybe dreams come true. 

Seriously. I enjoyed this book. I recommend it to anyone who likes to dream big and live life  on the edge ... through the  pages of a book.  And in real life.  This  book would be a stepping stone in planning your own adventure and she mentions other resources to study as well.  Ms. Bliss has also written a book about hiking the Appalachian Trail which i have not read. Yet. Mountains, Madness, and Miracles.  

Grab your copy of GATORS, GUTS, AND GLORY today.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my  own.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Lauralee Bliss is an avid adventurer, one of only a few women to hike the entire Appalachian Trail both north and south. She is also the published author of over 25 romance novels and novellas. Lauralee’s desire is that readers will come away with both an entertaining story and a lesson that ministers to the heart. She makes her home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

More from Lauralee

Why hike the Florida Trail of all things?

L – I’ve had several adventures under my belt, like completing the Appalachian Trail twice (see book one in the Hiking Adventure Series – Mountains, Madness and Miracles – 4000 Miles Along the Appalachian Trail)! We used to vacation in Florida as many do come winter, and once we came upon the Florida Trail sign. I couldn’t imagine hiking among the palm trees. After talking to other hikers who had done it, I knew it would be a unique experience unlike any other. After all, why should life be boring?

It all sounds kind of dangerous – the alligators, the swamps. Were you scared?

L – I’ll admit there are facets of hiking that can cause scary situations. Once I got stuck in mud-like quicksand. In Florida it’s known as sucking mud, and I thought I’d never get out of it. Can you imagine? I also had some rough weather, dangerous water crossings, and an encounter with a cottonmouth. Btu through it I learned about God’s peace and His saving hand in situations where you really have no control.

What did you do to prepare?

L – I hiked as much as I could. I talked with other hikers and asked questions. I joined online trail forums to find out about the Florida Trail. I bought the guidebook for it. I believe one should always try to prepare and not venture into something blind. But of course there’s always the unexpected, which adds to the adventure aspect.

What lessons did you learn?

L – What one can accomplish in life if you keep going and not give up, despite the challenging situations thrust your way. I like to go on these journeys to witness God’s care in my life firsthand and seeing the kindness of others to help a hiker in need. I’ve had people try to give me money. Folks that invited me into their homes or given me rides. The human spirit is amazing and one of the most valuable things I experienced.

What else can you tell us about yourself?

L – I am an avid adventurer covering thousands of trail miles in the US from east to west including two completions of the Appalachian Trail, the Colorado Trail, the Long Trail of Vermont, the Allegheny Trail of West Virginia, and the Foothills Trail of South Carolina. I have also authored of over 25 romance novels and novellas and when not writing or hiking, I love to talk to others about hiking. My motto is – make your dream come true! (and it has, in more ways than one)

Blog Stops

Lighthouse Academy, July 30

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 31

Mary Hake, August 1

Inklings and notions, August 1

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 3

For Him and My Family, August 4

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 6

Girls in White Dresses, August 7

Texas Book-aholic, August 8

Just the Write Escape, August 9

janicesbookreviews, August 10

A Reader’s Brain, August 11

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, August 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lauralee is giving away a grand prize of a $25 REI 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/e547/gators-guts

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection: 7 Historical Romances Are a Beacon of Hope to Weary Hearts 

Paperback – ebook

November 1, 2018

by Lena Nelson Dooley (Author), Rebecca Jepson (Author), Carrie Fancett Pagels (Author), Candice Sue Patterson (Author), Kathleen Rouser (Author), Pegg Thomas (Author), Marilyn Turk (Author)

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Books 
• ISBN-13: 978-1683227694

Lighthouses have long been the symbol of salvation, warning sailors away from dangerous rocks and shallow waters.

Along the Great Lakes, America’s inland seas, lighthouses played a vital role in the growth of the nation. They shepherded settlers traveling by water to places that had no roads. These beacons of light required constant tending even in remote and often dangerous places. Brave men and women battled the elements and loneliness to keep the lights shining. Their sacrifice kept goods and immigrants moving. Seven romances set between 1883 and 1911 bring hope to these lonely keepers and love to weary hearts.

Anna’s Tower by Pegg Thomas
1883—Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse
Anna Wilson's plan to be the next lighthouse keeper is endangered when Maksim Ivanov is shipwrecked on Thunder Bay Island. Handsome and capable, he could steal her dream. Or provide a new one.

Beneath a Michigan Moon by Candice Sue Patterson
1885—New Presque Isle Lighthouse
Ava Ryan’s father has passed, leaving her alone, and ill, to tend the light with nowhere else to go. Logging foreman Benjamin Colfax needs the height of the lighthouse to determine the best cutting route, but he senses something amiss in Ava and her determination to remain reclusive. Can he get her to open up, or will she keep herself locked away?

Safe Haven by Rebecca Jepson
1892—Old Mission Point Lighthouse
Rose Miller was found on the lighthouse doorstep as an infant, and now she must hide her quest to find the child who left her there from Captain Nathan Perry, the man she loves to hate.

Love’s Beacon by Carrie Fancett Pagels
1898—Round Island Lighthouse
Valerie Fillman's best hope for a future lies on the tiny island that holds her worst memories. Can Paul Sholtus, the new lightkeeper, and his daughter help bring healing? And love?

The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser
1899—Mackinac Point Lighthouse 
Natalie Brooks loses her past to amnesia, and Cal Waterson, the lighthouse keeper who rescues her, didn’t bargain on risking his heart—when her past might change everything.

The Disappearing Ship by Lena Nelson Dooley
1902—Whitefish Point Lighthouse
Romance and mystery collide at Whitefish Point Lighthouse when unemployed doctor Norma Kimbell and Drake Logan, owner of a steamship line, search for evidence of a supposed shipwreck.

The Wrong Survivor by Marilyn Turk
1911—Au Sable Lighthouse
Lydia Palmer's dream for happiness as a lighthouse keeper's wife shatters when her fiancé Nathan Drake drowned in a shipwreck, but his brother Jesse survived. 

My thoughts (reviewed by guest reviewer  Marilyn Ridgway): Magnificent, superb collection of Christian historical romance filled with Great Lake Lighthouses and characters that endured so much while serving as the keeper of their particular lighthouse. Each novella is crafted with creativity, historical research details, the intricate workings of a lighthouse, and characters that represented lives from the past and fictional characters to blend into a tale that was a pleasure to read. Each of the heroines faced their challenges with determination, resilient, faith, hard work and a goal to keep the lighthouse light beaming to save lives out on the waters. There’s answered prayers especially for six year old Lily in The Last Memory by Kathleen Rouser, along with prayers being answered for others in each novella. Secondary characters added moments of laughter to tears and heartfelt emotions while reading. I needed a tissue at times because of the tears.

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides is my favorite collection by Barbour Publishing. I would appreciate seeing another collection by these same authors with more of the Lighthouses surrounding the Great Lakes or expanding their individual novella into a novel as life moved on for each heroine and hero as keepers of their particular Lighthouse or new location.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review but have expressed my sincere thoughts. 

Our Power in Christ By Jenna V. Hilton

 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.  John 4:35 KJV

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.    Matthew 9:37-38 KJV

My dog is a rock. Plain and simple. One night, I was putting Skye to bed, and the latch on her crate was broken. So, I improvised. I shut the crate door and put my laundry basket in front of the crate. Now, Skye is a BIG dog. She’s a pit bull black Labrador mix. She could have EASILY nudged open the door at any time and get the zoomies all over my bed. But she didn’t. Skye didn’t realize the power she had.

Aren’t we just like that sometimes? We accepted Christ as our Savior, we gave our lives to him... then what? What do we do with the power that is given to us? The power to lead people to Christ, comfort the hurt and broken hearted? I know I’ve never done that kind of thing. I mean, sure. I’ve shown sympathy, but I’ve never really helped to the best of my ability. We Christians all need to work on that.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing us to come to you with our prayers and praises. Help us to learn to use the Power we’re given to help seek and to save the lost. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Jenna V. Hilton is seventeen, and lives in Arkansas with her parents, two sisters, and dog. She is a senior in high school and planning to attend college to become a veterinarian.

A Family for Gracie (Amish of Pontotoc #3)

A Family for Gracie

 (Amish of Pontotoc #3) 

Mass Market Paperback –  ebook, audio CD

July 30, 2019

by Amy Lillard (Author)

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

• Publisher: Zebra
• ISBN-13: 978-1420145700

For the Amish of Pontotoc, Mississippi, faith and family are everything—even when they pose the greatest challenge . . .
 
Gracie Glick is known for being the helpful one, always available for a relative in need. But now that she’s longing for a home and family of her own, it’s time to help herself. With few eligible men in Pontotoc, Gracie’s choices, and her time, are limited. So she takes a bold leap of faith: she proposes to Matthew Byler, a handsome, recently widowed, father of five. It’s not until after they’re married that Gracie learns Matthew doesn’t want more children . . .
 
With his grief still fresh, and his children needing care while he tends to his farm, Gracie is the answer to Matthew’s prayers. But a marriage in name only suits him fine. And when he finally tells Gracie the dismaying reason why, they must decide whether to continue 
together—or apart. It’s a choice that will force them both to look deeper into their hearts than ever before . . .

My thoughts (reviewed by guest blogger Marilyn Ridgway):  I was glad to see Lillard write Gracie’s story after being introduced to young Gracie in the first two books of the Pontotoc Mississippi series. Gracie Glick had suffered a lot of loss in her younger years and was always willing to aid others when they had a need. But Gracie had one desire for so long which was a family of her own. Her proposal to Matthew Byler took him by surprise with an abrupt no. Matthew was overwhelmed with four lively young boys and an infant daughter who cried consistently while he held her, thus he had his hands full. No doubt he needed assistance and realized Gracie had a way with his children especially the baby when she had brought food over.

Matthew and Gracie had a lot to learn in their marriage of convenience. Lillard wrote their story in a way that brought out their strengths and flaws as they learned to give and take. Gracie was resilient and stood strong even with Matthew’s coolness toward her and the children. The young boys were charming in the story. Five year old Henry stole my heart with his determination and smartness even though he was prone to accidents. Baby Grace was a God sent to Gracie but she yearned for her own child. Will confronting the guilt Matthew carried about his wife’s death bring tenderness to his heart for Gracie?

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a favorable review but have expressed my own sincere thoughts. I look forward to reading more of Amy Lillard’s books as they are released.

Preorder today and have it automatically sent on release day!

Half Finished

Half Finished: A Novel 

Paperback – ebook, audio, audio CD

March 26, 2019

by Lauraine Snelling (Author) 

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: FaithWords 
• ISBN-13: 978-1478920076

In bestselling author Lauraine Snelling's new novel, a group of women realize that life is full of half-finished relationships and projects. However, they discover that the outcome is not as important as the journey.

Recognizing how common it is for crafters to start many projects and finish few, a group of women join together to form a guild-Unfinished Projects Anonymous-to keep each other on track and accountable. Three of the friends are tasked with the job of home visits for their guild. Laughingly called "the Cartel," they snoop around craft rooms and knitting baskets to report on progress for the members. They even expand their mission to include checking on half-trained dogs and half-weeded gardens.

As life unexpectedly changes for one of the members, this ensemble of women in bestselling author Lauraine Snelling's new novel discovers that much of life is half-finished-projects, friendships, the raising of children, even our very relationship with the Lord. And that may be perfectly fine.

My thoughts: HALF FINISHED is a book all crafters would be able to relate to. Stacks and stacks of material. Buttons galore. Yarn in  every hue imaginable and knitting needles of all sizes. Pick your favorite creative outlet and there are probably some (or many) unfinished projects in your stash.

The premise behind HALF FINISHED is about a group of crafters (male and female) who join together in a gallant attempt to finish unfinished projects. As the blurb says, they  have to come to terms  with many other unfinished things  (not just crafts) and that is  part of life.

This is women's fiction. The writing is impeccable. But...  There is a large group of characters and unfortunately I couldn't connect with  or care about  any of them. However, the theme and message is a good one that needs to be heard. 

If you love women's fiction or family drama style novels, you will love HALF FINISHED. Check it out for yourself.

I was given a  copy free. All opinions are my own.

My Dearest Dietrich: A Novel of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Lost Love

Hardcover – ebook

June 9, 2019

by Amanda Barratt (Author)

• Hardcover: 360 pages
• Publisher: KREGEL
• ISBN-13: 978-0825446054

A staggering love illuminating the dark corners of a Nazi prison

Renowned German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is famous for his resistance to the Nazi regime and for his allegiance to God over government. But what few realize is that the last years of his life also held a love story that rivals any romance novel.

Maria von Wedemeyer knows the realities of war. Her beloved father and brother have both been killed on the battlefield. The last thing this spirited young woman needs is to fall for a man under constant surveillance by the Gestapo. How can she give another piece of her heart to a man so likely to share the same final fate? Yet when Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an old family friend, comes to comfort the von Wedemeyers after their losses, she discovers that love isn't always logical.

Dietrich himself has determined to keep his distance from romantic attachments. There is too much work to be done for God, and his involvement in the conspiracy is far too important. But when he encounters a woman whose intelligence and conviction match his own, he's unprepared for how easy it is to give away his heart.

With their deep love comes risk--and neither Dietrich nor Maria is prepared for just how great that risk soon becomes.

Based on detailed historical research, this true love story is at once beautiful and heartrending. My Dearest Dietrich sheds new light on a world-famous theologian . . . and the woman who changed his life.

My thoughts:  MY DEAREST DIETRICH is rich in vivrant detail that enables the  reader to see, smell, hear, touch and taste whatever  the character is and also experience every emotion, from  acute embarrassment at being caught covered in mud to the anger, dismay, and fear when as a prisoner, Dietrich "got lost" in Nazi Germany.

The story begins  with Marie attempting to visit her  lover in prison, then goes back in time to when they  actually notice each  other and progresses from there.  The story is mostly historically accurate, but fictionized enough to  make it readable as a novel. This is a WWII novel like none other.

There is no happy ever after in this book. It ends with heartbreak.  The real life Dietrich gave his life to follow Christ. That alone made me hesitate to read this book. I do love  HEA. Those curious about the nonfictionalized account might want to read  Love Letters from Cell 92 or perhaps a biography about this renowned and much loved theologian.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.