The House on Foster Hill

Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather's Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house's dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide.
A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy's search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives--
including her own--are lost?

My thoughts: I picked this book up on a whim, and was sucked into the story immediately! It was so hard to put down, since it was the perfect blend of suspense and mystery, with an interesting combination of past and present. While parts of it are creepy, since neither Ivy or Kaine know what they are up against at Foster Hill House.
This book has some great quotes, and I especially appreciated the thought provoking dialogs on where we put our hope and where it should be. I highly recommend this one!
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Across the Blue

Set in Edwardian England and ideal for readers who enjoy Julie Klassen novels, this romance about an English aviation pioneer and the girl who falls in love with him is filled with adventure and faith.

Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don't approve. They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher standing in society. After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year. When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson's new estate, Bella is intrigued. James is determined to be the first to fly across the Channel and win the prize Mr. Grayson's newspaper is offering. He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret. James wants to win Bella's heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve. If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella's faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down?

My thoughts: I love Carrie's books, since she has such wonderful characters and does an excellent job of bringing their time period to life! So, I was thrilled to pick this book up and enjoy the story of Bella and James. It was interesting to find out more about aviation back in the early days. I highly recommend this one!
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

When We were Worthy

A win brought them together, but loss may tear them apart.

When the sound of sirens cuts through a cool fall night, the small town of Worthy, Georgia, hurtles from triumph to tragedy. Just hours before, they’d watched the Wildcats score a winning touchdown. Now, they’re faced with the deaths of three cheerleaders—their promising lives cut short in a fatal crash. And the boy in the other car—the only one to survive—is believed to be at fault. As rumors begin to fly and accusations spin, allegiances form and long-kept secrets emerge.

At the center of the whirlwind are four women, each grappling with loss, regret, shame, and lies: Marglyn, a grieving mother; Darcy, whose son had been behind the wheel; Ava, a substitute teacher with a scandalous secret; and Leah, a cheerleader who should have been in the car with her friends, but wasn’t. If the truth comes out, will it bring redemption—or will it be their downfall?

My thoughts: This book was interesting, to say the least! It is an engrossing story of three girls who's lives have been cut short and what happened leading up to their tragic deaths that affects those left behind. I thought it was a unique story, though a bit disturbing. Marybeth does a great job of keeping the reader engaged until the very end.
This book is geared towards high schoolers, with it's language and some of the subject matter.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Hurt Road

Third Day guitarist Mark Lee is no stranger to heartache and hopes deferred; the road to success is never traveled without missteps along the way. Life is messy and uncertain and full of surprises. And one of the best things he's ever done is let go of his expectations about how life should be in order to embrace life as it is a moment-by-moment walk with God.

Hurt Road is the engaging true story of a man who, as a teen, found in music a refuge from the uncertainties of life. Who set out to discover a better way to live than constantly struggling to make sure life turned out the way he planned it. Who stopped substituting what's next for what's now and learned the truth--that coming or going, God's got us.

Poignant, funny, and thoughtful, Hurt Road dares anyone feeling knocked down or run over by their circumstances to give up control to the One who already has the road all mapped out. Includes black and white photos

My thoughts: This is an excellent book! I enjoyed reading more about Mark Lee, who plays the guitar for Third Day. I love how he is very honest, and especially appreciated how he addresses that God doesn't promise us an easy life when we chose to follow Him and that just because we are obedient does not mean we will always feel blessed.
I highly recommend this great book!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Take Ten: Interesting jobs

This week, the subject for Broke and Bookish top ten Tuesday is top ten books that feature characters _____, so I chose to pick ten books that have characters who have interesting/unique jobs.

1. Anchor in the Storm

I've enjoyed this whole series, but this one was especially good, since the heroine works as a pharmacist, back when there weren't a lot of women who held that position. Lily is also an amazing, plucky character who is just fun.

2. Beyond All Dreams

Anna works for the Library of Congress in this one, which is pretty neat.;)

3. For Love and Honor

Maybe they don't quite fit this topic the best, but I love that this book is set in the Medieval period and that there is a Lord trying to save his keep and a Lady who has an amazing collection of art and historical artifacts.

4. Courageous

Another interesting series, this one is about a children's crusade. I love the strong heroine!

5. Against the Tide

A translator for the US Navy .

6. A Name Unknown

A female librarian in Edwardian times who is really a street urchin.

7. The Illusionist Apprentice

I enjoyed reading about Harry Houdini when I was a kid, so this was a fun book for me!

8. Montana Rescue series

This series covers a variety of cases that the rescue team does.

9. My Daughter's Legacy

The modern day heroine is a intern in equine therapy while the Civil War heroine is a nurse during the end of the war (who also encounters some spying).

10. Elite Guardians

A quartet of female friends start a security business and come up against all kinds of mysteries.

What interesting jobs should I have added to my list?

Secret Keeper Girl; Mom-Daughter Devos

Want help talking to your tween about modesty?

Tweens aren't meant to grapple with modesty and body image issues alone. But many moms don't know quite how to talk about these issues.

Secret Keeper Girl Mom-Daughter Devos fills that gap. A companion to Secret Keeper Girl, it cements the truths of that book and provides an opportunity for moms to talk through these important issues with their daughters. It's not just a book, but a connecting experience for mothers and daughters. Together they'll go on a journey to meet with their Creator and learn to see themselves through His eyes.

Secret Keeper Girl Mom-Daughter Devos has a simple format of 30 daily devotions. It features:

Weekly interactive conversation starters
A leader's guide appendix at the end
Downloadable resources at the author's website.

This Secret Keeper Girls series exists to bring moms and daughters together for age-appropriate, biblical conversations about true beauty, modesty, and purity.

My thoughts: I feel like I kind of did this backward, since I didn't read the Secret Keeper Girl firs, but I still feel like I had a good feel for the book's message with this devotional. I love that it is geared towards tweens and discussion important imagines with your daughter. There are portions for the tween to do on her own, and then things to do together. And, I love the coloring book portion for two to do together! While my daughter is still young for this book, I look forward to doing it with her in the future!
I received this book from Moody publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Many Sparrows

When settler Clare Inglesby is widowed on a mountain crossing and her young son, Jacob, captured by Shawnees, she'll do everything in her power to get him back, including cross the Ohio River and march straight into the presence of her enemies deep in Indian country. Frontiersman and adopted Shawnee, Jeremiah Ring, promises to guide Clare through the wilderness and help her recover Jacob.
Once they reach the Shawnees and discover Jeremiah's own Shawnee sister, Rain Crow, has taken
custody of Jacob--renaming him Many Sparrows--keeping his promise becomes far more complicated, the consequences more wrenching, than Jeremiah could have foreseen.

My thoughts: I've read several of Lori's other stories and have enjoyed the rich historical aspect side of them. I love that her stories are about the early American settlers and their relationship with the Native Americans, though it is often heartbreaking. In Many Sparrows the story is especially heartbreaking, as it deals with a mother who loses her child after her husband disappears. It is an excellent story of God's love and peace and how He carries us when we deal with grief. This is a beautiful story that does a wonderful job of showing what both the sides might of been going through in the days leading up to the Revolutionary War. I highly recommend this one!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Picturing Heaven

Imagine Heaven the way the Bible describes it―a place of exquisite beauty brimming with marvelous detail and intricate patterns; a special dwelling place free of corruption and sin; and a place of both rest and enjoyable, meaningful work.

Let the power and majesty of Heaven fill your heart with joy as you color these 40 designs carefully interpreted from the pages of Scripture. Savor a respite from daily life as you read and meditate on devotions from best–selling author Randy Alcorn, a leading authority on Heaven. Picturing Heaven will offer you comfort and relaxation, while filling your heart with restful assurance that God prepares a special place for those who love Him.

My thoughts: I haven't had the privilege of going through Randy Alcorn's full length devotional on Heaven, but I have enjoyed this beautiful coloring book that has devotions accompanying each color page. I feel like doing the devotional and then coloring gives the reader a chance to focus on the devotional's message. I love that each thought is started with a passage of scripture, about heaven, and then goes from there. This book gave me a lot to think about and some beautiful pages to color! If you are looking to add meditation on God's word in a new way, then I highly recommend this coloring book.
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

An Inconvenient Beauty

The Duke of Riverton has chosen his future wife with the same logic he uses to make every decision. However, his perfect bride eludes his suit, while the beautiful Isabella Breckenridge seems to be everywhere. When the time comes, will Griffith and Isabella be able to set aside their pride and initial notions to embrace their very own happily-ever-after?

My thoughts: I didn't want to like this book, after I started it, since I found Isabella to be too perfect of a heroine. But, then I realized that I was a bit like the Duke of Riverton with being a bit prejudice against a "Diamond" of the season. This wound up being the perfect conclusion to one of my favorite series! This series has had a lot of depth to the characters and managed to be outside the box when it comes to regency fiction. I highly recommend this book and the whole series!
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Do One thing that every day that makes you happy

Each day presents an opportunity to find delight, whether in your surroundings, your work, your relationships, your insights, or your actions. This journal will guide you to look inside and outside yourself to discover and appreciate what makes you happiest.

With prompts and exercises, the wise words of writers, musicians, philosophers, and leaders will help you reflect on what fills you with joy. You’ll measure your happiness at the outset and along the way; after a year’s worth of delight, your smile will be bigger than ever.

My thoughts: With this book, I would say that a good subtitle would be to choose happy, since focusing on doing something that makes you happy every day, or focusing on what makes you happy is such a great way to becoming a more upbeat person. I love the quotes and fun thoughts that are filled on the pages. This is a wonderful little journal!
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Top ten books on my fall TBR list

1. An Inconvenient Beauty

I've loved this series, so I look forward to finishing the final book in the series! I will admit to cheating with this one, I've already started on it.;)

2. Lady Jayne Disappears

I'm hoping this one will arrive in my mail box soon.;)

3. A Dangerous Legacy

It's been a while since I last picked up one of Elizabeth's books, so I am hoping to make time for this one.

4. What Hope Remembers

I know this one has been out for a while, but I'm only just now hoping to read it.;)The first two books were excellent!

5. The Thing With Feathers

Another book that has been out for a while, but one I hope to read soon!

6. The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck

I hope this one will be in the mail soon as well!

7. The House on Foster Hill

This one looks like a delightful mystery!

8. Vanishing Point

This series is awesome and I look forward to finally getting some answers to the on going mystery!

9. Then There Was You


10. The Dishonorable Miss Delancey


What's on your Fall TBR list?

Gathering the Threads

After three months ofdraus in da Welt, Ariana has returned to Summer Grove, the Old Order Amish community where she was raised for twenty years, and life with her Brenneman family. Skylar Nash, the Englisch-raised young woman is working in Ariana s cafe while getting to know her birth family and their Plain way of life. Skylar's time in Summer Grove has changed her outlook, just as Ariana has grown to see her personal faith in God in a different light than the manner she was taught while growing up. Both women will have to make decisions about their paths and Ariana must decide what role her childhood friend, ex-Amish Quill Schlabach, will play in her life.
Gathering the Threadsis the third and final novel in the Amish of Summer Grove series."

My thoughts: This book finishes an interesting series about two girls who were switched at birth, one growing up Amish and one growing up English. It is interesting to see the story from the stand point of the Amish mother, who finds out that the daughter she has raised is not really her birth daughter. I thought that this series showed how interesting it would be to join the Amish after being raised in the English world. It is an excellent series for those who are interested in Amish Fiction!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Love You Always Review and Giveaway

A child is a treasured leaf on a family tree, surrounded by love from mom, dad, doting grandparents, aunts and uncles, and family friends too. This sweet, reassuring picture book from Eileen Spinelli acknowledges the whole “tree”—the many who are invested in a child’s life—with expressions of unconditional love from each. Heartwarming verse and charming artwork will make this book a must-buy for baby showers, birthdays, and other occasions.

My thoughts: This is a beautiful picture book that goes over all the people that love a child, from parents, to grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends. My children and I have enjoyed reading through this gorgeous little book! I love the darling illustrations and the lyrical way the text read. It is a wonderful reminder to the child in your life that they are so loved.
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.

Are you interested in a copy of Love You Always for the little ones in your life? Worthy has graciously offered to giveaway a copy to one of my readers. All you have to do is comment and leave a way for me to contact you if you win!

A woman overwhelmed

A Woman Overwhelmed: Finding God in the Messes of Life (Abingdon Press, August 2017)

“A Woman Overwhelmed” is a phrase with which many women can relate.

But what would happen if we could see the insanity in our pace and embrace our overwhelming God?

There is a reason they say that a woman’s work is never done— because it isn’t! As women, we often are overwhelmed by the demands and circumstances of life, resulting in stress, fear, worry, impatience, fatigue, frustration, and even depression. The truth is that we were created to be overwhelmed . . . not by life but by God! When we learn to be overwhelmed by God, the fruit in our lives goes from rotten to fragrant—filling our days with peace, hope, love, and joy.

In A Woman Overwhelmed, best-selling author Hayley DiMarco shares biblical insights and personal stories to offer a glimpse at the comedy of an overwhelmed life while encouraging us to discover the depths and heights of God’s love and power.

Be empowered to find freedom in becoming overwhelmed with who God is—by learning to focus on what we know about God so that we can hold onto faith even when it seems that all is lost. For it is when an overwhelmed woman gives up the mission of me and exchanges it for the mission of God that being overwhelmed becomes a good thing.

Choose to bask in the abundance of the Father instead of the abundance of life as his unfathomable depths can surely replace our fathomable messes.

My thoughts: This is a wonderful little book for any woman who is feeling overwhelmed! I love the stories that Hayley shares, since they are full of humor and heartfelt. Reading this book takes no time at all, and is so enjoyable, since you feel like you are sitting down with a good friend and talking about life. I enjoyed this book tremendously!
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

All of You review and giveaway!

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Book

Book title: All of You

Author: Sarah Monzon

Release date: May 15, 2017

Genre:Dual-timeline/Contemporary Romance

Maryland, Present Day

Jacquelyn Rogers can rebuild anything…except the shambles of her past. A restorer of vintage planes, she’s worked hard to earn the reputation of being one of the guys. The last thing she needs is a former Navy pilot fighting his own inner demons stepping in to defend her from dangers she thought she’d outrun long ago. Some battles must be fought alone.

After a freak accident severs Lieutenant Michael “Finch” Carrington’s dreams, as well as two limbs, he’s left with nothing but a fragile faith and a duty-bound promise to watch out for his friend’s baby sister. A promise she insists is as unnecessary as it is unappreciated. But when she turns the tables and begins to weld together the broken parts of his life, it may be his heart that is in need of protection.

England, 1944

With the world at war yet again, Alice Galloway rejects her father’s traditional expectations and offers her piloting expertise to the Air Transport Auxiliary. She may be a woman in a man’s world, but when she overhears key intelligence, she must find the strength to transcend boundaries and her own fears. Or countless people may die.

Sometimes the past reaches forward to bring hope to the future.

My Review:
I haven't read Sarah's previous books, but that needs to change after finishing "All of You"! This is a wonderful, refreshing story about two wonderful couples. I love stories that have a modern and a historical story! This one is fun to figure out how they go together.
I highly recommend adding this one to your fall TBR list.
I received this book from Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author

Sarah Monzon is a Navy chaplain’s wife and a stay at home mom to the two cutest littles in the world. Playing pretend all day with them isn’t enough, she spends the evenings after their heads hit the pillow to create her own imaginary characters. When she isn’t in the world of make believe, she can be found in the pine forests of western Washington taking care of her family, fostering friendships, and enjoying all the adventures each day brings.

Her debut novel, The Isaac Project, skyrocketed to Amazon bestseller status while her Sophomore book, Finders Keepers, won the 2017 Selah award for contemporary romance.

Guest Post from Sarah Monzon

I’m so excited to be here today and getting this opportunity to hang out with y’all in this virtual world. If you are anything like me, you devour books faster than my son drinks orange juice (and he really loves orange juice!). Because of that, it is sometimes hard to come across a book with a unique premise or a message that you haven’t seen incorporated a thousand times before. As a writer, I always try to bring something fresh to the table.

In the first book of the Carrington Family Series, Finders Keepers, neither of my characters were Christians. What? No Christians in a Christian fiction novel? Most Christian fiction books usually have at least one or both main characters a Christians. Don’t worry, they both found their way to Jesus. With All of You, however, I wanted to take yet an even different approach.

I’ve ready lots of books where the main character is angry or upset with God for such-and-such thing that happened in his/her life (I’ve even written a character like that), but I hadn’t really read a story about a character that, no matter what life threw at him/her, he/she was going to trust in God no matter what. As a life-long Christian, this is a message I can identify with. The “If not, He is still good” resonation that is sometimes harder to hold on to in the midst of pain and struggles.

So, as with all my books, I hope the freshness of the story and the realness of my characters will inspire and uplift you as you travel along with them on their journey.

God Bless.

Blog Stops

For a complete list of blog stops for this tour, please visit this link

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Sarah is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!! Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

Shine

Allison Allen made a career of being someone else. Formerly a professional actor and now a highly sought-after Bible teacher, she knows a thing or two about playing a role. But, she says, all of us play roles nearly all of the time, and it's exhausting. We walk into a room, figure out who we're supposed to be in this context, slip into character, and say the lines we know we should say. We become someone else. Maybe we tell ourselves it's some version of us, but deep down we know this inauthentic role is not what God wants for our lives--and it's not what we want either.

With fascinating personal stories and sharp insight into human nature, Allison Allen calls each woman to drop the brave act and step into the role of a lifetime--being her real self, no matter what the critics might say. She gives women permission to talk about, rather than around, the things they feel, freeing them to step out of the shadows and into the light of God's true calling.

My thoughts: This is a wonderful book that encourages the reader to rise above disappointments, hurts, and fear by putting your trust in God and living up to your full potential. I really appreciate how Allison shares her personal stories. I feel like it put me as ease! This is a wonderful, encouraging book that I highly recommend.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Take Ten: Top childrens books I forgot I loved

1. Amelia Bedelia


2. Little House picture books


3. Encyclopedia Brown


4. Cam Jansen


5. Boxcar Children


6. In Grandma's Attic


7. Beezus and Ramona


8. The Secret of the Ruby Ring


9. The Witch of Blackbird Pond


10. All of a Kind Family


Granted, it has been a while since I have read any of these titles, but I look forward to introducing them to my children! I wonder if they will hold the same magic now that I am an adult?;)