Book Review: Forever After by Deborah Raney

About Forever After 

by Deborah Raney

Jenna Morgan mourned the loss of her husband, Zach, in the fire that destroyed the Hanover Falls homeless shelter and claimed the lives of three other firefighters. A year later, her ability to keep up the charade of prosperity she and Zach lived is at an end. Even with financial help from Zach's parents, she can't make the mortgage and credit card payments. But Jenna Morgan refuses to go back to the trailer home life from which she escaped. She's come so far. She just can't go back to that.

Lucas Vermontez has endured physical therapy for a year, but the legs crushed while he fought the homeless shelter fire are nowhere near 100% yet. Will his dream of returning to the fire station ever become reality? And can he conquer these feelings he has for his best buddy's widow?

Deborah Raney is the award-winning author of several novels, including A Nest of Sparrows and the RITA award winning Beneath a Southern Sky  and its sequel, After the Rains. Deborah's first novel, 

A Vow to Cherish, was the inspiration for World Wide Pictures' highly acclaimed film of the same title, which in December 2004 aired on prime time network TV for the second time. 

Deb's novella, Playing by Heart, was a National Readers Choice Award winner and a 2004 Christy Award finalist. Her most recent novel for Howard/Simon & Schuster, Yesterday's Embers, appeared on the ECPA Christian fiction bestseller list.

Deb has also written nonfiction books and articles and often speaks at women's retreats and writers' conferences around the country. She and her husband, illustrator/ author Ken Raney, have four children and make their home in Kansas.

 

My thoughts:

Forever After

Deborah Raney

Hanover Falls, Book 2

Christian Fiction

4 out of 5

Forever After is the second book in the Hanover Falls series. It follows Almost Forever. The story picks up a year after the tragic fire that devastated five families in Hanover Falls. This installment focuses in on the story of Jenna Morgan, the widow of fallen firefighter Zach Morgan. We also get to see where the year has taken Lucas Vermontez, an injured firefighter, and his family after the loss of their father.

Jenna is drowning in debt and makes the decision to sell her home and move in with her in-laws. Once she is in their house things go sour and she winds up leaving and moving in with her friend Bryn. Bryn is engaged to be married so the arrangement can only be temporary.

Jenna and Lucas meet again at a coffee shop and a relationship begins to develop. Through most of the book Jenna is a character that is hard to sympathize with, probably because you can see some of your own selfishness in her.  By the end of the story she has somehow endeared herself to you.

I really enjoy the writing style of Deborah Raney. Her characters are so interesting that they just draw you in. Even in the case of Jenna, where you really want to tell her to get over herself, you find yourself rooting for her to change. I highly recommend this newest release of Ms. Raney.

*I was provided a copy of the book by Howard Books  and Glass Road in exchange for my honest review.

Book review: Thank You, God, For Daddy by Amy Parker

Thank You, God, For Daddy

Amy Parker

Children’s Fiction

3 out of 5

The illustrations in this little board book are absolutely adorable. The story is about a lion and his lion cub. The lion cub tells of his thanks for his father in a sing-songy style that will appeal to the younger set. Most of the verses read pretty smooth, but a few of them just don’t keep the rhythm. The content of the verses definitely make up for the awkward rhythm. I wish the author had taken a bit more time to smooth that aspect out, because the illustrations and the storyline are wonderful.

It is easy to imagine yourself cuddled up with your little one enjoying this wonderful book about the joys of having a wonderful, Godly father. I recommend it to those with little ones under three.

*I was provided with a Kindle copy of this book by Thomas Nelson and Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion on this piece of work.

Book review: The Fine Art of Insincerity by Angela Hunt

The Fine Art of Insincerity

Angela Hunt

Contemporary Fiction

4 out of 5

There are a few authors that you can feel pretty safe about purchasing their work without even knowing what the book is about. Angela Hunt is one of those and she hasn’t let us down in this latest piece of fiction.

Ms. Hunt has done a fine job of breathing life into the characters. When you close the cover you will feel like you know these three sisters, because you can probably relate to one of them! Ginger is the eldest sister and has felt incredibly responsible for her two younger siblings ever since their mother died. Ginger is expected to take care of things, but through some incredible dialogue and monologue you come to discover that she often resents that role.

Rosemary is the middle daughter and lives with buried anger and resentment. She lives with many regrets and often feels lost in the middle. Pennyroyal is the baby of the family and has spent years living with the feeling that she never quite measures up.

The girls come to their grandmother’s beach house to clean it out for the new owners. The story takes place over a long weekend, but it is packed with remembrances of the past. The sisters spend the weekend cleaning up much more than a house. It is a wonderful story about the importance of family and especially sisters. If you are a sister, no matter what your birth order, you are going to enjoy this thought provoking story.

*I was provided with a copy of this book by Howard Books and Glass Road in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Book review: Shattered A Daughter's Regret by Melody Carlson

About the book:

Cleo Neilson's best friend is moving away and she wants to make Lola's last night in town special. For Cleo, that means going to the big Christian concert in the city, but her mom won't allow her to go. She says that area of the city is too dangerous for two unchaperoned teenage girls.

Convinced her mom is just being an overprotective "helicopter" mom, she sneaks out of the house. After all, her mom has to let her grow up sometime, right? 

Cleo now faces the chilling consequences of her actions and a secret that it is eating her up inside. As Cleo fights through her grief and guilt, she learns about faith in God and forgiveness through him.

 

About the author:
Melody Carlson has written more than a hundred books for all age groups, but she particularly enjoys writing for teens. Perhaps this is because her own teen years remain so vivid in her memory. After claiming to be an atheist at the ripe old age of twelve, she later surrendered her heart to Jesus and has been following him ever since. Her hope and prayer for all her readers is that each one would be touched by God in a special way through her stories. For more information, please visit Melody's website at www.melodycarlson.com.




My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this story. It tackles a lot of hard topics such as death, guilt, Jealousy, drugs, and relationships.  This is a YA fiction and it would be a great book for teens and their parents to read and then discuss the book.  I have always been a fan on Melody Carlson and I was pleased to see that she is still writing relevant topics that teens need answers to.  I think teens will love this book and the great thing is that this is a series so there is more to come. Use this book for a conversation starter with your teen. If parents can talk with their teens about tough topics then there is a safety net.  I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from Navpress and Glass Road for my honest review.

Book Review: Out of a Far Country by Christopher Yuan, Angela Yuan

Out of a Far Country

Christopher Yuan & Angela Yuan

Christian Living/Sexuality

2 out of 5

When I began this book I really thought that I was going to love it and recommend it to all of my friends. The foreword by Kay Warren is very thought provoking and the conversion experience of Angela Yuan brought me to tears. In fact most of the recounting of events by Angela was heart rending. As a mother I could relate to the desperation felt towards the helplessness you feel with your grown child’s decisions.

What I found myself growing increasingly annoyed at was the recounting of events by Christopher. I just felt such distaste at the way he told his story. It felt as if he were glorifying his prodigal years. The way he described his sexual encounters with complete strangers and his drug use made it sound like a recounting of his glory days.

The book is 204 pages long. Christopher’s story of his wandering years takes up the first 136 pages. In Chapter 22 he begins to tell about coming to Christ. Please don’t get me wrong, I do think that this is a story that should be told. I just don’t personally like the tone of it. I loved the parents’ part of the story, but Christopher’s part just seemed to dwell more on the illicit lifestyle he had than on the work God did in his life to redeem him.

I would have to classify this as one of those books that you will just have to read and decide for yourself how you feel about it.

*A review copy of this book was given to me by WaterBrook Press for my honest review of the work.   

Book review & Kindle Giveaway: Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond

About the Book: Spring for Susannah

Booklist says, "Inspired by [folk] lyrics, Richmond arrives on the inspirational fiction scene with a moving debut novel. Readers will be filled with hope that Susannah will learn the true meaning of love. Highly recommended where inspiring, romantic historical fiction is in demand."

Hundreds of miles from home, Susannah faces an uncertain future as a mail-order bride on the untamed Dakota prairie.

When her parents die suddenly, and no suitors call, Susannah resigns herself to the only option available: becoming a mail-order bride. Agreeing to marry her pastor's brother, Jesse, Susannah leaves the only home she's ever known for the untamed frontier of the Dakota Territory .

Her new husband is more loving and patient with her than she believes she deserves. Still, there is also a wildness to him that mirrors the wilderness surrounding them. And Susannah finds herself constantly on edge. But Jesse's confidence in her-and his faith in God's perfect plan-slowly begin to chip away at the wall she hides behind.

When she miscarries in the brutal Dakota winter, Susannah's fledgling faith in herself and in God begins to crumble. Still, Jesse's love is unwavering. Just when it seems like winter will never end, Susannah finally sees the first tentative evidence of spring. And with it, the realization that more than the landscape has changed.

She looks to the future with a renewed heart. Yet in her wildest dreams, she couldn't predict all that awaits her.

About Catherine: Catherine Richmond was focused on her career as an occupational therapist till a special song planted a story idea in her mind. That idea would ultimately become Spring for Susannah, her first novel. She is also a founder and moderator of Nebraska Novelist critique group and lives in Nebraska with her husband.

For more about Catherine, please visit http://www.catherinerichmond.com/.  

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this book and I am pleased to say that I look forward to reading much more from Catherine Richmond. This is her first novel but it is written like a seasoned writer. I could not put this book down and finished it at 2am! I loved how the author captured what it is like to be first married and how hard life was in that time frame.

The ending will leave the reader asking for more. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

*I recieved a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Group for my honest review.

Blog tour schedule:  Here 

To celebrate her debut novel, Catherine and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up to give away a Spring For Susannah Prize Package worth over $150!

One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi and Pearl Screen

* Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond (for KINDLE)

To enter just click one of the icons below and then tell your friends! But hurry, giveaway ends on June 27th. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, June 28th at 5 PM (6PM MST, 7PM CST, & 8PM EST) during Catherine's Spring for Susannah Book Club Party on Facebook! Catherine is rustling up some fun for the party - she'll be chatting about the story behind her novel, hosting a book club chat, testing your mail-order bride trivia skills, and giving away some GREAT prizes! Don't miss the fun and tell your friends!

Book review: A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther by Joan Wolf

About the book: A Reluctant Queen

An inspiring re-imagining of the tale of Esther, a young Jewish woman thrust from a life of obscurity into a life of power, wealth, intrigue . . . and tender love.

See the story of Esther in an entirely new way-with all the political intrigue and tension you remember, but told as a passionate and tender love story between a young man and woman. Misunderstood by many, King Xerxes was a powerful but lonely man. Esther's beauty caught the eye of the young king, but it was her spirit that captured his heart.

Imagine anew the story of Esther, one of our faith's great heroines, destined to play a key role in the history of Christianity. More here.

About Joan: Joan Wolf was born in New York City but has lived most of her adult life with her husband in Connecticut , where she raised two children and countless numbers of assorted animals. Joan is the author of numerous historical novels including The Road to Avalon which Publishers Weekly lauded as “historical fiction at its finest.”

For more about Joan and her other books, please visithttp://www.joanwolf.com/. 

My thoughts:  

I think it takes a brave soul to write a fictionalized version of a very well-known story.  This book is loosely based on the book of Esther. In the back of the book there is an author’s note that explains her reasoning for this. Basically she reminds the reader that it is a novel and as such she is allowed to bend the story a bit.

I must say that the writing is superb. I was completely drawn in to the storyline, even though it is well known to me. Towards the beginning of the novel there was a point that I felt was inaccurate so I dug my Bible out to check it and sure enough I was right. After that I just decided to read it for what it was, a work of fiction based on the book of Esther.

I enjoyed the way the author fleshed out the characters and made them living and breathing people. Her writing style is fantastic. I also enjoyed her take on the back story of the novel. She told about Ahasuerus’ becoming king and what his early years of reign were like. She filled in the gaps of Esther’s family history. She also added in some new and delightful characters such as a eunuch named Hathach and a ladies maid named Luara.

My advice to any prospective reader would be to skip the book if you are a stickler on Bible stories being retold accurately. But if you can read this as a work of fiction and enjoy seeing God’s hand at work in the life of an ordinary woman who was asked to do extraordinary things, this just may be the book for you.

Blog tour schedule:  Here

A review copy of this book was furnished to me by Thomas Nelson Publishers  andLitfuse group in exchange for my honest review of this work.

 A Reluctant Queen KINDLE Giveaway & Facebook Party
 A Reluctant Queen KINDLE Giveaway & Facebook Party

To celebrate Joan Wolf’s debut Christian Fiction title, A Reluctant Queen, Joan and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up to give away A Reluctant Queen prize package worth over $150!

One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi and Pearl Screen

* A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf (for KINDLE)

To enter, just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, the contest ends on June 20th. Winner will be announced on June 21st during Joan’s A Reluctant Queen Book Club Party on Facebook  Hope to see you there – bring your friends!

Join the fun on June 21st! 

Joan will be wrapping up the blog tour and Kindle giveaway promotion during her A Reluctant Queen FACEBOOK party on her FB author page. During the party she'll announce the winner of the Kindle, host a book chat discussion, test your trivia skills (Is Esther's story in A Reluctant Queen fact or fiction?), and more. Don't miss this chance to meet the author and make some new friends!

Book review & Giveaway for: My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren

 Win a Romantic Night on the Town from Miss Foolish Heart!





Susan May Warren is thrilled to announce the release of her latest Deep Haven book, My Foolish Heart!


Read what the reviewers are saying here.

To celebrate this charming novel about a dating expert who's never had a date, Susan has put together a romantic night on the town for one lucky couple. One grand prize winner will receive a Miss Foolish Heart prize package worth over $200!

The winner of the Romantic Night on the Town Prize Pack will receive:

* A $100 Visa Gift Card (For Dinner)

* A $100 Gift Certificate to a Hyatt/Marriott Hotel

* The entire Deep Haven series

To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on June 16th. The winner will be announced that evening during Susan’s Miss Foolish Heart Party on Facebook! Susan will be chatting with guests, hosting a book club chat about My Foolish Heart, testing your Deep Haven trivia skills, and giving away tons of great stuff! (Gift certificates, books, donuts, and more!) Don't miss the fun and BRING YOUR FRIENDS! 

My thoughts on My Foolish Heart:

On this fourth trip to Deep Haven we hear Issy, Caleb, Lucy and Seb’s stories. Issy is paralyzed by fear from a past event that has shrunk her world into two small blocks. Caleb is an injured Iraqi war veteran trying to put his life back together. Lucy is busy trying to hold on to a legacy from three past generations and Seb is returning home to find what he has lost.

Once again Ms. Warren has written a beautiful story that instantly draws you in to the lives of these characters. Deep Haven is a place that represents where we all want to be, a place where we are known and loved for who we are and not just what we can do.

My Foolish Heart would make a wonderful book for your book club. It has very thought provoking questions in the back. I have read book one in this series, but not the other two (Yet!) In my opinion even though this is book four in the series, it can easily be a stand-alone. The characters from the preceding books are there, but they are in the background and it is not necessary to know their whole story to enjoy this one. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse and Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review!



Big News!!!

Wondering where RambleSAHM has been?? Well Tomorrow I will share some very exciting news!!! Anyone want to guess what it might be??