Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Until I Found You Bethany House Publishers (May 6, 2014) by Victoria Bylin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A word from the Author:

This may sound crazy, but I was driven to write romance by giant bugs and killer rabbits. I just couldn't take it anymore. My husband and two sons would be camped in front of the television watching a movie about spiders the size of bowling balls, and I'd be wondering when the handsome scientist would get around to kissing the spunky woman with the bug spray. When it didn't happen, I decided to write my own happy endings--without the giant bugs...

Known for her realistic, likable characters and vivid writing, Victoria Bylin writes both western and contemporary inspirational romance. Her books have finaled in the ACFW Carol Awards, the Rita Awards and RT Magazine’s Reviewers’ Choice Awards. She and her husband currently live in Lexington, Kentucky and have two grown sons.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Finding each other was only the beginning . . .

When Kate Darby swerves off a mountain road to avoid hitting a California condor, she ends up trapped in her car, teetering on the edge of a cliff. Terrified, she breathes a prayer that changes her life.

It's Nick Sheridan who comes to Kate's rescue. Nick is handsome and confident, and he seems to develop a habit of rescuing her, but Kate is in town only until her grandmother recuperates from a stroke. She's not planning to get involved with one of the locals.

Nick is a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, a new Christian, and a travel writer. When he sees a car dangling on the edge of a cliff, the daredevil in him jumps into action. He doesn't expect to be swept off his feet by the car's occupant. He's made a vow--no dating for a year--but keeping that vow is going to be a lot more difficult now that he's met Kate Darby. . . .

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Until I Found You, go HERE.

Daises are Forever by Liz Tolsma + Litfuse Giveaway

About the book:

Genre: Historical

Gisela Cramer is an American living in eastern Germany with her cousin Ella Reinhardt. When the Red Army invades, they must leave their home to escape to safety in Berlin.

However, Ella is a nurse and refuses to leave, sending her young daughters with Gisela. During their journey, Gisela meets Mitch Edwards, an escaped British POW. She pretends she is his wife in order to preserve his safety among other Germans, especially one wounded German soldier, Kurt, who has suspicions about Mitch’s identity. Kurt also has feelings for Gisela and tries to uncover the truth about her “marriage.”

Their journey to Gisela’s mother in Berlin is riddled with tragedy and hardship, but they strive to keep Ella’s daughters safe so they can reunite with their mother. During the journey Gisela and Mitch begin to develop feelings for one another beyond friendship. They reach Berlin, but their struggles are far from over. Gisela and Mitch must learn to live for the day and find hope in the darkest of circumstances.

In this moving, historically accurate portrayal of WWII Germany, the characters learn that, even with destruction all around them, some things last forever.

My Review:

3.5/4 Stars

I just loved the history in this novel, and loved how much research Liz Tolsma did to keep it accurate. This novel really showed a different side to the war. We all know what the Nazi's did to the Jews but it is easy to forget how many innocent Germans, and not so innocent, suffered towards the end of the war. Life was pretty miserable for all back then.

All the characters in this novel really had to fight, show love, respect and sacrifice to survive. As the pages turned I could feel their fear, almost smell and imagine the sites they were seeing. All I can say is I can't even imagine what it would have been like to be in that situation. This is not a light read at all, very deep and emotional but an excellent novel.

*I received this book through Litfuse for the purpose of this review. Thank You!

Liz Tolsma's latest WWII historical fiction novel, Daisies are Forever, is getting rave reviews. 

". . . compelling and fast-paced tale about the atrocities and tremendous losses. . . ." —Library Journal

"Excellent storytelling, accurate historical reporting and gritty, persevering characters make this WWII-era novel a must-read." —CBA Retailers + Resources

Liz celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX giveaway!
One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 31st. Winner will be announced June 2nd on Liz's website.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Liz's website on June 2nd to see if you won.

Fatal Exchange by Lisa Harris

About the Book:

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Book 2 in Southern Crimes

Desperate times create desperate people. And desperate people are dangerous . . .

Though Emily Hunt comes from a family of cops, the relatively quiet life of a high school teacher suits her just fine. She's saving up to buy a house, slowly moving forward after her brother's death, and settling into a life she loves. So the last person she wants to spend time with is Mason Taylor.

An undercover cop, Mason is enemy number one as far as her family is concerned. His involvement in the death of Emily's brother is still up in the air, and now he expects her to help him with a case. Mason has been working with one of her students, Rafael Cerda, whose brother has been kidnapped by a drug cartel. And with time running out to meet their demands, Rafael is getting desperate.

Emily will have to draw on all of her strength to handle what happens next . . .

Fatal Exchange will draw you into a complex matrix of intertwining lives, unraveling secrets, and unexpected love.

My review:

4 Stars

Lisa Harris' debut novel lest me wanting for more and her newest book delivers. I recommend reading book one before this one, but it can work on its own. Twists, turns, mystery and thrill are just some elements you will find in this book. As with her first book this is a complete page turner. Once I started I couldn't stop till I plowed straight through to the ending. I found Lisa Harris did a fantastic job of tying in Faith with each of her characters, they all have their lessons they need to learn and grow in different ways but it is there.

Fantastic novel from a great semi-new author that deserves to be checked out by any one that enjoys a good romantic suspense, your really can't go wrong. I know I can't wait to see how things all tie together in book 3 and conclusion to this series.

* I received this book from Revell Reads for the purpose of this review. My honest opinion was all that was expected.

One Perfect Spring by Irene Hannon

About the Book:

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Independent single mom Claire Summers is doing her best to make lemonade out of the lemons life has handed her. Workaholic Keith Watson is interested only in the bottom line--until a letter from Claire's eleven-year-old daughter reaches his desk and changes everything.

As the executive assistant to a philanthropic businessman, Keith is used to fielding requests for donations. But the girl isn't asking for money. She wants help finding the long-lost son of a neighbor. As Keith reluctantly digs into this assignment in his usual results-oriented style, he has no idea how involved he and Claire will become--nor how unusual the results will actually be. Who could have guessed that a child's kindhearted request would bring love and hope to so many lives . . . including his own?

Through compelling characters and surprising plot twists, fan favorite Irene Hannon offers this tenderhearted story that demonstrates how life is like lilacs--the biggest blooms come only after the harshest winters.

My Review:

4 Stars

Irene Hannon packs a ton of emotion into her newest novel. Told from four perspectives it was fun to see how each story would play out and how they all tie together. I found this to be a sweet story filled with romance, emotion and twists that kept me engaged. I just loved Haley, Claire's daughter, she is such a sweet kind heart-ed child. I did find this book to be pretty light and quick read given the theme of adoption that ran throughout the book. Its the perfect weekend book when you don't have a lot of time.

Fans of contemporary fiction and Irene Hannon will enjoy her newest novel!

* I received this book from Revell Reads in exchange for my honest review. Thank You!

Fair Play by Deeanne Gist

About the Book:

Genre: Historical Romance

Heroine Billy Jack Tate has a man's name and a man's profession in a man's world. As a doctor at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, she is one step closer to having her very own medical practice—until she treats an imposing man who threatens the fulfillment of her dream.

Hunter is one of the elite. A Texas Ranger and World’s Fair guard specifically chosen for his height, physique, character, and skill. Hailed as the toughest man west of any place east, he has no patience for big cities and women who aspire to walk in a man’s shoes.

But the abandoned baby Hunter discovers at the Fair finds him teaming up with the good doctor to give the foundling a better future than the slums of Chicago, where the children play on flea-infested, garbage-strewn streets. As Billy and Hunter fight for the foundling’s welfare, their hearts warm to the precious child—and to each other.

Soon their concern grows to encompass the Nineteenth Ward’s burgeoning population of street children. In the interest of fair play, Billy and Hunter let nothing stand in their way as they labor to build a park for them, birthing Chicago’s first playground and a national movement that will sweep the nation.

Will Hunter and Billy become a footnote in the Fair's history books, or will what they discovered in Chicago be longer lasting than the World's Exhibition?

My Review:

4 Stars

Deeanne Gist brings the 1893 Chicago World Fair and even the streets of Chicago to life in her newest novel, Fair Play. I just loved all the history that was flowing out of this book and at the end of most chapters there was a historical photograph depicting a person or place that was being talked about in the book.

Billy Jack Tate was such a fun character with her manly name and man's profession. She is stubborn and determined to not let anyone discourage her from her passion, being a doctor. But what happens when she meets the handsome guard named Hunter who firmly things a woman has no place being a doctor. Sparks fly while Billy and Hunter try to help the street children with twists and turns that will keep you guessing.

Overall I enjoyed this book. There were a few times I felt like it was too long and the story lagged a bit but then a new twist would occur and it would pull me back in. Fans of Deeanne Gist will not be disappointed at all.

* I received this book from Howard Books for the purpose of this review. Thank You!

Through the Deep Waters by Kim Vogel Sawyer

About the Book:

Genre: Historical Romance

A past filled with shame can be washed away with a love that conquers all

Born to an unloving prostitute in a popular Chicago brothel, timid seventeen-year-old Dinah Hubley was raised amidst the secrets held in every dark, grimy room of her home. Anxious to escape, Dinah pursues her dream of becoming a Harvey Girl, waiting tables along the railroad in an upscale hotel. But when she finds out she isn’t old enough, her only option is to accept a job as a chambermaid at the Clifton Hotel in Florence, Kansas. Eager to put everything behind her, Dinah feels more worthless than ever, based on a single horrible decision she made to survive.

The Clifton offers a life Dinah has never known, but blinded to the love around her, Dinah remains buried in the shame of her past. When a handsome chicken farmer named Amos Ackerman starts to show interest, Dinah withdraws further, convinced no one could want a sullied woman like her. Despite his self-consciousness about his handicapped leg and her strange behavior, Amos resolves to show Dinah Christ’s love. But can she ever accept a gift she so desperately needs? 

My Review:

4 Stars

I have read many of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books over the years and she is always an author I look forward getting the chance to read her new books. While I will be honest and say this was not my favorite book it was still highly enjoyable and would recommend it to others to read. I really enjoyed the history of it and learning about something I hadn't really heard about before.

Redemption is truly the core message of this book. Dinah was a so sure she didn't deserve love from God or anyone. She saw her self as tainted and deserves to be cast away from people. Thankfully with the power of prayer and friendship others help her see that she is loved by the Father and that sin is forgivable. There is a secondary message of making assumptions without knowing the whole truth. They can really make a mess of things! This brought some laughs and some sadness to the book.

Overall, great book and recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction and Kim Vogel Sawyer.  I know I look forward to see what she has coming out next. I am sure it will be great!

* I received this book from Blogging for Books for the purpose of this review. Thank You!