"Love In A Broken Vessel" Book Review

LOVE IN A BROKEN VESSEL
BY
MESU ANDREWS

Hosea has been charged by God with a difficult task--marry a prostitute in order to show God's people the nature and depth of his love for Israel. When Hosea goes to Israel to proclaim God's message, the prostitute God tells him to marry turns out to be his childhood friend Gomer. He finds her broken and abused, unwilling to trust Hosea or his God. But when marrying Hosea becomes her only choice, Gomer does what she's good at--she survives. Can Hosea's love for God and God's love for Israel heal Gomer's broken spirit?

With her potent combination of in-depth research and masterful storytelling, Mesu Andrews brings to life a complex and fascinating biblical story of the power of love and forgiveness in the face of utter betrayal.

MY REVIEW:
     I can't help it, I sighed when this book was over because I really didn't want it to end. Mesu Andrews has a gift when it comes to Biblical fiction, she takes these stories (Job, Song of Solomon and now Hosea & Gomer) and just breathes life into them. Intricate details that bring the past into vivid picture and characters that break out of the boxes that we have put them in. I was entranced with the story of the prostitute that just can't leave her past behind and the husband that will obey Yaweh until his heart is broken over and over. The secondary characters are fantastic and I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. This is one author that can't write fast enough to please me!

***  Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

"Wings of Glass" Book Review

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Wings of Glass Tyndale House Publishers (March 1, 2013) by Gina Holmes
MY REVIEW:
     I always preface a review on a book like this by saying that contemporary women's fiction is not usually my first choice in "fun" reading. It doesn't mean I don't enjoy them but sometimes it is just that they tend to be heavy and not always what I am looking for. I have heard a lot about Gina Holmes though so I had to give this one a try. I was very impressed by the writing style and story development as well as the heroine. I was quickly drawn in and wrapped up in Penny's world, as painful as it might be. The insight into why a woman could be drawn into an abusive relationship and then why in the world she would choose to stay was quite invaluable. I feel as though I might understand the mindset that these woman have just a little better. I have been blessed in my relationships, both in growing up and in my marriage, but I know that is more rare than I would like to think. It is easy for me to sit here and say that I would leave if I was struck, and why aren't these women smart enough to figure that out. Gina has a book here that is very eye opening in showing me a different side. I was rooting for Penny and hoping for a good outcome, but life has shown us that a good outcome is not always real life. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey now called Novel Rocket and she is also the founder of Inspire The Fire.

Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW Religion bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain, was also named a Christy finalist. Her upcoming novel, Wings of Glass releases this month. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.



ABOUT THE BOOK

From the bestselling author of Crossing Oceans comes a heart-rending yet uplifting story of friendship and redemption. On the cusp of womanhood, Penny is swept off her feet by a handsome farmhand with a confident swagger. Though Trent Taylor seems like Prince Charming and offers an escape from her one-stop-sign-town, Penny’s happily ever after lasts no longer than their breakneck courtship. Before the ink even dries on their marriage certificate, he hits her for the first time. It isn’t the last, yet the bruises that can’t be seen are the most painful of all.

When Trent is injured in a welding accident and his paycheck stops, he has no choice but to finally allow Penny to take a job cleaning houses. Here she meets two women from very different worlds who will teach her to live and laugh again, and lend her their backbones just long enough for her to grow her own.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Wings of Glass, go HERE.

"Catherine's Pursuit" Book Review

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Catherine's Pursuit Realms (February 5, 2013) by Lena Nelson Dooley
MY REVIEW:
     Sometimes there is a series where I anxiously await the final book. This is one of those series. I loved the concept from the first book - man on a wagon train to Oregon loses his wife when she gives birth to triplets. He is overwhelmed at the thought of losing her and having 3 infant girls on the trail and he gives 2 of the girls to different families to raise while he keeps the oldest. It is a hard decision to say the least. Book 1 follows one of the girls as she discovers she is adopted. Book 2 follows the second daughter as she discovers. Now, finally in Book 3 we discover what happened to the daughter that stayed with her father. I loved the first two and was really excited for the conclusion of this interesting storyline. 

      Catherine has been raised and spoiled by her father and on her 18th birthday she discovers the truth... she has 2 sisters that she never knew existed. She is determined to find them even though her father had promised not to. She sneaks away to start her pursuit of her sisters. Her father sends his right hand man, Collin, after her as protection and it turns out to be a good thing. For both of them. 

       A book about grace and redemption - forgiveness is the root of it all. I love that about the book. I thought it was a little simplified in the writing style which I don't recall being true in the first two books. But the only real disappointment was the fact that it wraps up very quickly at the end and without spoiling it I was really hoping for a more fulfilling ending. But I am still happy with the series and it will be taking a place on my keeper shelf. How can it be a bad thing when my only real complaint is that I wanted more!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 675,000 books in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers http://www.acfw.com/ and president of the local chapter, DFW Ready Writers. She’s also a member of Christian Authors Network, CROWN Fiction Marketing, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.

Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not the same year. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat, with fifteen signing their first book contract after her mentoring. Three of her books have been awarded the Carol Award silver pins from American Christian Fiction Writers and she has received the ACFW Mentor of the Year award at their national conference. The high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially people whose lives have been changed by her books. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Angus McKenna was forced to give two of his daughters to families in the wagon train, he promised he'd never try to contact them. Catherine made no such pledge. But when she sets out to find her sisters, she doesn't go alone. Angus sends Collin with her. Will they discover the two women---and love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Catherine's Pursuit, go HERE.

"Swept Away" Book Review

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Swept Away Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2013) by Mary Connealy
MY REVIEW:
        Enjoyable and entertaining. I'm not quite sure how else you describe Mary Connealy's writing. I never really considered myself much of a historical western reader until I started reading Mary's books. Now if it has Mary Connealy listed as the author I know I want to read it. Swept Away starts a new series that is a delight!
        Ruthy is a hard working young woman who survives a tragedy only to wonder why. She is in more danger now than ever since she was "rescued" by Luke Stone. This is a fun story of danger, bad guys vs. good guys and best of all, a heroine that you just have to cheer for. Mary has done it again. Created a setting, characters and a story that is just too much fun.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Christy Award Finalist, a Carol Award Finalist and an IRCC Award finalist.

The Lassoed in Texas Series, Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon and Gingham Mountain. Petticoat Ranch was a Carol Award Finalist. Calico Canyon was a Christy Award Finalist and a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now contained in one large volume called Lassoed in Texas Trilogy.

The Montana Marriages Series, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree and Wildflower Bride. Montana Rose was a Carol Award Finalist.

Cowboy Christmas—the 2010 Carol Award for Best Long Historical Romance, and an Inspirational Readers Choice Contest Finalist.

The Sophie's Daughters series. Doctor in Petticoats, Wrangler in Petticoats, Sharpshooter in Petticoats.

She is also the author of; Black Hills Blessing a 3-in-1 collection of sweet contemporary romances, Nosy in Nebraska, a 3-in-1 collection of cozy romantic mysteries and she's one of the three authors contributing to Alaska Brides with her Carol Award Winning historical romance Golden Days.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a cowboy focused on revenge encounters a woman determined to distract him, there's going to be trouble in Texas!

Swept away when her wagon train attempts a difficult river crossing, Ruthy MacNeil isn't terribly upset at being separated from the family who raised her. All they've ever done is work her to the bone. Alive but disoriented, she's rescued by Luke Stone...so unfortunately, there are more chances to die in her immediate future.

Luke is on a mission to reclaim the ranch stolen from his family. But the men currently on the property won't let it go without a fight. Luke plans to meet up with friends who will help him take back the land, and since he can't just leave Ruthy in the middle of nowhere, she's going to have to go with him.

But the more time Luke spends around the hardworking young woman, the more he finds himself thinking of things besides revenge. Will Ruthy convince him to give up his destructive path and be swept away by love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Swept Away, go HERE.

"Strand of Deception" Book Review

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Strands of Deception B&H Books (March 1, 2013) by Robin Caroll

MY REVIEW:
     Robin Caroll has become one of my go-to authors for mystery/suspense. When this book arrived in the mail, everything else was set aside and I delved right in! I love this conclusion to the series - it doesn't have to be read in the series but it was nice to see some of the characters back again. I love the cutting edge look at using DNA and familial DNA testing in crime scenes and how that comes down to finding the actual murderer. I thought it was fascinating and very well done Of course there is romance and mystery about who did it and who is after Maddie and much more - so well done! Can't wait to see what Robin has up her sleeve next - put her on your "must read list"!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books.

When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-plus years, her 3 beautiful daughters, 2 precious grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Gina Ford, the daughter of a prominent Tennessee politician, goes missing from the University of Memphis a week after another girl was murdered on the same campus, police call in the FBI. Nick Hagar, married to his job as Special Agent in Charge, is assigned to the case, and when Gina’s body is found, her father demands justice.

Maddie Baxter is the forensic expert running DNA tests from the crime scene. When they come back without a match, Nick asks her to do a familial DNA run that yields a shocking result: the prime suspect is Adam Alexander, the very same guy who broke Maddie’s heart when she was in college.

But do scientific advancements tell the whole story? Strand of Deception offers romance, suspense, and a lively debate about the impact of DNA testing, for better or worse, on the United States justice system.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Strands of Deception, go HERE.

"Icecutter's Daughter" Book Review

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Icecutter’s Daughter Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2013) by Tracie Peterson
MY REVIEW:
      Icecutter's Daughter is the first in what I believe to be a trilogy that is set in Minnesota way back when. Tracie does a beautiful job setting the stage with Rurik coming from Kansas to help out his sick uncle with his furniture business and leaving behind his best friend and his arranged marriage to a woman he doesn't actually love. Then she introduces us to Merrill who is the only woman in a house full of men with her dad and many brothers. After her mother died she took on all the responsibilities of the household along with still doing the work with the guys. Consequently, she is still not married, too busy with everything to court... and her brothers tend to run off any interested guys that do come along. This may be the set up but it doesn't even scratch the surface of what really starts going on... romance develops between Rurik and Merrill but then the road blocks start rising up. The former fiancé comes looking for Rurik claiming that she is pregnant and he is the father and needs to do right by her. What is the truth and will it come out - I look forward to the next books in this series. Tracie is a master of historical fiction!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 85 novels.
She received her first book contract in November, 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.

In December, 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers.

She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.

Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests.

Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max. She's active in her church as the Director of Women's Ministries, coordinates a yearly writer's retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books.


ABOUT THE BOOK

As the lone female in a houseful of men, Merrill Krause dedicates her life to caring for her family and their business, as her dying mother asked. Besides, it suits her; she's never felt like she fits what most people expect in a girl--she'd rather work with her father's horses and assist with the ice harvest. And though she's been mostly content up to this point, a part of her wonders if there will ever be anyone who will notice her amid the bevy of brothers determined to protect her from any possible suitors.

When Rurik Jorgenson arrives in their small Minnesota town to join his uncle's carpentry business, he soon crosses paths with Merrill. But unlike other men, who are often frightened away by her older brothers, Rurik isn't intimidated by them or by Merrill's strength and lack of femininity. The attraction between them begins to build...until Rurik's former fiance shows up with wild claims that bring serious consequences to Rurik.



Can Rurik and Merrill learn to trust God--and each other--when scandal threatens their newfound love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Icecutter’s Daughter, go HERE.