The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Review)

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers her trademark twists, turns, and tender romance in this delightful and exciting visit to the deceptively quiet community of Stoney Ridge.

Twenty-year-old Bethany Schrock is restless. Her love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending the incredibly hot summer days wading through a lifetime’s accumulation of junk at the home of five ancient Amish sisters. About the only thing that holds her interest is the spirited and dangerously handsome Jimmy Fisher–and he seems bent on irritating her to no end.

When the sly old sisters and a guest at the Inn get Bethany involved in running the local soup kitchen and starting a community garden, she suddenly finds herself wondering, Shootfire! How did that happen? Despite her newfound purposefulness, a gnawing emptiness about a childhood mystery continues to plague her. Encouraged by Jimmy Fisher, she will seek out the answers she craves–and uncover a shocking secret that will break her heart, heal it, and point her to love.




My Review:

This was a good Amish story. It is a new book in the Inn at Eagle Hill series. It can stand alone but the characters are the same and makes more sense read in order. The first book in the series is called The Letters and the main focus is Rose, Bethany's stepmother. Bethany has been dealing with her father's death and her brother's disappearance. Then she falls in love with her brother's business partner and he uses her and leaves. So she is now jaded and real love is hard for her to accept. She has a very busy life including helping a set of elderly sisters clean their house and serve food at a shelter. A failing lady preacher comes to stay at the Inn. She ends up helping Bethany some in her quest to understand life. There are several twists and turns. The plot and characters are interesting and unique. The book held my interest from the beginning. I can't wait to read the next book featuring these characters. Recommended. :)




Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including “Amish Peace.” She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. For more information, please visit suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher. Get Amish proverbs delivered right to your mobile device! Download the Free App! http://bit.ly/10Tygyi
Find out more about Suzanne at http://suzannewoodsfisher.com/

Review copy provided by Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.

The Calling Giveaway

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher is celebrating her newest book, The Calling, by giving away TWO iPads, TWO Kindles, and TWO Nooks!
 

Two grand prize winners will receive:

• An iPad
• The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Four second place winners will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX or a Nook HD—winner's choice!
• The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. All winners will be announced February 10th at Suzanne's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 10th to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Scraps of Evidence Abingdon Press (January 21, 2014) by Barbara Cameron

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from the author:

CBD, CBA, and ECPA bestselling author of 35 books (including new series upcoming for Abingdon Press in 2011/2012) including fiction and non-fiction books for Abingdon Press, Thomas Nelson, Harlequin, and other publishers.

I sold three films to HBO/Cinemax and am the first winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.

My two novellas won the 2nd and 3rd place in the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest from the Faith, Love, and Hope chapter of RWA. Both were finalists for the novella category of the Carol Award of the American Christian Writers Award (ACFW).

ABOUT THE BOOK

Tess has taken some ribbing from her fellow officer, Logan, for her quilting hobby. He finds it hard to align the brisk professional officer he patrols with during the day with the one who quilts in her off-time. Besides, he’s been trying to get to know her better and he’d like to be seeing her during those few nights a week she spends with her quilting guild. Then one afternoon Tess and Logan visit her aunt in the nursing home, and the woman acts agitated when Tess covers her with the story quilt. Aunt Susan is attempting to communicate a message to them about Tess’s uncle. There’s a story behind this quilt, they realize, one that may lead them to a serial killer. Will they have a chance to have a future together, or will the killer choose Tess for his next victim before they find him?

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

For the Love of Pete by Debby Mayne (Review)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing For the Love of Pete B&H Books (January 15, 2014) by Debby Mayne

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Debby Mayne is a best-selling author who has published more than 25 books and novellas, 400 short stories and articles, and devotions for women. She has also worked as managing editor of a national health magazine, product information writer for HSN, a creative writing instructor, and a copy editor and proofreader. Her novel, Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida received 4-1/2 stars from RT Book Review, and was named a Top Pick for the month of July. She and her husband Wally have two grown daughters, and live in Palm Harbor, Florida.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Widow Bethany Hanahan is trying in vain to fill an empty heart and an empty nest. The result is a home filled to the brim, but something is still missing. That’s when her new gardening club friends come to the rescue, encouraging her to let go of the past as well as the present clutter –emotional, spiritual, and physical. It’s not long before Bethany is finding friends, not bargains, to fill her days. But has her life become too full for someone like Pete Sprockett, a childhood friend, for whom her romantic feelings are beginning to bloom? Join the quirky, loving community of Bloomfield as they do what they do best – poke their well-meaning noses in and intervene in times of need –in author Debby Mayne’s second novel in what has become a five book series about a community where life is simple and love is real.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of For the Love of Pete, go HERE.

My Review:

I enjoyed reading this latest book in the Bloomfield series.  This series is set in the fictional town of Bloomfield. It is a loose series so its okay to not read them in order. The characters are the same but each book focuses more on one set. This book focused more on Bethany and Pete. Bethany has a little clutter problem that got worse after her husband died. Pete has been her friend since childhood and liked her even when her husband started dating her in high school. He never married. He likes her but she is hesitant to open her heart again. I loved the characters for the whole series. It's kind of like Mitford and the Dear Dorothy series. The characters and plot are well written and engaging. The town itself is an important part of the book. I have read all the books and my only complaint is that 2 of them are in ebook format only. Otherwise I recommend the whole series. I loved them. Highly Recommended.

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge Start Post

We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us.. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up..

Join us on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance.. This is your chance! And we've got PRIZES!!! :D

 

This is a reading challenge to read more books from 2013 and before that are sitting on your shelf. There are several different levels. The level I am choosing is First Kiss 21 to 30 books. For more information and to sign up visit the host blog at:

 

 http://evie-bookish.blogspot.com/2013/10/2014-tbr-pile-reading-challenge-sign-ups.html

 

The Headmistress of Rosemere by Sarah Ladd Giveaway

Don't miss Sarah Ladd's latest Regency novel, The Headmistress of Rosemere. She is celebrating the release of book two in her Whispers on the Moors series with a fun "School" Your Desk Kindle Fire Giveaway and an Author Chat Facebook Party!

Between January 17–28, visit Sarah Ladd's Facebook Page to enter to win a new giveaway each day and be entered to win a Kindle Fire grand prize. Winners will be announced at the Facebook Author Chat party on January 28th! (Don't have a Facebook account? Enter here.)

RSVP today for Sarah's The Headmistress of Rosemere Author Chat Party on Facebook. During the party Sarah will be hosting a book chat, testing your Regency trivia skills, announcing the winner of the "School" Your Desk Giveaway, and giving away books, gift certificates, and more. Oh, and she'll also be giving partygoers an exclusive look at the next book in the Whispers on the Moors series!

So grab your copy of The Headmistress of Rosemere and hope to see you on the evening of January 28th! (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN; RSVP TODAY. HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 28th!

The Headmistress of Rosemere by Sarah Ladd (Review)

 

• Series: Whispers On The Moors (Book 2)
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (December 31, 2013)
• ISBN-13: 978-1401688363

Patience Creighton has devoted her life to running her father’s boarding school. But when the enigmatic master of the estate appears at her door, battered and unconscious, the young headmistress suddenly finds her livelihood—and her heart —in the hands of one dangerously handsome gentleman.

At twenty-five, Patience Creighton is already a spinster. The busy headmistress of Rosemere always expected a dashing man to sweep her off her feet and take her away . . . but that man never came. And since her father’s death, keeping the school running and her mother happy has been plenty to keep her occupied.

William Sterling dallied his way into financial trouble and mortal danger. When he is assaulted by his creditors’ henchmen on the road home from a tavern, he guides his horse to the doorstep of his tenant, the Rosemere School for Young Ladies. After being tended to by Patience, the wounded William rides off into the dawn—but makes a point to learn more about the lovely headmistress.
As he spends more time at Rosemere, something delicate begins to develop between William and Patience. But that will not deter William’s creditors. With little money to repay his debts, and less for the upkeep of his estate, it becomes clear that sacrificing Rosemere may be the only way to preserve his legacy. But it may also cost him his happiness.


 My Review:

 I really enjoyed reading this regency era book. Patience was born and raised at  Rosemere which is a boarding school for girls her family owns. When her father passes away her mother falls to pieces and her brother runs away to London. She has to rise to the task of being the headmistress and does a good job. One night William Sterling, the owner of the land Rosemere is located on, ends up at the house after being attacked. She takes care of him and he goes on his way. They hit it off and he finds reasons to come by the school to see her. He needs money really bad to save the estate and is talking with some other men about putting a factory on his land by the school. Patience knows nothing about it. When the school barn burns down she writes her brother again. Out of nowhere one day he shows up with his new wife. Her life is now complicated in ways it never was before. The plot and characters were interesting and held my attention from page one. I love William and Patience together. There are also some plot twists. The faith element is nicely done not overwhelming. Highly Recommended especially for fans of Bronte sisters and Jane Austen. :)





 Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.

Review copy provided by Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.