Ruth “Dok” Stoltzfus is the kind of doctor who still believes in house calls, addressing not just her patients’ physical needs but their emotional ones too. When newly widowed Bee faces a breast cancer diagnosis, Dok connects her with Fern Lapp for support. When her painfully shy assistant Annie finds herself drawn to a new calling, Dok goes to great lengths to help her achieve her dream. And when an abandoned newborn mysteriously appears at her office one frosty morning, Dok’s world takes an unexpected turn as ripples of change touch several lives.
A Healing Touch is a captivating tale of compassion, resilience, and the bonds that form in surprising places. Bestselling and award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you into a new story that’s like medicine for the weary soul. Join Dok, Annie, and the tight-knit Stoney Ridge community as they navigate the twists of fate, discovering that sometimes the greatest healing comes from the heart.
About the Author
Suzanne Woods Fisher loves stories worth telling about people worth remembering. With over a million copies of her book sold worldwide, this bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 books is always on the lookout for the unsung hero with an untold story.
“a doctor can treat to the best of her ability, but only God can heal.”
If I hadn’t wanted to read this book before, the tongue-in-cheek descriptions of some of the characters in the cast of characters (at the front of book) would have convinced me!
I couldn’t wait to return to Stoney Creek with Suzanne Woods Fisher for more of her wonderful Amish community there. However, A Healing Touch is as much about Englischers as it is the Amish.
We get to see an intimate look at Dok Stoltzfus, the Bishop’s sister, who left the Amish ways behind. Dok obtained her MD, married an Englischer, but returned to practice among the People she left. Dok is much beloved and trusted in the community, but we begin to see her single-minded dedication to her patients is beginning to take a toll on her marriage. Will Dok find a reason to spend less time in the office and more at home?
Another major character in the novel is Bee, who is a retired Olympic equestrian racer. Now widowed, she wallows in a haze of misery as life takes yet another unexpected turn. Will she allow a frenemy from the past to help with her beloved horses? What is the story between the two former acquaintances? You’ll love Fran, an Amish woman who comes alongside Bee (an Englischer) and teaches her valuable life lessons!
I especially loved seeing shy Annie, a young Amish girl, as she learns to overcome social anxiety. Dok has taken Annie as her secretary, hoping the position will nudge her out of her shyness. What nobody foresees is the interest that Annie develops. Can Annie trust God to work in her life and others’ to take her down the path He has for her?
I received a copy of the book from Revell via NetGalley. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Bad thoughts can be like weeds. Pull them out quickly before they take over. There’s no point in watering the weeds.”
“Faith infuses grief the way a tea bag steeps in hot water.”
“Extra kneading ends up with the best bread of all—light and airy and delicious. A little like life, I’ve always thought. Difficult times end up making us the best we can be.”
“…a person’s past wasn’t pertinent, only who they were now.”
“If you aren’t training…“you’re untraining.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! Each Stoney Ridge story seems to be even better than the last! Do we really have to leave Stoney Ridge?!!
When death visits Coronado, will secrets of the past keep them from uncovering the truth?
Her entire life, Eleanore Wainright has been molded to fit the ideal society wife in the glittering world of New York’s elite. Her father’s aspirations for her are clear: marry a man of wealth and status, and secure their family’s future. But when she arrives at the Hotel del Coronado with intentions to do just that, Eleanore’s carefully laid plans are thrown into disarray when she comes face to face with Thomas Harding, the man who shattered her heart and disappeared without a trace.
Working as a bellboy at California’s newest and most prestigious resort, Thomas never imagined crossing paths with Eleanore again, let alone amidst the backdrop of a suspicious death.
As the investigation continues and tensions rise, Eleanore and Thomas are forced to confront not only the ghosts of their past but also the secrets that threaten to destroy their future and the futures of those they hold dear. With the eyes of New York’s elite upon them, they must choose between the responsibilities they’re expected to fulfill and the love they’ve always yearned for, risking everything in the process.
Kathleen Denlylives in sunny California with her loving husband, four young children, two dogs, and ten cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.
More from Kathleen
A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado was inspired first by the true events surrounding the tragic death of a mysterious woman that occurred at Coronado’s world famous hotel in November of 1892, and second by the fun antics of Miss Scarlet in the Masterpiece television show, Miss Scarlet and the Duke.
Although Miss Scarlet is a professional sleuth, I chose to make my heroine, Eleanore Wainright, an amateur sleuth who typically puts her keen observation skills to use when secretly writing her own mystery novels. That is, until an unexpected death compels her to use those skills to uncover the truth. Of course my hero, Thomas Harding, gets wrapped into helping her despite the tension of past heartbreak lying between them.
One of the most fun parts of writing this story was seeing Eleanore’s spunky Aunt Gladys support and encourage her niece. Aunt Gladys has an energy and sassiness that belies her years. And today, her curiosity has got the better of her. You see, Eleanore is being stubborn and won’t reveal the title of her current work in progress, so Aunt Glady is snooping through her niece’s room for clues.
To learn more about the true history behind this story, look for the author’s note at the back of the book!
My Impressions
“Secrets truly are the Achilles’ heel of powerful people.”
So many things drew me to this book, A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado. One is that the author is Kathleen Denly, and I always enjoy her historical romance writing! The second is that it is yet another, book eight, to be exact, of the Romance at the Gilded Age Resorts, each book by a different author and often featuring a famous hotel of the time that I don’t know much about. Thirdly, we have visited Coronado Island. The hotel there was much too fancy for our pocketbooks, and it is interesting to learn its background. I could only imagine how beautiful the hotel must have been, all decorated for the Christmas season.
I enjoyed seeing the romance between well-to-do Eleanore and her social underling, Thomas. Would they find a way to figure out what divided them in the past, plus figure out a way forward to renew their shattered love?
I do believe that Eleanore’s aunt is my fave secondary character. She knows the hearts of those closest to her, but keeps confidences. She loves the flawed people around her, and isn’t afraid to encourage them without giving away other’s secrets.
Speaking of secrets, there are some good mystery threads going on in this novel. I really enjoyed the twists, and I think other readers of western historical fiction will, too.
There are a few words of language in the book, but they are, in my opinion, totally appropriate.
Reading the author’s notes is a must!!
I received a copy of the book from the author and Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive opinion was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Novels are nothing more than a poor man’s excuse for not working and a dull-witted woman’s method of passing the time for want of anything worthwhile to do.”
“If God left it up to us to earn His love and forgiveness, we’d all be damned.”
“Precious little is more important than tradition.”
“Surely, God would want her to help, and that trumped any of society’s rules.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So many things to like about this A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado!
To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize of an enamel mug, scented candle, A6 journal notebook, ballpoint pen with black ink, and a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
An Appalachian Girl Seeks a Place to Belong Return to the mountains of 1910s Appalachia with beloved author Pepper Basham to discover Kizzie McAdams’s story.
Kizzie McAdams spent her childhood longing to see beyond the mountains of home, but when her job as a servant in a landowner’s house results in an unplanned pregnancy, her world tips into uncertainty and heartbreak. Disowned by her father, she seeks comfort in the arms of the man who promises to take care of her, but his support is conditional and inconsistent. She finds acceptance in the home of a nearby family who not only offer Kizzie friendship but point her to a deeper understanding of God’s love.
Despite her change of heart, her status as a social outcast brings with it continued threats and alienation so she flees her past in hopes of starting over in a nearby town. But her new world carries many of the same prejudices as the old. It also brings the unexpected friendship of businessman Noah Lewis, a man who lives with the same desire as Kizzie for helping the marginalized.
Unfortunately, Kizzie and Noah’s attempts to help those in need pit them against Noah’s elder brother, a powerful mill owner who holds control of the family finances. Is Kizzie and Noah’s growing romance strong enough to battle family power, social expectations, and Kizzie’s past to capture their happy ending? And when Kizzie’s first love returns to claim her, which future will she choose?
Pepper Bashamis an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.
More from Pepper
It’s pretty easy to overlook wildflowers.
I mean, until they show off all their pretty colors, especially in the middle of a barren place, then they’re noticed and usually appreciated but did you know there’s a lot more to wildflowers that…meets the eye?
Apart from providing food and shelter for smaller animals and/or insects or assisting bees in pollination, wildflowers can be used as an ingredient for healing remedies and contribute to soil health and reduce erosion.
Especially in places where other plants aren’t likely to grow. They’re known as “hardy” because they can survive all sorts of weather conditions, extreme temperature, animal damage, even drought.
So why am I talking about wildflowers??
Because, in lots of ways, wildflowers are a great example of what hope looks like.
Hope nourishes. Romans 15: 14 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” When we recall and reflect on what the Bible says about who we are in Christ, our hearts are encouraged and given the spiritual energy they need to remind ourselves of truth in the middle of hard times and wilderness-living.
Hope spreads – Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” A heart filled with the knowledge of the love of God is a heart filled and “overflowing” with hope…and that hope is contagious. When we know whose we are and what our future looks like because of the One who loves us, we live in joy…even when the storms come.
Hope restores and heals: “Isaiah 40:31 reads, “For those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
Hope protects – Psalm 62:5-6 “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” Life is hard. Sometimes, bone-achingly, soul-shakingly hard. If we’re reliant on our own ability to protect our faith or mind or soul, we will fail. We’re not strong enough and neither is any of our human defenses, but God is amply able to protect us from the storms, trials, and droughts that mean to wither our hope. HE is the hero of our heart’s story and he is armed to overcome so we can trust Him with our hope and our futures.
And hope grows in the hard places. Hope does not consist of weak or wishful thinking, it grows out of nutrients squeezed from the soil it has. Hard-won, many times. Romans 5:3-4 “ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” A life with Christ doesn’t mean that pain is taken away, but there is a promise and purpose in the pain. The promise that God is with us and a purpose that He is making us more like Him.
Hope Like Wildflowers tells the story of hope, but the main character, Kizzie, isn’t relying on her own abilities to keep her hope strong. Oh no! She learned to trust in the only One who is strong enough to BE her hope. He nourishes her heart when her life has turned upside down and she’s been forsaken. He restores and heals her when she’s been broken and cast out. He protects her from dangerous men who try to hurt her, but also he protects her heart from choosing the wrong path. And through the hard places of life, Kizzie’s hope overflows in joy to touch the lives of those around her.
And it’s beautiful and unexpected.
Like wildflowers.
How has God helped bring hope to your life? What trials has His hope helped you through?
My Impressions
“Somehow, even in the middle of broken dreams, God touches the raw, painful remnants with a teensy bit of stardust.”
Pepper Basham invites us back to the 1910s in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where people are still divided by their socio-economic and racial status. This book, Hope Like Wildflowers, is so well-titled! As Basham explains, wildflowers will fight their way up through mountain rock and other areas that one would think impossible soil. Yet, beauty springs out of surprising hardship. It is leaning into the Rock that is bigger and stronger than ourselves that gives strength to endure and overcome. We cannot do it on our own, as Nella encourages Kizzie. “Life is hard, Kizzie. You can look for easy in all kinds of places, but more likely than not, that easy turns to its own kind of hard. The real test is what you do when the hard comes. There’s bound to be more times in life than not that the hard gets too big for your own shoulders. That’s why you need someone bigger, stronger, wiser.”
What a journey you will go on with young Kizzie McAdams. We first see a bedraggled, rejected, pregnant, poor, mountain girl struggling to survive. But as Kizzie begins to spend time with her friends John and Nella, she begins to see there is a different road to life available, if she chooses. One that she will not have to walk alone. At first, it seems Kizzie will get trampled and tossed aside by those who are bigger and stronger. Every decision she makes will have you yearning with her as you see her difficult choices.
Fortunately, Faith is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. As Kizzie makes decisions and moves to leave her old life behind, life actually gets harder in many ways. Will she return to her old ways, to the promised security, or will she continue to step out in faith and love?
Ms. Basham pens her novel with beautiful descriptions of the Appalachians, slices of local color, and great relatable characters with tough choices. While part of a series, this book can stand alone. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Catherine Marshall’s Christy.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own copy for my keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“It’s difficult to smile when your focus is on things that rarely lead to joy.”
“Sometimes the very best folks rise out of a second chance because they know what they’ve been forgiven of.”
“My mama says that our true self rises to the top when we’re mad or when no one’s looking.”-Kizzie
“The Lord don’t want nothing to do with the likes of me, Nella.” “Well, that just goes to show how little you know about the Lord. The broken kind’s who He’s been after from the start.”
“True compassion cared with a steel spine.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! What a poignant time to read Hope Like Wildflowers- when Appalachia must again wade through a very difficult time, but is buoyed by the strength and resilience of its people and their hope for the future!
When Mabel finds herself sharing a thicket with a dead body while volunteering with canine search-and-rescue, her life has clearly once again gone to the dogs!
After losing her job at age forty-nine, Mabel thought she’d turned things around. Now, she’s doing good by volunteering and, surely, she’ll soon be a successful author, writing about her experiences. After solving two notorious, decades-old cold cases while serving as a historical society volunteer, she’s already getting invitations to appear on TV.
Her new assignment couldn’t be simpler. All she has to do is hide in the woods and let Millie the search dog practice finding her. But to her horror, Millie finds more than Mabel–there’s a dead body hiding in the same patch of brush. To make matters worse, Mabel’s maybe-boyfriend, suspended PI John Bigelow, has a dark history with the victim.
While struggling with maid-of-honor duties for best friend Lisa, a string of disasters created by handyman Acey, and a disagreeable new neighbor, can Mabel solve another murder in time to save John’s detective license–if not his neck?
Susan Kimmel Wright began her life of mystery in childhood, with reading. That led to writing kids’ mysteries and eventually to Medicine Spring with Mabel. A longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, Susan’s also a prolific writer of personal experience stories, many for Chicken Soup for the Soul. She shares an 1875 farmhouse in southwestern PA with her husband, several dogs and cats, and an allegedly excessive stockpile of coffee and tea mugs.
More from Susan
I got stuck. When I was outlining my story for Mabel Goes to the Dogs, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next. This isn’t unusual for me, or, I’m sure, many other authors. When it happens, I have to go search for inspiration—or at least, step away from my project for a bit and do something else till a fresh idea lands in my brain.
Luckily, I soon stumbled upon the Empty Frames podcast, which explored what was, at that time at least, the single largest property theft in the world—the 1990 art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Thieves impersonating police subdued the guards and over the course of the next eighty-one minutes methodically removed thirteen pieces of art then estimated at $200 million. That dollar valuation quickly escalated to between $500-600 million. The stolen artwork including paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Degas, and Manet, was never recovered and remains the highest-value museum robbery in history.
The museum has offered a $10 million reward and never stopped trying to find its missing art. Thirty-four years later, empty picture frames still occupy the walls where the irreplaceable, stolen paintings once hung.
The story was engrossing, and I soon started down a rabbit hole, learning more about art theft and art-theft detectives, such as Charley Hill, the subject of the book The Rescue Artist. Sadly, it’s been estimated that nine out of ten stolen artworks will never be recovered. But Hill defied the odds in managing to retrieve Edvard Munch’s famous work, The Scream, brazenly stolen from the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway on the eve of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. The Rescue Artisttells the story of the theft, as well as Hill’s wild quest to locate and retrieve The Scream.
After I resurfaced from my own odyssey through Empty Frames and The Rescue Artist, I felt re-energized and ready to write again. Every time I write a book, I learn new things, which I like to share with my readers. I always hope they’ll find them as fascinating as I do!
My Impressions
“she’d become a successful writer-to-be…”
This line just cracks me up!!
If you like clean cozies and laughing a lot, Mabel Goes to the Dogs by Susan Kimmel Wright should be on your must-get list. I prepared for this book by reading the two that came before it, and I wasn’t sorry. There is a chronological progression to the books that will be more enjoyable if they are read in order. They are all fast reads, but far from silent! I felt so bad for my husband in the same room as I burst out in laughter so many times while reading.
One reason this book appealed to me is that Mabel is an older sleuth, pushing 50 when the series starts. She isn’t stick-thin, isn’t beautiful, and has just been fired from her career job. She likes to exaggerate freely, about her wanna-be careers as either an author or a volunteer. Mabel talks about her forthcoming book in a tv interview. Unfortunately, “Mabel knew “next book” was a slight stretch. The only other “book” she’d ever written was a biographical booklet for the historical society.” Mabel is rather hapless and hopeless as a heroine, and somehow that makes her very relatable!
John, the love interest, is an enigma, waiting to be unraveled. Why doesn’t he have his PI license anymore? Why does he share so little of himself? And, in this book, you may wonder what his real motives are, and why he is putting moves on Mabel instead of staying with the beautiful ex-girlfriend we meet.
Acey is the hired handyman who is anything but. He sure brings his share of the laughs at poor Mabel’s expense!
Animal lovers will rejoice to see more of Barnacle, Mabel’s lumbering dog that lives up to his name, and her snooty cat Koi, as well as John’s cat, one to beware of.
Plus a search and rescue team is involved in this novel, so more delight for canine lovers.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. (I also bought my own copy.) No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotable:
“You have a different calling. Every bit as important. Just different.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent!! I was barking with laughter all the way through!
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Fiancé Finale by Angela Ruth Strong hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Fiancé Finale Series: Love Off Script #3 Author: Angela Ruth Strong Publisher: Kregel Publications Release Date: October 22, 2024 Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Charlie Newberg is sure about one thing: Nicole Lemaire is the woman God wants him to marry. There’s a slight problem, though—he’s already left her once. The day before their wedding. To make a documentary.
But he’s got a plan. The marketing firm she works for is the ideal choice for promoting his new film. Collaborating will give him the perfect chance to propose again, so he conspires with her boss to make sure she runs the campaign for the same kind of documentary Charlie left her—basically at the altar—for.
Despite Nicole’s resistance, the two work well together. But Charlie’s going to need more than teamwork to convince the jilted bride to give him a second chance. In fact, he might need to fall in love in a way he’s never really understood.
Angela Ruth Strong is the founder of IdaHope Christian Writers. Her books have earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been a finalist for the Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon best sellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky, Montana released as a movie in 2022. Strong lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband.
Connect with Angela by visiting angelaruthstrong.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
My Impressions
“A man always has to choose the woman he loves. Over and over and over again. Because that’s what love does.”
Wow! My emotions are all tangled after finished Fiancé Finale by Angela Ruth Strong. I laughed loud and long at Strong’s humor. I loved the vivid descriptions of the Pacific Northwest. I cringed at obtuseness and misunderstandings. I related to being a pastor’s daughter and wondering whether family or church would come first this time. How I both cheered for Charlie and Nicole to rekindle their broken relationship, and wondered if it was even wise.
Each chapter starts with a great love quote by a famous author, plus a bit of film roll is depicted. Charlie and Nicole alternate narrating chapters, which probably has a lot to do with the back and forth emotional tug. If the road to true love is never easy, surely Charlie and Nicole prove this. Meri and Kai and Gemma and Karson all appear from earlier books, so this series really needs to be read in order.
The big question is, when Charlie, an independent filmmaker, and Nicole, a publicist, are assigned to work together, will they be able to figure out what went wrong with their first engagement before they develop and destroy a second? It is nip and tuck all the way!!
Alice the jeweler is my fave secondary character. She really sees people. Alice is both comforting and challenging in her responses in her loving responses.
Strong brings up so many themes. Hypocrisy in the church, being afraid to love, redemption, selfishness, redemption, lost sheep, making peace with past relationships, mercy, truth, and love. Wow! No matter where you see yourself on the spectrum of faith, you will be challenged to better love others and better live out the Truth.
I received a copy of the book from the author and JustRead Tours. I also bought a copy of the book for my keeper shelf. No positive opinion was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“We accept the love we believe we deserve.”
“She flies with her own wings.”
“Perhaps that’s the meaning of reckless love. God still loves us at our worst.”
“That’s been my experience with God. He doesn’t seem to calm the storms in my life, He just holds an umbrella over my head to protect me until the sun comes out again.”
“In a world where appearances are everything, I have committed the most grievous of offenses. I’m imperfect.”– Nicole
“Is there anything better than being known and being loved?”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! Angela Ruth Strong’s rom-coms will not only have you in stitches and sighing, but will also have you evaluating how you live your life.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Fiancé Finale and a $25 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 23, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 30, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Book: A Hope Unburied (Treasures of the Earth Book Three)
Author: Kimberley Woodhouse
Genre: Historical Romance
Release date: September 24, 2024
Beyond the perilous landscape lies a love that defies extinction. . . .
In the bustling world of paleontology in 1916, Eliza Mills defies societal expectations to pursue her passion. Having published her early groundbreaking papers under a false name, she has finally earned her place at the Carnegie Museum and seizes the opportunity to work at Dinosaur National Monument with a renowned paleontologist. But things in Jensen, Utah, aren’t what they appear. When Eliza gets the chance to dig up bones at a ranch with a dark history, it sparks a chain of events that will rock the very fabric of her carefully constructed world.
Devin Schmitt, Eliza’s closest friend since childhood, harbors unspoken feelings for her but knows he will never be able to win her heart. Just as he vows to give her up for good, Eliza begs him to visit her in Utah for another grand adventure. He reluctantly agrees, and within a few days of his arrival, he and Eliza find themselves entangled in a web of danger where the stakes are much higher than they ever anticipated. Together, Devin and Eliza must hold on to God as their hope as they navigate a treacherous terrain of betrayal to unbury the truth and save Eliza from those who wish to see her fail.
Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than forty fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of thirty-plus years live in Colorado, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandkids, and research all the history around them.
More from Kimberley
A couple of years ago, I asked readers on my Facebook page what they were interested in reading in Christian fiction. When one reader and friend suggested I write about the Bone Wars, I was intrigued and instantly excited. I had no idea how much of a blessing writing the Treasures of the Earth series would be.
I traveled all over western Colorado, eastern Utah and southern Wyoming, looking at the incredible displays of bones of magnificent creatures of our past. Stopping at every tiny museum along the way, and even driving miles and miles into the middle of nowhere to find just the right setting for The Secrets Beneath. But it was going to Dinosaur National Monument in Jensen, Utah that truly helped these three books come to life.
The monument was established in October 1915 by President Woodrow Wilson. The 80 acres encompassed the Carnegie Quarry, where paleontologist Earl Douglass was digging, trying to find intact dinosaur skeletons to send back to Carnegie’s museum in Pittsburgh. Eventually, President Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded the park to encompass more than 200,000 acres.
But this monument wouldn’t exist without the determination of one man: Earl Douglass. I had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Diane Douglass Iverson, his granddaughter, during one of my research trips. She was generous with her time and memories as she shared her grandfather’s journals and memories with me. The longer we talked, the more the idea for what would be the third book of this series took shape. Though Earl is not a primary character in Eliza’s story, his presence and impact on the science of paleontology is felt through the pages.
In fact, each chapter of all three books has a quote from the book his son created out of his journal entries, titled Speak to the Earth and It Will Teach You. I am grateful to Diane for the opportunity to share his struggles, hopes, and dreams with my readers.
With this last book, I hope you enjoy Eliza’s joyful spirit, as well as her struggles to find her place in this world. She’s a spirited young woman with a passion for fossils and how God has created this incredible planet. You’ll get to visit Dinosaur National Monument with her, seeing the founding of this great national treasure through her eyes. I hope you love visiting there in your imagination and that you get the opportunity to visit on your own someday. But even more than that, I pray that, like Eliza, you find joy and confidence where God has placed you in His story.
My Impressions
“Promise me we’ll always be best friends. That we won’t ever let anything come between us.” ~ Eliza
(BTW- if you don’t read prologues, you will be missing a lot with this book!)
A Hope Unburied ( Treasures of the Earth, #3) by Kimberley Woodhouse is a tremendous conclusion to this series about the Bone Wars. I think this book can stand on its own. Historical fiction has gotten even better lately, as authors are beginning to add mystery, suspense, and danger to the straight-forward historical fiction genre! With dinosaur digs, a woman paleontologist struggling to prove her worth, a forbidden love, the Carnegie museum, intrigue, and plotting behind the scenes, this was one of my highly anticipated novels! Kimberley Woodhouse certainly knows how to slowly tease the reader with bits of the unknown, ( two different mysteries in this case) all the while developing solid, complex characters who discover they still need to grow and change. While most readers may not be aspiring paleontologists like Eliza or best friends to a rich family’s daughter like Devin, we can relate to the insecurities, inferiorities, lack of trust, and trying to do things on our own. Eliza finally is confronted by Devin about her lack of trust. “She’d been trying to deal with everything in her own strength. Once again. Why couldn’t she rest in her Savior? His salvation was perfect. And that was all that truly mattered.”
You will find this novel very captivating and romantic as you race towards the end to find out who is behind the rumors and disasters. You may end up wishing you had a best friend as steadfastly loyal like our hero, Devin. *Sigh.* Sometimes I wonder what we could accomplish as people who understand the feeling of truly being loved by the One Who forgives and loves us most of all.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought a few copies of the book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Attempting to walk in the way of Jesus without actually walking with Him, without letting Him work through her, was a sure recipe for disaster. The fruit of her actions proved that.”
“The battle between science and faith was real. Overwhelming at times.”
“It was exactly as Darwin said, survival of the fittest. Conquer or be conquered. Kill or be killed.”
“But what if He’s disappointed in me too? If He’s decided I’m too much of a problem to redeem?”
“Maybe He needed to get you alone so you would listen to Him. Wholly and completely.”
“Then he could go back home to his routine and work to carve her out of his heart.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent!! Kimberley Woodhouse is an A-list author for me!
To celebrate her tour, Kimberley is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Amazon gift card and a paperback set of the Treasures of the Earth series: The Secrets Beneath, Set in Stone, and A Hope Unburied!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Separated by centuries, the lives of two women intertwine through their shared pursuit of love, truth, and justice.
In 1885 London, Lillian Freemont embarks on a treacherous journey to reunite with her long-lost niece, Alice, who was abandoned at the Foundling Hospital eight years ago. Fueled by her sister’s plea and armed with the gold token that identifies her niece, Lillian teams up with investigative reporter Matthew McGivern to expose the grim reality of the shadowed streets of London. As Lillian and Matthew unravel the mystery of Alice’s disappearance, their partnership blossoms into one of shared purpose and undeniable attraction.
In present-day London, Janelle Spencer finds herself unexpectedly running the Foundling Museum. When filmmaker Jonas Conrad arrives to document the museum’s history, their collaboration takes a surprising turn as they uncover articles from the past that shed light on a haunting connection to the present. As Janelle becomes caught between exposing the truth and protecting the museum’s reputation, she must decide if she can risk everything for what she believes.
Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of twenty-one inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She loves traveling to England to research her Edwardian novels, including No Journey Too Far, No Ocean Too Wide, Across the Blue, and the Edwardian Brides series. Her novels have been translated into several languages and have received starred reviews from Christianbook.com and Library Journal.
More from Carrie
Come with me to London!
My latest novel, A Token of Love, is a dual-time story set in London during the late Victorian Era and present day. That prompted my husband and I to take a trip to London earlier this year. We were especially delighted to visit the Foundling Museum which tells the story of the Foundling Hospital, the first children’s charity home in England. The Foundling Hospital and Foundling Museum tie the historical and contemporary plots together in A Token of Love.
Thousands of children were taken in by the Foundling Hospital when their mothers could no longer care for them. Some of the mothers left small items such as coins, thimbles, and pieces of jewelry with their infants as identifiers in the hope that if their situation changed, they might be able to return and reclaim their child. Those items were called tokens, and we saw several of them on display at the Foundling Museum.
Each token is unique and represents a mother’s love and desire to be reunited with her child. It was very moving to view them on display and think of all the heartache and hope behind each token.
More than two years ago, I saw an image of the tokens on Pinterest. That sparked my curiosity, and I followed the research trail to learn more about them. That led to the Foundling Museum’s website, which offers a treasure trove of information and personal stories about the mothers and children connected by those tokens. What I discovered helped me develop the characters and plot for A Token of Love. The story highlights one mother who gave her daughter into their care, then eight years later tries to reclaim her. But her daughter is missing, and that sets off a series of events that stirs all of London. Family drama, romance, inspiration, and a touch of mystery will make the story meaningful for readers.
If you like stories based on true events in history that will touch your heart and lift your spirit, then I think you will enjoy reading A Token of Love!
If you’d like to see more photos from my research trip to London and the Foundling Museum, I hope you’ll visit my website photo page!
My Impressions
“Someone had to take a stand and speak for those who could not speak for themselves.”
How often do we idealize the earlier days, thinking life was simpler or more carefree? Carrie Turansky, in her poignant dual time novel, A Token of Love, details two distinct time periods of London, one present-day and one from the 1880s. In both eras, the same ugly problem (involving misuse and abuse of girls and women) raises its head. What will the people of that era do to stop it? Will their faith be an impetus for their push for change, and can a few really make a difference?
I loved the great historical research that accompanied the writing of this book. So much that I have been unaware of. I loved learning about the Foundling Museum and its history, and how it and its fellow organization, Coram, worked to educate and better the lives of the children in both centuries. The novel is by turns romantic and suspenseful, rich in relationships, and pushes the characters to the end of themselves. Will God help mend their various broken hearts, broken families, and broken dreams?
I considered some tidbits in the book that formed a strong part of each story as very informative. It was neat to learn about the start of investigative journalism, film making and all that goes into even a small film, and also to read about Josephine Butler. Thankfully, author notes sort out the fact from the great creative writing. Included discussion questions make this book a great book club choice.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit thru NetGalley. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Could she move forward and offer her heart again, knowing grief and loss could be right around the corner?”
“We are sisters, and sisters never give up on each other.”
“…terrible losses. Some we may have brought on ourselves; others happened because we live in a broken world where sin takes a great toll. We can’t change what happened to us in the past, but we can learn from it.”
“Your feelings are important, but truth is a much better guide.”
“We all have regrets, but there is no need to dwell on them. Seek the Lord’s forgiveness and let Him carry them for you.”
Book: Virginia (Daughters of the Lost Colony Book Four)
Author: Shannon McNear
Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical Romance
Release date: September, 2024
The White Doe of the Outer Banks Grows into Womanhood
Return to the “what if” questions surrounding the Lost Colony and explore the possible fate of Virginia Dare–the first English child born in the New World. What happened to her after her grandfather John White returned to England and the colony he established disappeared into the mists of time? Legends abound, but she was indeed a real girl who, if she survived to adulthood, must have also become part of the legacy that is the people of the Outer Banks. In the spring of 1602 by English reckoning, “Ginny,” as she is called by family and friends, is fourteen and firmly considered a grown woman by the standards of the People. For her entire life she has watched the beautiful give-and-take of the Kurawoten and other native peoples with the English who came from across the ocean. She’s enjoyed being the darling of both English and Kurawoten alike—but a stirring deep inside her will not be put to rest.
One careless decision lands her and fellow “first baby” Henry Harvie, along with their Croatoan friend Redbud, in enemy hands. Carried away into Mangoac territory, out of the reach of Manteo and the others, she must learn who she truly is—not only the daughter of Elinor and Ananias Dare but also a child of the One True God, who gives her courage to go wherever the path of her life might lead.
Transplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in the Deep South, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s the author of four novellas, the first a 2014 RITA® nominee and the most recent a 2021 SELAH winner, and six full-length novels. Her greatest joy, however, is in being a military wife, mom, mother-in-law, and grammie. She’s been a contributor to Colonial Quills and The Borrowed Book, and is a current member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers. When not cooking, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies.
More fron Shannon
So—here we are! I am just so, SO, sooo blessed to get to be on Celebrate Lit yet again. And book FOUR of my Lost Colony series! Initially I thought two, maybe three books. I pretty much disregarded the possibility of writing Virginia Dare’s story because, well, there’s a good bit of mythology surrounding her, and I felt absolutely no inclination to tackle any of that.
Until early last year. The idea dropped into my head and seemed too obvious to turn away. I didn’t have much idea of what would actually happen in the story, although I knew I wanted to explore the identity of the Mangoac, who held the interior of what is now North Carolina and Virginia when the Spanish and the English first arrived in the New World. They spoke an Iroquoian language and were referred to with dread and distaste among all their neighbors, including the Powhatan. Those people are what we know now as the Tuscarora.
Little was known of the Tuscarora before John Lawson wrote of his journey through the Carolinas in 1700-01. A few years later, Lawson himself met with a fairly horrible death at the hands of the Tuscarora (one wonders what he might have done to tick them off), and tensions soon escalated between settlers and indigenous peoples into all-out war. After their defeat by the English, the Tuscarora people moved northward and became the sixth nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.
They call themselves Skaru:re—pronounced sgah-ROOO-rah (with that long “ooh” held out a little extra)—translated variously as “Long-Shirt People” or “Hemp People,” for the garments they would weave from “Indian hemp,” also known as milkweed. The Tuscarora word for milkweed does indeed contain the same root as Skaru:re, but no one knows when as a people they might have made the transition from merely using milkweed fiber for cording or twine to spinning and weaving it into fabric, as the English did flax for linen.
I decided to have a bit of fun in my story, then, with Ginny being questioned about the making of a linen garment, and then a later mention of a “rough, twiny fabric.” I’d meant to expand upon that a bit, or at least address it in the historical notes at the end—and then completely forgot until working through the galleys.
So I get to talk about it—now.
You might guess that both details, which may feel random to the casual reader, are a nod to the translation of the name Skaru:re, and to the influence that either the Spanish or the English might have had on various Native people groups. A good author endeavors, of course, to not have any random details littering a story. In Virginia, many small things point back to previous stories—there are hints of connection to Rebecca as well even though either story could be read before the other. By the same token, all four books are what we could term alternate history—a reach beyond what is known into what might have been. I think it most likely that as Native peoples acquired European fashions, they used what they already had (in the case of the Skaru:re, a familiarity with milkweed and other materials to provide fiber) to produce garments and other items modeled after what the Spanish and English used. They were nothing if not eager to take advantage of new technologies—and what if their contact with members of the Lost Colony was what sparked the idea behind their famed “long shirts”?
A stretch, for sure. But there’s a reason why I’ve always enjoyed writing speculative fiction as well as historical.
My Impressions
“Her firstborn, taken by the People. Just as she herself was, all those years ago…“
Any history buff with the slightest interest in the lost colony of Roanoke should read this series, Daughters of the Lost Colony, and this book in particular, Virginia. Shannon McNear has outdone herself on this one. I loved every minute of this heart-rending, suspenseful book! I would encourage you to read the prior three novels so you have a better base for understanding some of the background and people involved.
Barely a young woman, Virginia Dare, who lives in the village that is a mixture of Kurawoten and English, is taken captive, along with two young male friends. Encouraged beforehand to do what they must to survive if such a capture by an enemy occurs, how far must they go?
Will the Skaru:re tribe that took the young people make them slaves, torture them, or assimilate them into their culture? Why are Sees Far and others not coming to the captives’ rescue? How can God turn something so tragic into an instrument for good? This is a major question that resounds throughout the book, very timely in our country today.
Many people argue that tragedy shows an absence of a loving God. Not so, says Ginny as she shares her mother’s belief. “He is God, regardless. The good things we enjoy, the little miracles that come, they come because He is good and loves to bless us. But the lack of blessings does not prove His absence or lack of care.” I loved the way that McNear shows that faith has to become real and personal for each individual. I loved the heartfelt prayers of Ginny and others as all they can do is cry out to God for help.
Danger, romance, history, and a fair look at different people groups are all present in this fast-paced story. But so are the plan of salvation and an impassioned plea to see God as a loving Sovereign when all we can see is tragedy. Will we have the faith to trust God when we cannot see what only He can? “We must trust that He is able to weave our past into good for us, and indeed does so. And we must trust Him with each day. This day. And then the remainder of our lives.”
Is this easy? As Master Johson encourages Ginny, it is not. “…if ’twere easy to trust, then where would be the need for faith?”
Don’t miss this exciting conclusion to the Daughters of the Lost Colony Series! Expect a few surprises!
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit and Netgalley. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“But love is as much a choice as it is a feeling. Mayhap more.”
“Perhaps the difference lies in a counterquestion. What is your present commitment to Christ and to His ways? It matters not if you were born and reared a Christian, if you abandon your faith upon reaching your majority.”
“Their coming to the New World, they said, ’twas more than uprooting in body and soul and trying to make a home in a completely different country. There was a clash between old ways and new ways, between old gods and the one true God, a conflict not just of thought and ideals but of spiritual forces. How many times had she heard Master Johnson and others read the verse about not wrestling with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers? And yet … she had never truly comprehended.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent!! I will long be mulling over the McNear-based possibilities of The Lost Colonies!!
Book: When the Mountain Crumbled (A Day to Remember Book 4)
Author: Angela K Couch
Genre: Historical Christian Fiction
Release date: September, 2024
Though Mountains Crumble, Hope Is Not Buried
Enjoy a series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.
Discipline and rules are the foundation on which Samantha Ingles has built her life—the life of a spinster schoolteacher in a small mining town in the Canadian Rockies. All that crumbles from her grasp when part of a mountain crashes down on their community.
Constable Nathan Stanford has little patience for the strict schoolmarm but has no choice but to leave his three young nieces in her care while he tries to discover the fate of his brother. Already, the girls have lost their mother and brothers to the landslide and require comfort and love while they await the fate of their father, possibly buried in the coal mine.
With the mountain looming over their heads threatening more lives, and the town scrambling to save who they can from the rubble, can hearts find healing—both for their own sakes and the children in their care?
To keep from freezing in the great white north, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the 2016 International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and toasty warm) by chasing after five munchkins.
More from Angela
Around 4:10 am on April 29th, 1903, approximately 110 million metric tonnes of limestone broke from the side of Turtle Mountain and crashed down into the Crowsnest Valley, burying ranches, camps, an active coal mine, and a part of the town of Frank. What has come to be known as “Frank Slide” was the deadliest landslide in North American recorded history, claiming the lives of more than seventy people.
I first visited Frank Slide as a child, as it is located only an hour’s drive from my home. All I remember from that experience was the heaps of rocks and boulders, and the story of the mine-horse named Charlie. When driving through the Crowsnest Pass as an adult, I began to appreciate the terror of that night and the horrible loss of life. Not until expanding my research while writing this story, did the miracles of Frank shine through everything horrible that happened. That became the focus of my story, When the Mountain Crumbled.
I find our own lives follow a similar pattern. Tragedy, hardship, sickness and disappointment… but do we see the miracles?
My Impressions
“‘Our story doesn’t have to be a tragedy,’ he tried. ‘Yes, there has been a lot of tragedy—I have felt it as keenly as anyone who has lost family and friends. But there is a place for faith and hope as well.’”
This quote, as spoken by Constable Nathan Stanford in When the Mountain Crumbled, by Angela K. Couch, is as valid in real life as in the novel. Truly, coming closer recently to a real-life tragedy than I would like, this story was another reminder of the uncertainty of life. Yet God’s sovereign Hand is providing care and blessings in the midst of a storm.
The “storm” in the book takes place as a rockslide on a mountain, destroying much of a small Canadian mining town in 1903. The town’s uptight, rigid, and uncaring teacher (Samantha Ingles)survives, as do three girls of the large family Samantha is boarding with. One of the Mounties to help in the town’s rescue is the estranged brother of the girls’ father.
At first, there was no love lost between Samantha and Nathan. Each was well-set in their own ways and not interested in the well-being of others. I was hardly interested in their well-being, either! But, slowly, the girls’ needs begin to thaw out hearts that have been closed off to love and hope.
Mary is quite the mature young lady, though only a young girl. Somehow, she takes a shine to both her uncle and Samantha, even as Samantha hands out homework in their time of loss. Mary’s ability to put her emotions into words far exceeds that of the two adults she now must rely on. “To lose so much—to be left alone, And yet somehow, I survive. Now how to live when all is gone, I don’t know how to try.” Oh, my aching heart! Your heart will ache as well, at the tragedy of the town, the future of the Stanford girls, and the ups and downs of the relationship between Nathan and Samantha.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit and Netgalley. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“You were not alone. Be still, and know that I am God.”
“Love is a choice.”
“The truth of it? I don’t think she ever wanted me.” Had anyone ever? He’d always been just one more mouth to feed, one more child to discipline. Even now, he was just another constable on the force—one more uniform to order around.”
“Life was a risk, with no guarantee of how much of it you’d get. Don’t waste it.”
“The question was, would she bury her feelings back behind her walls of emotionless candor, or allow herself to heal and help the girls in the process.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent! Hope can be found even in the midst of horrible tragedy!
Can Mara survive in a world where the fire in her veins is worth killing for?
In a frozen wasteland suffocating beneath a dying sun, Mara is a young phoenix raised by her father to explode at his command. He’s the only one who can help her control her fire, and Mara desperately follows his orders to protect their phoenix family from relentless human hunters.
Her sheltered existence is shattered when her family mysteriously vanishes, thrusting Mara into a perilous quest to find them. Along the way, she unravels a devastating truth: her people may not be the innocent victims she’s been taught to believe.
When she comes face-to-face with the kindhearted Eli, she begins to wonder if the humans aren’t the monsters she’s always feared. What if the greatest danger doesn’t lie in the icy world outside—but in the truth of who Mara really is?
Fire and ice collide in this thrilling tale of a phoenix girl born with the power of a dying sun.
Kara Swansonwrites stories about fairy tales and fiery souls. She spent her childhood a little like a Lost Girl, running barefoot through lush green jungles which inspired her award-winning Peter Pan retellings, Dust and Shadow.
She is also the cofounder of the Author Conservatory (authorconservatory.com) where she has the honor of teaching young writers to craft sustainable author careers.
You’ll find Kara with her toes in California sand as a SoCal resident, belting Broadway show tunes on weekend drives to Disneyland with her delightfully nerdy husband, or chatting about magic and mayhem on Instagram.
More from Kara
This story is one that has lived a hundred lives, a little like the phoenix it’s about —dozens of iterations and nearly eight years discovering Mara’s story. In this icy world beneath a dying sun, I was able to craft a story of a young phoenix girl who was more terrified of her own fire than the dangers of the frozen wasteland outside her underground hideaway. Who has been convinced by the father she loves that her flame is only capable of pain and damage — until suddenly, he disappears. And for the first time, she ventures out of her hideaway to discover that the frozen world outside is actually dying for her flame. And that the parts of herself that she has feared and run from…that there may be beauty, even there. That she can choose to rise from the ash of a world that doesn’t understand her, and use the fire in her veins to bring warmth and healing.
I hope you enjoy the adventure!
My Impressions
“‘This place isn’t afraid of me. And neither are you. That’s . . .’A knowing look fills his brown eyes. ‘Like being able to breathe for the first time?’”
Kara Swanson has a way of relating her YA fantasy stories in a very memorable way! Having read her two previous Neverland books, I was eager to see what Swanson would produce next. I was not disappointed!
This is the story of a young Phoenix who is hidden away with her flock, taught to fear anything or one not part of her restricted world. Only her father can keep the extreme fire power within her from destroying everything around her. But when the flock disappears, and Mara must search for them, she finds more confusion and a different world than she’d ever imagined.
What a wonderful way to show young people that they are made with a purpose to be celebrated in their uniqueness as special. To realize that helping others is a noble calling and worth a sacrifice. The strength of love can enable creatures (or people) to stand strong together, against a difficult foe.
Eli really impresses me with his selflessness in giving to the Hollows. Mara asks him why he sacrifices to give to them, when they don’t give back, and might be happy to hunt his father. He replies, “Because they need light and warmth as much as anyone else… It’s not about them agreeing with me or treating us well. It’s just being decent. Everyone deserves a chance to live. I can’t let them freeze to death when I can do something to help them.”
Be prepared for a cliff-hanger!
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotable:
“We, more than anyone, know that dying is easy. But living? As Eli said, living is harder.”
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions 