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The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep Review

March 30, 2024 Babbling Becky L

(Graphic from Michelle Griep)

About the Book

Title: The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane

Series: Blackfriars Lane (#3)

Author: Michelle Griep

Publisher: Barbour

Released: April 1, 2024

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Wife. Mother. Homemaker. Detective. Kit Forge wears many hats, and if that’s not enough, she’s partnered with her father to open a new detective agency. It’s hard to be all things to all people, but Kit never shies away from the impossible. Despite her hard work and good intentions, some things fall through the cracks.

Namely, her husband.

But Jackson barely notices. He’s too busy putting out his own fires. As the new chief inspector of a busy London station, he must salvage the disaster left behind by the former police chief—an obstacle made all the harder when the superintendent breathes an ultimatum down his neck.

Against her father’s advice, Kit takes on a case involving a missing child, one in which she and Jackson become a little too emotionally involved. . .and end up endangering their own little girl in the process.

Can Kit and Jackson learn that just because they can say yes doesn’t mean they should?

About the Author

I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I’ve been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write–except for that graffiti phase I went through as teenager.

My Impressions

“What a fine bucket of fish guts this was turning out to be. She’d hoped for an intriguing first case to solve— Not an impossible one.”

Ah, this story by Michelle Griep!! First, because it is a Griep, buy now, ask later. Seriously, my motto for her books. However, I must say you will want to have read The Thief of Blackfriars Lane and The Bride of Blackfriars Lane, so you feel like Jackson and Kit are close friends you respect, even if it’s impossible to predict their actions. Common themes to Griep are forgiveness and trust, teamwork, and judging others. Beautifully depicted.

Kit has so much spunk and impetuosity, plus a great nose for mystery solving that she has connived to get her father to open a detective agency with her. All is well and good if Kit stays where she belongs, according to her father and Jack, safe in the background, in the office. As if!

Kit finds that motherhood has changed her in so many ways. She yearns for her child, yet leaves her daily with her good friend, Martha. Can she put aside her mothering instincts long enough to be an unprejudiced part of the detective team? Can she remember she is a mother enough to be sure she avoids danger? Can we say Kate is very conflicted?!

Jackson has his own issues. He’d might not miss Kate’s shenanigans so much if he didn’t have a precinct to run, with multiple officers needing attention of various degrees, and a supervisor ready to shut the whole office down. Plus a nuisance vagabond hanging around. Oh, vey!

Jackson is fortunate to have a loyal friend in Charles Bagette, an officer who entered training when Jack did. But Bagette has two strikes against him. He’s charged with keeping Kit safe. And, he’s falling for Martha, a baker and soup kitchen cook. Martha just happens to be Bella’s ( Kit’s daughter)babysitter, in addition to Frankie’s mother. The same Frankie who either has a future as a thug or a detective, under Kit’s tutelage.

One thing I always love about a Griep novel is the multiple storylines woven in and out around each other. We have all the above, plus the very complicated mystery that Kit takes on against her father’s consent. So now we also have that relationship thread to follow.

Danger. Action. Twist. Repeat. Biblical truth. Short contemplation how that should affect the character’s action. Swift, short, cry-outs to God. Then start at the beginning of this paragraph with danger and repeat the scenario. My heart barely survived the action, but surviving the emotional tugs was worse!

I cannot do justice to this book. But it will be on the very short list for my fave book of the year!!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via Netgalley, plus I bought my own ecopy and 2 paperbacks. This is a book to be shared! No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“…it always comes back to trusting in God’s plan. Rest assured that no matter what you do or don’t do, you will not thwart whatever our mighty Creator is up to.The best we can accomplish is to hold tight to our faith and keep walking towards eternity a step at a time.”

“ …love covers a multitude of sins. So, pursue that. Pursue love instead of dwelling in past failure. That path can only lead to a denial of the present and a forfeiture of the future.”

“But it’s God who brings beauty from ashes. Don’t push away that gift. It is never prudent or wise to stiff-arm God.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent! I foresee a rare re-read in my future!!

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

Rescuing You by Robin Patchen Review and Giveaway

February 12, 2024February 12, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Rescuing You

Author: Robin Patchen

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: January 9, 2024

A heart-pounding tale of danger and devotion, the riveting second installment of the Wright Heroes of Maine series by a USA Today bestselling author.

CIA agent Michael Wright’s world crumbles when his girlfriend, Leila, is snatched off the street and later seen in the grasp of a terrorist he’s been tracking, Michael blames himself. Keeping his identity secret from her clearly didn’t protect her. Now he must defy the Agency and fly to Iraq to rescue her.

Leila Amato escaped Iraq a decade earlier, only returning in her worst nightmares. But those nightmares have come true when she finds herself captive and all alone, or so she thinks until she sees her identical twin sister.

Michael tracks Leila to a desert compound, but his rescue mission goes awry when he discovers her sister needs to escape as well. His detailed strategy can only ensure one woman’s safety. Now they’re on the run, trying to get out of the country before their enemies track them down.

But Leila’s kidnapping is only one small part of a larger plot—one that endangers thousands of lives—and now he can’t trust anyone. Not even the woman who’s stolen his heart. A woman who’s been keeping secrets of her own…

A high-stakes international chase full of romantic suspense, spies, and a ticking time bomb that will keep you reading all night long.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Robin Patchenis a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Nutfield Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. After college, working in marketing and public relations, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while she homeschooled her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet.

More from Robin

I spent a week this year serving refugee women on the Greek island of Lesvos. Along with helping to distribute food and clothing, I gave hand massages. It seems like such a little thing, but it was powerful.

Many didn’t speak English, and I found it difficult to connect even with those who did. What do I have in common with women escaping war or oppression?

But I could perch on a tiny stool at their feet and rub lotion on their hands. I didn’t know their stories, but God did. So while they chatted with friends in languages I couldn’t understand, I prayed silently. As I did, God stirred in me a deep love for each one.

Imagine the courage it must take to leave everything you know—your home, your community, in some cases, even your family—to seek freedom. Imagine how desperate or afraid or, frankly, hopeful a person must be to attempt it.

The heroine in Rescuing You did just that. An Iraqi who came to Christ as a teenager, Leila feared her family would discover her secret and felt she had no choice but to run away. Resettled in Germany, away from her mother, father, and twin sister, she built a life for herself and fell in love.

And then someone snatched her back to Iraq.

Rescuing You is about a man determined to save the woman he loves. It’s about a woman willing to risk everything for the freedom to…

…Love the man she chooses

…Live a life of purpose, and mostly…

…Worship the One True God

It’s easy to take our freedom for granted—and to forget that true and lasting freedom isn’t political or social but spiritual. Christians are free in Christ no matter what their society looks like.

But what an incredible blessing to live in a free country.

Rescuing You barely scratches the surface of the refugee crisis. It’s mostly about a man and a woman and whole bunch of terrifying villains. Even so, I pray it’ll stir in you a deep love for refugees seeking freedom worldwide. Pray for them and for the nations they’ve escaped. Our world needs Jesus.

My Impressions

“She was keeping secrets, but he was too. And he wasn’t ready to reveal his.”

Honestly, I fell in love with one of Robin Patchen’s books about another Wright brother, so I knew I had to read the stories of the other brothers as they are launched in this series, The Wright Brothers of Maine. Rescuing You is the second book of the series, and features the story of Michael and Leila. Michael, an undercover CIA agent in Germany, is horrified to find his girlfriend has been kidnapped by Vortex, the terrorist he is trailing.

Leila is a native Arab who left Islam to turn to Jesus. Her captors would not treat her well for defecting from the faith, their perception of a Middle Eastern woman’s role, or her first escape into Germany. Michael chomps at the bit when histeam leader, Brock, asks him to remove himself from the situation and let the team handle it.

Explosions, daring escapes, and shoot-outs up the suspense ante. Ruthless, strategic terrorists and a sick twin complicate matters. As does the fact that Michael does not stand down as told, nor does Leila like to be given commands without knowing ‘why.’

Secrets. This novel is all about secrets and trust. Both Michael and Leila hold dangerous secrets, and both need to learn to trust God and other people if they are to survive. There were a few times each I wanted to sit Michael and Leila down and “straighten them out, but good!”

Rescuing You is a novel that will also have you thinking about what some immigrants are willing to endure to reach our shores. By the end of the book, you’ll be looking to tie up a few loose ends and read more of the Wright brothers’ stories, starting with Bryan’s adventures in Finding You.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“But in his arrogance—and his fear—he’d gone it alone. As he so often did. And because of that, he’d lost…everything.”

“Hope seemed lost, but God was a God of hope, wasn’t He?”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent!! Ready for the other brothers’ stories!

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 3

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 4

The Lofty Pages, February 4

Betti Mace, February 5

Blossoms and Blessings, February 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 7

An Author’s Take, February 8

Pause for Tales, February 8

Texas Book-aholic, February 9

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, February 10 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, February 10

For Him and My Family, February 11

Book Looks by Lisa, February 12

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 13

Life on Chickadee Lane, February 13

Blogging With Carol, February 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 15

Holly’s Book Corner, February 15

Lakesidelivingsite, February 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of Running to You and a $75 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2a0c0/rescuing-you-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, New-to-Me Author

Bride by Beguilement by Debbie Lynn Costello Review and Giveaway

January 19, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Bride by Beguilement

Author: Debbie Lynne Costello

Genre: Historical Christian Romance

Release Date: September 25, 2023

Kirsten Macleod is in a bind. Her father’s last will and testament stipulates that she must either marry, lead the plantation into a first year profit, or forfeit it to her uncle. But marriage is proving no easy option. Every suitor seems more enamored with the land than with her. Until her handsome neighbor sweeps into her stable to the rescue… of her beloved horse.

Silas Westbrook’s last year at veterinary school ends abruptly when he is called home to care for his young orphaned sisters. Troubles compound when he finds an insurmountable lien on the only home they’ve ever known, and the unscrupulous banker is calling in the loan. The neighbor’s kind-hearted and beautiful stable girl, Krissy, provides the feminine influence the girls desperately need. If only he had a future to offer her. But to save his sisters from poverty, he should set his sights on Krissy’s wealthy relative Kirsten Macleod, the elusive new heiress. Surely this hard-working and unassuming young lady and the landowner could not be one and the same?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Debbie Lynne Costellohas enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina. She has worked in many capacities in her church and is currently the Children’s Director. She loves the Lord and hopes people will be uplifted and inspired by her writing. Debbie Lynne has shown and raised Shetland Sheepdogs for eighteen years and still enjoys litters now and then. In their spare time, she and her husband take pleasure in camping and riding their Arabian and Tennessee Walking horses.

More from Debbie

I’ve always believed that a great book can go unknown without a great cover. What makes me say that? You’ll never know what’s in the book if you don’t read the back cover and you’ll never read the back cover if you don’t pick up the book and you won’t pick up the book unless the cover grabs you. I loved the cover of book one. It was perfect for the story. That left me feeling a bit anxious about the cover for book two. With the hero being a veterinarian who owned a horse farm and a heroine with a sick horse, the cover needed a horse. But let me tell you, there just aren’t that many horse models out there.

Most publishers and book designers don’t allow the author to submit a photo to use. I mean that just isn’t the way it’s done—and understandably so. There is a certain quality that has to be adhered to. Can you imagine what covers would look like if we could use our phones to take our cover picture? Well…I just happen to know a very capable photographer so I took a gamble and asked the cover editor if I could submit a picture of my horse, Trigger for the cover. To my surprise, they asked for copies of the photographer’s work, which I happily supplied. The cover editor was quite impressed and okayed the idea.

So with a photographer, a beautiful young lady, some 19^th century clothes, and my boy Trigger, I was part of the photo shoot, explaining how I envisioned the pose. When the pictures came back I was ecstatic! They were exactly what I was wanting. And better yet, the cover designer liked them as well!

I’m now trying to figure out how I can get Trigger to hold a book so I can take his picture with the cover. If you have any ideas, let me know! If you’d like to see more pictures of Trigger, you can see him on my FB page with my ‘through the ears of a horse’ posts.

My Impressions

“If only forgiveness was enough. No anger remained, no bitterness, but no trust either. He had to believe in her, and he found it impossible.”

Preconceived notions almost caused me to miss this great historical fiction novel, Bride by Beguilement by Debbie Lynn Costello. I saw the cover, with a horse, a fence, a woman and a man with a “cowboy hat.” I thought, “Nope! Not really into cowboy stories!” But then I read the blurb. (Moral- look at book covers AND read blurbs!)

I really enjoyed this story about two young-adult neighbors, both left with the impossible task of managing their families’ land on their own, and turning a profit besides. Plus, Silas is left with two young siblings he hardly knows to rear on his own.

While I am not necessarily a horse lover, Costello is, and works her wordsmith magic weaving the romantic tension back and forth between Silas and Krissy while sprinkling her horse-loving fairy-dust over the reader as well. I personally cared about Briagha, Silas’s Arabians, and the land that seemed cursed, but was so valued. I did want to shake the two protagonists into better communication skills. And to give thirty lashes for their projection of their past relationships into their present. But perhaps I knew where the author was taking the story? Until… Costello presents some really great plot twists!

I highly recommend this book. The romance is great, I loved the little girls, and I had not one, or two, but four fave secondary characters when all was said and done. Read the book!

I was gifted a copy of the book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“I ken you have prayed aboot your troubles, and you gave them to the Lord. In a perfect world, that would be it, and you would never fash again. But we live in a fallen world. You have to work daily at giving up the desire to take every problem on yourself. Every morning you need to wake up and lay your burdens at the Lord’s feet.”

“A backup plan doesn’t take too much faith…”

“There was no comfort. She drew in a deep breath. Yes, there was. The Lord was her comfort. His Word promised her that.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Highly recommended!

Blog Stops

Vicky Sluiter, January 19

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 20

Mary Hake, January 20

She Lives to Read, January 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 22

lakesidelivingsite, January 23

Lighthouse Academy Blog, January 23 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Betti Mace, January 24

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 25

Holly’s Book Corner, January 25

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 26 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 27

Britt Reads Fiction, January 28

Texas Book-aholic, January 29

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 30

Simple Harvest Reads, January 31 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, February 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Debbie is giving away the grand prize package of an apron kitchen set (as pictured), a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of my book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/297cf/bride-by-beguilement-celebration-tour-giveaway

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The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham Review and Giveaway

January 1, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Juliet Code

Author: Pepper Basham

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction

Release Date: December, 2023

Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley Finally Reach Their Honeymoon Destination Only to Encounter a New Mystery in Need of Solving

Frederick and Grace Percy finally make it to Italy to enjoy a delayed honeymoon and explore the beauties of the historic city of Venice. To their surprise, their friend, Detective Jack Miracle, is also in the city, investigating a series of art heists starting at the house of eccentric millionaire, Laraby Covington. Drawn into a world of boat races, mysterious houses, and parties of the rich and unusual in Venice, Frederick and Grace learn of the existence of the Juliet paintings, (Renaissance paintings feature Shakespeare’s tragic heroine) rumored to hold a secret code to an underground vault of similarly treasured artwork assumed lost over the centuries. As Freddie and Grace are pulled deeper into the mystery and their beloved Detective Jack disappears, can they use their wits and work as a team to find the thieves and Jack before it’s too late.

The Juliet Code is a Freddie and Grace Mystery, sequel to The Mistletoe Countess and The Cairo Curse.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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 Crossroadsand 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

The Ever After

I’ve always loved fairytales.

Especially the romanticized version (#romancewriter).

The wonderful sense of a two people meeting, overcoming obstacles to be together, and then the happily-ever-after?

Well, those are some of my favorite reasons to read and write fiction. However, I didn’t realize the challenge I took on when I agreed to write a second and third book with the main characters staying the same!

You know what I mean?

In most series, the main characters from book one become secondary characters in the consecutive books so that the secondary characters in book one can become the main characters in book 2 (everybody still following along? )

One of my favorite book series that do this so well is the Amelia Peabody series. I fell in LOVE with Amelia and Emerson in book one, but just loved watching their continued dynamic as a couple grow with each new book. I felt as if I got to know them so much better in their “ever after” while they engaged in all sorts of adventures together.

So…that’s what I hoped to accomplish with Freddie and Grace.

Where The Mistletoe Countess ends with a happily-ever-after, The Cairo Curse and The Juliet Code take over to show us more of the…ever after – my attempt at showing how two main characters continue to grow beyond the end of book one.

I didn’t realize what a daunting feat it would be. Watching two characters meet, fall in love, and show some growth in book 1 was what I was used to doing. But how was I supposed to continue that character growth in consecutive books?

Well, I had to grow myself as a writer to understand how small changes can make lasting differences especially when writing about a beloved couple.

I think The Juliet Code shows a little of that growth – of our Freddie and Grace have not only matured spiritually and, in Grace’s case, experientially, but also as a couple.

Do you have a series that you love where the main characters stay the same?

My Impressions

“Surely God knew exactly what He’d been doing when He bound Frederick to this darling woman in marriage, didn’t He? Was it some sort of cosmic trust exercise?”

Frederick Percy, Lord Astley, is slowly coming to the conclusion that his life as a newly married earl will involve much more adventure and sleuthing than he would have chosen. Lady Astley, Grace, is delighted to have their honeymoon turn into one murderous adventure after another, finding great exhilaration and satisfaction in the happenings.

Pepper Basham brings back one of my favorite fictional detective couples from the Mistletoe Countess and The Cairo Curse. It’s best to read the series in sequence to get the most enjoyment from this seemingly mismatched couple. Britain Freddy, hurt and lonely from his childhood, is the antithesis of American Grace, who is bookish, yet social, and impulsive. When the couple teams up with their detective friend Jack to find the missing Juliet paintings, confusion, and delusion, and danger abound.

Grace and Frederick communicate in sparkling repartée. Their conversation sizzles while remaining a clean read. As they learn more about each other, they learn how they complement each other and encourage each other to grow in their faith. Frederick encourages Grace with her fears, “And when you feel your courage is small, He is quite capable to lend you some of His.” Grace’s impetuosity will either cause Frederick to become overprotective of her, or learn to trust God.

I recommend this novel for those who appreciate historical romance, mystery , and humor intertwined with faith.

I received a copy of the book through Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own paperback for my keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“I know we haven’t the power to change the world, but we can start in our little corner where God places us. To help right wrongs. Bring about justice and mercy. Sprinkle joy where it’s needed.”

“It was quite delightful to think of herself as a character in God’s book instead of just a wandering character without an author or book at all. In fact, if He wrote her days and she was trying to love Him and others well, then she had all the reason in the world to live bravely, didn’t she?”

“God is the great wrong breaker…”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! This Freddie and Grace Mystery had me smiling, biting my fingernails, scratching my head, and growing in faith alongside the main characters.

Blog Stops

The Sacred Line, December 28

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 28

Bigreadersite, December 28

Texas Book-aholic, December 29

Devoted To Hope, December 29

Mary Hake, December 29

She Lives To Read, December 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 30

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, December 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 31

Blogging with Carol, December 31

For Him and My Family, December 31

Where Faith and Books Meet, January 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 1

Back Porch Reads, January 1

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 2

Life on Chickadee Lane, January 2

Connie’s History Classroom, January 2

Book Looks by Lisa, January 3

Aryn the Libraryan, January 3

Girls in White Dresses, January 3

Daysong Reflections, January 4

Holly’s Book Corner, January 4

Splashes of Joy, January 4

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 5 (Author Interview)

Wishful Endings, January 5

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, January 5

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, January 6

Blossoms and Blessings, January 6

Pause for Tales, January 6

Tell Tale Book reviews, January 7

Cover Lover Book Review, January 7

Live. Love. Read., January 7

Labor Not in Vain, January 8

Mornings at Character Cafe, January 8

Worthy2Read, January 8

All-of-a-kind Mom, January 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 9

The Lit Lady, January 9

Lily’s Corner, January 10

By The Book, January 10

To Everything There Is A Season, January 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon eGift card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/293d6/the-juliet-code-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Love Inspired Suspense, Purchase

Snowbound Escape by Dana Mentink Review and Giveaway

November 2, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Snowbound Escape

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Christian Fiction

Release Date: October 24, 2023

To rescue a witness…

this K-9 team must face a killer and a storm.

After months tracking a colleague falsely accused of a double homicide, officer Tanner Ford and his K-9 partner finally locate crime tech Mara Gilmore—but the real murderer is closing in. Now they must run into a frozen wilderness to survive. Evading the killer is the only way for Mara to clear her name. But will the harsh winter conditions cover their tracks…or bury them forever?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion. She’s written over fifty titles in the suspense, lighthearted romance and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Poisoned Pen Press. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)

More from Dana

What a challenge to write the eighth book in this fabulous Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit series! Writing a continuity (linked books with an overarching mystery) with seven other authors requires us to work closely together which is a rare blessing in this solitary business. There were so many good conversations, emails and texts that went into the construction of this series. Since wilderness escape novels are my favorite, it was great fun to write Tanner, Mara and Boxer Britta’s dramatic survival story. I hope you enjoy the book and the entire series as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you!

My Impressions

“She was exhausted from running, her body battered by cold and hunger, weakened by seven months of living as a fugitive. Not just a fugitive from the law, but on the run from the two predators stalking her since the moment she’d witnessed a double murder back in April.”

Snowbound Escape is a very fast-paced Christian romantic suspense novel about 24-year-old Mara Gilmore, a Pacific Northwest Canine Officer, who has been on the lam for seven months. Seven months of being totally alone, relying only on herself for survival, trying to stay one step ahead of the murderer who wants her dead for what she has witnessed.

Her teammate, Tanner Ford, who has come with his trained boxer K9, Britta, to rescue her, is hampered by the continual blizzard-like conditions and the wiliness and cunning of Eli, the killer. So many harrowing attempts on their lives. Will the weather finish them off before Eli does?

While Mara has severe trust issues, partly stemming from her upbringing, Tanner’s heart is frozen by more than the blizzard outside. Can the two work together under great duress without someone losing more than their life?

I liked how Mentink shows that God is working in Mara’s heart to become more open to those around her, and in Tanner’s as well. He is also working in a third heart very important to those two, to heal and restore.

Mentink has a humorous side, and some of that ekes out (just a little) in various places. One spot was deadly serious, and yet, oh, so funny, just in the way Mentink describes it. I should have been shaking, but I was rolling with laughter instead. I would need that bit of humor to carry me through all the dangers Mara and Tanner would face.

God, of course, is the most important help one can have when the chips are down. Mara and Tanner take turns edifying each other as needed. But next to God, bring in the dogs! Britta is a beautiful boxer who has already befriended Mara, has excellent tracking skills, and intelligence and loyalty like none other. She is a scene stealer, for sure! Be sure and grab your copy of this book to read in front of a warm fire with a hot drink and a canine or feline friend!

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, plus I bought my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“God has the final word. Wait on the Lord and He will give you courage and healing.”

“We’re commanded to love one another and when you don’t allow people to do that, you rob them of a blessing.”

“Sharing was messy and painful, like picking a wound that hadn’t fully scabbed over.”

“God would give him enough, moment by moment, perhaps, but it would be sufficient.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent

I can always count on a Mentink romantic suspense to be action-packed and engaging.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 31

The Avid Reader, November 1

Pause for Tales, November 1

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, November 1

Texas Book-aholic, November 2

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 2

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 3

Devoted to Hope, November 3

Bizwings Book Blog, November 3

She Lives to Read, November 4

Vicky Sluiter, November 4

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 5

Betti Mace, November 6

Pens Pages & Pulses, November 6

A Good Bok and Cup of Tea, November 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 7

Blogging With Carol, November 7

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 8

Simple Harvest Reads, November 8 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, November 9

EmpowerMoms, November 9

Wishful Endings, November 10

Blossoms and Blessings, November 10

Bigreadersite, November 11

Labor Not in Vain, November 11

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, November 12 (Author Interview)

Raining Butterfly Kisses, November 12

Lily’s Book Reviews, November 13

Holly’s Book Corner, November 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/28b29/snowbound-escape-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Love Inspired Suspense, Purchase

Mountain Abduction Rescue by Darlene Turner Review

July 9, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Mountain Abduction Rescue

Series: Crisis Rescue Team

Author: Darlene L Turner

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Releases: August 22, 2023

A wildfire threat…

becomes a missing person search.

A serial arsonist is out for revenge in the Canadian Rocky Mountains—and kidnaps park warden Hazel Hoyt’s son and his camping troop. Now Hazel must team up with the man who broke her heart, firefighter Mitchell Booth, to find the missing boys as wildfires blaze around them. But someone has no intention of letting the pair get off the mountain alive…

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Crisis Rescue Team

Book 1: Fatal Forensic Investigation
Book 2: Explosive Christmas Showdown
Book 3: Mountain Abduction Rescue
Book 4: Buried Grave Secrets

My Impressions

“ ‘God’s got this.’ Did He? It didn’t feel that way.”

Another great rescue story by Darlene L Turner! Why read Mountain Abduction Rescue?

First, The cover. This cover with a purple background, a pit, and a mountain lion at the mouth… Yikes!! Your heart will be beating in double time before you even start this romantic suspense book!

Secondly, Author Darlene Turner is known as “Turn a Page Turner” because of her constant, electrifying action. Terrified and helpless describes the feelings I had much of the time reading Mountain Abduction Rescue! A firebug is setting fires all over Micmore National Park, killing trees, wildlife, and people. But his sights are set on one particular, hapless family.

Thirdly, Familiar characters. With Micmore National Park (Alberta, CA) Warden Hazel Hoyt and

Wildfire Unit leader Mitchell “Boomer” Booth, we have characters we have previously met, whose carefully reconstructed lives are now unraveling. While Hazel chafes under the extreme gruffness of her father-boss, Mitchell deals with the loss of family relationships and a hostile boss.

Fourthly, Familiar situation. While there may not be serial firebugs and arsonists in the northern Rocky Mountains, few Canadians or Americans are untouched by the wildfires. I find that this story actually brings hope that the courageous firefighters battling the real-life blazes will be successful!

My heart was in my mouth as I waited to see if Hazel and Mitchell would be able to rescue her 8 yr-old-boy, Jackson, and his friends. Also, so much past to overcome both in family relationships and in romantic ties. Will there be a romance for Hazel and Mitchell? Will they survive to consider it? I saw part of the ending coming, but part took me by complete surprise.

While Frank, Hazel’s father, takes pride in training her and Jackson about survival, it isn’t his stern words that help her when she is desperate. It is the soft admonition of her mother: “Whenever your strength is gone, look to your Father. The One who holds you in the palm of His hands. He’ll provide endurance. Trust Him. Trust in yourself.”

I also loved that though Mitchell seems unable to turn to God, God uses him and his late mother’s faith nuggets to build up Hazel. “When you don’t know what to say, be silent. Just be present. Listen and pray for guidance.” Indeed, God’s Word does not return void!

I received a copy of the book from the author. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“In order to move forward in life, you need to look back at your troubles and deal with them. It’s then you will find peace.”

“I’m no expert on God, but I remember my mom saying once that sometimes we may not understand His silence, but He will answer. In His timing.” “But what if I don’t like the answer?” “Then He will give you the strength to endure the storm.”

“I’ve learned throughout the storms in life that God doesn’t give us more than we can handle. He’s right there with us in the thunder. We just need to look to the horizon.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent! I was very, very nervous by the time I finished this book! I didn’t have to imagine the Canadian wildfire smoke, either! ( We could see and smell the real thing!)

ARC, Barbour, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, PB, Purchase

Man of Shadow and Mist by Michelle Griep

May 31, 2023May 31, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Man of Shadow and Mist

Series: Of Monsters and Men, #2

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Romance

Release: May 2023

“The world seems full of good men—even if there are monsters in it.”
–Bram Stoker, Dracula

England, 1890

Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated. Librarian Rosa Edwards intends to drive a stake through the heart of such superstitions. But gossip flies when the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.

James hates everything about England. The weather. The rumours. The scorn. Yet he must stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he’s desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.

When Rosa sets out to prove the dark gossip about James is wrong, she discovers more questions than answers. How can she accept what she can’t explain—especially the strong allure of the enigmatic man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.

Can love prevail in a town filled with fear and doubt?

About the Author

My Impressions

“I am an outsider. I have always seen things differently, and it puts people on edge. Makes them nervous when their long-held beliefs are challenged.”

“How do I love thee? Let count the ways.” No, I am not talking about the relationship between the heroine, Rosa Edwards, and either of the possible love interests, Sir James Morgan or Albin Mallow. Rather, I speak of the wonder of the novel that is Man of Shadow and Mist by Michelle Griep. The spooky, inviting cover!! Spell-binding. Mesmerizing. Unpredictable. Full of true faith. Great Quotes. Masterful. Griep is a Wordsmith extraordinaire. ( ie: “A few more word grenades launched from Mallow and the situation would explode Miss Edwards’s reputation to shreds.” or

“Morgrave Manor was as pleasant as a cold slap to the cheek.” (Can’t you just feel that one?!! ) And so many other great visual word pictures I want to share but will save for you to discover!!

How can two solitary individuals fight ugly, local superstitions and rumors that villanize a rich, transplanted family? As evil happenings increase and coincide with either the appearance of Sir James Morgan or ill weather, gossip runs rampant and feelings get out of hand.

I loved that Rosa Edwards is brave enough to stand against public opinion and defend her new friend against ridiculous, unfounded claims. I also love to see that while her parents are eager to marry her off, she maintains a special connection and understanding with her father. This is not true in most books in the time of arranged marriages.

Sir James is tall, good looking, and underneath all his frightening demeanor, the kindest, most thoughtful, caring man I’d ever want to meet. With an amazing faith that doesn’t require God to answer prayers in his favor.

The parson and Mrs. Hawkins are both secondary characters whose influence is greatly needed and freely bestowed, without being judgmental. Will James and Rosa take their timely words to heart?

I love how Griep inserts Bram Stoker himself and his manuscript into the novel. Talk about an Easter egg. This has got to be a Fabergé! Each chapter begins with quote from Dracula by Bram Stoker.

I recommend this extraordinary novel for historical fiction lovers, faith quote lovers, possibly Jaime Jo Wright readers, and Dracula lovers.

I received complimentary copy from the author through Barbour Books, and also through Cekebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought a 3rd copy to give away. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Lady Dorina hails from Transylvania, the historical birthplace of such monsters.” Mrs. Edwards sniffed. “My family roots tie back to Ireland, sir, but that doesn’t make me a leprechaun.”

“If God wor so small tha’ thou could understan’ ‘im, ‘e would not be good enuff ta stand wi’ thou in all that ye face. Every one of us needs a God who is bigger than we credit, else ‘e ‘ood not be God.”

“Expect the good Lord ta give thou a glass o’ water when yer parched, ta grant thou rest when weary, ta gi’ miracles ‘n mercy ‘n a regular dose o’ comfort when thou needs. But the one thin’ thou shouldn’t expect—ever—is for ‘im ta show up lookin’ like thou might imagine.”

‘Tis the moment thou lets go of thy expectations tha’ God can fettle wi’ ye. ‘Til then, ye’ve not surrendered, thou see?”

“It’s not what goes into the body that makes one an infidel, but what comes out of the heart.”

“Ye can trust that God will grow each of His true children into His likeness in His own time and in His own way.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent!! I love how Griep can take the Gothic and make it thrilling, full of word candy, faith-filled, and logical as well!!

Giveaway

This first post of Man of Shadow and Mist is a personal giveaway. I am giving away one paperback copy of Man of Shadow and Mist. Unfortunately, this copy arrived with a crease in the cover. Leave your name and email if you want to be in the drawing, which I will conduct on Tuesday, June 6th. I will email the winner on June 7th.

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Publishers, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

Lost in Wonderland by Tabitha Bouldin Review and Giveaway

April 29, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Lost in Wonderland

Author: Tabitha Bouldin

Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk, Christian

Release date: March 14, 2023

If you make a deal with evil, be prepared for the consequences.

When a metal dragon kidnaps Alice, Hatter gathers the troops and charges off to rescue her. If only things were so uncomplicated. In the Ivory Kingdom, they find upheaval of the worst kind and all heading to civil war spearheaded by a man known as the Bandersnatch.

Turmoil and the terror of fighting against a giant wolf, the Bandersnatch is bad enough, but when the Ivory Queen’s secrets are exposed, Hatter and Alice face off in a battle of wills and points of view. How can Alice trust a woman who deceived them? Why can’t Hatter see the bigger picture? If they don’t reconcile their differences, more could be at risk than the Ivory Kingdom.

More questions than answers bombard them in their quest for truth and freedom for all. Who is stealing children? What dark secret overshadows the Ivory Kingdom? Can they avoid the Bandersnatch’s clutches? And most important of all, who can they trust?

Join forces with Alice, Hatter, old friends and new, and be prepared to discover that trust and risk are often two sides of the same coin in this next Beyond Wonderland novel.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Tabitha Bouldinis a student at Southern New Hampshire University, where she is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Creative Writing. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she works with critique groups and provides endorsements for other authors. Tabitha’s genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart. Tabitha spent ten years working as a Medical Assistant before God opened the door which allowed her to become a stay-at-home-homeschooling-mom and author.

More from Tabitha

Writing Lost in Wonderland was such a wonderful creative outlet for my imagination. After writing Madness in Wonderland, I knew I wasn’t ready to let these characters go. They were anxious for new challenges and new adventures that allowed them to explore more of the world they’d just freed.

Of course, new characters were a must, and Scarlett stepped right up to have her story told.

While Madness in Wonderland is an Alice in Wonderland and Frankenstein mashup, for Lost in Wonderland, I went with a Through the Looking Glass and Red Riding Hood mashup that gave a deeper well of storytelling for Wonderland and brought all sorts of new creatures into the mix.

Alice and Hatter face new obstacles in their journey, and Scarlett is not one to be left behind. Especially when he has her loyal guard Faolan by her side.

Prepare to set sail across a new Wonderland.

My Impressions

“What was she thinking to challenge this journey with her pitiful arsenal? She had one soldier and a headful of dreams.”

“In end, who will truly rule Wonderland?”

Lost in Wonderland by Tabitha Bouldin leaves me in wonder as I reflect how much I enjoyed this book so far out of my usual genre. Steampunk, fantasy, and Christian by category, this novel contains plenty of suspense. Loosely based on Through the Looking Glass and with a nod to Little Red Riding Hood, this second book in the Beyond Wonderland series brings all the feels. ( It is best read following its predecessor, Madness in Wonderland.)

I enjoyed the storyline, well-crafted by Bouldin around two different couples, Alice, (now Queen of Crimson Isle)and Hatter, as well as Scarlett, (daughter of Queen Ivory) and Faolan, Scarlett’s best friend.

Incredible metal monsters, characters and quotes from Through the Looking Glass, along with well-timed twists throughout, make this a compelling story. Bouldin’s descriptions caused me to freeze in the cold winter, see the formidable iron steam beasts, nearly cry for the children, plus get plenty motion sick! I loved that we see the need for the characters’ reliance not only on each other, but also on the Maker for help, guidance, and even realization of worth.

I really wanted an epilogue to this story. There were just a few small details I wanted to see clearly cleaned up just so. Truly an unforgettable story!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit, plus I bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Her mother sacrificed too much. A kingdom for one heart. A heart that broke with each passing second.”

“But this blasted cold threatened to send his teeth into chattering so hard they rattled straight out of his mouth and bounced away. “

“Our hearts are bigger than our kingdoms.”

“Be wary of dealing in absolutes.”

“…the Maker loved her with an abiding love that could fill every crack and crevice of her broken heart. “

“Impossible was, after all, just a word. And according to the old text, the Maker made all things possible.”

“…friends do not leave each other to battle alone. We go in together.”

“I always value your opinion. I might ignore everything you say, but I value that you’ll tell me the truth.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent!! I love Bouldin’s twisted steampunk tales about Alice in Wonderland! Fascinating ideas!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 30

Holly’s Book Corner, May 1

Library Lady, May 2

Back Porch Reads, May 2

Texas Book-aholic, May 3

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 4

By the Book , May 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 6

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 7

Sylvan Musings, May 7

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 8

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, May 8

Simple Harvest Reads, May 9 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Where Faith and Books Meet, May 10

For Him and My Family, May 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tabitha is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/25ae1/lost-in-wonderland-celebration-tour-giveaway

Bethany House, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, NetGalley

A Brighter Dawn by Leslie Gould Review and Giveaway

April 22, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: A Brighter Dawn

Author: Leslie Gould

Genre: Amish Romance

Release date: March 28, 2023

Ivy Zimmerman is successfully navigating her life as a young Mennonite woman, one generation removed from her parents’ Old Order Amish upbringing. But when her parents are killed in a tragic accident, Ivy’s way of life is upended. As she deals with her grief, her younger sisters’ needs, the relationship with her boyfriend, and her Dawdi and Mammi’s strict rules, Ivy finds solace in both an upcoming trip to Germany for an international Mennonite youth gathering and in her great-great-aunt’s story about Clare Simons, another young woman who visited Germany in the late 1930s.

As Ivy grows suspicious that her parents’ deaths weren’t, in fact, an accident, she gains courage from what she learns of Clare’s time in pre-World War II Germany. With the encouragement and inspiration of the women who have gone before her, Ivy seeks justice for her parents, her sisters, and herself.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Leslie Gould (www.lesliegould.com) is a Christy Award-winning and #1 bestselling author of over 35 novels, including four Lancaster County Amish series. She holds an MFA in creative writing and enjoys studying church history, research trips, and hiking in the Pacific Northwest. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, and are the parents of four adult children.

More from Leslie

The historical thread of my dual-time novel A Brighter Dawn is set in Nazi Germany from 1937 to 1939. During that period of time, Germany incorporated Austria, mandatory registration of all Jewish property began, and concentration camps opened. Then came the Night of Broken Glass—the anti-Jewish pogrom in Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland. Soon following was the German occupation of Czechoslovakia before the Nazis invaded Poland in September 1939.

My main character, Clare Simons, is a Mennonite young woman from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, who is staying with her uncle and cousins in Frankfurt, Germany. She doesn’t follow current events much and struggles to balance the Nazi propaganda her uncle and oldest cousin believe with the events unfolding around her. Slowly, she begins to see the truth behind the Nazi lies.

One thing that broke up the narrative of the heavy events I researched and wrote about? The food.

When I traveled in Germany with my husband (who had lived there during his Army service years ago), I marveled over the scenery, became engrossed in the history, and definitely enjoyed the food. My background is Swiss, so it wasn’t that the food was unfamiliar. It was just at a level I hadn’t experienced before!

As I researched what Clare would fix for meals, I pored through cookbooks. For added inspiration, hubby and I ate at German restaurants. Jägerschnitzel (seared pork with gravy). Rinderbraten (paprika and caraway spiced beef roasted in red wine gravy). Wienerschnitzel (breaded and fried pork loin with warm potato salad and a vegetable remoulade.)

I noted food in research books, documentaries, and films. The entrees became focal points in the stories, including rabbit stew, a Christmas goose, and Sauerbraten with Spätzle and red cabbage. So did the desserts, including trifle and Black Forest cake.

When I visited Germany with my hubby, one of the things I really loved was stopping in a café for Apfelkuchen (apple cake) and coffee in the afternoon. In one scene in A Brighter Dawn, when Clare and her cousin Lena stop for coffee, they order apple cake too. Then, in another scene, Clare bakes an apple cake for the family of the nearby Jewish grocer who will soon lose their property.

Below is a recipe for a simple and dense German apple cake (which may have originated in Poland and been influenced by a Jewish apple cake recipe).

The food in A Brighter Dawn doesn’t take away from the narrative, but it is a reminder that a nurturing soul, such as my character Clare, can stand against the lies of an evil regime.

German Apple Cake

Ingredients

1 cup salted butter, melted
2 eggs
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ½ to 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
5 cups apples—peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (to soften apple slices before baking, place in a microwavable dish with a lid and microwave them with a Tablespoon of water for 3–4 minutes)
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9×13 cake pan.
Beat butter and eggs with an electric mixer until creamy. Add sugar and vanilla; beat well.
Stir together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Slowly add flour mixture to egg mixture; mix until combined. The batter will be very thick. Fold in apples and walnuts by hand using a wooden spoon. Spread batter into the prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45–50 minutes. After 30 minutes, put a sheet of foil over the top of the cake to keep it from burning. Cool cake on a wire rack.

Possible Toppings

Before baking:

Crumble: ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup white sugar, ½ cup flour, 4–6 Tablespoons softened butter. Combine ingredients and evenly spread over the top of cake.

Butterscotch: Sprinkle a package of butterscotch chips over the top of the cake.

Almonds: Sprinkle almond slivers over the top of the cake.

After baking:

Dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Drizzle with caramel sauce.

Sprinkle with white sparkling sugar.

Top with whipped cream.

My Impressions

Leslie Gould has written a very compelling, yet for me, too political story about a young Mennonite woman, Ivy Zimmerman, and her family who live in Oregon. Following a family tragedy, Ivy and her sisters leave their beloved Gran and travel to stay with their estranged Amish grandparents on the other side, who live in PA. As the sisters travel back to PA with their Amish grandparents, they are accompanied by a great-aunt, who tells Ivy a story about another young woman. This woman, Clare, is a relative who visited Germany years ago, and stayed with a family of three sisters.

I enjoyed the dual timeline, even as it surprised me. I loved the historical timeline (narrated in third person)best, but the present-day story (told in first-person pov) is also interesting. I liked learning more about the Mennonites. I was surprised, as Clare is, at the difference in beliefs and practices of the American Mennonites vs. their European counterparts.

Gould wants to make sure the reader understands history and its importance today. While we aren’t responsible for the actions of others, the past can teach us. “But we have a responsibility to it—to caring for those affected by it, by never forgetting, and by doing all we can to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.”

I totally agree with that.

However, this was a difficult book for me to finish. For one thing, there are too many characters to keep them all straight. I also had some difficulty sorting out the which Mennonite group Gould is referring to in places. I felt as if the author had a ton of information she was excited to share, and didn’t pare it down enough for one book.

Gould heavily emphasizes the Ukrainian/Russian conflict before WWII. According to Gould, it’s very clear that the same events are now being repeated.

What I didn’t enjoy: Strong inferences made that being a Christian means you can only hold one political view. I hear that from both sides of the aisle, and it saddens me. Because we are human, we are imperfect, and our politics are imperfect. We will not all agree, but we should all be able to speak our minds respectfully, yet not insist that our way is the only way. Also, I read for enjoyment, not a rehashing of the conflict in the world around us. Realism is ok, but I expected this type of book to be more educational about WWII and the Mennonites, not the strong political statement I felt it became halfway through.

All in all, this is an interesting story, but very political and with too many threads in the tapestry.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“How did my grudges correlate with my will to survive? Not physically survive, but emotionally?”

“What was the difference between a grudge and a boundary?”

“I’d read once that if you flew west on a plane at one thousand miles an hour, you’d be continually in the dawn of one day for twenty-four hours. But I liked the idea. It gave me hope. A new day was always beginning, somewhere.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐

Good- but not a personal fave

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 23

Lakesidelivingsite, April 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 24

Cover Lover Book Review, April 25

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 26

Lighthouse Academy Blog, April 27 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Connie’s History Classroom, April 27

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 28

Vicky Sluiter, April 28

She Lives To Read, April 29

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 30 (Author Interview)

Christina’s Corner, April 30

Texas Book-aholic, May 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 2

Mornings at Character Cafe, May 2

Bigreadersite, May 3

Bliss, Books & Jewels, May 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 4

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, May 5

For Him and My Family, May 5

Splashes of Joy, May 6

Pause for Tales, May 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Leslie is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of A Brighter Dawn and one $15 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/258b9/a-brighter-dawn-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

Dreams of the Heart by Penny Zeller Review and Giveaway

April 11, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Dreams of the Heart

Author: Penny Zeller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: March 7, 2023

Sometimes the hardest battles take place in the heart.

Poverty and abuse at the hands of her drunkard father leaves Hannah Bane trapped and alone. Without hope, she prays for a miracle just on the off-chance God will hear her. Will the handsome new deputy, who seems to be watching her every move, be Hannah’s one chance to escape the only life she’s ever known?

For as long as he can remember, John Mark Eliason has wanted to be a deputy sheriff. When a job opens in the nearby town of Poplar Springs, he eagerly accepts, but finds his greatest mission won’t be tracking down criminals and bringing justice to the ruthless Wyoming town, but saving a beautiful young woman he barely knows.

Will an unexpected answer to a difficult situation show how love can endure—and even thrive—in an unconventional situation? Or will fear and uncertainty keep two hesitant hearts apart?

In the sequel to Forgotten Memories, author Penny Zeller weaves a tender tale of faith, romance, and humor in a memorable story that reminds us God hears every prayer and has a plan for every life.

Wyoming Sunrise Series
Prequel: Love’s New Beginnings (Lydie and Solomon’s story)
Book One: Forgotten Memories
Book Two: Dreams of the Heart
Book Three: When Love Comes (December 5, 2023)

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is a multi-published author of over a dozen books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.

When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.

Penny is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her website, http://www.pennyzeller.com, her blog, http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks. To subscribe to her monthly newsletter with book news and other fun morsels, please go to https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/262119/74964679867237940/share

More from Penny

A handsome deputy sheriff.

A woman in search of freedom.

An unconventional situation.

These three statements sum up the faith, tender romance, and plentiful humor found on the pages of Dreams of the Heart.

Some highlights during the writing of this book:

I conducted a lot of research on sheriffs because John Mark, one of the main characters, is a deputy sheriff in the small and lawless fictional town of Poplar Springs in 1894.

Many of us have heard of famous Old West lawmen such as the Earp brothers (Kansas, Texas, and Arizona), Doc Holliday (Arizona), and Pat Garrett (New Mexico). In my research, I also learned of a Wyoming Territorial sheriff named Christopher Castle who, with his deputies, noted the amount of money an outlaw had in his pocket when arrested. Later, when a fine was assessed, it was that exact amount.

A fun fact: some of the duties for Old West sheriffs included keeping the peace, collecting taxes, issuing liquor licenses, keeping the streets clear of dead animals, and cleaning up manure.

There is a brief Wild West shootout in Dreams of the Heart inspired by an historical Wyoming character’s experience.

John Mark carries a Colt Peacemaker revolver. While writing the book, I accidentally typed in “Colt Pacemaker”. Glad I caught it, although I’m sure it would have given my editors a laugh.

John Mark’s favorite cookie, the sugar cookie, is believed to have its origins in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and was named the “Nazareth cookie”. Enjoy the following recipe for the cookies mentioned in the book.

***

Lydie’s Sugar Cookies

Combine the following:

½ c. butter

1 c. sugar

1 egg

¼ c. milk

½ tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. baking powder

2 c. flour

Roll out on floured board with rolling pin and use cookie cutters.

Bake at 325° for 8-10 minutes.

My Impressions

“A fresh start was the dream of her heart …”

“If only God would hear her prayers like

He heard the prayers of others.”

Welcome to the lawless town of Poplar Springs, Wyoming, in 1894. Dreams of the Heart by Penny Zeller is our mode of transport to arrive there. By the time you leave, you will have gained some new friends, enjoyed many laughs, learned Scriptural wisdom, and maybe even had your heart broken and put back together.

Hannah Bane is a poor, but gentle, kind, young soul. Her father, however, is a cruel drunk who treats Hannah like property. He abuses her to the point she is afraid to try to leave.

John Mark Eliason, one of the sheriff’s deputies, notices Hannah and takes compassion on her. His attempt to help takes a decided turn for the bizarre before he can stop it. Will Hannah ever be able to trust John Mark, and does the deputy realize what he has committed himself to?

I liked that Zeller shows both main characters with areas that need growth, and both with solid strengths. Yet they must work together to be their best.

I wanted to cry for the conditions that both Hannah and Ambrose endured.

And, such serious topics need comic relief! Both Ambrose and Pritchard add vital substance to the story while bringing much-needed laughter. (Ambrose is so cute, you’ll want to squeeze the stuffing out of him, too!)

Solomon Eliason lives up to his name with his Biblical, practical wisdom. He and his wife’s approach to some issues their family face give me food for thought for my own struggles.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, plus I bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“sometimes desperation to help someone caused one to do absurd things.”

“But when God is the center of any relationship, whether it be a marriage or a friendship, it has the best chance of success.”