The Top 13 Books I Read in 2013!!!

 2013 is finally coming to a close at the stroke of midnight. Now since this is the end of 2013, I decided to do a Top 13 book list. Now this was a really hard list to create because I read so many incredible books this year. 44 books to be exact. I had quite a chore to chose only 13 book to put on this list. So I asked myself a few questions. "What book has stuck with me after I finished it?" "Which books have I constantly been recommending?" So without further adieu, here is my Top 13 of 2013!!!

     

                                                                                                                                             

So what books made it onto your favorites list? Let me know below in the comment section!! 

Have a Happy New Year and a great 2014!!!

A Miracle of Hope by Ruth Reid

A Miracle of Hope
Ruth Reid
Thomas Nelson
5 Stars!!!










                                                                 





                                                                        [About the Book]
 How far can God's mercy reach?

Lindie Wyse is pregnant out of wedlock and thinks an arranged marriage is the only way to preserve her future. Josiah Plank is certain he'll never love again, but he needs someone to care for his eight-year-old daughter, Hannah. The two take on their arrangement tentatively at first but soon realize they are each in for more than they imagined.

Lindie experiences a breakthrough with Hannah when she recognizes Hannah's special gifts, but a risky pregnancy and serious health issues threaten to demolish the foundation Josiah and Lindie are building. Will their growing love survive despite their struggles, or will their hearts become as cold as the northern winter?

                                                                                        [Review]

 Ruth Reid's "A Miracle of Hope was such a beautiful read. It is the first book in her Amish Wonders Series. It is a story of faith and unexpected love. Ruth uses every essential for a Christian Amish Romance and creates a world I had no trouble getting caught up in. When the novel was over I didn't want it to be the end. "A Miracle of Hope" is a story that now has a permanent place on my bookshelf and will read over and over again.

Facebook Author Page!

Hey guys! So I finally made a Writer/Author Facebook page. It's where you will get updates on my writing journey, where I am at on my Christian Romance novella, and of course all of my blog posts! I hope you guys come on over and give my page a LIKE!


In His Hands,

A.F. Washburn

Once A Day Country Faith Devotional Review

Once A Day Country Faith Devotional
Deborah Evans Price
Zondervan
Rating: 5 Stars!








                                                                     [About the Book]




Pour yourself a fresh, cold glass of sweet tea and ease into your favorite chair with a copy of the Once-A-Day Country Faith. You'll enjoy a front row seat to an intimate look at your favorite country stars as they discuss the personal significance of their favorite Bible passage. With contributions from 56 of today's top country artists, the Once-A-Day Country Faith includes the Bible passage that tops each of their charts as well as the reasons why this part of scripture is so valuable to them. After reading Country Faith, you'll be inspired to identify the Bible passage that's most meaningful to you. You'll also listen to your favorite country artists in a whole new way.












                                                                             [Review]



I really enjoyed this Once A Day Country Faith Devotional. It is completely filled with Biblical reflections and scriptures from today's leading Country music stars. This is one of my favorite devotionals I have read thus far. If your a Christian and happen to love Country music like myself, I would go pick up a copy of the Once A Day Country Faith Devotional.

Andi Unexpected Review

                                              Andi Unexpected
                                              Zonderkidz
                                              September 25, 2013
                                              4.5 Stars.








                                                                       




                                                                         


                                                                             
                                                                             [About the book]

Twelve-year-old Andora 'Andi' Boggs and her fourteen-year-old sister Bethany move to rural Ohio to live with their eccentric twenty-something aunt after the sudden death of their parents. While dealing with her grief, Andi discovers proof of another Andora Boggs in the family tree whose existence was hidden in a Depression-era trunk in the attic. With help from her new friend and neighbor, Colin Carter, Andi is determined to find out who this first Andora was and what happened to her.







                                                                                                          [Review]
I have not read a children's book in so long and I thought I would give it a shot. I first saw Andi Unexpected on Goodreads and the cover looked interesting and soon as I read the synopsis I knew this was a book that I would enjoy. Adventure and mystery entangled through out the book. It truly was a lovely read. I recommend it for tweens & teens, or any adults who enjoy a nice light children's story.

True Love Dates Review

                                                                Title: True Love Dates
                                                                 Publisher: Zondervan
                                                                  Rating: 5 STARS!



                                                                  [About the Book]

   In True Love Dates, Debra Fileta encourages singles not to 'kiss dating goodbye' but instead to experience a season of dating as a way to find real love. Through reading powerful, real-life stories (including the author's personal journey) and gaining insights from Fileta's experience as a professional counselor, readers will discover that it is possible to find true love through dating. Christians are looking for answers to finding true love. They are disillusioned with the church that has provided little practical application in the area of love and relationships. They've been bombarded by Christian books that shun dating, idolize courting, fixate on spirituality, and in the end offer little real relationship help. True Love Dates provides honest help for dating by guiding readers into vital relationship essentials for finding true love. Debra is a young, professional Christian counselor, and True Love Dates offers sound advice grounded in Christian spirituality. It delivers insight, direction, and counsel when it comes to entering the world of dating and learning to do it right the first time around. Drawing on the stories and struggles of hundreds of young men and women who have pursued finding true love, Fileta helps readers bypass unnecessary pain while focusing on the things that really matter in the world of dating.



                                                                                              [Review]
     This is probably the best Christian dating book I have read. It doesn't talk about wordly dating or does it push courting. True Love Dates is a happy medium and I think that is great. I, personally, do not want to date the way the world does, ya know jumping from one person to the next, but courting is not for me either. I definitely believe there is a middle ground and that is what the author did. And she has some great tips and excersises. I recommend True Love Dates. 

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!!!!

Hey ya'll! I have something to tell you. I have started a new blog titled, Women of His Word. It is a blog based on Proverbs 31:10-31 and I created it to encourage and help Christian women. So if your following me here, go and give me a follow on my new blog.

Click Women of His Word to see my first post and to follow me.

Title & Cover Reveal for my YA Christian Romance!

Hey all!! So a few weeks ago I got an idea to write a story that is a retelling or loosely based on one of my very favorite Disney movies.....The Little Mermaid. I am only in the brainstorming stage, then I'll start outlining, and finally I will start writing. I predict I'll probably start writing it during Camp NaNoWriMo next July. I am so very excited to see where this story goes. And here we go........



                                                                   





                                                                       DRUM ROLL...............

Well there you go......my WIP is called, "Sandcastles", and I absolutely adore this cover. I can not believe I made it. Thanks GIMP 2!! Thanks for hanging out with me and reading this post. I'll share more soon.

Alyssa Faith ♥

Love's Refuge Blog Tour

                                                                Love's Refuge


       Hey ya'll!! If you have been here before, Welcome back! If your new and never been here before, Hey there and welcome. Today I'm here to tell you about a new literary release, Love's Refuge by Sandra Leesmith.

[About the Book]

Skye Larsen loves her peaceful life on Leeza Island in Puget Sound – the tranquility, the friendly neighbors, and especially the safety from big-city dangers. So when cruel pranks start to escalate and changes threaten to overtake the island, Skye is determined to fight for her haven. The presence of a handsome vacationer and the unexpected feelings he awakens can’t distract her from her goal.

Danny Fraser doesn’t realize how desperately he needs a rest until he meets Skye. By allowing him to glimpse her simple way of life, she helps him reorient his priorities – and steals his heart in the process. But his work and home in Seattle keep Skye at bay.

An isolated island girl with painful memories. A dedicated city boy with a wild past. What will it cost for them both to find a refuge from their storms?

[About the Author]

Sandra Leesmith loves to travel in her RV and explore all of nature’s beauty, discover America’s history, and fellowship with the wonderful people she meets while on the road. She enjoys reading, writing, hiking, swimming, and pickleball. Learn more about Sandra and her books at www.sandraleesmith.com.

Sandra's Facebook.

Sandra's Twitter.

Sandra's Goodreads.

Sandra's blog Seekerville.

Purchase the book HERE.

Enter in the Rafflecopter HERE.

Captives Review

                                                                         [About the Book]

One choice could destroy them all.

When eighteen-year-old Levi returned from Denver City with his latest scavenged finds, he never imagined he’d find his village of Glenrock decimated, loved ones killed, and many—including his fiancée, Jem—taken captive. Now alone, Levi is determined to rescue what remains of his people, even if it means entering the Safe Lands, a walled city that seems anything but safe.

Omar knows he betrayed his brother by sending him away, but helping the enforcers was necessary. Living off the land and clinging to an outdated religion holds his village back. The Safe Lands has protected people since the plague decimated the world generations ago … and its rulers have promised power and wealth beyond Omar’s dreams.

Meanwhile, their brother Mason has been granted a position inside the Safe Lands, and may be able to use his captivity to save not only the people of his village, but also possibly find a cure for the virus that threatens everyone within the Safe Lands’ walls. Will Mason uncover the truth hidden behind the Safe Lands’ façade before it’s too late?



                                                                                                           [Review]
OH MY GOSH!!!!! Where has this book been all my life!!! Captives is on my list of BEST books of 2013!! If you like dystopian and action adventure this is a book you need to get a copy of. :)

Clear Winter Nights Review

Synopsis:
Searching for Real Faith - or No Faith at All

What happens when a young Christian dealing with disillusionment and doubt spends a weekend with an elderly, retired pastor? They talk. And no subject is off limits. Clear Winter Nights is a stirring story about faith, forgiveness, and the distinctiveness of Christianity. Through a powerful narrative and engaging dialogue, Trevin Wax shows the relevance of unchanging truth in an ever-changing world.

Quotes from Clear Winter Nights:

“Truth is not a formula… Truth is a Person.”

“No Christian who truly understands grace can feel superior to anyone else. Grace shatters any sense of superiority.”

“A Christian is not defined by the sins of the past or the struggles of the present but by the vision of the future.”

“The world says, ‘Be true to yourself.’ King Jesus says, ‘Be true to your future self.’”

“The true rebellion is in the heart of the Christian who follows King Jesus by swimming upstream against the current of the world.”

“Don’t trust in your strength, because there is such a thing as pride. Don’t despair in your weakness, because there is such a thing as forgiveness.”

“Authenticity isn’t accepting your sins. It’s admitting your sins and then being true to the person King Jesus has declared you to be.”

When his life comes apart, will the center hold?

Chris Walker has everything. A career, a beautiful fiancée, a promising ministry opportunity, and a faith instilled in him from a young age. But when a revelation about his family comes to light at his grandmother’s funeral, Chris finds himself facing questions he didn’t even know he had about…well, everything.

Fighting a battle within and without from those that don’t understand his sudden doubts, Chris seeks refuge in a weekend with his grandfather to ask the tough questions and sort through the issues where faith meets life and disillusionment collides with truth.

For those searching for the historic Christian faith that is relevant to life today, or for those who believe that a completely new faith is called for, this stirring tale is a deep and powerful exploration of what being Christian has meant and still means today.


Review:
Meh. Did not really get in to this book. I had to force myself to finish it.

Aquifer Review

                                        Aquifer
                                       3.5 stars
                                   Thomas Nelson
                                          2013












                                                            [About]

Only he can bring what they need to survive...

In 2250, water is scarce, and those who control it control everything. And they’ll do anything to maintain their power – deceiving, dividing families, banning love... even killing those who oppose them.

But above all, they seek to control knowledge and communication – ensuring the truth that will bring their downfall will never be known. But one person verges on discovering it all.

Sixteen-year-old Luca becomes the Deliverer, the only one allowed to contact the people called ‘Water Rats,’ who mine the essential water deep underground and bring it to the ‘Toppers’ who desperately need it above. 

But when he meets a Water Rat who captures his heart and leads him to secrets – secrets about a vast conspiracy, and about himself – the net around him tightens. Luca and those around him must uncover and share the truth needed to overthrow tyranny – even as they fight for their lives.


                                                                              [Review]

 I liked most of this book, in fact it was a good read. But the lingo made it hard to read and get in to sometimes. If it did not have that new lingo I know I would have liked it more. i do, however, recommend this to pre-teen/teens who like dystopian literature.

So I Have Something to Say.......

I have posted this announcement on a few of the Writer Facebook Groups I am a part of, but I have yet to write up or type up actually that I dropped out of NaNoWriMo last Friday. I decided I was having a lack of inspiration for that particular story and I have also decided to set that story aside...for now. But not long after I made this decision I got another book idea. (Thank You Jesus!!!) My new story is a Fantasy re-telling of....... And that is all I am saying for now. So lets see where this story goes......

X Factor-Motown Week

Last night X Factor took on the stylings of Motown.Now, I became very excited because I am a huge Motown fan. But some of the performers I expected to do very well did not do it for me. Like Carlos for example, he has that jazzy, motown like growl in his voice yet it was completely smoothed out and I did not hear even once. What is his mentor doing??!! How about after Lillie sang her song and Demi called her old fashioned and outdated....ummm...HELLO it is Motown week of course it sounds old fashioned. They are old songs. Ughh. Next was when they brought back Josh Levi as a wildcard. He by no chance should have been brought back. Compared to others who were eliminated there was some much better choices, like Danie Geimer. And of course what would this season of X Factor be without some one, like Demi, to once again put down and criticize Tim Olestad. This is what really drove me crazy. I am pretty upset with how they, especially Demi, is treating Tim Olestad. She and the others, not Simon I mind you, from the very beginning made their decision about Tim before he ever even sang a note. They don't like what he is singing or doing, but the overtly-sexualized 15 year old Ellona is praised and cheered on every time. Hmmm...seems like some of the judges are trying to add to the purposeful dumbing down of the music industry. And get those dancers off the stage....this is a singing competition. And some how there was a "glitch" in the voting arena so all the contestants time was wasted last night and they all have to perform again tonight.

So there is a summary of most of what went on last night on the X Factor USA!

Until Next Time....
Alyssa Faith

Dear Mr. Knightley

                               Rating: 5 STARS!!!












[Synopsis]
Dear Mr. Knightley is a contemporary epistolary novel with a delightful dash of Jane Austen.

Samantha Moore survived years of darkness in the foster care system by hiding behind her favorite characters in literature, even adopting their very words. Her fictional friends give her an identity, albeit a borrowed one. But most importantly, they protect her from revealing her true self and encountering more pain.

After college, Samantha receives an extraordinary opportunity. The anonymous “Mr. Knightley” offers her a full scholarship to earn her graduate degree at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. The sole condition is that Sam write to Mr. Knightley regularly to keep him apprised of her progress.

As Sam’s true identity begins to reveal itself through her letters, her heart begins to soften to those around her—a damaged teenager and fellow inhabitant of Grace House, her classmates at Medill, and, most powerfully, successful novelist Alex Powell. But just as Sam finally begins to trust, she learns that Alex has secrets of his own—secrets that, for better or for worse, make it impossible for Sam to hide behind either her characters or her letters.

[Review]
I have nothing to say other than, WOW!!! Dear Mr. Knightley is Katherine Reay's debut novel, yet it does not read like one. If you are a Jane Austen fan than I tell you to go and pick up a copy of Dear Mr. Knightley right now!!

NaNoWriMo Day 6 & Yet Another Quote from "A Melody of Love and Murder"

                                                   

It is NaNoWriMo Day 6 and at the end of today you should have written 10k words or more. Today I finished with a total of 10,174 words. Yay for needing full song lyrics and Bible verses in my story. And just another reminder that NaNoWriMo is about quantity NOT quality! Write as much as you can so you can reach the 50k goal for the month, and then in December or January you can start the editing process. You can even find people who will edit your novel, but for a price, so take that in to consideration. But most importantly about this month....HAVE FUN!!!!!




And I have another quote from my NaNo novel, "A Melody of Love and Murder."

Beau gets off the couch and kneels in front of me. He reaches in to his pocket and pulls out a blue velvet box. He opens it and I see the most gorgeous engagement ring. It is a simple and dainty silver band with a modest sparkley diamond in the setting. Oh my gosh...Beau are you serious!? Scarlet Evelyn Comfort, I have been in love with you since the very day I met you when you first came to this town. I do not want to lose you again. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and only you. Scarlet, will you be my wife? Yes Beau! Yes, yes, yes! I will marry you! 

Happy NaNoing!

Alyssa Faith ♥

NaNoWriMo Day 5 & another quote from "A Melody of Love And Murder"

Hey guys...again! It is Day 5 of NaNoWriMo and I have only written 5857 words total. I am still about 2000 words behind, but what I am writing I am really in love with. Just a reminder to everyone participating, JUST WRITE!!! It may be some really terrible writing but WRITE! In NaNoWriMo it is about quantity, not quality. WRITE!! WRITE!! WRITE!!

For now I leave you with another quote from "A Melody of Love And Murder" (my 2013 NaNo novel).
This one ties with the other!

"Let's get you inside the truck and warm up before we have to get back out in this weather again. That sounds good to me. But what sounds even better is if we walk back and you hold me the whole time. Beau comes right up to my face and leans in to me. He cradles my face and smashes his lips in to mine. I am under his spell and I wish not to come out of it. Beau pulls away and then just smiles at me. A kiss for the ages. A kiss I will forever remember even when I am old, frail, and losing my mind. I will always remember."



Happy NaNoing!
Alyssa Faith ♥

A Quote from "A Melody of Love and Murder"

It is Day 4 of NaNoWriMo and I have written 4,084 words total, so far. I am about 2,000 words behind because on Saturday I went on a day trip and so I wrote 0 words that day. Well, today is not over and I plan to hop back on later tonight when I have less distractions. So, hopefully, I will have those 2,000 words on the page by midnight tonight. For fun here is my favorite part of my novel so far:

"Coloma, I still can't believe I am almost there. Almost back to a life I left behind. Almost back to a man I left behind. Beau Weston, even after all these years when I say his name my heart still skips a beat. I can smell his cologne and feel his arms wrapped around me. The spark when his soft lips touch mine."

And for everybody who is NaNoing here is something that a good friend of mine, Shannon, tweeted to me today while I was struggling to make my daily word goal. I hope it helps you too. Oh, and I did make my word goal today, I even went over it! Yay!

Happy NaNoing!

Alyssa Faith ♥

Summer Promise by Robin Jones Gunn Review

From a Wisconsin farm to a California beach, from a measly allowance to unlimited shopping sprees, from an uncomplicated life to a highly sophisticated one. These are the head-spinning changes that lead to Christy Miller's...

                                   Rating: 3.5 stars!                    














                                                          Summer Promise

As 14-year-old Christy leaves her family's Wisconisn farm to spend the summer at her wealthy aunt and uncle's beach home in Newport, she realizes this could be the best season of her life. She's full of hope that surfer Todd will like her; the beach crowd will accept her; and she can become like her gorgeous new friend, Alissa.

But the summer doesn't unfold as Christy hoped; she discovers this season also holds heartache. Todd wavers between Christy and another girl; 16-year-old Shawn dies in a drug-related surfing accident-and the police want to know how Christy was involved; Alissa discloses that her sophistication hides a painful past.

Through it all, will Christy keep her promise to her parents not to do anything she'll regret? Or will she do anything to get Todd, to be accepted, to force her summer to give her everything it promised?

Review:
Not much to say but it is a nice novel. It is not my favorite by any means but I do recommend it for young tween/teen girls.

A Melody of Love and Murder Cover Reveal & Casting fun!!!

                 First things first, here is the cover I decided on for "A Melody of Love and Murder."

                                                                           Synopsis:
What happens when a young woman goes home and chaos ensues? Find out in "A Melody of Love and Murder".


Scarlet Comfort is a successful Southern Gospel singer. She has been traveling all over the world since she was discovered 8 years ago at her high school talent show. One day she gets a call from her Nana Rose. Rose tells her she needs Scarlet to come home as soon as possible. While Scarlet is home she runs into Beau Weston, her old boyfriend. Scarlet believes they are just too different, Beau is a simple country boy and Scarlet has become accustomed to city living and traveling. But, not long after Scarlet arrives weird things start happening. Then murder comes to town. While trying to figure out their feelings for each other, Scarlet and Beau must find out what is going on. But, Scarlet needs to watch her back. The killer is coming for her next, and she must discover who is creating all the chaos....before it's too late.


Now let's have some casting fun. These photos are inspirations for my characters and people I would want to play my characters if my story actually became a feature film. (That would be cool, huh!)

Help Needed!!!!

Okay ya'll, I need some help deciding which cover to go with for my NaNo novel, "A Melody of Love and Murder." So comment below which you like the best.

Option #1

       

Option #2

Dawn of Christmas by Cindy Woodsmall Review

Synopsis:
This Christmas, experience learning to trust alongside the Plain folk of Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania in this heart-warming tale of second chances.

Sadie enjoys her freedom away from home and her mission trips to Peru, but after four years, her Old Order Amish family insists it’s time to come home and settle down. Levi, a bachelor who distrusts women after a family heartbreak, also has no desire for romance. To keep their families from meddling in their lives, Sadie and Levi devise a plan—but soon discover that the walls around their hearts are breaking down. Can they let go of their prejudices, learn to trust each other, and embrace a future together?

Review: 5 Stars!
Oh my gosh! This book was so good! A cute romance set in the Amish country during Christmas time! Three of my favorite things all in one novel! If you like any of these three things I really suggest you go pick up this novel!

New Billy Graham Book Review!!

From America's evangelistic elder statesman

Salvation is what we all long for, when we are lost or in danger or have made a mess of our lives. And salvation belongs to us, when we reach out for the only One who can rescue us--Jesus.

The saving message of the Gospel is the heartbeat of this preacher and evangelist. Millions around the world have heard Billy Graham proclaim this unchanging truth. He has never forgotten the transformation of his own life, when he first said yes to God's gift of salvation, and he has witnessed multitudes turn their hearts to the God of Hope.

"The Reason for My Hope: Salvation "presents the essence of that transformative message. It is biblical and timeless, and though simple and direct, it is far from easy. There are hard words, prophetic words, directed toward a culture that denies the reality of sin and distracts us from the veracity of Hell. But through its ominous warnings shines a light that cannot be extinguished--a beacon of hope that Jesus came "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

Review:
If you get any book written by Billy Graham, this is the book to get. I think this is the best book Billy has written to date. You want to be uplifted, inspired, and be filled with hope. Read this book! You won't regret it!

Another Novel Update & NaNoWriMo!!!

      Hey guys, I'm baaaaccckkkkkk!!! Sorry for being gone for a little while, I've been quite busy planning and plotting for NaNoWriMo next month. That's right, I am writing 50,000 words in thirty days. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I hope I can make the goal. And for fun, since I've already posted the synopsis on my NaNoWriMo profile, I'll post my synopsis here. It's pretty short, but it will get longer once the novel is written. So......here it is!!

Synopsis for Untitled Novel:

(Christian/ Inspirational Romantic Suspense)
Scarlet Comfort is a successful Southern Gospel singer. She has been traveling all over the world since she was discovered 8 years ago at her high school talent show. One day she gets a call from her Nana Rose. Rose tells her she needs Scarlet to come home as soon as possible. While Scarlet is home she runs into Beau Weston, her old boyfriend. Scarlet believes they are just too different, Beau is a simple country boy and Scarlet has become accustomed to city living and traveling. But, not long after Scarlet arrives weird things start happening. Then murder comes to town. While trying to figure out their feelings for each other, Scarlet and Beau must find out what is going on. But, Scarlet needs to watch her back. The killer is coming for her next, and she must discover who is creating all the chaos....before it's too late.

P.S. I'm still trying to tie down a title. So if you have any ideas, please leave a comment.

Forever Friday by Timothy Lewis Review

                         Forever Friday by Timothy Lewis
                         Rating: 2.5 Stars!


















Goodreads Synopsis:
Ideal for readers of Nicholas Sparks, Forever Friday is the heartwarming and captivating tale of an unlikely couple, a weekly gift of devotion, and a heartbroken man longing to discover the secret to lasting marriage.

After a devastating divorce leaves Adam Colby heartbroken, he is not sure how he can put the pieces of his life back together. He wonders if even God can make sense of the mess that remains-until a package of mysterious postcards that direct Adam to the story of Gabe and Huck Alexander. Drawn by her desire to find a true soulmate, Pearl "Huck" Huckabee breaks a turbulent engagement with her fiancé to marry Gabe Alexander, a man she's known just a few short weeks. Wanting to celebrate and protect their love, Gabe mails her a meaningful postcard every week-beginning in 1926-for the next sixty years. Designed to arrive on Fridays, each postcard not only contains an original poem, but holds precious truths, the sum of which answer the universal question: what makes a marriage last? As Adam begins to uncover the Alexanders' secret, he records Gabe and Huck's extraordinary romance. It's a process that will change his life forever.

Review:
This wasn't my favorite novel. It was okay, but not great. There are plenty other romance novels out there in the Christian market that are better. Another thing I did NOT like was there was one curse word. I did not appreciate that whatsoever. Reading a Christian novel, I shouldn't be worried that I'll come across foul language. I was pretty disappointed. I wouldn't recommend this to others.

Prairie Song Review

The first step in a challenging journey is often the one that means the most.

Though it means saying goodbye to the beloved friends and spiritual mentors of her St. Charles, Missouri quilting circle, Anna Goben is certain that she needs to enlist her family in the Boones Lick Company wagon train. The loss of her beloved brother in the Civil War has paralyzed her mother and grandfather in a malaise of grief and depression and Anna is convinced that only a fresh start in the Promised Land of California can bring her family back to her. Although the unknown perils of the trail west loom, Anna’s commitment to caring for her loved ones leaves no room for fear—or even loving someone new.

During the five-month journey, trail hand Caleb Reger plans to keep a low profile as he watches over the band of travelers. Guarding secrets about his past and avoiding God’s calling on his life, Caleb wants to steer as far from Anna as she does him, but she proves to be just as he assessed her from the beginning— independent, beautiful trouble.

Led by a pillar of hope, the group faces rough terrain that begins to take a toll on their spirits. Will the wilderness of suffering lead them astray, or will the gentle song of love that echoes across the prairie turn their hearts toward God’s grace and the promise of a new home?

Review:
This novel tells the story of the hardships people went through in this time period, and the things that helped them through it all. A sweet romance intertwined through out the story was wonderful. This is a must read.

Fatal Tide Review

                                                      5 Stars!!








                                                                                      




                                                                                    [About the Book]

Dani and Tommy discover that the vicious killings in East Salem were merely the birth pangs of a greater evil about to be born.
Occultist leaders at Saint Adrian’s school are in league with an East Salem pharmaceutical company. Together they’ve developed a drug that acts as a time-bomb in children, attacking and killing the prefrontal cortex—the moral center of the brain—once adolescence begins.
East Salem residents Dani Harris, forensic psychiatrist, and Tommy Gunderson, former pro-football player, have discovered the plan to deliver this drug into the water system and will stop at nothing to halt it. Their secret weapon? Reese Stratton, a student who barely escaped from St. Adrian’s—without his twin brother.
Now demonic creatures are terrorizing East Salem under the cover of darkness. Having killed two residents, the beasts have surrounded Tommy’s hillside home. But their deadly attacks seem to have been just a prelude to greater disaster: during a physical battle between angels and demons, a dam breaks, flooding the town of East Salem, but also washing it clean.

                                                                                             [Review]

Best book in the East Salem Trilogy! Dani and Tommy's story comes to an end in Fatal Tide! If you like suspense, romance, and supernatural warfare, grab you self copies of the entire East Salem Trilogy today!

Burning Sky By Lori Benton Review

                                                         

                                                         


                                                              [About the Book]

“I remember the borders of our land, though I have been gone from them nearly half the moons of my life. But who there will remember me? What I have seen, what I have done, it has changed me.

I am the place where two rivers meet, silted with upheaval and loss.

Yet memory of our land is a clear stream. I shall know it as a mother knows the faces of her children. It may be I will find me there.“

Abducted by Mohawk Indians at fourteen and renamed Burning Sky, Willa Obenchain is driven to return to her family’s New York frontier homestead after many years building a life with the People. At the boundary of her father’s property, Willa discovers a wounded Scotsman lying in her path. Feeling obliged to nurse his injuries, the two quickly find much has changed during her twelve-year absence—her childhood home is in disrepair, her missing parents are rumored to be Tories, and the young Richard Waring she once admired is now grown into a man twisted by the horrors of war and claiming ownership of the Obenchain land.

When her Mohawk brother arrives and questions her place in the white world, the cultural divide blurs Willa’s vision. Can she follow Tames-His-Horse back to the People now that she is no longer Burning Sky? And what about Neil MacGregor, the kind and loyal botanist who does not fit into in her plan for a solitary life, yet is now helping her revive her farm? In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, strong feelings against “savages” abound in the nearby village of Shiloh, leaving Willa’s safety unsure.

Willa is a woman caught between two worlds. As tensions rise, challenging her shielded heart, the woman called Burning Sky must find a new courage--the courage to again risk embracing the blessings the Almighty wants to bestow. Is she brave enough to love again?

Review:
Burning Sky was such a beautiful novel about a a woman, Willa, caught between two different worlds. If you like Historical novels and Romance novels than you NEED to pick up Burning Sky!

Novel Update!!!

         Finally, I have worked out my novels plot, kinks and everything. I am really happy with how it's turned out. It is a Christian Romantic Suspense novel. I want to introduce you to my leading lady and leading man. My untitled novel is the story of Ariel Comfort and Beau Weston. I'll introduce you guys to them in more detail soon and fill you in on what inspired their names. I will also, on a later date, post pictures of the inspirations for my characters. (That will be fun.) For now, I need to get words on the page and come up with a title, so I can quit calling it "my novel" & "untitled novel"! Talk to you guys soon! :)

Born of Persuasion Review

Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta                                       Published by Tyndale

Rating: 4 Stars!

                                                          

                                                               

                                                                    [About the Book]

The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.

With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.

                                                                                 [Review]

This is going to be a quick and very short review. I loved the romance, mystery, and how the book was written. If you love to read Jane Austen, this is a book you should pick up.

Love's Refuge Cover Reveal

     “Love’s Refuge will be released November 2013. Visit Seasons of Humility that month for more information about the book’s release and the blog tour.”  





                                                         Drum roll please..........



                       

Isn't it just GORGEOUS!!! Lena did such an amazing job on this cover! I  don't know about you but if I love a book cover I am more inclined to pick it up and read it! And I can not wait to read Love's Refuge.

[About the Author]

Sandra Leesmith loves to travel in her RV and explore all of nature’s beauty, discover America’s history, and fellowship with the wonderful people she meets while on the road. She enjoys reading, writing, hiking, swimming, and pickleball. Learn more about Sandra and her books HERE!!!! 

[About the Cover Designer]

Lena lives in a scenic small town in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled Black Lab. She writes fiction for young adults, mostly light fantasy with a healthy dose of "sigh-worthy" romance. You can visit her online HERE!! 

                                     

Title: What Once Was Lost
Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer
Publisher: Multnomah
Release Date: September 17, 2013
Rating: 5 Stars!










                                                            [About the Book]

A woman meant to serve, a child in the dark, a man standing apart—can these three souls embrace a God with new plans for them?

On a small Kansas farm, Christina Willems lovingly shepherds a group of poor and displaced individuals who count on her leadership and have come to see the Brambleville Asylum for the Poor as their home. But when a fire breaks out in the kitchen leaving the house inhabitable, she must scramble to find shelter for all in her care, scattering her dear “family.”

With no other options, Christina is forced to approach Levi Jonnson, a reclusive mill owner, to take in a young blind boy named Tommy Kilgore. Levi agrees with reluctance but finds himself surprised by the bond that quickly grows between him and Tommy. As obstacles to repairing the farm pile up against Christina, she begins to question her leadership ability and wonders if she can fulfill the mission to which she's dedicated her life. And when an old adversary challenges Christina, will she find an unlikely ally—or more—in the aloof Levi? Can Levi reconcile with the rejection that led to his hermit-like existence and open his heart and life to something more, especially a relationship with a loving God?

                                                               [My Review]

Kim has done it! What Once Was Lost was such a joy to read! I read it in just only 2 sittings, it was that good. I loved the romance, it was my favorite part of the entire book. If you like romance and historical get this book!