Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Top 10: Carman Music Videos











If your like me and you grew up in church in the 90's then I am sure you listened to Christian music artist, Carman. I know I did. Still to this day I sometimes go back and watch these videos and listen to these songs. So today I'm counting down my top 10 favourite Carman music videos.



10. Mission 3:16


Not my favourite song or video so it takes the lowest spot at number 10.



9. The Champion








8. R.I.O.T









7. Lazarus Come Forth









6. No Monsters








5. Sunday School Rock









4. Revival in the Land








3. Witch's Invitation









2. Great God









1. America Again








What's your favourite Carman music video? Did I leave it out? Hit me up in the comments!




Tuesday, August 25, 2015

REVIEW: Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin











{About the Book}

It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. Back on shore, Boston Navy Yard secretary Mary Stirling does her work quietly and efficiently, happy to be out of the limelight. Yet, despite her reserved nature, she never could back down from a challenge. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges--and dangers--await them. 














{My Review}

4 stars.

In 1941 the US is on the brink of joining the WWII effort.Naval Officer escorts British convoys and Mary Stirling is a quiet Naval Yard Secretary. But soon enough it is discovered that the USS Atwood has been sabotaged and Jim and Mary work together to find out who can be so bold. And while looking for the culprit they also begin to discover that their falling for each other.

Through Waters Deep is probably my favourite Sundin work yet. Sarah gave me exactly what I wanted and was hoping for in this novel. The writing was almost flawless, and the romance was a big part of the story and didn't seem to be an after thought. If your a fan of Historical romance I would recommend you pick up this book.

Monday, August 24, 2015

COVER REVEAL: The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan













{About the Book}


In 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends perfect their sleuthing skills and find a murderer.

Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city's underbelly, where the high hopes of those dreaming to make a new life in Canada are met with prejudice and squalor.

While searching for answers, donning disguises, and sneaking around where no proper ladies would ever go, they pair with Jasper Forth, a police constable, and Ray DeLuca, a reporter in whom Jem takes a more than professional interest. Merinda could well be Toronto's premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever--if they can stay alive long enough to do so.
 






{About the Author}




Rachel McMillan is a keen history enthusiast and a lifelong bibliophile. When not writing or reading, she can most often be found drinking tea and watching British miniseries. Rachel lives in bustling Toronto, where she works in educational publishing and pursues her passion for art, literature, music, and theater.



Rachel's Social Media:

Website         Facebook          Twitter

Sunday, August 23, 2015

COVER REVEAL: Dominion by Brian McBride














{About the Book}

War is Coming.

As scattered enemy insurgents - remnants of the Dark Prince's army - plague the countryside of Aellya, an ancient Darkness is stirred from its slumber by a curse cast long before the dawn of Man, Elf, and Dwarfkind.
David feels the weight of leadership as he is forced to decide where his loyalties lie.
Alicia is plagued by hellish dreams of fire and blood.
For her friends and her people Hannah pushes aside her pain on a quest for true healing, but her destiny is not yet written in the stars.
New and unexpected feelings begin to blossom in Jake's heart, but his fear of the past may well stand in the way of his future.

Will the young rulers find themselves in time to bring the Light to Aellya once again?
 





{About the Author}


Brian McBride lives for adventure. Whether it can be found in the pages of a book, city streets, or serving as youth pastor in his local church, he constantly seeks out his next big adventure.

He spends his time blogging, reading, writing, painting, composing music, taking pictures, and counseling teens. With every story he aims to excite, challenge, and embark the reader on a remarkable journey alongside real characters who face real problems.

He likes dogs, iced tea, and his Chinese Fighting Fish Stefan.

Brian's Social Media:





Sunday, August 16, 2015

REVIEW: Autumn Brides by Various








REVIEW: Autumn Brides by Various




{About the Book}


Happily ever after begins today. The honor of your presence is requested at three autumn weddings.…



A September Bride by Kathryn Springer



When Annie moves to Red Leaf, she’s ready to call the little town home. Deputy Jesse Kent can’t believe his mother has handed the keys to her bookshop over to a woman she met on the internet. Jesse has seen his mother taken advantage of before, and he decides to keep a close eye on this Annie Price. But when a close eye turns into a historical wedding reenactment with Jesse and Annie as the couple, make-believe nuptials quickly give way to real-life emotions.



An October Bride by Katie Ganshert



No one but Jake and Emma know the true reason they’re getting married—so Emma’s dying father can walk her down the aisle. While Jake and Emma plan an autumn wedding together, it becomes clear that their agreement has a few complications—the biggest being their true feelings for each other.



A November Bride by Beth K. Vogt



Having celebrated the big 3-0 by ending a relationship, Sadie is tired of romantic relationships-by-text. The only man she knows willing to put down his iPhone and have face-to-face conversations with her is Erik. It’s time to put a 21st-century twist on the Sadie Hawkins’ tradition of a woman going after her man. But when he realizes he’s fallen for her, can Erik convince Sadie his just-for-fun dates were the prelude to “‘til death do us part”?






{My Review}

Rating: 5 stars

A September Bride by Kathryn Springer
This is the first work of Kathryn Springer's I have read and now I want to read everything she's written. Annie and Jesse's story ranks #2 for me in this novella collection. Annie comes to town to take over a bookstore, which was owned by Jesse's mother. Jesse can't believe his mom would just turn over her store to a stranger she met online so Jesse plans to keep an eye on Annie. But Jesse, nor Annie expect to fall in love.

A September Bride was such a fantastic read. It was quick, but had a very satisfying ending.



An October Bride by Katie Ganshert.


You guys know Katie is one of my favourite authors so I knew I'd love this story. And I did. Jake and Emma are getting married for one reason only-so Emma's ill father can walk his daughter down the aisle. At least that's what they thought. Cute, romantic, and heart-wrenching. Three things Katie does so well and why I love her books so much. An October Bride ranks #1 in this novella.



A November Bride by Beth K. Vogt


Sadie just turned thirty and ended a romantic relationship. Sadie wants a face-to-face real relationship and not a few texts here and there. And the only person she feels can do that is Erik. But Erik didn't bet on falling in love with Sadie. This premise was so interesting, but became a little lackluster in the middle of the story, but I plowed on and it ended just the way I wanted it to.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

REVIEW: Hiding in the Light by Rifqa Bary









REVIEW: Hiding in the Light by Rifqa Bary




{About the Book}

“After four years of hiding my faith from my family, I knew that it was time. I wrote with shaky hands, ‘Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I refuse to deny him….’ There was no turning back now. I had to get out of that house if I wanted to live. Was this worth risking everything for? Yes.”

Rifqa Bary grew up in a devout Muslim home, obediently following her parents’ orders to practice the rituals of Islam. But God was calling her to freedom and love. He was calling her to true faith. He was calling her to give up everything.

Leaving Islam for Christianity cost her more than she imagined
but gave more than she could have dreamed.

Hiding in the Light is the story of Rifqa’s remarkable spiritual journey from Islam to Christianity. It is also the untold story of how she ran from her father’s threats to find refuge with strangers in Florida, only to face a controversial court case that reached national headlines. Most of all, it is the story of a young girl who made life-changing sacrifices to follow Jesus—and who inspires us to do the same.




{My Review}

Hiding in the Light is a revealing memoir of a young girl raised in a devout Muslim household, who for a time was hiding her Christian faith from her family. Until she decided to come out to them and tell them of her newfound Christian faith. Eventually, Rifqa whi believed her life was in danger, fled from her family and their home to the home of a Christian couple. Due to Rifqa being underage she was eventaully returned to her family only to leave again and never return. 

Rifqa Bary is quite an extroidanary young woman who held fast to her faith despite the pressures and hard times. She very clearly states she very much so loves her family and hopes that they one day discover the love and grace of Jesus Christ. She even writes a letter to her brother. I applaud Rifqa in what she did and hope to see her story spred throught the United States and the world. Highly recommended.

Monday, August 10, 2015

REVIEW: Among the Fair Magnolias by Various







REVIEW: Among the Fair Magnolias by Various






{About the Book}

Four Southern women are at a turning point in history . . . and in their own hearts.

To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander

The Civil War cost Savannah Darby everything—her family and her home. When Aidan Bedford, an attorney from Boston, buys the Darby estate, he hires Savannah to redecorate. Can she find a mysterious treasure before her job is finished?

An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray

When Russell Stark returns to Fort Worth, he’s determined to begin a new life. But when he arrives at his mother’s homestead, he discovers that she is very ill and the woman he loved is still as beautiful and sweet as he remembered. With time running out, Russell must come to terms with both his future and his past.

A Heart So True by Dorothy Love

Abigail knows all too well what is expected of her: to marry her distant cousin Charles and take her place in society. But her heart belongs to another. A terrible incident forces Abby to choose between love and duty.

Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser

Emily has a secret: She's in love with one of the freedmen on her family's plantation. Meanwhile, another man declares his love for her. Emily realizes some things are not as they seem and secrets must be kept in order to keep those she loves safe.
 






{My Review}

Rating: 3.5 stars

Among the Fair Magnolias is a novella collection by various different authors set during the Civil War in the South. To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander tells the story of Savannah Darby who is in search of her family and a certain box her father hid during the war. The only thing is there's a new owner of her family's property, Aiden Bedford, a Boston Attorney and former Union soldier. To Mend a Dream was probably my favorite novella in this collection. I gave this one 5 out of 5.

An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray tells the story of Russell Stark who returns home to find his mother very ill and his former love still the most breath taking woman he's ever known. An Outlaw's Heart is all about Russell coming to terms with his past so he can make a future. I really enjoyed this one as well. I gave it 3.5 out of 5.

A Heart So True by Dorothy Love tells the story of Abigail who is supposed to marry her cousin Charles, as her father wants her too. But Abigail is in love with another man and one tragedy forces her to make a choice between love and duty. This story was probably my least favourite. The writing was not my favourite and the romance was pretty bland. I gave this story 2 out of 5.

Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser tells the story of Emily who is keeping a secret from her family- she is in love with a Black Freedman who works on her family's plantation. While another plan has plegded his love for her. This story was in the middle for me. While story itself was interesting, the romance was like the above, just bland. I gave this one 2.5 out of 5.

REVIEW: A Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt







REVIEW: A Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt






{About the Book}


Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.”

Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?





{My Review}

Rating: 3.5 stars

Crazy Little Thing Called Love is my second or third Beth K. Vogt novel and I think it may be my last. I just can not seem to be able to get into her stories and get invested in the characters. Crazy Little Thing Called Love is the first book in Beth's new Destination Wedding series.It is Vanessa and Logan Hollister's story of redepmtion and second chances. Vanessa and Logan were once married, which Vanessa's parents call "the biggest mistake of her life". Vanessa is now engaged to another man, but soon gets reaquainted with her ex-husband Logan. Will Vanessa and Logan give their relationship a second chance.

This novel was just an okay/good read. The writing style is not my favourite. The writing seemed a little bit choppy to me and the romance really wasn't that believeable.

Saturday, August 8, 2015

COVER CANDY: 2016 Edition







COVER CANDY: 2016 Edition






Remko Brant had never been so sure of anything as escaping the Authority City with Carrington Hale. But bravado comes easy when you have nothing to lose. Now a husband, father, and the tactical leader of the Seers, Remko has never had so much at risk.

As he and his team execute increasingly dangerous rescue missions inside the city, they face growing peril from a new enemy. Recently appointed Authority President Damien Gold claims to be guiding a city shaken by rebellion into a peaceful, harmonious future. But appearances can be deceiving. In order to achieve his dangerous ambitions, Gold knows he must do more than catch the rebels―he must destroy the hope their message represents . . . from the inside out.

With dissension in his own camp―and the CityWatch soldiers closing in―Remko feels control slipping through his fingers. To protect those he loves, he must conquer his fears and defeat Gold . . . before one of them becomes his undoing.
                                                                                    COMING MARCH 2016!




        In a reverse twist on the Robin Hood story, a young medieval maiden stands up for the rights of the mistreated, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. All the while, she fights against her cruel uncle who has taken over the land that is rightfully hers. Forced to live in the woods and hide with the poor people she's grown to love, she works to save and protect them, but she never anticipates falling in love with the wealthy knight who represents all she's come to despise.

COMING MARCH 2016!














 Maple Valley became Amelia Bentley's haven after her heart and her dreams of a family were shattered, but her new life as a newspaper editor is shaken when the paper is bought out by a chain that plans to incorporate it into a regional paper.

After his biggest campaign success yet, speechwriter Logan Walker is approached to work on a presidential campaign. But he already lost his wife three years ago, and saying yes to the job means he'll see his young daughter even less. When Logan hears of a special election campaign in his hometown, helping out sounds like the perfect way to occupy himself while deciding what to do.

When Amelia hears Logan is back in town, she begs him to lend his previous experience in the newspaper world to help turn her paper's numbers around in time. They may butt heads more than they expected, but a lead on a story that could help save the paper is just the start of the sparks that fly in the office and in their hearts.
                                         COMING MARCH 2016!




Drew and Madeline Farthering celebrate their six-month anniversary by attending a fancy Regency era costume party. Drew is glad to see Talbot Cummins, an Oxford classmate, and his fiancée, Alice Henley, though many present seem worried about the couple. Everyone's concerns are realized when, at the concluding grand ball, Alice dies of an overdose of cocaine. Tal refuses to believe she took the stuff intentionally, and Drew is determined to find out if her death was an accident or murder.

Drew is shocked and disillusioned when the police arrest Tal's father and reveal that the man has been smuggling drugs into the country for the past twenty years. Reeling from the death of his fiancée and the revelation about his father, Tal begs Drew to find out what's going on. Drew, now questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, does so reluctantly, not ready for the secrets he's about to uncover--or the danger he'll bring down on everyone he holds dear.
                            COMING MARCH 2016!








Owen Christiansen has been in a downward spiral since an injury ended his NHL career. But a job on an Alaskan crabbing boat offers a fresh start . . . maybe even a shot at romance with Elise “Scotty” McFlynn, the captain’s daughter.

Used to being one of the guys, to never relying on anyone, Scotty doesn’t believe in happily ever after―especially with someone like Owen. Her instinct is confirmed when Casper Christiansen arrives to drag his prodigal brother home, bringing with him a truckload of family drama―and even worse, the news that Casper is wanted for questioning in connection to a crime back in Minnesota.

But Owen is more than the sum of his mistakes, a truth both he and Scotty discover when she escorts both brothers to Deep Haven as part of her new job on the Anchorage police force. Thrust into an unfamiliar world of family, faith, and fresh starts, Scotty begins to see potential for a happy ending . . . if she’s brave enough to embrace it.
                         COMING FEBRUARY 2016!






She only remembers loving him. But he can’t forget the way she left.

Following a concussion, Lucy Lovett can’t remember the last seven months of her life. She doesn’t remember leaving her fiancé Zac Callahan weeks before their wedding or moving to Portland, Maine. And she sure doesn’t remember getting engaged to another man. All she remembers is loving Zac more than life itself.

It’s taken Zac months to move on after Lucy left him with no explanation. He’s thrown himself into his family’s farm and his restaurant business in Summer Harbor. Now Lucy’s back, vulnerable, homeless, and still in love with him. She needs his help putting the pieces together, but letting her back into his life is a risk—and the stakes are high. If he follows his heart he’ll win back the love of his life. But if her memory returns he’ll lose her all over again.
                       COMING MARCH 2016!






Annabelle is about to enter the world of le bon ton. But there is more to it than meets the eye. And not all of it is good.

Fellsworth School is the only home that Annabelle Creswell has ever known. An artist at heart, she is curious about what adventure lies beyond Fellsworth’s walls. When her long-lost aunt invites Annabelle and her younger half-sister to accompany her to Bellfield Crossing for the summer, Annabelle cannot resist a new adventure.

Colin Ashton, on the other hand, has more adventure that he cares for. As a magistrate in Bellfield Crossing, he focuses on keeping illegal activity at bay. He has little time for frivolous activities, which he’s certain are Annabelle's focus.

Annabelle is enamored by the opulence that surrounds her at her aunt’s home—more wealth than she has ever known—but it is the orphans at the local orphanage who really capture her heart. As she works among the community, Annabelle quickly finds herself the interest of several suitors. Colin warns her not everyone can be trusted, but she wonders if she can trust him. After all, she has been told stories about him.

Colin’s and Annabelle’s paths continue to cross as Colin works to unearth the local smuggling ring and Annabelle takes her place in high society. Could Colin have been telling the truth? And will her aunt listen when Annabelle voices her concerns? Or will she send Annabelle back to Fellsworth and away from the life . . . and man she has come to love?
                                                                COMING MAY 2016!





In this new novel from the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life, two women working in Hollywood during its Golden Age discover the joy and heartbreak of true friendship.

Los Angeles, Present Day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind  ends up in Christine McAllister’s vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie… 

Los Angeles, 1938.  Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her  dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and lands a job on the film-set of Gone With the Wind. There, she meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey’s zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood’s glitterati enthrall Violet…until each woman’s deepest desires collide.  What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future. 
                                                                COMING JANUARY 2016!





A Story of Love, Desperation, and Hope During a Great Biblical Epoch

Sold into slavery by her father and forsaken by the man she was supposed to marry, young Egyptian Kiya must serve a mistress who takes pleasure in her humiliation. When terrifying plagues strike Egypt, Kiya is in the middle of it all.

To save her older brother and escape the bonds of slavery, Kiya flees with the Hebrews during the Great Exodus. She finds herself utterly dependent on a fearsome God she's only just beginning to learn about, and in love with a man who despises her people. With everything she's ever known swept away, will Kiya turn back toward Egypt or surrender her life and her future to Yahweh?

                            COMING APRIL 2016!








A disgraced scholar running from her past and an entrepreneur chasing his future find themselves thrown together—and fall in love—on a Tolkien tour of New Zealand.
Allison Shire (yes, like where the Hobbits live) is a disgraced academic who is done with love. Her belief in “happily ever after” ended the day she discovered her husband was still married to a wife she knew nothing about. She finally finds a use for her English degree by guiding tours through the famous sites featured in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. By living life on the road and traveling New Zealand as a luxury tour guide, Allison manages to outrun the pain of her past she can’t face.
Jackson Gregory was on the cusp of making it big. Then suddenly his girlfriend left him—for his biggest business competitor—and took his most guarded commercial secrets with her. To make matters worse, the Iowa farm that has been in his family for generations is facing foreclosure. Determined to save his parents from financial ruin, he’ll do whatever it takes to convince his wealthy great-uncle to invest in his next scheme, which means accompanying him to the bottom of the world to spend three weeks pretending to be a die-hard Lord of the Rings fan, even though he knows nothing about the stories. The one thing that stands between him and his goal is a know-it-all tour guide who can’t stand him and pegged him as a fake the moment he walked off the plane.
When Allison leads the group through the famous sites of the Tolkien movies, she and Jackson start to see each other differently, and as they keep getting thrown together on the tour, they find themselves drawn to each other. Neither expected to fall in love again, but can they find a way beyond their regrets to take a chance on the one thing they’re not looking for?


                                                               COMING APRIL 2016!







The gods are angry.

Volcanic eruptions, sinkholes, ground shakers--everything points to their unhappiness. At least that is what the king of Armania believes. His son, Prince Wilek, thinks his father's superstitions are nonsense, though he remains the ever dutiful heir apparent to the throne.

When a messenger arrives and claims that the town of Farway has been swallowed by the earth, the king sends Wilek to investigate. But what Wilek discovers is more cataclysmic than one lost city. Even as the ground shifts beneath his feet, Wilek sets out on a desperate journey to save his people and his world. But can he do it before the entire land crumbles?


                            COMING MARCH 2016!









In the third and final volume of the Remnants series—Seasons of Glory—the power of the Remnants and their people are growing, threatening Pacifica’s careful plans for domination. Among the Trading Union, village after village, outpost after outpost, and city after city are drawn to people of the Way, and agree to stand against those who hunt them. But Pacifica intends to ferret out and annihilate the Remnants—as well as everyone who hasn’t sworn allegiance to the empire—setting the stage for an epic showdown that will change the course of a world on the brink … forever.


                           COMING MARCH 2016!













What Happened on Beale Street is an exciting addition to the Secrets of the South Mysteries from bestselling author Mary Ellis. These standalone, complex crime dramas follow a private investigator's quest to make the world a better place...solving one case at a time.

A cryptic plea for help from a childhood friend sends cousins Nate and Nicki Price from New Orleans to Memphis, the home of scrumptious barbecue and soulful blues music. When they arrive at Danny Andre's last known address, they discover signs of a struggle and a lifestyle not in keeping with the former choirboy they fondly remember.

Danny's sister, Isabelle, reluctantly accepts their help. She and Nate aren't on the best of terms due to a complicated past, yet they will have to get beyond that if they want to save Danny.

On top of Danny's alarming disappearance and his troubled relationship with Isabelle, Nate also has to rein in his favorite cousin's overzealousness as a new and eager PI. Confronted with a possible murder, mystery, and mayhem in the land of the Delta blues, Nate must rely on his faith and investigative experience to keep one or more of them from getting killed.
                                                                  COMING APRIL 2016!







“The president of the United States . . . is missing.”

With these words, New York Times journalist J. B. Collins, reporting from the scene of a devastating attack by ISIS terrorists in Amman, Jordan, puts the entire world on high alert. The leaders of Israel and Palestine are critically injured, Jordan’s king is fighting for his life, and the U.S. president is missing and presumed captured.

As the U.S. government faces a constitutional crisis and Jordan battles for its very existence, Collins must do his best to keep the world informed while working to convince the FBI that his stories are not responsible for the terror attack on the Jordanian capital. And ISIS still has chemical weapons . . .

Struggling to clear his name, Collins and the Secret Service try frantically to locate and rescue the leader of the free world before ISIS’s threats become a catastrophic reality.
                      COMING DECEMBER 2015!




Which of these books are you excited for? Did I leave any other covers out? Hit me up in the comments below!