A Simple Song

A Simple Song is a cute book for teenagers written by Melody Carlson. Katrina Yoder is a young Amish girl who has an interest in singing. She takes it upon herself to enter a singing competition to earn money for an expensive surgery her father must have. Katrina’s family does not approve of her singing, and they definitely would not allow her to be involved in a singing competition for the whole world to see.

In light of all the singing competition shows that are on television right now, I really enjoyed this book and felt like it was very relevant. It was a relatively easy read, and it was an interesting concept of seeing how a young Amish girl would behave in the “English” world. Also, the character of Katrina was very likeable, and it was great to see her go after her dream. As with all the other Melody Carlson books I have read, this book was very entertaining and would be great to share with other friends to read.  

“Available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

When Love Calls

When Love Calls is a cute new story by Lorna Seilstad that looks at the Gregory Sisters, specifically Hannah Gregory, the eldest. Hannah is very headstrong which will serve her well in her training to become an attorney. She is no longer able to attend school due to the death of her parents, so she decides to become a Hello Girl, or telephone operator, to support her two younger sisters. Around the same time, she meets Lincoln Cole when the bank he was employed at repossed her family home. She is determined to have nothing to do with Lincoln, but when a family friend needs an attorney, she turns to him for help.

I liked the dynamics of the relationship between Hannah and her two sisters. Since I have two sisters of my own, I can say that this relationship was very believable. I also liked the character of Lincoln. Withiut even knowing the Gregory family, he went out of his way to help them. I liked reading their relationship develop. I cannot wait to read more books in this series.

I was provided a free copy of this book by Revell publishers. I was notnrequired tonwrite a positive review.

Available May 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Julie Lessman's newest book, Love at Any Cost, is the fist book in The Heart of San Francisco series which looks at the McClare family. Cassidy moves to live with an aunt in San Francisco after suffering heartbreak in her hometown in Texas. The last thing on her mind when moving to San Francisco is romance, but it's hard for her to not fall for Jamie McKenna. Jamie is a young lawyer at her uncle's law firm, and he is trying to raise money to move his mother and sister out of the neighborhood where they currently live. To do that, he thinks he must marry into a wealthy family, and he thinks Cassidy is the answer to his problems. Little does he know, her family has come into hard financial times, and she does not have the finances to take care of his mother and sister, who suffers from health problems.

I really liked the characters in this book, and Jamie was the perfect "pretty boy" that you can't help but root for. Cassidy was also a great character. She had to overcome her past feelings of rejection and betrayal in order to move forward with Jamie. I think this is a situation most people can relate to, and for that reason, I found myself rooting for their relationship to work and for them to move forward together.

I cannot wait to read more books in this series!! This is one of the best books I have read in a long  time and I can't wait to share it with others!


Available April 15, 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Scent of Lilacs

Scent of Lilacs is the first book in the Hollyhill Series of books by Ann H. Gabhart, and I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series set in Hollyhill, Kentucky. Since this book is a re-release (it was originally released in 2005), I won’t have to wait too long to read the other books in the series!!

 

Jocie Brooke is 13 years old in the early 1960s, and she is being raised by her single father who desires to be a pastor. Jocie’s mother and sister left when she was very young, but during the summer of 1964 her sister, Tabitha, returns home, pregnant and divorced. The summer of 1964 turns out to be a very eventful one for Joci her family. Jocie’s family is hiding a secret, and she begins to uncover the past.  

 

I liked the way that this book was written, switching from the voice of Jocie and her father, David. Allowing the reader to see the perspective from different characters differentiated this book from others in this same genre. Joci was a great main character, and it was great to read about her strong faith at such a young age. Like I said, I cannot wait to read more books in the Hollyhill Series!       

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

 

“Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Love in a Broken Vessel, by Mesu Andrews, looks at the life of  the prophet Hosea and his unlikely marriage to a prostitute, Gomer. God directed Hosea to this marriage, and this book looks in depth at the relationship between them. Hosea continues to show compassion to Gomer regardless of her actions and the fact that she returns to the sins of her past.

I really enjoyed this book, and I liked that it make me re-think my views on an unlikely heroine. Gomer faced difficulties in her life, and the writing, which showed insight into Gomer's life, enabled me to understand why she acted the way she did. She continually returned to the only lfe she knew, the one she was sold into at a young age. The actions of Hosea teach everyone a helpful lesson in forgiveness. Overall, I really liked reading this book. Although it was very in-depth, the descriptiveness made the book even more interesting to read. I cannot wait to read more books by Mesu Andrews.      

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Moonlight Masquerade

Moonlight Masquerade by Ruth Axtell is the most recent book I read , and I'm really happy I was able to read this Regency romance book. Lady Wexham is a French born widow who had been married to a cruel English Earl. After his death, the government feels she may be a spy for France. Due to their thoughts, they have a man, Rees Phillips, pose as her butler to basically spy on her. As you could imagine, romance begins to grow between Lady Celine and Rees.

I really liked this book and the historical aspect of the book which was during the time of Napoleon. I also liked that the book centered around spies, since I am very interested in those types of books and TV shows. Overall, I really liked this book and cannot wait to read more books by Ruth Axtell.  

Available March 2013 at your local bookstore from Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
I received this book free from BAKER REVELL as part of their blogger review program. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

When the Heart Heals

When the Heart Heals is the second book in the Sisters of Heart Series by Ann Shorey, and it looks at Rosemary Saxon during one of my favorite times to read about, The Civil War. Rosemary served as a nurse during the Civil War so it would only be expected that she would become a nurse in the 1860s in Noble Springs, Missouri with the new doctor. Rosemary begins working with Dr. Elijah Stewart even though they have some differences in terms of how to treat their patients. In addition to their work relationship, they begin to have feelings for one another in the midst of threatening actions being taken against her.

 

I really liked this book since, as I said, I’m a fan of books written during the Civil War time-period. It also shows how times change, and how people felt about natural remedies during the mid-1800s. In addition to the historical aspect, there was a cute relationship that formed between Dr. Elijah and Rosemary. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!   

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

 

“Available February 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”