I listened to this audiobook on a trip to Alabama. It made for an easier trip. I enjoyed the story and the reading was very well done.
The story was unique with a bit of a love-story and mystery wrapped into one. I have enjoyed other books by Rachel Fordham, so when this became available on NetGalley, I requested to read and review and am very happy for that opportunity.
Since this was an audiobook I cannot comment on the editing but the reading was very well done and the story flowed very well.. The characters were well developed and believable and the story was believable also. This was set in the early 1920s and that was evident also. This is a Christian genre book and it fits that genre very well without being preachy in any form.
I would recommend this book to anyone and give it a hearty 4.5 stars.
Monday, October 23, 2023
The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham
To Spark A Match by Jen Turano
I received a copy of this book through Librarything giveaway. I am not required to leave a review and I am not required to leave a positive review.
I requested this book because I truly enjoy reading books by Jen Turano. This book did not disappoint. Her stories are truly unique and fun. The characters are not supposed to be true to life but are interesting and fun.
The story flowed well and kept my interest throughout. There were a few scenes that were laugh-out-loud funny.
The editing was mostly well done though I did spot a few errors. The genre is Christian though it is more like a clean read, not exactly Christian but good nonetheless.
I give this a solid 4 out of 5-star rating, 4.5 if they had that. I recommend this book if you're looking for a clean and entertaining read.
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Abigails Secret by Marilyn Turk
About the Book
Book: Abigail’s Secret
Author: Marilyn Turk
Genre: Dual Time
Release Date: August 15, 2020
Newly widowed mother Abby Baker goes home to Hope Harbor to help her ailing mother and restart her life. Weighed down by grief and fear of failure, she wishes she had the strength of her grandmother, who raised a young child alone while taking on the role of lighthouse keeper after her husband drowned. What was the secret of Granny Abigail’s strength?
Carson Stevens is a lighthouse enthusiast who has bought the deteriorating Hope Island lighthouse to restore it and turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. When he meets Abby, he wants the attractive granddaughter of the former keepers to be part of the restoration.
As Abby and Carson work together, they uncover clues to a family secret that threatens to change Abby’s life forever. But someone is trying to sabotage their efforts at restoration.
Renovating the old lighthouse is Abby and Carson’s goal, but as they grow closer, they discover that what they’ve really needed is a renovation of their hearts.
Click here to get your copy!
My Review: This book is Christian genre and it fits fairly well. I enjoyed the book for the most part. I liked Abigail and Carson. They interact well together. Their characters are fairly well-developed and they interact well together. The story flowed very well and kept my interest throughout. The scenery was described well but could have been better.
What I did not like was the use of a dash when a comma should have been used. It made me wonder what the words were at times and disrupted my reading. There were also a couple of wrong words used. One was when grandfather was used instead of father. Both of these things threw off my reading. I hope the editing gets reviewed.
I received this book through Celebrate Lit and I am not required to leave a positive review. These thoughts are my own and freely given. I was given an ebook to read and review.
About the Author
Award-winning author Marilyn Turk writes historical and contemporary fiction flavored with suspense and romance. Marilyn also writes devotions for Daily Guideposts, Walking in Grace, and contributes to other Guideposts publications. She and her husband are lighthouse enthusiasts, have visited over 100 lighthouses and also served as volunteer lighthouse caretakers at Little River Light off the coast of Maine.
When not writing or visiting lighthouses, Marilyn enjoys reading, walking, boating, fishing, gardening, tennis, and playing with her golden retriever. She also sings in the choir at her church and leads a women’s Bible study group. Marilyn and her husband have a combined family of four sons, one daughter, and four grandsons. She’s still hoping for a granddaughter someday.
She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Word Weavers International, and the United States Lighthouse Society.
Marilyn is also the director of the Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference.
More from Marilyn
When I fell in love with lighthouses, I wanted to read all about them and see as many
in person as I could. Lighthouse Digest magazine was an answer to prayer. I inhaled every story in the magazine and used the information to write my lighthouse blog. https://pathwayheart.com/lighthouse/.
One blog post I wrote was about an opportunity to be a volunteer lighthouse keeper at a lighthouse, such as the Little River Lighthouse in Cutler, Maine. When my brother read my blog post he suggested that my husband and I do it. It had never occurred to me that I could be one of those people I wrote about! My husband jumped on board the idea, so we filled out the application, along with character references and proof we could drive a boat, and we were selected! The next summer, we arrived in the tiny town of Cutler, Maine, for our 10-day stay, and were met by the couple who arranged the lighthouse stays, who just happened to be the editors of Lighthouse Digest! I was awestruck.
They loaded us up in a boat in the harbor and took us out to the small island. We were charmed, and as a history buff, I was in heaven. The lighthouse and keepers’ house had been completely restored by a local non-profit organization which included a former Coast Guardsman who was once stationed there when the Coast Guard managed the property, as well as descendants of the last keeper family and the magazine editors. Beforehand, the keepers’ house had been abandoned for years, and it took months of work to tear out the old and restore it to livable again. Notebooks with before and after pictures showed the extensive work they’d done.
Obviously, I could talk a long time about our experience on the island, but I’ll spare you. The point is, the story of Abigal’s Secret had its origin there, and I knew what Carson and Abby went through to restore the lighthouse property in the book.
My husband and I fell in love with Maine while we were there, so the story had to be set there among the many islands and lighthouses. Maine has the second most lighthouses in the United States (over 50). We also stayed in Bar Harbor a few days before we went to Cutler, so the town in the book is loosely based on Bar Harbor. (Cutler isn’t that big.)
And of course, being the historian that I am, I knew Abby had to be connected to the lighthouse and that she would discover how her own life was similar to her grandmother’s, who just happened to be the lighthouse keeper during World War II, another era in history that fascinates me.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 4
To Everything There Is A Season, October 5
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 5
Texas Book-aholic, October 6
Locks, Hooks and Books, October 7
Mary Hake, October 7
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 8
Cover Lover Book Review, October 9
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 10
Life on Chickadee Lane, October 10
The Book Club Network, October 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 12
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 13
Books I’ve Read, October 13
Blogging With Carol, October 14
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, October 15 (Author Interview)
For HIm and My Family, October 15
Holly’s Book Corner, October 16
Pause for Tales, October 17
Lily’s Book Reviews, October 17
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Marilyn 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/28431/abigail-s-secret-celebration-tour-giveaway
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
The Flower Quilter by Mindy Steele
About the Book
Book: The Flower Quilter
Author: Mindy Steele
Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction
Release Date: September, 2023
Barbara Breaks from Amish Tradition to Express Her Artistry
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.
Barbara Schwartz was born into a family of quilters, but she would rather eat dirt than partake in another quilting frolic or sew on another binding. When her parents send her to Indiana to help her grandmother in her quilting shop, she finds herself amongst a very different community. It’s only one summer and then she will be back in Kentucky where she belongs.
Melvin Bontrager’s world stopped six years ago when his parents died. Now when his only means of providing for his widowed sister and niece is threatened, Melvin finds his landscaping business disappearing too. When spring delivers a newcomer who is immune to his salty moods, Melvin does something he has never done before, accepts help.
What blooms is the last thing Barbara ever expected, and everything Melvin could ever want.
Click here to get your copy!
My Review: This was a unique story and I truly enjoyed it. I do not do a synopsis on a book as that's readily available, but this Amish book was faith-based but more focused on the two main characters. It took a unique look at some of the jobs Amish people do and how that job impacts their lives.
This story was well written. The characters quite well developed and the story flowed well. I was sorry to see it end when it did.
The editing was mostly well done. The errors were more with punctuation or a missing word here and there but it was a minor annoyance.
I give this a 4 out of 5-star review. I was given this book through CelebrateLit to read and review. I am not required to give a positive review and all thoughts are solely my own.
About the Author
Mindy Steele is the award-winning author and bestselling author of over a dozen novels and novellas in Christian fiction. Raised in Kentucky timber country, Steele has been writing since she could hold a crayon on the wall and lives in northeastern Kentucky—where many of her stories are set.
More from Mindy
The Story Behind the Story
I’ve connected with many wonderful readers since my debut in 2021 and while attending my first multi-author and reader event in Shipshewana, Indiana, I was blessed to finally meet many of them in person. I connected with my amazing assistant, my Mississippi fishing buddy, and the golden girls who have been with me from the beginning. God handpicked each of these women and I am so thankful he did.
I knew before leaving home I would not be writing about Shipshewana or the touristy areas considering I love our small rural communities, but you know what they say about thinking you know everything. . .
I was charmed at a little Bed and Breakfast and further charmed by Bridgett the owner. After touring the Amish Market and a few other memorable sites, my husband and I spent an afternoon with our dear friends Barb and Mel. Barb insisted I see her favorite place, the Krider Fair Gardens. Being a lover of flowers and gardening myself, I was entranced. I walked over every inch and stored its details in my heart. I even called my mother.
I quickly learned the quilt gardens were signature in Indiana, sprawling along the Pumkinvine Trail and covering multiple counties. From May to September, thousands come to photograph the designs that change each year. There is even an app for that now.
I had learned so much about Amish gardens and greenhouses from my neighbors who had family-owned greenhouses which I wrote about in An Amish Flower Farm.
It was also a no brainer that I would include quilting into the story. I love to quilt, much more than my dear sweet heroine needless to say.
I was especially happy to include the quilt shop, just a block down from The Blue Gate and the owner was thrilled her shop was the inspiration to Anna Beechy’s quilt shop.
Writing about two different Amish communities was a fun challenge made easy thanks to dear friends from both. Especially Anna Mae, the best garden tea maker north of Ohio who never let my questions bother her.
What was most memorable about writing this book over all others?
I had no desk!!!
I love writing about new things not explored yet, and well…my writer heart was ready to start before we even got home. Often, I let an idea percolate a few days, but this story unfolded like a favorite re-run and I knew all the words. It was time to get writing, but suddenly we had covid and hours turned to days and weeks. It was a scary time as my husband struggled with it terribly, but we got through and then Hurricane Ida struck the south and my husband was called up. I decided to travel with my husband and son to deliver Fema Relief.
My family needed me, and I needed to write this book!!! So, in pure Mindy fashion, I packed up my notepads, extra fine tip pens, and did both.
The draft of The Flower Quilter was written in the back of an old semi that leaked like a strainer as we delivered trailers and supplies from Kentucky to the hardest hit areas of Mississippi and Louisiana nonstop for nine days.
I hope to never try that again, but no matter what we encountered, those gardens of Indiana, keep popping up and adding a little sunshine to the chaos around me. God sure knows how to keep beauty in focus when everything gets turned upside down. He also knows how to take our worst traits and turn them into something remarkable.
I hope you love this story and my take on the gardens as much as I did. Thank you for being part of the tour!!! And may God bless and keep you!
Blog Stops
lakesidelivingsite, September 26
The Avid Reader, September 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 27
Lighthouse Academy Blog, September 28 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
Texas Book-aholic, September 28
She Lives To Read, September 29
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 30
Mary Hake, September 30
Connie’s History Classroom, October 1
Christina’s Corner, October 1
The Book Club Network, October 2
Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 2
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 3
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 4
Books I’ve Read, October 4
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 5
For Him and My Family, October 6
Elly Gilbert, October 6
Cover Lover Book Review, October 7
Simple Harvest Reads, October 8 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Holly’s Book Corner, October 9
Splashes of Joy, October 9
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Mindy is giving away the grand prize package a $25 Amazon gift 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/282a3/the-flower-quilter-celebration-tour-giveaway
This was a unique story and I truly enjoyed it. I do not do a synopsis on a book as that's readily available, but this Amish book was faith-based but more focused on the two main characters. It took a unique look at some of the jobs Amish people do and how that job impacts their lives.
This story was well written. The characters quite well developed and the story flowed well. I was sorry to see it end when it did.
The editing was mostly well done. The errors were more with punctuation or a missing word here and there but it was a minor annoyance.
I give this a 4 out of 5-star review. I was given this book through CelebrateLit to read and review. I am not required to give a positive review and all thoughts are solely my own.