Blog Tour: Limelight by Melody Carlson

Synopsis:

Claudette Fioré used to turn heads and break hearts. She relished the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle because she had what it takes: money, youth, fame, and above all, beauty. But age has withered that beauty, and a crooked accountant has taken her wealth, leaving the proud widow penniless and alone. Armed with stubbornness and sarcasm, Claudette returns to her shabby little hometown and her estranged sister. Slowly, she makes friends. She begins to see her old life in a new light. For the first time, Claudette Fioré questions her own values and finds herself wondering if it’s too late to change.

My Thoughts: Limelight hooked me right from the start. When Claudette began remembering her life, I wanted to see what got her to the point of despair at the age of 82. It seemed as if the author disappeared and I was left in a cozy setting with a very real Claudette, not just a character in a book, telling me her story; I was mesmerized.

Looking back over her married life of luxury to one of Hollywood's premier directors, Claudette had many wistful memories of fabulous parties, scintillating company and the sheer joy of never having to worry about finances. Now a reversal of fortune has landed Claudette back to the little house where she grew up. Thinking she is far superior to the small town residents of Silverton, she rebuffs their attempts to be friendly.

After some hilarious mishaps and meeting people who are more than willing to help her, Claudette begins to open her heart to new possibilities. Having to learn to do for herself is almost overwhelming at her age, but when she finally does learn to do a few things, she feels a small sense of accomplishment. As time goes by, she is more than willing to forge new friendships and mend some old ones, particularly with Violet, her estranged sister. Claudette learns that no matter how old she has become, it's not too late to learn new things.

I finished the book in 2 sittings, being reluctant to put it down. One of the things I found enjoyable was Claudette's Hollywood reminiscences with some very recognizable names. Carlson does a wonderful job with her characters, fleshing them out to be fully developed and easily imaginable. I like the way she drew Claudette and showed her growth from the beginning of the book to the end of the story. 4 ****stars

This book was provided for review by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group. For more info on the book please visit Random House.

Blog Tour: What Matters Most by Melody Carlson

Synopsis:

Maya’s Green Tip for the Day: Recycled fashion is one of the most fun ways to go green. A pair of jeans could be transformed into a denim skirt. A sweater into a vest. A bunch of old ties into a dress. A blanket into a poncho. Accessorize it in new way–with beads, buttons, appliqués, buckles, stencils, or ribbons…your imagination is only the limit. (65 words)Sixteen-year-old Maya Stark has a lot to sort through. She could graduate from high school early if she wants to. She’s considering it, especially when popular cheerleader Vanessa Hartman decides to make her life miserable–and Maya’s ex-boyfriend Dominic gets the wrong idea about everything.To complicate matters even more, Maya’s mother will be released from prison soon, and she’ll want Maya to live with her again. That’s a disaster waiting to happen. And when Maya plays her dad’s old acoustic guitar in front of an audience, she discovers talents and opportunities she never expected. Faced with new options, Maya must choose between a “normal” life and a glamorous one. Ultimately, she has to figure out what matters most.

Author: Melody Carlson has published over ninety books for adults, children, and teens, with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards, including the Gold Medallion and the RITA Award.

For more info on the book please visit Random House.

This book was provided by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Blog Tour: Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh

Synopsis:

Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick , North Carolina , twelve years ago, shook the dust off her feet, ditched her drawl and her family name, and made a new life for herself as a high-powered public relations consultant in LA. She’s even “engaged to be engaged” to the picture-perfect U.S. Congressman Grant Spangler.Now all of Piper’s hard-won happiness is threatened by a reclusive uncle’s bout of conscience. In the wake of a health scare, Uncle Obadiah Pickwick has decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for four generations’ worth of family misdeeds. But that will reveal all the Pickwicks’ secrets, including Piper’s. Though Piper arrives in Pickwick primed for battle, she is unprepared for Uncle Obe’s rugged, blue-eyed gardener. So just who is Axel Smith? Why does he think making amends is more than just making restitution? And why, oh why, can’t she stay on task? With the Lord’s help, Piper is about to discover that although good PR might smooth things over, only the truth will set her free.

My Thoughts: This was a very slow starter for me. It did eventually pick up but it took time, a lot of time. In the first few chapters, the reader is introduced to so many characters, it's mind boggling. Piper struck me as a 30 year old still stuck in the mindset of a young teenager. Through flashback thoughts, we see that all the myriad of cousins didn't take too kindly to young Piper. An infamous "teenage stunt" that could cause some great scandal if brought to light after twelve years turns out to be (imo) making a mountain out of a molehill. Supposedly with the threat of this revelation, Piper is fearful that her boyfriend to whom she is engaged to be engaged, will hear of this and drop her like the proverbial hot potato. The premise to get her back to North Carolina to forgive her family and be free of all this angst and move on is a good one but the plot lines to get her there are weak. Supposedly she is, as she puts it, "taken", but when she first sees Axel she looks at him as a dog would the last t-bone on earth. She must mention he has blue eyes about 78 times.

The funny thing is that one of her cousins, Maggie, who was so mean to her in school has now become a nice person with a wonderful and very intelligent 12 year old daughter. It seems Maggie has progressed emotionally since Piper has been gone. Now if we could just get Piper to do the same. About half way through the book, the story did finally pick up and I found myself liking some of the characters; Maggie, her daughter Devyn, Uncle Obe and Axel. Piper, as the main character, never really did it for me but the story turned out nice and neat. I have no quibble with the ending as I think the author did eventually achieve her objective. It just took an awfully long time to get there. If you like christian fiction, a little romance and family entanglements, you might like this one. For me, it was an okay but just not great read. 2.5**

This book was provided for review by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group. For more info on the book and where to purchase on line, please visit Random House.

Blog Tour: Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur

Summary:

"Pastor Jason Faircloth knows what he believes. His clear faith, in fact, is why he is one of the most prominent pastors in Atlanta . He relies on it to discipline his daughter, his wife, his church. He prays daily that others would come to see God’s ways as he does.
And it is about to cost him everything.
Groping for answers in the face of tragedy, Jason begins a search for the only family he has left: the granddaughter kept hidden from him. Soon he finds himself on an international adventure that will take him straight into the depths of his soul. He is determined not to fail again.
A fast-paced suspense novel rich in spiritual depth, Wisdom Hunter explores what it means to break free of Christian legalism—and discover why grace can mean the difference between life and death.

My thoughts: This book started out well with the introduction to Hannah, Pastor Faircloth's young runaway daughter. We find her in Miami, a newly married young woman with her first baby on the way. Life is good for Hannah and her veterinarian husband, Cody. There are enough hints that Hannah's life was none too happy at home with her parents and she had good cause to run away. This scenario made me curious to find out what happened previously and what would ensue.

Then we meet Jason Faircloth; an overly conservative and pompously arrogant pastor of the ultra - conservative North Metro church in Atlanta. He's so staunch in his beliefs and convictions that it is easy to see it was always his way or the highway for anyone in his family.Unfortunately, as his daughter, Hannah felt the highway was her only recourse. When tragedy strikes the Faircloth family, Jason rails against God demanding to know why he let these things happen. Consequently, the result of his crisis of faith compels Jason to leave the church and go on a quest that will take him to Miami first and then eventually to Europe four years later.

I found his behavior in Miami to be almost manic and to me it was over done melodrama that was completely out of character. It's hard to connect with a character when you can't believe in them. Cody, Hannah's husband, also fell into the same abyss of unbelievability when this formerly wonderful persona took on a cruel self -destructive nature. The actions by Faircloth and Cody were just too unbelievable to me and I could not continue. At page 178 I had to admit defeat. At some point I may try to finish the book but for the near future it's not happening. This is just my opinion. Readers have to decide for themselves if this book is a fit for them. It's billed as a Christian thriller so please make your own choice.

Author Bio: Randall Arthur is the bestselling author of Jordan’s Crossing and Brotherhood of Betrayal. He and his wife have served as missionaries to Europe for over thirty years. From 1976 till 1998, he lived in Norway and Germany as a church planter. Since 2000, he has taken numerous missions teams from the United States on trips all over Europe . Arthur is also the founder of the AOK (Acts of Kindness) Bikers’ Fellowship, a group of men who enjoy the sport of motorcycling. He and his family live in Atlanta , Georgia .

This book was provided for review by The Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group. For more info on Wisdom Hunter or to purchase online please visit Random House.

Blog Tour: Shadow Government by Grant Jeffrey

Synopsis:

Security cameras, surveillance of private financial transactions, radio frequency spy chips hidden in consumer products, eavesdropping on e-mail correspondence and phone calls, and Internet tracking. No one is protected, and privacy is a thing of the past.
An ultra-secret global elite, functioning as a very real shadow government, controls technology, finance, international law, world trade, political power, and vast military capabilities. These unnamed, unrivaled leaders answer to no earthly authority, and they won’t stop until they control the world.
In Shadow Government, prophecy expert Grant Jeffrey removes the screen that, up to now, has hidden the work of these diabolical agents. Jeffrey reveals the biblical description of Satan’s global conquest and identifies the tools of technology that the Antichrist will use to rule the world.
Readers will have their eyes opened to the real power that is working behind the scenes to destroy America and merge it into the coming global government. Armed with this knowledge, readers will be equipped to face spiritual darkness with the light of prophetic truth.

My Thoughts : Scary scenarios a la 1984 document that our every move is monitored. Jeffrey writes a compelling tale of big government keeping tabs on what should be private; our financial transactions, medical info, e mail and cell phone communications are recorded, kept and analyzed. This is all in the name of security. With the so called security, the world's citizens have lost all their privacy. It virtually no longer exists.

With the advent of all these technological advances and the world becoming more globalized, Jeffrey claims we are getting closer and closer to the end times prophesied in the bible. Things that would have sounded like sci-fi not too long ago are now a reality. He makes a convincing case for this in the following chapters. A few of the chapters on weapons technology I found somewhat dry but in the ensuing chapters with a more historical leaning and details of treaties now in effect, I couldn't read it fast enough. I was appalled to learn all the intricate details of the World Trade Organization and the terms of NAFTA.

Jeffrey is convinced that an evil world dictatorship will happen in our generation. But he is also optimistic in his personal belief that Jesus Christ will return to vanquish the anti-Christ. This is a book you might think you don't want to read but one that you should read.

Author Bio: Grant R. Jeffrey is the internationally known prophecy researcher, Mideast expert, and author of Countdown to the Apocalypse, The New Temple and the Second Coming, The Next World War, and twenty other best-selling books. He is also the editor of the Prophecy Study Bible. His popular television program, Bible Prophecy Revealed, airs weekly on TBN. Jeffrey earned his master’s and PhD degrees from Louisiana Baptist University . He and his wife, Kaye, live in Toronto.

For more info on Shadow Government or to purchase on online, please visit Random House. The review copy of this book was provided by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Blog Tour: The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall

Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (October 6, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307446530
ISBN-13: 978-0307446534
Publisher's synopsis:

"Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry. Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak? "

My Thoughts: When Beth and Jonah began exchanging letters, each thinking the other person was someone else, they both were not afaid to show their vulnerable side. Beth and Jonah both shared such deeply personal thoughts which helped the other person to see who they really were inside. But when Beth finds out about Lizzy's manipulations after Jonah shows up at a social given by Lizzy, she becomes very angry and wants nothing more to do with Jonah. Will Beth be able to let go of her pain and anger and see that Aunt Lizzy has her best interests at heart or will Lizzy's deception ruin her original matchmaking scheme?

This book touched me in ways that at times I actually had tears in my eyes. The characters in this story came to life for me and I was immersed in their lives from the very beginning. Woodsmall can get right into her characters' hearts and souls with the ability to easily convey those feelings to the reader.Woodsmall has the knack to engage the reader very early on with her little hints of mystery behind Beth's heartache. I couldn't wait to find out what happened and so read the book in two sittings. Even though the story is reasonably short ( just 194 pages of actual story) it packs an emotional wallop. I cried and I rejoiced at this simple but wonderful story. The Amish aspect of the book was not only educational but extremely interesting to me. The book has a Christian theme to it; but it is handled like pleasant low background music, not blaring in-your-face noise. A thoroughly enjoyable read that I would highly recommend to fans of Christian fiction, romance and family stories.
4****

Author Bio: Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years. Cindy has a wonderful website with chances to win one of her books and/or a handmade quilt.

A big thank you to Elizabeth from Multnomah/Random House for inviting me to take part in the tour and for the review copy. For more info on The Sound of Sleigh Bells and options for purchasing on line, please visit Random House.

Book Tour: Rose House by Tina Ann Forkner

Summary for Rose House (from the publisher):" A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope. Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms. She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life. "

Author Bio: Tina Ann Forkner is the author of Ruby Among Us. Originally from Oklahoma, she now lives with her husband and three children in Wyoming, where she serves on the Laramie County Library Foundation’s board of directors.

A big thank you to Ashley from Waterbrook/Random House for a copy of the book and inviting me to participate in the tour.

Blog Tour: The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo

The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper (from the publisher):
"The future is clearly mapped out for New York socialite Eugenia “Gennie” Cooper, but she secretly longs to slip into the boots of her favorite dime-novel heroine and experience just one adventure before settling down. When the opportunity arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to experience the Wild West, but her plans go awry when she is drawn into the lives of silver baron Daniel Beck and his daughter and finds herself caring for them more than is prudent–especially as she’s supposed to go back to New York and marry another man. As Gennie adapts to the rough-and-tumble world of 1880s Colorado, she must decide whether her future lies with the enigmatic Daniel Beck or back home with the life planned for her since birth. The question is whether Daniel’s past–and disgruntled miners bent on revenge–will take that choice away from her."

My thoughts: What a fun read this one is! The book is billed as historical fiction, but there is plenty of romance and adventure as well. With a terrific cast of characters that seem to leap right off the page, authentic dialogue and lots of action, The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper is just sheer escapism to another time and place.

I just adore the main character, Eugenia or Gennie as she prefers to be called. Although she is a New York socialite and expected to always be the lady, she greatly admires the fictional Mae Winslow and secretly reads all the latest "penny dreadful" stories about Mae's wild west escapades. When Eugenia has a chance to trade places with her maid and be a governess in the wilds of Colorado, she doesn't hesitate in trading her fancy frocks for boots and buckskin. Her grand plan is to have a Wild West adventure ( with capital W's, mind you !) for just one month before she settles down with her NY banker beau. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans!

Barely escaping New York without being detected, Gennie lands in Colorado to find things not quite as she expected. The father is absent and the child, Charlotte, is living like a tomboy. In her opinion she has no need to be clean or wear a dress, and she emphatically makes it known to Gennie the last thing she needs is a governess. After all, she is ten years old! At this first inauspicious meeting, Gennie has definitely met her match!

When she finally meets the father, Daniel Beck, it is almost a comedy of errors. Now Gennie comes up with another plan. Well, you'll just have to read the book to find out what happens next. Whoo hoo... the reader is in for another round of fun and adventure in Denver, Leadville and back to New York. As a little added bonus, at the top of each chapter is a mini story with Mae Winslow. This is one book I really enjoyed just for the sheer fun of it. 4****

Author Bio: Kathleen Y’Barbo is the best-selling, award-winning author of more than thirty novels, novellas, and young adult books, with more than a half-million in print. A graduate of Texas A&M University, she is currently a publicist with Books & Such literary agency. Please visit Kathleen at her website.

A big thank you to Ashley Boyer at Waterbrook/Random House for a copy of the book and for an invitation to participate in the tour.

Blog Tour: The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love by Beth Pattillo

The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love (from the publisher):
"Once a month, the six women of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society gather to discuss books and share their knitting projects. Inspired by her recently-wedded bliss, group leader Eugenie chooses “Great Love Stories in Literature” as the theme for the year’s reading list–a risky selection for a group whose members span the spectrum of age and relationship status.As the Knit Lit ladies read and discus classic romances like Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice, each member is confronted with her own perception about love. Camille’s unexpected reunion with an old crush forces her to confront conflicting desires. Newly widowed Esther finds her role in Sweetgum changing and is surprised by two unlikely friends. Hannah isn’t sure she’s ready for the trials of first love. Newcomer Maria finds her life turned upside-down by increasing family obligations and a handsome, arrogant lawyer, and Eugenie and Merry are both asked to make sacrifices for their husbands that challenge their principles.Even in a sleepy, southern town like Sweetgum, Tennessee, love isn’t easy. The Knit Lit ladies learn they can find strength and guidance in the novels they read, the love of their family, their community–and especially in each other."

My thoughts:

What are the essential ingredients of an enjoyable fiction novel? For me, it is characters that are easy to relate to, a pleasant setting and a plot that has challenges and resolutions. Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love has all of these essentials and more. The dialogue is believable, the characters are authentic and the setting feels comfortably familiar. Let's just take a brief look at these diverse characters.

Eugenie ~ a mid sixties librarian who has been the town spinster until very recently and is now married to Paul, local minister, with whom she was involved in her youth. Eugenie can be a bit stern and set in her ways, especially when running the lit society monthly meeting, but underneath she has a heart with a lot of soft spots. Eugenie has recently become Hannah's legal guardian.

Hannah ~ a 15 year old very independent young woman whose upbringing or lack thereof has left her with some indelible emotional scars. She may be quiet at times but she is fully aware of what's happening around her and shows some very mature insight about the people in the story.

Camille ~ has always wanted to escape Sweetgum as she feels she is trapped there due to financial and family obligations. When an old flame shows up in town, she does her best to avoid him. How long can she hold out and will she decide Sweetgum is really the place for her? Will the potential for love trap her or free her?

Maria ~ just lost her father and is now the sole support of her mother and sisters. Having to give up their home, they are reduced to living above the family owned five and dime store. Maria has joined the knit lit society at Eugenie's invitation.

Esther Jackson~ newly widowed, Esther finds out her financial situation is shaky and her present extravagant lifestyle is in jeopardy. Esther is a very proud older woman who does not know how to lighten up and enjoy life. Esther had thought marriage was about making the right alliance, not nonsense about dying for love.

Merry ~ is a devoted mother whose world has been turned upside down when her husband wants her to work for him full time. His law practice is teetering on bankruptcy and he needs her help. She is torn between wifely duties and motherhood, especially when one of her children is in jeopardy.

When Eugenie suggests the knit lit society read Romeo and Juliet and knit a project that will complement the book selection, the other five women aren't too sure this is a good idea. Eugenie first asks them what love means to them. This is the one of the themes of the book. All of the women find challenges in their daily life due to love and duty to their families. How they all resolve these challenges is an emotional journey that takes them in different directions. They eventually learn how to share their feelings, help and support each other in some difficult times while learning a few things about themselves.

Although this is a stand alone novel, I would recommend reading The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society. This first book in the series tells the story of how Hannah and Eugenie met in the library and why Eugenie got Hannah involved in the knit and lit group. These books are written with such charm and feeling that I thoroughly enjoyed them. There seems to be something special about Southern small towns and the people who live there. Ms. Pattillo's writing transports you to that world and makes you feel part of each family. This book would make an excellent book club choice as there are many avenues of discussion that can be explored. For an easy, satisfying, feel- good read, The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love is an excellent choice. 4****

Author Bio: RITA Award-winning Beth Patillo combines her love of knitting and books in her engaging Sweetgum series. Pattillo served churches in Missouri and Tennessee before founding Faith Leader, a spiritual leadership development program. Beth Pattillo learned to knit in the second grade. she is the author of nine books including Heavens to Betsy and Jane Austen Ruined My Life. Beth lives with her husband and children in Tennessee. Ms. Pattillo's website can be found here.

A big thank you to Ashley at Waterbrook Press/Random House for a copy of this fine book and inviting me to participate in the tour.

Blog Tour: North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson

Readers thrilled to the phantasmagorical adventures in On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Book One of the Wingfeather Saga. Now in Book Two, Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby, mom Nia, ex-pirate grandfather Podo, Peet the Sock Man, and trusty dog Nugget flee north to rebel headquarters. Their escape brings readers to the very brink of Fingap Falls, over the Stony Mountains, and across the Ice Prairies, while villains galore try to stop the Igibys permanently. Fearsome toothy cows and horned hounds return, along with new dangers: a mad man running a fork factory, a den of rockroaches, and majestic talking sea dragons.

Andrew Peterson’s lovable characters create what FantasyBookCritic.com says made Book One “one of the best fantasy novels in a very long time,” and Book Two contains even more thrills, exploring “themes universal in nature, ranging from the classic good versus evil, to the importance of family, and burdens of responsibility.”

My thoughts: To say this genre is a little out of my comfort zone is an understatement. I never read fantasy or fictional world type books but wanted to expand my reading horizons so just thought I would give it a try. Never having read any, I really have nothing to compare this book to. After reading the book, I can see it's not my cup of tea but that is just me

If you are a fantasy book fan, you may really like this one. There is certainly a lot of adventure going on as the Igibys make their way from the fang infested forest of Glipwood to the Ice praries. The Igibys encounter many hardships and much evil on their journey, but goodness does eventually prevail. An element of the book I did like was the inherent message of family love and togetherness.

Peterson does such a wonderful job with his descriptions that I had no problem visualizing all these strange creatures and places. One simile that really evoked a clear image for me : "At some unknown signal, a ringing of bells erupted from the city-first one, then a few more, then what seemed to be thousands of bells clanged like a swarm of invisible, metallic bats rushing into the night."

In the beginning there is a map showing all the sites the characters visit on their journey to the ice praries. Along with a wealth of incredibly imaginative characters, are finely detailed ink drawings throughout the book of some of the creatures and items mentioned in the story. North! or Be Eaten is the second book in the Wingfeather Saga.

About the author: Andrew Peterson is the author of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, book one in the Wingfeather saga, and The Ballad of Matthew's Begets. He is also the cricially acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist of several albums, including Resurrection Letters II. He and his family reside in Nashville, Tennessee.

Visit Andrew’s websites here and here . For a direct link to purchase the book, please visit here.

A big thank you to at Staci at Multnomah/Random House for a copy of the book.

Book Tour: Tomorrow's Treasure by Linda Lee Chaikin & The Captain's Bride by Lisa Tawn Bergren

From the back cover:

"Raised by her aunt and uncle at the rectory in the small English village of Grimston Way, lovely Evy Varley remembers little of her parents and nothing of South Africa, the land where she was orphaned during the Zulu war of 1878. But when Sir Roger Chantry, the arrogant and handsome son of the local squire, accuses Evy's mother of stealing the infamous Kimberly Black Diamond, Evy sets out to prove the rogue wrong and clear her mother's name.

Secrets abound, however, from the diamond mines of South Africa to the halls of her own beloved rectory. A stunned Evy finds her own aunt and uncle may have concealed disturbing truths about her family, and the rakish Sir Rogan has his own reasons to seek the Black Diamond. Now, faced with a dangerous past and an uncertain future, Evy must draw upon her wits and her faith to pursue Tomorrow's Treasure."

My thoughts: This story has a lot going for it: from adventures in Capetown to a rural village in the Victorian era, luxurious living at the squire's manse to penurious rectory life, family secrets and a black sheep, stolen diamonds and a captivating love story. Phew, what more could you want for a perfect literary escape! I really enjoyed this book and want to extend a thank you to Staci at Waterbrook Press for a copy. 4****

About the author: Linda Lee Chaiken has written numerous top-selling books and series, including The Silk House series and For Whom The Stars Shine, a finalist for the prestigious christy Award. Two of her novels have been awarded the Silver Angel Angel Award for excellence. Linda is a graduate of Multnamah Biblical Seminary and taught neighborhood Bible classes for many years. She and her husband live in California.

Captain's Bride


My Thoughts: The story opens in Bergen, Norway in 1880 as we are introduced to the main characters: Elsa Anders and her fiance Peder Ramstadt, Elsa's younger sister Tora and Peder's best friend Karl. Along with these characters are newlyweds Kaatje and Soren. Elsa's and Peder's wedding occurs in Norway and then they are off to build a new life in Camden-by-the-Sea, Maine. Several others from Bergen are to sail with them. Peder is the Captain of the ship and he and his friend Karl will be building a new shipyard in Maine but Karl is harboring a secret that could destroy their life long friendship.

After settling in their new home, Elsa becomes distraught that Peder does not want her to sail with him as he thinks it is too dangerous. This becomes a bone of contention in their marriage. You can just feel Elsa's frustration and Peder's obstinacy. Even though they have differences of opinons, their deep Christian beliefs keeps their love intact and helps them to overcome many problems. Bergren does such a wonderful job with these characters that they really come to life on the page. It is so easy to feel their anguish at leaving their families but also the excitement and sense of adventure in emigrating to America.

Some of the other Bergensers, including Kaatje and Soren travelled on to North Dakota to make a living out of farming. Unfortunately, Soren has an eye for other women. Despite his promises to Kaatje to be faithful only to her, Soren can not help dallying with others, even turning to the teenaged Tora while sailing to America. These actions are to have dire consequences to their young marriage.

Tora, despite her young age of 16, is a woman who knows what she wants and will use any means to get it. Aspiring to marriage and family is definitely not on her agenda. She has set her sights to high society and wealth. After finally leaving Camden-by-the-Sea, she moves to Duluth to begin a career and a search for the perfect man who will keep her in style. All of the characters start out with big dreams for a new life in a new country where the possibilities seem endless.

This book is the first in The Northern Lights trilogy. I got so engrossed in this wonderful saga that I finished it in two sittings. I had a really hard time coming out of the time frame and putting this one down. Bergren is a skilled writer who fleshes out her characters to perfection. Every nuance of the characters' emotions is clearly expressed leaving the reader to feel as if these characters are real. There are also plenty of adventures in this epic story. I liked the first one so much, I read the next two books in the series: Deep Harbor and Midnight Sun where the story continued. If you are a fan of romance, Christian fiction, adventure or family sagas, this is one story you will savor. Highly recommended. 4.5****

About the author: Lisa Tawn Bergren has authored more than thrity books, including Breathe and The Begotten. Visit her online here.

A huge thank you to Staci at Waterbrook/Random House for a copy of this riveting novel.