Unlucky in Love... a book review

Unlucky in Love

by Maggie McGinnis

ISBN: 9781101967775

Series: Whisper Creek #4

Available: October 11, 2016

Publisher: Loveswept

Sold by: Random House

Genre: Romance

Publisher's Description:

After Alexis Maguire's wedding day comes and goes without a groom, she decides that it's time for a change. Tired of being the dependable, steady—and apparently boring—one, Alexis hopes that a cross-country road trip will help her loosen up and find her inner sparkle. Her first stop is the Whisper Creek Ranch, where the hot wranglers are sure to bring out her inner party girl. The trouble is, she can't stand pretending to be someone she's not—especially around the cowboy who tempts her to stay put.

Gunnar Peterson has spent six months working at Whisper Creek, and he's never been happier. Having grown up an army brat, he's ready to put down roots, and the only thing missing is a woman to share his life with. When Alexis blows into town, Gunnar thinks he may have met his match, despite the wild-child facade he sees right through. But Alexis swears she won't settle down anytime soon—so it's up to Gunnar to convince her that what she's looking for . . . is right here.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

From the first book Accidental Cowgirl, I enjoyed meeting the "ranch hands" and their way with the ranch's guests.  Each book invited me back to a place of family, warmth, and charm - a step back in time to overflowing hospitality.  Unlucky in Love is no different.  I was able to meet up with old "literary" friends and meet a few new ones along the way. 

This book focuses on Alexis and her determination to live life fully and to the brink.  What she learns along the way is a lesson to which many of us can relate!  Throw in a hot, down-to-earth cowboy, and the sparks are surely going to fly!

My rating:  A     /    4.5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary digital copy of Unlucky in Love from NetGalley and Random House Publishing for my honest review.

Happy reading,

     Ellen

The Jerusalem Prophecies by Terry Brennan

The Aleppo Code

By Terry Brennan

978-0-8254-4389-3

Fiction/Christian/Suspense/Thriller

The Jerusalem Prophecies, book 3

Kregel Publications, 2015

“A thousand-year-old manuscript reveals the existence of an ancient sanctuary. 

Within that sanctuary lies the most powerful weapon in the history of the world.”

The Aleppo Code by Terry Brennan is the final chapter in the mysteries deciphered from the thousand-year-old scroll and mezuzah found in the Bowery Mission.  The scroll’s message, written in demotic text, leads a misfit group around the world and into Jerusalem seeking the “treasure” at the end of a long and treacherous road.  Before I go any further, I must digress…

Book 1, The Sacred Cipher - “A secret room has been discovered in the Chapel of the Bowery Mission.  And what’s hidden inside reveals a mystery of biblical proportions.

“When New Yorker Tom Bohannon uncovers an ancient scroll containing a dead language that has been lost in the sands of time, he doesn’t fully comprehend the danger that’s about to unfold.  Though Tom and his team of ragtag scientists and historians want to decode the ancient text, others don’t want the cipher revealed.  And they are prepared to kill to keep it hidden.  From a market in nineteenth-century Alexandrea to a library in present-day New York to the tunnels beneath Jerusalem, the secret of the cipher is gradually revealing itself across the globe.  And for those in its path, life is about to change – forever.”

Book 2, The Brotherhood Conspiracy – “A secret as old as the prophets lies hidden in an ancient code.  That code may uncover an artifact as mysterious, and dangerous, as the Lost Ark.”

The Brotherhood Conspiracy continues with Bohannon’s group realizing there is another mystery on the mezuzah which was not understood in The Sacred Cipher.  The groups chasing them will not stop until they have the mezuzah and scroll in their possession.  Once again, the group heads out to parts unknown to seek what is hidden.  “One step ahead of an ancient gang of assassins, and one step behind the deadline for impending disaster, the team encounters the death of friends and colleagues and maneuvers through a maze of political treachery, religious fanaticism, and traitorous machinations – to the very brink of judgement orchestrated by a force greater than they could have imagined.”

Book 3, The Aleppo Code - “A thousand-year-old manuscript reveals the existence of an ancient sanctuary.  Within that sanctuary lies the most powerful weapon in the history of the world.”

“Having chased the secret of the Cipher through a maze of treachery, death, and destruction, Tom Bohannon’s band of explorers seems to be at a dead end.  But the discovery of a tenth-century scriptural text holding the final key to the ancient code hurls them right back into the fray.”

As much as I would love to tell you the storyline and its outcome, I cannot – no spoilers in this review.  All three books are amazing!  Terry Brennan has woven a suspense-filled, theological mystery so real that you can “almost” imagine it happening today.  His use of biblical history, archeology and present-day news and political unrest intertwined with the fictional storyline will keep you enthralled to the end!

From the opening paragraph in The Sacred Cipher to the final page in The Aleppo Code, I was pulled into the mystery of the ancient scroll.  The characters were everyday people being asked to believe by faith, not by sight.  People I can relate to; people who believed the unbelievable.  I cheered them on, grieved with them, and peered around the tunnels along with them.

I look forward to many more reads from Terry Brennan!

A huge thank you goes to Kregel Publishing for allowing me to read and review these amazing books!

I received complimentary print copies of The Sacred Cipher, The Brotherhood Conspiracy, and The Aleppo Code from Kregel Publishing for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

     Ellen

Ties That Bind... a book review

The Amish of Summer Grove, Book One

by Cindy Woodsmall

ISBN: 978-1-60142-699-4

WaterBrook Press

September 2015

Book Description:

Ariana s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together or simply tear them apart? 

Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a cafe in historic Summer Grove to help support her family's ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.  Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.  Despite how things look, Quill's goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of.  His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the cafe because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.  

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I always enjoy a wonderfully written story of the Amish and Ties That Bind did not disappoint.   Author Cindy Woodsmall introduced me to a close-knit family and their Amish community living a simple, God-fearing life in Summer Grove, Pennsylvania.  I was drawn into the lives of Ariana and her family from page one.  I found myself cheering her on as she works toward buying the cafe and felt my heart stop when she learned the truth regarding the night she was born.  I was wondering how Cindy Woodsmall was going to tie up all the storylines in the book and then realized this was the first book in a new series!  I was so excited and disappointed... I love the book and now I have to wait for the next book to learn the outcome of Ariana's life!

For more information on Cindy Woodsmall, her books, and Amish recipes, check out her website.

I received a complimentary copy of Ties That Bind from WaterBrook Press and their Blogging for Books program for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

     Ellen

Eve... a book review

ISBN: 978-1-5011-0142-7

Available: September 2015

Publisher: Howard Books: An Imprint of Simon and Schuster, Inc.

Eve by Wm. Paul Young takes an elaborate look at Creation and God’s unending love, grace, and mercy.  Woven into a story of one girl’s search for meaning in her broken life, we find ourselves seeing a new side of God and His all-consuming desire of reconciliation with us.  It did take a while for me not to focus on the characters titles: Collector, Guardian, Healer, Mender, Scholars, and Engineer just to name a few, but to focus on their jobs and accomplishments.  As I neared the end of the story, I saw truths in my own life which were mirrored in the novel, Eve.  This will be a story which will be revisited often – in book and in thought. 

A few of the many nuggets gleaned from this story:

“Prayer is mostly about talking to God – about life and people and what is before us and who matters to us in that moment” (p. 101).  ~ Gerald

“… trust is about relationship, not power.  When two dance, each is always respectfully attuned to the other.  There is a timing of relationship, and that is Ruach’s (the Holy Spirit) playground” (page 257).  ~  God / Adonai

I received a free copy of Eve from NetGalley and Howard Books for my honest review.

Happy Reading!

      Ellen

The Bones Will Speak... a book review

The Bones will Speak

A Gwen Marcey Novel series, book 2

by Carrie Stuart Parks

Thomas Nelson Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-4016-9045-8

Available: August 11, 2015

 

Book Description

Forensic artist Gwen Marcey has become the target of a serial killer who believes he's been appointed God's executioner.

In Copper Creek, Montana, Gwen Marcey is struggling to put together her life after cancer and divorce. When her dog retrieves a skull of a murder victim and leads her to the victim's grave, Gwen uses her forensic art ability to identify a serial killer. She is horrified to discover all the victims look like her fourteen-year-old daughter.

The murderer is a "lone wolf," a member of the terrorist group Phineas Priesthood-and he has a score to settle with Gwen. Unraveling the tangled Christian Identity movement, where race-not grace-provides salvation, Gwen is in a frantic rush against time. She must use all her skills to uncover the killer before he can carry out his threat to destroy her and everyone she loves.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Author Carrie Stuart Parks, an internationally known forensic artist herself, has penned a terrific mystery/suspense novel that hooks you from page one to the closing paragraph.  The main character, Gwen Marcey, is living through real-life problems that many of us are either dealing with or know someone who is.  Add a mysterious cranium, bones of a young woman, and a live victim to bring a chilling serial killer to their small town.


This is the first novel from Carrie Stuart Parks that I have read, but it will not be the last!  Although I have a crazy, busy life, I read The Bones Will Speak in two days.  I look forward to reading the first book of the series A Cry from the Dust.


I received The Bones Will Speak: A Gwen Marcey novel from Thomas Nelson Publisher and their BookLook Bloggers program.

Happy Reading,

     

        Ellen

Awake... a book review

Awake

by Natasha Preston

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Teens & YA, Mystery, Thriller

Available: August 4, 2015

ISBN 9781492618522

Publisher's Description:
Scarlett doesn’t remember anything before the age of five. Her parents say it’s from the trauma of seeing her house burn down, and she accepts the life they’ve created for her without question—until a car accident causes Scarlett to start remembering pieces of an unfamiliar past.

When a new guy moves into town, Scarlett feels an instant spark. But Noah knows the truth of Scarlett’s past, and he’s determined to shield her from it...because Scarlett grew up in a cult called Eternal Light, controlled by her biological parents.

And they want her back.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

At first, I did not know what to expect from this book.  I usually do not enjoy books in which the chapters are written from each character's point of view.  Yet, this technique did not leave me scratching my head or wondering what is going on. 

The idea of have no memories of the first four year of your life does not seem strange.  I do not have clear memories from my early years.  But when peculiar flash backs begin occurring after the car accident, Scarlett pushes her parents to reveal the truth of her early years.

Natasha Preston has penned  "a coming of age" story with a twist - boy meets girl with frightening, repressed memories.  This book has it all... suspense, mystery, and a bit of romance!  The storyline had me hooked from page one and did not end until I finished the last page!

I received a complimentary digital copy of Awake from NetGalley.com and Sourcebooks Fire for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

     Ellen

The Love Letters... a book review

The Love Letters

by Beverly Lewis

Available March 2015

Bethany House Publishing

Christian fiction / Amish fiction

ISBN: 978-0-7642-1246-8

Publisher's Description:

Marlena Wenger's life takes an unexpected turn on the day she learns she must care for her estranged sister's baby.  Spending the summer in Brownstown, Pennsylvania, to assist her Mennonite grandmother, and miles from Marlena's Old Order Amish beau, she feels out of her element in nearly every respect.  Yet Marlena determines to do her best and stay focused on her future, even as those hopes become drastically altered.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

I have always enjoyed Beverly Lewis' Amish stories.  Each one she pens allows me to learn more about their faith, love of family, and reliance on the Almighty.  The Love Letters opens the door a bit wider as I learned about sects that have broken from the Old Order faith - the Mennonites and New Order churches.  We meet not only Marlena and her family, but also the Bitners next door.  As "Small Jay" Bittner steps out in faith to befriend a homeless man, he unknowingly begins a chain of events that ultimately affect his whole family.

My rating: 4 out of 5

A

I received a complimentary copy of The Love Letters for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

    

    Ellen

The Inn at Ocean's Edge... a book review

The Inn at Ocean's Edge

A Sunset Cove Novel

by Colleen Coble

Available: April 14, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-4016-9026-7

Christian fiction / Mystery / Suspense / Romance

A story of family ties and love that binds them together...

Claire Dellamare unexpectedly joins her CEO father at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine, in hopes of closing a merger which would only increase their presence in the aviation world.  Yet, as she is checking in, she is overcome by a full blown panic attack.  What could trigger that in a place she had never been?  Or had she?


"In 1989, Claire Dellamare disappeared from her own fourth birthday party at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine.  She showed up a year later at the same hotel, with a note pinned to her dress but no explanation.  Nobody knows where Claire spent that year - and now, Claire didn't even know she had ever been missing" (back cover).


With flashes of memory and help from Luke, a Coast Guardsman whose mother went missing the same time Claire did, they begin their own investigation to uncover the truth surrounding Claire's and his mother's disappearance 25 years earlier.


I have enjoyed Colleen Coble's books in the past - Tidewater Inn, Seagrass Pier, Smitten, and Safe in His Arms.  But The Inn at Ocean's Edge has surpassed them all!  From the very first page until the closing paragraph, I was pulled into the mystery and suspense surrounding Claire and Luke.  Would they be able to solve this mystery before serious harm comes to Claire?  Why does the local law enforcement seem to be stonewalling?  Will her family survive the truth as it is slowly exposed?

My rating - 6 out of 5 stars   A+

Can I do that..... I sure can!

I received a complimentary copy of The Inn at Ocean's Edge from Thomas Nelson Publisher and their BookLook Bloggers program for my honest review.


Happy reading,
   
          Ellen

Lethal Beauty... a book review

Lethal Beauty

a Mia Quinn Mystery

By Lis Wiehl with April Henry

Thomas Nelson Publisher

ISBN: 978-1-59554-905-1

Available: March 3, 2015

Publisher’s Description:

Mia Quinn discovers that a series of seemingly unrelated murders are linked. How far up are the strings being pulled—and what happens when one of her own is at risk?

The murder Mia is prosecuting seems like an open and shut case—until the accused claims he was the real victim and that the dead girl attacked him first. The tabloids dub her a "lethal beauty." Still, a conviction seems imminent. Then a key witness goes missing. Just when it looks like the killer could walk free, the dead woman’s mother takes matters into her own hands. 

Meanwhile, Charlie Carlson, a Seattle homicide detective, is investigating the murder of a man whose body washed up on the beach of Puget Sound, but he's got little to go on. He has no dental work, fingerprints aren't on file, and he doesn't match any missing person reports. Then a church pianist is senselessly gunned down before horrified parishioners. 

All three cases seem unrelated—but are they? Together, Mia and Charlie race to find the answer before another crime hits too close to home.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

Once again, Lis Wiehl with April Henry shines the spotlight on a current social issue alive and well in America – human trafficking and exploitation of illegal aliens.  As Mia and Charlie work together to solve seemingly unrelated cases, we are greeted with the seedier side of humanity.
Lis Wiehl works her magic in crafting not only believable characters but also a very realistic plot with numerous twists and turns!  You will find yourself engrossed in the storylines, both case-related and personal, in which Mia and Charlie find themselves.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

A

I received a complimentary copy of Lethal Beauty from Thomas Nelson Publishing and the BookLook Bloggers program for my honest review.

Happy reading,

  Ellen

NIV First-Century Study Bible... a book review

The NIV First Century Study Bible

Publisher: Zondervan / Harper Collins

Available: September 9, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-310-93890-3

Hardback price: $49.99

Publisher's Description:

Experience the Bible through the eyes of a first-century disciple by exploring the cultural, religious, and historical background of the Bible. This Bible allows you to understand God’s Word in its original cultural context, bringing Scripture to life by providing fresh understanding to familiar passages, beloved stories and all the Scripture in between. The NIV First-Century Study Bible invites you into the questions, stories, and interpretations—both ancient and modern—which introduce you to a world vastly different from your own.  Let us read with an eye on the past and with our feet planted in our present questions and circumstances.  Join Kent Dobson as he unpacks the culture of Bible times, and illuminates Scripture passages while asking thoughtful questions along the way.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I was thrilled to have the chance to review the NIV First-Century Study Bible from Zondervan.  I had just started an Old Testament Literature class as college and knew this would be a great help in understanding many Old Testament passages.  I was not disappointed!  This new study Bible introduces the reader to explore the Biblical culture in a more meaningful way. 

Special features of this Bible include...

     -  book introductions and outlines for each book of the Bible

     -  study notes for understanding and challenging the reader through thought-provoking questions

     -  word studies to better understand the scriptures

     -  "Addressing the Text Articles" that delve deeper into the passages of scripture

     -  "Day in the Life Articles" to help modern-day readers to understand the Biblical culture

The NIV First-Century Study Bible even included the type of literature found in each book  This was so helpful to me in my current course as it reinforced the best way to interpret that particular book.

Thank you Zondervan for this wonderful study Bible - bringing Biblical times and culture to life for today's reader.  I look forward to mining more of God's Word with the NIV First-Century Study Bible.

My rating:  5 out of 5 stars

A+

I received a complimentary copy of NIV First-Century Study Bible from Zondervan and Harper Collins Publishing's BookLook Bloggers program for my honest review.

Blessings,

     Ellen

Tried & True... a book review

Tried & True

ISBN: 978-0-7642-1178-2

Publisher: Bethany House Publishing Group

Available: August 26, 2014

Fiction / Christian / Historical Fiction

Series: Wild at Heart

 

Publisher’s Description:

Saddle up for a wildly fun ride with the Wilde sisters!

Kylie Wilde is the youngest sister--and the most civilized. Her older sisters might be happy dressing in trousers and posing as men, but Kylie has grown her hair long and wears skirts every chance she gets. It's a risk--they are homesteading using the special exemptions they earned serving in the Civil War as "boys"-- but Kylie plans to make the most of the years before she can sell her property and return to the luxuries of life back East.

Local land agent Aaron Masterson is fascinated with Kylie from the moment her long hair falls from her cap. But now that he knows her secret, can he in good conscience defraud the U.S. government? And when someone tries to force Kylie off her land, does he have any hope of convincing her that marrying him and settling on the frontier is the better option for her future?

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

          Tried & True is the first book I have read from author Mary Connealy.  The book teaser intrigued me.  I knew, historically, women fought in the Civil War.  I was excited to read a book loosely crafted from this time period.

          The story was alright, but the characters were not well developed.  Also, the basic plot of the story was transparent… with one exception.  But, even with the one exception, the story did not draw me in or hook me into the unfolding tale.  I will not be reading the rest of the series.

My rating:  C       2.5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary e-copy of Tried & True from Bethany House Publishing for my honest review. 

Blessings,

    Ellen

The Healing Quilt... a book review

The  Healing Quilt

Available: August 1, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-61626-087-3 

Soft cover: $15.99  

Fiction / Christian / Amish / Romance

Series: The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club

Publisher: Handlebar Publishing and Shiloh Run Press,

an imprint of Barbour Publishing

 

In the third book in the Amish Quilting Club series, we meet Emma and Lamar as they begin a new quilting class in Sarasota, FL.  The six students – ages teenage to retirees -  come from many different backgrounds.  The Quilting class is not all about teaching the craft, but being God’s light and love in a hurting world.  Yet, even Emma and Lamar could not imagine the challenges of their new students.

The premise was great – show the love of God through actions.  Yet, there are many characters and story lines being introduced and resolved within a single book.  I felt that due to this, the story just skimmed the surface of the characters’ struggles.  The book would have been richer had there been less plot lines to follow and more in-depth story lines.   If you want a simple, feel-good read, you will enjoy this book.  I was hoping Wanda E. Brunstetter would flesh out the characters’ and their histories better – put more meat on the spine of this book.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable, but left me wanting more

I received a complimentary copy of The Healing Quilt from Handlebar Publishing for my honest review.

Blessings,

   Ellen