Borders Of The Heart by Chris Fabry, Book review

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
ISBN-13: 978-1414348629

Synopsis:

Desperate to escape haunting memories, J. D. Jessup travels from Nashville to Tucson and volunteers on an organic farm. The hardened landowner has one prevailing rule: If J. D. sees an “illegal,” call the border patrol. But when an early morning ride along the fence line leads him to a beautiful young woman named Maria, near death in the desert, his heart pulls him in another direction.

Longing to atone for the choices that drove him to Tucson, J. D. hides her and unleashes a chain of deadly events he could never have imagined. Soon they are running from a killer and fighting for their lives. As secrets of their pasts emerge, J. D. realizes that saving Maria may be the only way to save himself.

My thoughts:

This riveting Christian novel bares the human soul! In 'Borders Of The Heart' Chris Fabry describes love,  hate, drugs, passion and fear in his unmistakable gripping style!

Plagued by dreams and nightmares which leaves him often sleepless, J. D. Jessup is hiding from his past on a organic farm under the guise of learning the business.
His life takes however a turn for the worse when he rescues a young lady he assume is an illegal immigrant and his new boss is, like everyone else in the area, very much against illegals .

What follows is a fast paced thriller that becomes a page turner impossible to put down, trust me! 
J. D. soon discovers friends and foes whilst battling paid killers, bounty hunters, a drug cartel and what amounts finally to the whole county!

An impressing novel and a clear reminder God is really in control, Borders of The Heart is also filled with a great deal of family values!

Chris Fabry gives a fine example of why bad things happen to good people in this novel! You will want to read this one!

A resounding 5 stars!!

About the Author:

Chris Fabry tells us:

"My stories come from life and sometimes art imitates stories.
Four years ago my family and I moved to the desert. I'm not a desert person. But I knew the experience would at some point provide a rich, fertile place to tell a dusty tale.
Borders of the Heart is my nod toward some of the great western writers--Cormac McCarthy and Larry McMurtry. It's a love story, a painful story of loss, a mystery, and an edge-of-your-seat thriller. I hope you enjoy the ride through Tucson and the surrounding area as much as I did."

For more on this great storyteller visit his website (here).

See below for Questions & Answers regarding this impressive novel!

 http://mediacenter.tyndale.com/downloads/press_kits/BordersoftheHeartQ&A.pdf

Don't miss the trailer for Borders of the Heart!

watch on tyndale.com

I received this book free from TYNDALE 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.

A Love Surrendered by Julie Lessman, Book review

Publisher: Revell
ISBN-13: 978-0800734176

Synopsis:

Orphaned in Iowa, Annie Kennedy moves to Boston to stay with her spinster aunt. She longs for romance to fill the void left by her parents' death. But when she falls hard for Steven O'Connor, the man who broke an engagement to her sister, Annie is worried. Will he break her heart too when he discovers who she really is?

With heart-pounding romance, intense family drama, and emotional twists and turns, A Love Surrendered is everything Julie Lessman's many fans have been waiting for.

My thoughts:

Book # 3 in the 'Winds of Change' series, 'A Love Surrendered' brings to readers the depression era and two families: The O'Connors and the Kennedys. Set in Boston in 1932, it is written with passion and will inspire all sorts of feelings. Julie Lessman knows how to grab her readers, proof that she is after all a very good author!

Inspirational, intense and at times extremely romantic, it is none the less imperative for readers to remember the era this story draws its background from. The idea of 'me Jane, you Tarzan' might come across fiercefully at times. Let's remember that women at the time were viewed as having one place and that was in the kitchen (or bedroom and nursery). WWII soon changed this for many as they took their place in the work force in lieu of enlisted men.

There is much to think over once you have finished reading the drama behind Annie and Steven's love story which incidentally is crisscrossed with countless O'Connor family members! I shall describe this as a clan, Irish to be exact, a large family with strong convictions and deep emotions, some volatile and quite impressive. I did not always agree with such forceful display but admit it was fitting for the era.

I found the setting of Ocean Pier and its boardwalk quite intriguing along with the Prohibition agents raids and speakeasies background. 

Finally, be prepared for a surprise or two towards the end (one I will admit I did not see coming!).

Julie Lessman is no newcomer to the writing world and she is a person of convictions herself. You soon realize her writing reflects her faith deeply. I felt she portrays her characters based on this and for that alone I highly recommend her novels to the younger generation. In a society where pressures have become too often the acceptable norm, let's applaud someone who offers deep passion with responsibility! 

4 Stars!

About the Author:

 

Julie Lessman is the popular author of A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied, as well as A Hope Undaunted, which was one of 2010's Booklist Top Ten Inspirational Fiction winners, and A Heart Revealed. 

Julie Lessman has garnered several writing awards, including ten Romance Writers of America awards.

For more on the author visit her website (here).

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.
 

William Henry Is A Fine Name by Cathy Gohlke, Book review

Publisher: Moody Publishers
ISBN-10: 0802499732

Synopsis:

From the back cover...

The shadow of a face in the window.

The quilt on the line.

Howling dogs. Threatening intruders.

And a railroad that runs underground.

Thirteen-year-old Robert had known little of these things growing up. His southern adolescence consisted of his mother, who viewed slavery as a natural part of life, and his father, whose late night disappearances were becoming more frequent and disruptive.

Then there is William Henry, Robert’s best friend. They did everything together—until the summer of 1859. That’s when Robert realizes William Henry knows more about these late night mysteries than he does. It’s also when Robert is told that William Henry is less than human . . . because he is black.

Now Robert must decide for himself where he stands on slavery. With his loved ones pitted against each other, he struggles to understand justice and wonders how high a price he is willing to pay for it.

And then he gets the chance to find out.

My thoughts:

I have always held a fascination for the enormous amount of information available in regard to the (US) Civil war era. Diaries, letters, photos and all sorts of factual reports have emerged giving us a better understanding to life in those times. 
Cathy Gohlke chose 1859 as the setting for her first 'Civil War Series' novel 'William Is A Fine Name' bringing to readers a tale which can only be termed as brilliant. It appears many thought the same since this talented author received a Christy Award!

Thirteen year old Robert and freed slave William Henry live in two very different world yet a precious friendship ties them together. Robert's father is involved in the Underground Railway whilst his mother, the daughter of a plantation and slaves owner objects bitterly at the risk her husband takes for others. 
When her ailing father requests her presence she takes Robert to the plantation where the full realization of what slavery is all about hits the young man fiercely. He now understands why his father undertakes so many risks.
This is a story of one young man's stand, the sacrifices he makes to do what is right, a story of courage, of believing in others despite the risks and placing one's trust in the Almighty!

Robert is certainly the most interesting Civil war era character I have read about. Allow me to share the author's fine tuned thoughts of this young man...

"Sleepy Summer sound of wood thrushes and night owls drifted low on the evening breeze. A Carolina wren sang its lullaby. I stretched long on the hearth rug, my hands locked behind my head, and stared up into the beams of the ceiling. Pa tamped his pipe, lifted his heavy bible off the shelf and sat down by the west window so the light could find his page.

I never minded the evening read. I loved the music in Pa's voice when he took the Book. Words didn't sit still on the page in black, block letters for him like they did for me. They leaped into the night sky, casting shadows among the fire dancers, conjuring battles and bloody sacrifices. Long treacherous journey, spoils of war and riches beyond anything I could imagine in daylight played through the air while Pa read.

When he read Solomon, I loved a woman with my whole heart and soul, even though I'd not raised my eyes to a girl in town. In Acts, I believed myself in far-off Jerusalem, breathless from the heat of the mob and bruised by the sharp edges of rocks that stoned Stephen. I lay limp on the floor when the lifeblood and water dripped out of Jesus on the cross.

Some place deep inside me cried over the tenderness of an Almighty God who counts the hairs of my head precious and keep track of each sparrow, who would search  night and day until He found a lone, lost lamb, intent on returning it to the fold...

...When Pa read, I saw a God of peace and mercy, grieved by war and one man's meanness to another. It seemed to me a great, long journal written since the beginning of time,, and in it I could learn, little by little, the secrets of life."

There is precious little a reviewer could possibly offer to readers as a recommendation to read such book but the words of the author herself which is why I chose to share my favourite segment.

'William Henry is a Fine Name' is the most powerfully written work of young adult fiction I have had the opportunity to read in a while. A big thank you to Carla Stewart for her recommendation! I would not have wanted to miss this one for anything in the world!

Cathy Gohlke writes with her whole heart and faith and her excellent penmanship will reach out to anyone! This is a story that should be required reading for the younger generation but also for adults as a reminder of what evil slavery truly is (yes IS, NOT WAS!).

Be sure to read the continuation in 'I Have Seen Him In The Watchfires. Book # 2 in her 'Civil War Series'!

5 Stars as there are no higher rating!! 

About the Author:

'Cathy’s passion for people and the journeys that shape their lives make her a natural storyteller.'
And what a storyteller! 
For more on this talented writer visit her website (here).

Note to readers: 
Just a reminder of course: I was not asked to review this book and only wished to share my opinion!

The Trouble With Cowboys by Denise Hunter, Book review and Giveaway

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN-13: 978-1595548030

Synopsis:


Only one pair of boots—and the cowboy wearing them—can get Annie out of the mess she’s in.
Annie Wilkerson is Moose Creek’s premiere horse trainer and equine columnist for Montana Living. Money is tight as she tries to put her kid-sister through college and provide for her young nephew. When Annie’s column is cancelled, she’s given first shot at a new lovelorn column—and she can’t afford to turn it down. Only problem is . . . Annie’s never been in love.

Always resourceful, she reluctantly strikes a deal with the town’s smooth-talking ladies’ man Dylan Taylor: She’ll work with his ailing horse, Braveheart, if he’ll help her answer the reader letters.

Working closely with Dylan is harder than Annie imagined, and she quickly realizes she may have misjudged him. But her unwavering conviction that cowboys are nothing but trouble has kept her heart safe for years. And she can’t risk getting hurt now.

The more Annie tries to control things, the more they fall apart. Her feelings are spinning out of control, and her sister’s antics are making life increasingly more difficult. Annie knows she needs to turn the reins over to God, but surrender has never come easily.

When Dylan reveals his feelings for her, Annie doesn’t know what to trust—her head or her heart. The trouble with this cowboy is that he might just be exactly what she needs.

My thoughts:

'The Trouble with Cowboys' written by well known romanticist Denis Hunter and part of the 'Big Sky Romance' series will provide readers with just the sort of entertainment they might look for on a Autumnal afternoon! There is no doubt Denise Hunter gives her audience what she promised: an enjoyable alternative to the humdrum of everyday life.
I had the opportunity to read another of her novels (on a long layover in a faraway airport with little amenities!) called 'The Convenient Groom' and I will tell you she had me in stitches! Be sure to check her other titles!

But back to The Trouble With Cowboys! This Christian author has a knack for the light but never fluffy sort of novel that you will gladly reach for along with a good mug of cocoa! Entertaining yet with a lesson or two (don't miss each chapter header!), a message tucked here and there and perfect to share with anyone including the younger generation!
Denise Hunter's books are wholesome and will win your heart!

Montana born and raised Annie Wilkerson is an expert horse trainer, a loving sister and a great aunty. Life has dealt her a lot of responsibilities since her GrandPa died. Taking care of her wayward sister is not easy and she takes on her role of Mum seriously hoping to see her sister settle.
Annie does not trust cowboys: they are here today, gone tomorrow. The past has taught her to stay clear away from them.
 

Easy going Dylan needs her help with his nearly blind horse and in turn, Annie could use his help with her latest assignment, a lovelorn column she feels is just not for her since she has never felt love before. So they make a deal: her equine expertise for his help with her column. Annie is struggling with financial responsibilities but promised her GrandPa she will take care of everyone and she is trying to ignore her qualms.
She cannot trust Dylan because he is a cowboy after all and will probably break her heart. Then again, is she judging him too quickly? Or should she let her heart and faith guide her?
After all, God is in charge, not Annie...

I think we shall agree once you read this story: if Denise keeps on writing, we'll keep on reading!

5 stars for all the good feelings this novel brought on (and a few sighs as well...)


About the Author:

Denise Hunter is the nationally published author of bestsellers Sweetwater Gap and Surrender Bay. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and was a RITA finalist.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

For more on this author including reading the first chapter of this novel see website (here). Love the banner! And be sure to sign for her newsletter! 


Denise Hunter’s “The Trouble with Cowboys” Facebook Party & Kindle Fire Giveaway!
 

To celebrate the release of The Trouble with Cowboys Denise is hosting a fun Author Chat Party on Facebook. She'll connect with readers and give away some amazing prizes - including a Kindle Fire! 
Save the Date for October 11th!

Grab your copy of Denise Hunter’s latest book and join her for an Author Chat Party on October 11th at 8:00 PM EST (that’s 7:00 Central, 6:00 MST, & 5:00 PST)! Haven’t read The Trouble with Cowboys yet? That’s okay, don’t let that stop you from coming to the party! (You may win a copy!)

During the evening she’ll be sharing the story behind the book, posting discussion questions, testing your trivia skills, and of course, there will be plenty of chatting and fun giveaways – books, gift certificates and – a Kindle Fire! She’ll also be giving you a sneak peek of her next book too!

RSVP today and then come back on the 11th … and bring your friends!


I received this book free from LITFUSE 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.

Whispers In The Wind by Lauraine Snelling, Book review

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
ISBN-13: 978-0764204166

Synopsis:
 

Book Two in Lauraine Snelling's Exciting Wild West Wind Series

After fleeing North Dakota and the now defunct Wild West Show, Cassie Lockwood and her companions have finally found the hidden valley in South Dakota where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. But to her dismay, she discovers a ranch already built on her land.

Cassie's arrival surprises Mavis Engstrom and forces her to reveal secrets she's kept hidden for years. Her son Ransom is suspicious of Cassie and questions the validity of her claim to the valley. But Lucas Engstrom decides from the start that he is in love with her and wants to marry her.

Will Cassie be able to build a home on the Bar E Ranch and fulfill her father's dream of raising horses, or will she be forced to return to the itinerant life of her past?

My thoughts:

After reading only the first chapter I knew I should emphazise 'Read the books in order!'. Live and learn!

Anyone who has read Book 1, might enjoy following 'the rest of the story' in 'Whispers In The Wind'. For once, this author however did not meet my expectations.

The title was enticing but I struggled with the characters, some clearer than others and those were the sub characters! The actual plot was difficult to grasp despite a few 'recalled' memories and at times throughly confusing if not right down sluggish.  
As the main character Cassie just does not grab the reader. There is plenty of action and a few interesting factors overall in the novel though (albeit I could have done without the step by step skinning/curing of an Elk for i.e.).

As confusing as Cassie's feelings (should she?, should she not?), I found the whole story lacking 'a little je ne sais quoi'. As to any possible romantic attachment hinted at... No sparks there! (at least so far, but at the rate this story develops, it might take a few more books to find out what happens next...sigh...)

Far from being the good Western I expected, I can only say you must be a fan of Lauraine Snelling's writing or wish to read the continuation of this story in the next installment (and the next...). I do not like loose ends but there was nothing in Book 2 that would entice me to read the rest ( I do not plan to hunt a Elk or stuff sausages anytime soon!).

3 Stars!

About the Author:

Lauraine Snelling, an award-winning author of fifty-plus books with sales of over 2 million copies, also writes for a wide range of magazines and teaches at writers' conferences across the country.
Visit her website (here) for more information! 

 

I received this book free from BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS 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.

Life with Lily by M.A. Kinsinger and S. Woods Fisher, Book review

Publisher: Revell 

ISBN-13: 978-0800721329

Synopsis:
 

For a child, every day is a thing of wonder. And for six-year-old Lily Lapp, every day is a new opportunity for blessings, laughter, family, and a touch of mischief. As she explores her world, goes to school, spends time with her family, and gets into a bit of trouble with her friends, Lily learns what it means to be Amish and what it means to grow up. From getting a new teacher to welcoming a new sibling, Lily's life is always full of adventure.

The first of four charming novels that chronicle the gentle way of the Amish through the eyes of a young girl, Life with Lily gives children ages 8-12 a fascinating glimpse into the life of the Amish--and lots of fun and laughter along the way. It combines the real-life stories of growing up Amish from Mary Ann Kinsinger and the bestselling writing of Amish fiction and nonfiction author Suzanne Woods Fisher. With charming illustrations throughout, this series is sure to capture the hearts of readers young and old.

 

My thoughts:

 

Absolutely delightful! 'Life with Lily', Book 1 in 'The Adventures of Lily Lapp' should have been written years ago! Mary Ann and Suzanne have come up with a wonderful little gem!

Written primarily with younger children (ages 8-12) these are none the less stories which grown ups and children alike will love to discover!  There is nothing better than reading out loud to a child and share a precious moment!

There is an amazing amount of information betwixt these pages and I can't wait to share it with young friends. Seen through the eyes of lovely (and sometimes mischievous) 5 year old Lily, it has a fresh appeal for avid readers of Amish tales such as myself! 

 

We have learned much about the Amish world through wonderful stories told by such authors as Suzanne Woods Fisher herself but 'The Adventures of Lily Lapp' is destined to be a favourite and best of all, one you can share with everyone!

Each chapter involves a new adventure in Lily's life involving family, friends, neighbours, livestock, school and so on...One look at the little face featured on the cover (for once, the cover is right on!) and your heart will be won over! 

 

There are of course lessons to be learned throughout it all! After all, Lily and other Amish children are in no way different from Englisher and yes, things can and will happen...I don't know if the 'cat' with the bushy tail found by Lily in the barn (priceless!) or her brother's Joseph attempt to fly will be your favourites but it certainly were mine! 

I whole heartily applaud this new series and I give  it 5 stars!

I am looking forward to Book 2!

 

About the Authors:

 

 

Mary Ann Kinsinger was raised Old Order Amish in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. She met and married her husband, whom she knew from school days and started a family. After they chose to leave the Amish church, Mary Ann began a blog, A Joyful Chaos, as a way to capture her warm memories of her childhood for her own children. From the start, this blog found a ready audience and even captured the attention of key media players, such as the influential blog AmishAmerica and the New York Times. 

 

 

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, The Search, The Keeper, and The Haven, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Christy Award nominee and is the host of an Internet radio show called Amish Wisdom.  

 

Be sure to check out Suzanne Woods Fisher website (here) for related Giveaway and if you have not done so, sign up for her newsletter!

 

 

 

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.

 

A Perfect Square by Vannetta Chapman, Book review

Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN-13: 978-0310330448

Synopsis:

There's more to the quaint northern Indiana town of Shipshewana than handcrafted quilts, Amish-made furniture, immaculate farms and close-knit families. When a dead girl is found floating in a local pond, murder is also afoot. And Reuben Fisher is in jail as the suspect! Reuben refuses to divulge any information, even to clear himself of a crime Deborah is certain he didn't commit. So, with her English friend, Callie---fellow sleuth and owner of Daisy's Quilt Shop---Deborah sets out to uncover the truth. 

But the mystery deepens when an elderly man seeks Callie's help in finding his long-lost daughter, missing since the days of the 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes. An old man who has lost his past. A young man who may lose his future. 

Once again Deborah and Callie find themselves trying to piece together a crazy quilt of lives and events---one that can bring unexpected touches of God's grace and resolve the tragedy that has shaken this quiet Amish community.

My thoughts:

After reading 'A Perfect Square', second book in the Shipshewana Amish Mysteries I am perfectly willing to find a special spot for any Vannetta Chapman's tomes on my bookshelves (or add another one...somewhere!)!  
With Beth Wiseman's recommendation for this novel I knew I was in for a treat! I always like to hear an author praising another fellow writer, don't you?

I discovered long ago the appeal of Amish genre literature but this was the first 'whodunit' for me and this one is truly a page turner! Not content with one single plot of 'whom, what , where, how and why', Vannetta Chapman blends two mysteries decades apart and links them to the present.

With a lovely quilt shoppe tucked in the scenic background, we find Englisher and Amish living  blessed lives in Shipshewana, Indiana to be as near to perfection as possible until that is, a body is found floating in a nearby pond...There is no clue to the young girl's identity.

Callie is the owner of Daisy's Quilt, a shoppe inherited from her aunt and with canine Max is a recent transplant from Houston, Texas. Amish and Mennonite lifestyles still holds many mysteries for Callie but Amish friends Deborah, Esther and Melinda help her to adapted to her new life whilst teaching her a thing or two about quilting. With Max at her side (sporting a bandana matched to her clothing colour), Callie is definitively looking forward to her first winter in Indiana. 

When Reuben the owner of the pond is arrested for the murder by the local Chief of Police, Callie and her sleuth friends steps in to help out Reuben. 
Meanwhile, an elderly Amish who suffers from dementia finds his way to Callie's shoppe and begs her to find his daughter who disappeared in 1965.
As the story develops, you find yourself experiencing many emotions as with unmistakable talent, Vannetta Chapman hones her writing skills in this novel. 

Praying Reuben's innocence will come to light despite his unwillingness to make a statement, his family and friends search for any clue to help the Amish farmer regain his freedom. 

Alternating mystery and emotional drama, and with just the slightest hint of romance in the air (including a few hilarious situations), this is a  compelling book you will have a hard time to put down as each well written chapter gets better and better! 
Vanetta's inspirational plots draws you in and reminds us that with God anything is possible! You just have to believe!

With its excellent glossary and group questions for discussion, this makes an engaging novel to read, tucked in your favourite chair by the fireplace whilst sipping a cuppa!

5 Stars (and checking right now for additional titles by this author!)

About the Author:

'Vannetta Chapman has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania.'

For more on this charming author, please visit her website (here) and be sure to sign for her newsletter!

I received this book free from ZONDERVAN 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.