Happy July 4th-Book Review/Spotlight

Happy 4th!

I hope you are having a great day!

We have just simple plans today.  Stay in.  Stay cool.  It's 

Summertime in Texas and that means hot.  A perfect time to 

settle in with A/C turned up and read a good book.  

I finished a good one last night and I thought I would share it today in case you are looking for a good read for the weekend. 

I really enjoyed this one.  If you like a good Romance with great characters a fun plot and a sweet and happy ending check this one out!

About the book 

He’s raising the son she gave up for adoption. They’re falling for each other, but he doesn’t know she is the mother of his child.

Giving her baby up was the hardest thing Emery Chase had to do, but when she saw her son seven years later in a chance encounter at the grocery store, she wasn’t sure how to handle it. He looked exactly like the pictures she received every six months, and her heart yearned to have a relationship with the child she was forced to give up.

After a car accident that left Seth Wellington with two broken arms, he needed caregiving assistance. The moment Emery Chase presented herself for an interview, he knew she was different but not in a good way. Her edgy appearance was more than his conservative mindset could handle, but her inability to be intimidated won him over in the end.

When two people who couldn’t be more different fell for each other, everything seemed almost perfect until Emery revealed who she really was.

Would they have the chance to become a family or was the betrayal too much to overcome?

*This is a contemporary Christian story with strong Biblical themes and Bible references.

And I thought 

I didn't know what to expect.  I enjoy a good Sweet/Clean Romance.  

I was pleasantly surprised that this one as described above has strong Biblical themes and Bible references. 

Midway through both lead characters begin to really question the need for a relationship with God. 

I enjoyed the romance.  I enjoyed the characters.  Seth and Emery are like able characters that kind of steal your heart as they steal each others. 

Emery begins actually disliking Seth but since he is raising her son she bites the bullet so to speak and goes to work for him as his 

temporary personal assistant.  

But Seth is a charming character and begins to wind his way into Emery's heart.  

It isn't surprising when Emery admits who she is to Seth that he 

backs away and sends Emery litterally 'packing'.  But God's already working on Seth's heart and Emery's too through 

Seth's cousin Delilah that shares her faith with both of them. 

If you like a good romance give this one a chance.  It might be a little too much for someone like Emery in the beginning before she begins seeking God but for the seeker it is a good story that shares a message of God's love.  

This is a good book to recommend to someone who is 'seeking'.

I enjoyed every moment of this book.  Long title and all.  

I look forward to reading more in this series. 

I received a complimentary copy. 

My review will appear on Amazon and Good Reads and promoted on social media. 

Buy the book 

Amazon

Book Review-A Woman Overwhelmed by Hayley DiMarco- A Litfuse Tour

About the book (provided by Lifuse)

A Woman Overwhelmed: Finding God in the Messes of Life (Abingdon Press, August 2017)

“A Woman Overwhelmed” is a phrase with which many women can relate.

But what would happen if we could see the insanity in our pace and embrace our overwhelming God?

There is a reason they say that a woman’s work is never done— because it isn’t! As women, we often are overwhelmed by the demands and circumstances of life, resulting in stress, fear, worry, impatience, fatigue, frustration, and even depression. The truth is that we were created to be overwhelmed . . . not by life but by God! When we learn to be overwhelmed by God, the fruit in our lives goes from rotten to fragrant—filling our days with peace, hope, love, and joy.

In A Woman Overwhelmed, best-selling author Hayley DiMarco shares biblical insights and personal stories to offer a glimpse at the comedy of an overwhelmed life while encouraging us to discover the depths and heights of God’s love and power.

Be empowered to find freedom in becoming overwhelmed with who God is—by learning to focus on what we know about God so that we can hold onto faith even when it seems that all is lost. For it is when an overwhelmed woman gives up the mission of me and exchanges it for the mission of God that being overwhelmed becomes a good thing.

Choose to bask in the abundance of the Father instead of the abundance of life as his unfathomable depths can surely replace our fathomable messes.

And I thought

I wouldn't be truthful if I said I am not a Woman Overwhelmed. 

I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said that I didn't find help in filling my days with peace, hope, love and joy after reading this book.

Who doesn't want to bask in the abundance of the Father.  

Hayley DiMarco shares herself and shares what God has taught her.  

This is a great book for all women.  Mature or young.  I think there are times that we are all in a place where we need to be reminded of God's sovereignty and his grace. 

Let's face it.  It's hard being a wife and a mom.  I for one am grateful to find some help.  

I recommend Woman Overwhelmed to all women. 

I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse. 

This review will appear on retail sites where available and on 

Good Reads. 

Available 

   

Beloved Hear My Heart by Lawrence Sankar-Book Review

About the book (provided by BookCrash.com)

Beloved Hear My Heart is a collection of thirty thought provoking messages, all carefully written with a very poetic flavor. Its singular objective is to engage the reader in a very sober conversation.
It is my hope that the vivid illustrations and analogies contained therein will challenge each reader to reverently undertake a personal task of self-introspection.

It is indeed a clarion call from the Creator God, to the creature mankind to return to the Biblical principles divinely proclaimed within the Word of God. Topics covered include: A Sense of Righteous Urgency, The Lord’s Amnesty, The Moral Arc of Civility, The Timeless Message of Repentance, and Making a Difference in an Indifferent Society.

And I thought 

This was an interesting book for me.  I was not what I expected. 

Reading the title I was interested in reading it and hoping that it would bring me closer to God. 

I can't really say that it did.  

I was looking for a devotional type book.

Most of the book is written in a really poetic style which doesn't appeal to me.  

The 31 messages (as the synopsis describes) are written as personal writings with personal notes at the end of each.  In each section of notes the author follows up the installment with scripture to support his thoughts.  

Sadly I did find a few grammatical errors which made me wish that it had been edited better.  

The content is good and someone that is into deep reading would enjoy it.   

For me right now it just wasn't a good fit.   

The author shared his heart and his desire and longing to share his faith.  

I received a complimentary copy from Bookcrash.com

This book is available at Amazon 

This review will appear on Amazon and Good Reads.

Book Review His Guilt by Shelley Shepard Gray

About the book (provided by Litfuse)

His Guilt: The Amish of Hart County(Avon Inspire, July 2017)

A suspenseful tale of an Amish man who will risk all to protect the woman he loves

Mark Fisher has returned home to Hart County, determined to put the past behind him. Two years ago, after being wrongly accused of assault, he left the Amish community, though never forgot his home. When the one person who had helped him through his rough times asks for help, Mark returns. But it is pretty Waneta Cain who makes him want to stay…

Neeta is one of the few people in Hart County who doesn’t believe Mark is guilty of hurting anyone. However, his worldliness and tough exterior do make her uneasy. As she begins to see the real man behind all the gossip and prejudice, she wonders if he is the man for her.

Just when Mark starts to believe a new life is possible, a close friend of Neeta’s is attacked. Once again, everyone in the community seems to believe he is guilty. But what hurts most is Neeta’s sudden wariness around him. When another woman is hurt, a woman who is close to both Neeta and himself, Mark fears he knows the real culprit. And time is running out. Will Mark be able to find him before Neeta becomes his next victim? 

And I thought

A cross between a sweet Amish romance.  

And a suspenseful thriller.

These books are a fast read for me.  I am swept in to the story.

The romance and the conflict kept me riding the wave until the very end.  

His Guilt is the 2nd in a the series.  The topic of the story isn't what I typically expect in a story about the Amish.  I expect 

sweet romance with good kind hearted folk.  

This is not what Shelley gives the reader.  For the most part the characters are good kind hearted and God fearing.  But she writes 'real life' and 'real life drama'.  

His Guilt is a story about abuse.  Women are being attacked and abused.  

For me I couldn't help but think it was sad.  I think I  try to tell myself that there are places  that are wholesome and free of pain, hurt and crime.  But I realize that place only exists in the here after.  

The stories in this series are about pain and hurt and crime.  

But they are about love and hope and redemption. 

I enjoyed all the characters.  The main characters are able to get beyond their pasts and fall in love and live happily ever after.

I liked Marks brother and hope to see him maybe in a different series.  After leaving home at 14 he got into trouble.  Years later when he returns his trouble follows.  An causes some to speculate that he's possible the villain. In the end he's grown into a strong 
man with a little help from Mark and Lori. (they knew each other in high school).  And with some help from the local police he leaves town and goes under cover.  Sounds like a great new series may be in the works.  We can hope!

I liked many of the sub characters and am glad to see that Lori and Deputy Beck get together too and make an appearance in book 3.

Shelley provides some feedback and questions at the end and an excerpt from book 3. 

His Guilt is a good and clean romance.  It is a bit of a thriller 

and the crime(s) make this a book one that I would suggest parents read before allowing an older teen to read.  A parental discussion 

might be warranted.  (No language.  Nothing overly graphic.) 

Very tastefully written. 

Readers of romance would really like this book and book 1 in the series.  

I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse.

This review will appear on Amazon, CBC and B&N.

This review will appear on Good Reads.

Available

Amazon,CBC,B&N

To read more reviews visit the Litfuse tour.  Click here.

Dead On Ice by Lauren Carr Now on Audio Interview with Narrator

About the book (provided by I Read Book Tours)

Spunky Cameron Gates is tasked with solving the murder of Cherry Pickens, a legendary star of pornographic films, whose body turns up in an abandoned freezer. The case has a personal connection to her lover, Joshua Thornton, because the freezer was located in his cousin's basement. It doesn't take long for their investigation to reveal that the risqué star's roots were buried in their rural Ohio Valley community, something that Cherry had kept off her show business bio. She should have kept her hometown off her road map, too - because when this starlet came running home from the mob, it proved to be a fatal homecoming.

Title: Dead on Ice: A Lovers in Crime Mystery
Written by: Lauren Carr
Narrated by: Mike Alger
Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins 
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:11-23-16
Publisher: Acorn Book Services

Content Rating: PG-13 (for murder scenes, some sexual content, not explicit, some profanity but no f-words)

And I thought

What can I say about Lauren Carr and her works.  I was first introduced by I Read Tours when I was offered to read

the Mac Faraday Series Candidate for Murder.  I was hooked!

Dead On Ice is from the Lovers In Crime Series.  Lauren is a busy girl writing a lot of different series.  They are all great and all cross over.  

Each book is written so that a new reader can jump in without having read any of the previous books in the series.

But

Reader Beware.  You will become addicted.

I have.

Dead On Ice is a re-release in that it being released in audio.

Which I think is way cool.  Imagine going on a road trip and listening to a great book!  

Dead On Ice is book 1 in the Lovers in Crime series.  I was introduced to Cameron and Joshua when I read Killer in the Band and fell in love with them and the rest of the cast!  

I was glad to get the opportunity to go back to their beginning and the start of their romance.

With each book I read from Lauren Carr whether it is a Lovers in Crime,  Mac Faraday or a Thorny Rose (featuring Mac's daughter and Joshua's son) title I am lured in wanting more!   

Lauren keep up the good work and thank you for many hours of reading pleasure and suspense.

Dead On Ice deserves a 5 star rating.

I received a complimentary copy from I Read Tours

This review will appear on Amazon and Good Reads.

This review will appear on my book blog My Reading Journeys

For the tour I had the opportunity to interview the narrator.

The interview is below. 

Available

Audible  ~  Amazon

A sneak peek at my  Interview with the narrator

Mike Alger's

Hello. Welcome to the blog. I am so excited to chat with you about Lauren Carr’s audio book

Dead On Ice. I have to admit I am a huge fan of Lauren and have loved every one of her

books! This is my first time to interview a narrator. I have a huge load of questions but I’ll

keep it brief!

Thanks for having me on. I’m a big fan of Lauren’s as well!

First I am very curious about how a meteorologist becomes a book narrator? Is this a 2nd

career or side job?

Well, I guess it’s both. I am still the full time Chief Meteorologist for KTVN-TV in Reno, NV,

who has found a 2

nd

career narrating talking books. I guess I don’t deal with boredom well, so I

need to find things to do to keep me out of trouble!

I noticed you’ve narrated a few Science Fiction and Fantasy novels. Wh

Hello. Welcome to the blog. I am so excited to chat with you about Lauren Carr’s audio book

Dead On Ice. I have to admit I am a huge fan of Lauren and have loved every one of her

books! This is my first time to interview a narrator. I have a huge load of questions but I’ll

keep it brief!

Thanks for having me on. I’m a big fan of Lauren’s as well!

First I am very curious about how a meteorologist becomes a book narrator? Is this a 2nd

career or side job?

Well, I guess it’s both. I am still the full time Chief Meteorologist for KTVN-TV in Reno, NV,

who has found a 2

nd

career narrating talking books. I guess I don’t deal with boredom well, so I

need to find things to do to keep me out of trouble!

I noticed you’ve narrated a few Science Fiction and Fantasy novels. Wh

Hello. Welcome to the blog. I am so excited to chat with you

about Lauren Carr’s audio book Dead On Ice.  I have admit

I am a huge fan of Lauren and have loved every one of her books! 

 Thank's for having me I am a huge fan of Lauren's.

This is my first time to interview a narrator.  I have a huge load of questions but I’ll keep it brief! 

First I am very curious how a meteorologist becomes a book narrator? 

Is this a 2^nd career or side job? 

 Well I guess it's both.  I am still a full-time meteorologist for KTVN-tv in Reno, Nevada who has a 2nd career narrating books. 

I guess I don't deal with boredom well so I need to find things to keep me out of trouble.

I noticed you’ve narrated a few Science Fiction and Fantasy novels.

What was it like to switch gears and narrate a Cozy Mystery? 

I love to read all kinds of genre so it is fun to dabble in various ones as

Join me at My Reading Journeys for the entire interview with 

narrator Mike Algers.  

Hello. Welcome to the blog. I am so excited to chat with you about Lauren Carr’s audio book

Dead On Ice. I have to admit I am a huge fan of Lauren and have loved every one of her

books! This is my first time to interview a narrator. I have a huge load of questions but I’ll

keep it brief!

Thanks for having me on. I’m a big fan of Lauren’s as well!

First I am very curious about how a meteorologist becomes a book narrator? Is this a 2nd

career or side job?

Well, I guess it’s both. I am still the full time Chief Meteorologist for KTVN-TV in Reno, NV,

who has found a 2

nd

career narrating talking books. I guess I don’t deal with boredom well, so I

need to find things to do to keep me out of trouble!

I noticed you’ve narrated a few Science Fiction and Fantasy novels. Wh

The tour

To read more reviews and interviews visit the I Read Tour

click here