Sweet on You (Bradford Sisters Romance #3) by Becky Wade

Sweet on You

(Bradford Sisters Romance #3)

by 

Becky Wade 

About:

Britt and Zander have been best friends since they met thirteen years ago, but unbeknownst to Britt, Zander has been in love with her for just as long. When Zander's uncle dies of mysterious causes, he returns to Washington to investigate. As they work together to uncover his uncles tangled past, will the truth of what lies between them also come to light?

My Thoughts:

I am a huge Becky Wade fan! I was so excited at the release of this third novel, Sweet on You a Bradford Sisters Romance novel. I have read all of the other books in this series, so I could not wait to get my hands on this book! 

Sweet on You is a must read! You will fall in love with best friends Britt and Zander. Make sure to have candy or chocolate handy while reading this book as many of the scenes are like watching a great Hallmark movie of a fantastic baker, only Britt is a chocolatier. The scenes are mouth watering and yes, I ate some chocolate during the reading of this book. 

The romance, mystery and faith elements in this novel made Sweet on You one of my favorite books I have read this entire year. The character development of Britt and Zander made them come to life as Wade captured their uniqueness and brought them to life. I enjoyed the plot and the romantic chemistry.

I highly recommend Sweet on You! This book is adorable and so enjoyable. 

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

About the Author:

During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She's been a fan of all things romantic ever since.

Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas. It was during her years abroad that Becky's passion for reading turned into a passion for writing. She published three historical romances with Avon Books, then put her career on hold for several years to care for her three kids, then recently returned to writing sheerly for the love of it. She felt led to move to the genre of contemporary Christian romance and couldn’t be more thrilled with it. 

These days Becky can be found failing but trying to keep up with her housework, sweating at the gym, carting her kids around town, playing tennis, hunched over her computer, eating chocolate, or collapsed on the sofa watching TV with her husband.

On a Summer Tide (Three Sisters Island #1) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

On a Summer Tide

(Three Sisters Island #1)

by 

Suzanne Woods Fisher

About:

When her father buys an island off the coast of Maine with the hope of breathing new life into it, Camden Grayson thinks hes lost his mind. An unexpected event sends Cam to his rescue, and she discovers the island has its own way of living . . . and loving.

My Thoughts:

On A Summer Tide is a surprising and enjoyable read by Suzanne Woods Fischer. As someone who has previously read her Amish books, it was great to see her change up the pace into a contemporary novel and she did it with such a natural rhythm, that you never know she is a an amish author. This book is just as catching and grabbing as her amish series are. 

On A Summer Tide invites the reader to a beautiful backdrop of Maine where we meet three sister who have very different personalities and a whole of growing to do. Given time, hardwork and some life on the island, the reader soon discovers family bonds. This book is full of humor, romance and even a few twists. Elements of faith are brought into the story and I really enjoyed reading this book.  

Overall, I thought this book was a quick read and I found the characters to be very realistic. This book would make a perfect beach read. 

About the Author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling, award winning author of fiction and non-fiction books about the Old Order Amish for Revell Books, host of the radio-show-turned-blog Amish Wisdom, a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazine. 

Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, who was raised Plain. A theme in her books (her life!) is that you don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate the principles of simple living. 

Suzanne lives in California with her family and raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To her way of thinking, you just can't life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone's underwear in its mouth. 

“A Welcome at Our Door” by Amy Clipston

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for A Welcome At Our Door by Amy Clipston with JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: A Welcome At Our Door
Series: Amish Homestead, Book 4
Author: Amy Clipston
Publisher: Zondervan
Release Date: May 7, 2018
Genre: Amish Fiction

After a devastating loss, Cindy Riehl is still searching for peace. Will she find it in the community she calls home—or will love send her down a new path?

Over the last few years, Cindy Riehl—the youngest of the Riehl children—has watched her siblings find love and happiness in Lancaster County. But as her family has settled down and grown, Cindy has continued to grieve her mother, whose death left an enormous hole in her heart. Since that haunting day, Cindy has struggled to find peace and wonders if the community is the place for her—and if her faith in God will ever feel the same as it once did.

When a handsome and kind Englisher named Drew crosses Cindy’s path one surprising day, the two of them become fast and easy friends. Drew dreams of starting a family after some losses of his own, and before long, he and Cindy discover that their feelings for each other are romantic. As they spend more time together—often in secret—Cindy is drawn further and further away from the Amish community and the family she loves. In time, she is faced with a difficult choice that threatens to upend her world.

Will Cindy find contentment and love, and will she ever find restored comfort in God and her beloved community? In this final installment of the Amish Homestead series, we return to the charming town of Bird-in-Hand for a story of healing, family, and God’s perfect provision.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | ChristianBook

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, and Amish Homestead series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled rotten cats.

CONNECT WITH AMY: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of A Welcome At Our Door.

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight May 13, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm May 20, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

MY REVIEW:

I am a huge Amy Clipston fan, so at the opportunity to read her latest book "Amish Homestead," I jumped at it and boy, I was sure glad I did! The characters dive right off the page and straight into your heart. Amy has a knack for amazing characters who make you feel as though they are apart of your world, even though they live in the Amish community. 

If you have never read an Amish book, do not worry the author includes a list of English and Amish words to help readers figure out the translations. This was super helpful to me early on when I started reading Amish Christian fiction. I still use it when new words pop up. 

Honestly, I could not put this story down as read the story between Drew and Cindy. The two have an amazing friendship and I felt the tug at my heart as we walked through their grief together. Not to mention, I love Cucumber! Oh, did particular part of the story line make me laugh! This book is a quick read!

I have read all the rest of the books in the Amish Homestead series, but you do not need to read them. You can read them as a standalones, but I do recommend reading the series. 

I really enjoyed this Amish Christian fiction book! I received a e-copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

Rise of the Mystics (Beyond the Circle #2) by Ted Dekker

Rise of the Mystics

(Beyond the Circle #2)

by 

Ted Dekker

About:

Some say the great mystery of how one can live in two worlds at once died with Thomas Hunter many years ago. Still others that the gateway to that greater reality was and is only the stuff of dreams. They are all wrong.

Rachelle Matthews, who grew up in the small town of Eden, Utah, discovered just how wrong when she dreamed and awoke in another world. There she learned that she was the 49th Mystic, the prophesied one, tasked with finding five ancient seals before powerful enemies destroy her. If Rachelle succeeds in her quest, peace will reign. If she fails, the world will forever be locked in darkness.

In The 49th Mystic, Rachelle found the first three of those five seals through great peril and mind-altering adventure. But two seals remain hidden and the fate of both worlds hangs in their balance.

As Rachelle Matthews sits deep in a dungeon, Vlad Smith is just getting started. Thomas Hunter's world is about to be turned inside out. The mystics say that there is no defense against the Fifth Seal--but finding it will cost Rachelle everything.

So begins the final volume of high stakes in one girl's quest to find an ancient path that will save humanity. The clock is ticking; the end rushes forward.

Ready? Set?

Dream.

My Thoughts: I've been a long-time fan of Ted Dekker's work, his storylines, imagination and ability to craft a story. However, when it came to Rise of the Mystics, which is the second book in the Beyond The Circle series, I really struggled with this book and the first book in this series. For character development, I think Ted did a decent job with the development of Rachel and even Thomas, but I very much struggled with parts of this book, but I do think he ended the book well, despite my understanding of the seals and elements of this book that I do not agree with theologically.

About the Author:

Ted Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.

The 49th Mystic (Beyond the Circle #1) by Ted Dekker

The 49th Mystic

(Beyond the Circle #1)

by 

Ted Dekker

About:

Some say the great mystery of how one can live in two worlds at once died with Thomas Hunter many years ago. Still others that the gateway to that greater reality was and is only the stuff of dreams.

They are wrong. In the small town of Eden, Utah, a blind girl named Rachelle Matthews is about to find out just how wrong.

When a procedure meant to restore Rachelle's sight goes awry, she begins to dream of another world so real that she wonders if Earth might only be a dream experienced when she falls asleep in that reality. Who is a simple blind girl to have such strange and fantastic dreams?

She's the prophesied one who must find and recover five ancient seals--in both worlds--before powerful enemies destroy her. If Rachelle succeeds in her quest, peace will reign. If she fails, both worlds will forever be locked in darkness.

So begins a two-volume saga of high stakes and a mind-bending quest to find an ancient path that will save humanity. The clock is ticking; the end rushes forward.

Ready? Set?

My Thoughts:

I've been a long-time fan of Ted Dekker's work, his storylines, imagination and ability to craft a story. However, when it came to The 49th Mystic, I couldn't get into this book. I struggled. I really did and I wanted to like this book, I just couldn't get there. It wasn't my cup of tea. In this book, I feel like he is after identity as the overarching theme in the book. I struggled very much with the seals, but I do believe that Ted did a well job with character development. This book might not be my cup of tea, but it could be yours. Give it a try! 

About the author:

Ted Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.

The Heart of a King (The Loves of King Solomon #1-4) by Jill Eileen Smith

The Heart of a King

(The Loves of King Solomon #1-4)

by 

Jill Eileen Smith 

About:

Four women captured King Solomon's heart in different ways, and he indulges his desires despite warnings. For all his wisdom, did Solomon or the women he loved ever find what they were searching for?

My Thoughts:

The Heart of a King written by Jill Eileen Smith is a Biblical Fiction book that is remarkable. This book is easy to read and has amazing characters. She lays the ground work for a fantastic story describing Solomon's love and the story of his four wives. This book is so interesting and made me think of the Bible in a different lens. It helped me have a more vivid imagination to the Bible. The author did a great job of describing the personalities and character of Solomons wives and Solomon himself. She also did a great job showing how these women turned him away from the one true God. She made the reader very aware that no matter what things we think are God things, that we need to be careful because things will pull us away from Him if we do not keep our eyes on him. This book is very good and spoke to my heart. I can't wait to read more from this amazing author! 

If you like Biblical Fiction,The Heart of a King is well researched and a great story that you will enjoy. I highly recommend this book! 

About the Author:

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David series, the Daughters of the Promised Land, the Wives of the Patriarchs, and The Loves of King Solomon series. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.

When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike to the park, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or play with her lovable, “helpful” cat Tiger. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Shiny Things: Mothering on Purpose in a World of Distractions by Amanda Bacon

Shiny Things: Mothering on Purpose in a World of Distractions

by 

Amanda Bacon 

About:

What and who should get the best of us? 

And why is it so enticing to choose lesser things instead of lasting things? 

As moms we know the magnetic pull to steer away from what’s important and choose what feels irresistible in the moment. In Shiny Things, Amanda Bacon and Anne-Renee Gumley bring to light the distractions moms face every day.

 
Honoring God and loving our families are our highest priority, but sometimes we need help keeping them there. For all of us who find ourselves caught in the cycle of distraction but are looking for a way out, Shiny Things will help us: identify the threat of distractions so we can learn to live with intention
resist the pull to be interrupted by non-essentials and focus on God and our priority people
purpose to live free from distraction with hearts turned Godward in all we do
It’s never too late to take hold of what’s most important. Today’s a great day to start.

My Thoughts:

Shiny Things: Mothering on Purpose in a World of Distractions is a resource for all ages with practical, Godly wisdom that points the reader back to Jesus. While we are all distracted in our own way, this book helps you work your way back from the distractions, learn to set your priorities and help mothers to encourage them to take steps back to setting the right priorities. This book will help you feel refreshed after reading it and your mind will be be at peace as your priorities have been set straight. This book is a great read and I enjoyed it! 

Faith is for the Weak People by Ray Comfort

Faith is for the Weak People

by 

Ray Comfort

About:

Every day that we interact with the world, we are in a battle. At stake is the eternal destiny of the souls of our friends, family members, and coworkers. It is a battle we wage not only in prayer but also in words. When we are faced with objections to the faith we profess, are we ready to respond?

Apologist and evangelist Ray Comfort has spent his entire career answering objections to the faith, and he wants you to be equipped to do the same. In this practical book, he shows you how to answer 20 objections to Christianity, including questions such as

- What physical proof is there that God even exists?
- Why does a "loving" God threaten eternal torture for not believing in him?
- If there's an all-powerful God, why is the world so out of control?

Don't go into battle unarmed. Let Ray Comfort train you to be ready with an answer, not so you can be right, but so you can help bring people from darkness into light. 

My Thoughts:

Faith is For Weak People: Responding to the 20 Objections to the Gospel is a well written book on apologetics by Ray Comfort. Ray addresses the common questions raised against the faith and he responds in a way that provides biblical truth. He does this in creative ways to tackle hard questions, while equipping disciples and encouraging people in the process. This book will give the reader confidence and encouragement to answer questions, but also in understanding that they do know their Bible. I found this book to be helpful, but encouraging!

About the Author:

Ray is the Founder and CEO of Living Waters and the best–selling author of more than 80 books, including, Hell's Best Kept Secret, Scientific Facts in the Bible, and The Evidence Bible. He co–hosts (with actor Kirk Cameron) the award–winning television program "The Way of the Master," seen in 200 countries. He is also the Executive Producer on the movies "Audacity," "180," "Evolution vs. God," and others, which have been seen by millions. He and his wife, Sue, live in Bellflower, California, where they have three grown children.

It's a Love Story: From Happily to Ever After by Lincee Ray

It's a Love Story: From Happily to Ever After

by 

Lincee Ray

About:

uman beings love to be loved. And we love to fall in love. As children we pour our love into our pets and our friends. As teenagers we fall in love with musicians and actors and the boy whose locker is next to ours. As we mature, we long for romantic love that will last a lifetime. Sacrificial love, unexplainable love, familial love, desperate love. Love songs and love stories. Clearly we were created with the longing for love ingrained in our souls.

With lots of wit and a bit of wisdom drawn from a lifetime of falling in love, Lincee Ray invites you to an unabashed celebration of that loving feeling. As she reveals the loves of her life and encourages you to recall your own, you'll discover alongside her that there is only one who can ever truly fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts. And he made us to be part of a divine love story. 

My Thoughts:

I loved Why I Hate Green Beans, so when I saw that Lincee Ray had written a new book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on and read it! Of course, Lincee did not disappoint, it was even better than her first book. 

It's a Love Story will make you laugh, cry and bring back stories of your young years. This book brought memories from my youth that made me laugh and even some memories I wish were not there, but overall, this book reminds you of who is the one that you should love over anything.... I enjoyed every bit of this book and know that you will too! Grab your copy today! 

The Refuge by Ann H. Gabhart

The Refuge

by 

Ann H. Gabhart

About:

When Darcie and Walter Goodwin hear of a new cholera epidemic sweeping the area, they join the Shakers whose villages seem immune to the disease. It's meant to be a temporary stay, but Walter is killed in a riverboat accident. With no family and no money, Darcie has little choice but to stay with the Shakers. To complicate matters, she is expecting a baby conceived before she and her husband came to the Shaker village. Marital relationships are considered sinful in this celibate community, putting Darcie in a unique--and lonely--position. Can the arrival of widower Flynn Keller and his headstrong daughter offer Darcie the hope of happiness . . . and family?

Ann H. Gabhart returns to the enigmatic world of the Shakers in this emotional exploration of the power of love and the bond of family.

My Thoughts:

Ann Gabhart is a fantastic writer, so I very intrigued and taken with her latest book The Refuge. This book is done well with the research the Shakers, which is a something I was unfamiliar with until I had read this book. Losing her husband, Darcie had to stay with them, especially since she was going to have a baby, but would they allow her to stay? 

Flynn and Leatrice run around of food. How will Flynn provide for his daughter? Will the Shaker community be able to assist or will the rules be to too strict? 

This story is one of great community, good characters and how people are willing to help each other. This story has elements of faith, trust and grace. It also has an element of standing up for truth and what you believe in. I enjoyed this book. 

About the Author:

Ann H. Gabhart grew up on a farm in Kentucky. By the time she was ten she knew she wanted to be a writer. She's published over twenty novels. She and her husband have three children and nine grandchildren. She still lives on a farm not far from where she grew up. She loves playing with her grandkids, walking with her dog, reading and, of course, writing. Her Shaker books, set in her fictional Shaker village of Harmony Hill in the 1800's, are popular with readers. The Outsider was a Christian Fiction Book Award Finalist in 2009. Her Heart of Hollyhill books are Small Town, America books set in the 1960's. Angel Sister, a Rosey Corner book set during the Great Depression, will be followed by Small Town Girl. 

Weddings, Willows & Revised Expectations by V. Joy Palmer

Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations

by 

V. Joy Palmer 

About:
Seventeen years after being orphaned, Apryl Burns and her twin sister Courtney have their own expectations for life. While Courtney continues to shine at everything, Apryl holds fast to the mantra that as long as her potato chip stash remains intact, then she’ll be fine.

But when their beloved grandmother ends up injured and unable to manage her struggling antique store, Courtney makes it their mission to revamp the business and save what’s left of their family’s legacy. Despite rampant doubts in her abilities, Apryl finds herself trapped under the weight of family loyalty as they transition to a wedding venue decorating service. Soon she’s forced to ask (translation: blackmail) their grandmother’s renter/handyman, Chance McFarland, for help, an arrangement that is made even worse by the fact that Chance is her former (ahem, and current) crush.

Chance knows a few dozen things about family loyalty, which is why he begrudgingly agrees to Apryl’s insane plan. While Apryl claims they’re archenemies, the girl Chance only glimpsed in their teens starts to emerge, stealing what remains of his heart. 

But expectations are a powerful thing. Amidst the glamorous weddings and swaying willows, can those old expectations be revised into something new?


My Thoughts:
Weddings, Willows & Revised Expectations by V. Joy Palmer is my second read by her and I just adored it. This is such a cute read with laugh out loud moments. This book is a romantic, suspenseful with a bit of Biblical book. It has a lot of sarcasm, wit, and humor that carries this book. I love the pop-culture references, which brings this story to life in a whole different light, which I like. 
Apryl is a very creative soul and I enjoy her character. Chance has a tender spirit that I like about him. It is interesting having another character, Courtney involved in this story. This book follows the first book that V Joy wrote, but it can be read as a stand alone. If you enjoy a great contemporary romance with a comedian role, this is a great role. I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed it. 


I was given a copy of the book by WhiteFire Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and JustRead Publicity Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.


About the Author:

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Run the Mile You're In Finding God in Every Step By Ryan Hall

Run the Mile You're InFinding God in Every Step

By Ryan Hall 

About:

Ryan Hall is an Olympic athlete and American record holder in the half marathon (59:43). But as a kid, Ryan hated running. He wanted nothing to do with the sport until one day, he felt compelled to run the 15 miles around his neighborhood lake. He was hooked.

Starting that day, Ryan felt a God-given purpose in running. He knew he could, and would, race with the best runners in the world and that his talent was a gift to serve others. These two truths launched Ryan's 20-year athletic career and guided him through epic failures and exceptional breakthroughs to competing at the highest level.

Along the way, Ryan learned how to focus on his purpose and say no to distractions, to select and strive for the right goals--goals for the heart as well as the body. With God's guidance and millions of miles pounded out on the track, Ryan discovered secrets to dealing with defeat and disappointment, enduring immense pain, building resilience, and ultimately, running as if you've already won.

Now a coach, speaker, and nonprofit partner, Ryan shares the powerful faith behind his athletic achievements and the lessons he learned that helped him push past limits, make space for relationships that enrich life on and off the running trails, and cultivate a positive mindset.

Journey with Ryan as he reflects on the joys and trials of the running life and discover for yourself the power of a life devoted to your God-given purpose.

My Thoughts:

As a huge runner and someone who loves following olympic marathon runners, I was excited to read Run the Mile Your In by Ryan Hall. I have read a previous title by Ryan and enjoyed it. I knew this book would be just as good. Ryan's faith places a large part in his running, workouts and races. This book is motivating and inspirational. I love reading this book as it inspires me to get out and run. I also love how he breaks up the chapters and goes into some life lessons that we all can learn, whether a runner or not. This is a great book and one that I highly recommend! 

Brave Surrender Let God's Love Rewrite Your Story By Kim Walker-Smith

Brave SurrenderLet God's Love Rewrite Your Story

By Kim Walker-Smith 

About:

Kim Walker Smith's passionate performance of "How He Loves" helped transform Jesus Culture into a global worship movement. Brave Surrender is the story of how Kim journeyed from a place of shame and fear to stages around the world where she boldly proclaims the unconditional love of God. Through her own story, Kim inspires us to experience true freedom and healing with Jesus.

Coming from a painful childhood, Kim struggled to believe that God could heal her heart or bring any sense from her past. Yet when faced with the choice to hand her struggles over to God and receive His love in return, everything began to change. On the other side of surrender, Kim began a journey of looking at one painful memory at a time with God and exchanging her perspective for His truth - a journey in which God rewrote her story of pain into a story of redemption and hope.

If you are longing to experience God more than the shame or hurts of your past, the pressures of your present, or the fear of your future, Brave Surrender offers a soul-healing path forward. As Kim learned in her own life, the first step - and the bravest step - is letting go. Once we let go of anything that gets between us and God, we are freed to take hold of the life that truly matters. As Kim writes, "When we encounter God's love, it changes the way we see. And when we learn to see what He sees, we will never be the same again."

My Thoughts:

Brave Surrender by Kim Walker Smith is a refreshing book that is authentic and nurtured my soul with a genuine voice in the way that she has a beautiful style to writing. This book did not take me long to read because her style of writing has an ease and is seamless for the reader. You feel as though you are having a conversation with Kim over coffee and she is pouring into you with life, passion and surrender. I love her heart for worship and the way she invites the reader into her journey of surrender into a real and raw way. Her book is a a great read and you will really enjoy it! I highly recommend this book!