Review-Colleen Coble's Safe In His Arms

  

Sometimes it takes a stranger to see you as you really are.

Under Texas Stars, Book 2
Born and raised on sprawling Texas land, Margaret O'Brien prides herself on her competence as a rancher. But her father believes she's made for more than just dawn-to-dusk work. He wants her to have the love of a good man, to raise children, to build a life. But Margaret gave up such dreams years ago. She's convinced no man would have her, that the ranch is her life now.

So when Margaret's father hires Daniel Cutler as a new foreman, she's frustrated and suspicious. Then an overheard conversation links him with a gang of bank robbers, and she's downright worried. Daniel swears he's not involved, but Margaret's not convinced. She knows the man still has secrets. But would a criminal be so kind and talk so convincingly of his faith? As a series of tragic "accidents" threatens all she holds dear, Margaret must decide what to trust: her own ears, her best judgment . . . or what her heart keeps telling her.

 

My Review:

 

As always, Colleen Coble delivers a great story with a great message.  As with all of her books, GOD is always at the center. 

Margaret O'Brien has always helped her father with his ranch and assumed it would be hers one day.  He wants her to be more feminine and ladylike, so he hires a foreman, Daniel Cutler.  But Daniel is not what he seems and Margaret is very suspicious of him.  Meanwhile, her father also sends for her cousin, Lewis.  He ends up deciding to leave the ranch to Lewis, therefore hoping that Margaret would find a husband.  The rest of the story is so action packed, it left my head spinning.  Margaret finally finds out who Daniel really is, finally realizes she need to fully trust GOD and that GOD really does love her unconditionally.  After this everything falls into place. 

I highly recommend this book, it was wonderful.  Great job Colleen.

I recieved a complimentary copy of this book for my participation in this blog tour.

 

Where to buy this book

 

Meet Colleen:

Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA's RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

Find out more about Colleen at http://www.colleencoble.com/.

 

 

 

Review of Linda O. Johnston-Oodles of Poodles

 

 

 

 



Shelter manager and pet rescuer Lauren Vancouver once again takes on the role of amateur sleuth when there’s a murder on a film set . . .
Has Hollywood gone to the dogs? Pet rescuer Lauren Vancouver is observing production on a new movie called Sheba’s Story. The title character—a white Miniature poodle—is played by many similar-looking poodles, and to make sure no animals are harmed, Lauren’s friend, veterinarian Carlie Stellan, and Grant, a handsome representative from the American Humane Association, are on location. But when the film’s director is killed in a suspicious hit-and-run after arguing with Carlie about animal safety, it’s up to Lauren to clear her friend’s name and catch a killer before someone else ends up in oodles of deadly trouble.

My Review:

Well, let me just start out by saying this book caused me to lose some sleep.  It was so good that I couldn’t put it down and had to stay up and finish it.  It was a great cozy mystery, especially if you love animals.  This book was very well written and definitely kept my attention.  I was kept guessing till the very end, which to me, is what makes a great cozy mystery.  Lauren is a very likable character.  She is a strong independent woman, a great role model.  It is the first book I’ve read by Linda Johnston, and it won’t be my last. 

Lauren Vancouver is the director of a pet rescue shelter, but she also solves murders.  In Oodles of Poodles, the poodles are in a movie that Lauren’s boss is helping to produce, so she is asked by him to be on the set on days that he can’t be there.  The director ends up being murdered.  Lauren starts asking questions on the set, because her good friend, Carlie, is the main suspect.  Lauren also rescues a dog that has a mystery attached to it.  Then, her pet rescue shelter gets broken into.  Does it have anything to do with her asking questions on the movie set about the murder, or is it about the dog she rescued.  Will Lauren solve the murder in time and will she keep any animals from being harmed.  I highly recommend reading this book to find out.

 I received a complimentary copy of this book for my participation in this blog tour.

Author Bio

Linda O. Johnston's first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the Year. Since then, Linda has had more short stories published, plus ten mysteries and eighteen romance novels.

Linda’s new Pet Rescue Mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime is a spinoff from her successful Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series. The Pet Rescue Mysteries debuted in March 2011 with BEAGLEMANIA, followed in October 2011 by THE MORE THE TERRIER and in April 2012 by HOUNDS ABOUND. OODLES OF POODLES will be published in February 2013. Protagonist Lauren Vancouver runs a no-kill pet shelter in LA’s San Fernando Valley and will do anything to save animals. In the Pet Rescue Mysteries, “no-kill” means pets, not people!

Linda also writes paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne including the Alpha Force miniseries about a covert military unit of shapeshifters. So far, they include ALPHA WOLF, ALASKAN WOLF, and GUARDIAN WOLF, and the Nocturne Bites "Claws of the Lynx," which is contained in the print anthology AWAKENING THE BEAST. “Hawk’s Challenge” and “Cougar’s Conquest,” also Nocturne Bites, were published in October and November 2011, respectively. UNDERCOVER WOLF will be published early in 2013.

Linda's first Harlequin Romantic Suspense novel UNDERCOVER SOLDIER was published in July 2012.

Linda has also been a transactional lawyer and loves writing contracts as well as fiction. She has taught courses on romance writing at the California State University, Northridge College of Extended Learning and The Learning Annex in Los Angeles. She has spoken on romance writing and mystery writing at various chapters and conferences of the Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime chapters, the Independent Writers of Southern California, and the Surrey Writers’ Conference. She has additionally presented a variety of programs at libraries and bookstores.

Linda is a member of the Los Angeles chapters of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She is also a member of Romance Writers of America, including the Los Angeles and Orange County chapters, and International Thriller Writers.

There is a giveaway with this tour to enter, follow the link below and fill out the form.  Follow all the blogs in the tour for extra entries.

Giveaway for Oodles of Poodles

Tommy Mann's Asleep in Heaven's Nursery

Have you experienced the loss of a child? Tommy Mann felt the heartrending grief of losing three children to miscarriages. Beginning his ministry as a pastor, he struggled to be strong for his wife and understand for himself why they had to endure so much loss. In the midst of the pain, God brought peace and eventual joy through the birth of a daughter.

Asleep in Heaven's Nursery includes the personal story of losing a child and offers comfort for grieving parents, addressing questions such as the following:

*When is a baby considered a life?

*Is my baby really in heaven?

*What will my baby look like in heaven?

*Is there an age of accountability?

*Is God punishing me?

*Is adoption really a good alternative to abortion?

*Can I be forgiven for my abortion?

Each issue is thoroughly addressed and given concrete scriptural and logical support. As one who has found hope picturing his lost children Asleep in Heaven's Nursery, Tommy Mann brings a powerful message of renewal and consolation.

My website is http://www.tommycmann.blogspot.com and my Twitter handle is @TommyCMann, and I am on Facebook at Facebook.com/TommyCMann.

Review-Victoria Pinder - Returning to Valentine

Contemporary Romance Novella

Title: Returning to Valentine

Author: Victoria Pinder

Date Published: 1/1/13

Nathan loves Beth, though he’s never believed she loved him. He left to get over her, and on Valentine’s Day he decided to risk everything, including his heart, and tell her.
Beth lost her heart to Nathan Sommers years ago. After a night at a friend’s wedding, he took off. She tried to move on, with a guy who she could’t love, but that didn’t work out. Now that it’s Valentine’s Day, she’s determined to go out and find her true love. Speed dating is better than no dating.
Why would Nathan show up now? Can she believe in love and happy ever after? And what will his mother do next to her if she lets him in?

My Review:
This was a very short and sweet love story.  I finished in around 10 or 15 minutes.  Beth has loved Nathan for a long time, but didn't think he loved her back, but he finds her on Valentine's day and professes his love.  Will Beth accept his love.  I liked it, just wish it were longer and am wondering what happens with Beth and Nathan.
I received a complimentary copy of this story for my participation in this blog tour.



Victoria Pinder

Author Bio:

Victoria Pinder also writing under Greta Buckle grew up in Irish Catholic Boston before moving to the Miami sun. She’s worked in engineering, then became a lawyer. After realizing she hates clients, she became a high school teacher. Teaching is fun, but writing is a passion. She wrote one hundred and one fan fiction stories online before deciding to transition into writing her own stories. Never ask her to republish her fan stories from age eleven- horribly written stories of princesses. Victoria dreams of writing professionally, where her barista can make her coffee and a walk on the beach, can motivate her tales. Theseus story came to her when she was a freshman in high school as her English teacher, the nun, told her how life was hard and tragedy teaches lessons. The sci fi stories come from years of Star Trek and Star Wars fandom. Victoria’s love of writing has kept her centered and focused. How is she crazy? The voices in her head are characters in novels and she’s not insane.

Contact Links

Authors Website: http://www.victoriapinder.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victoria-Pinder-also-writing-as-Greta-Buckle/294685373900979 Twitter: http://twitter.com/victoriapinder Tumblr: victoriapinder.tumblr.com Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/victoriapinder/ Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=200859737&trk=hb_tab_pro_top

Google+ https://plus.google.com/105161432419802350109/posts/p/pub

LINKS TO BUY

Amazon

Review-Katie Andrews Potter-Going Over Home

Picture and synopsis from goodreads

Maddox's life changed the day she read her real birthdate: May 17, 1820. Not 1990, like she’d been told all along. Sure, there had been clues: her mother's old-fashioned style, the fact that her parents refuse to talk about her grandparents, but she never could have guessed they were actually from the past. And if that wasn't enough, now she has to go back in time to live for good. She has descendants living now, and if she doesn't go back their lives will never be.

Once she figures out how to go back in time, she struggles with the impending change her life is about to take, and her relationship with shy, unassuming Henry Yancey: the man she is supposed to marry. But if the decision to go back isn't hard enough, she soon finds out there is someone who will stop at nothing to keep her from going back, and he's running out of time. Will Maddie fall for Henry, and will she be able to make it back in time before the portal closes?


Video Trailer

My Review:

This is the first book in Katie's Wayfaring Sisters Series.  I've never read a book like this before, I usually steer away from books like this, but I wasn't disappointed. 
The book started out with Maddie not realizing her life was any different than anyone else's.  Her parents were a little old fashioned and wouldn't tell her and her sisters anything about their past or of their family.  When Maddie starts school she starts to wonder, but her parents still won't tell her anything.  Finally when Maddie goes to college, with the help of her roommate, who happens to be a decendant, she figures out the whole story. 
This was a well told story with a good plot.  It had some intrigue and action in it also.  I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next Wayfaring sisters novel.  This book kind of changed my mind about time travel novels.  Great job Katie. 

I purchased this book on my own to do this review at the authors request.

About the Author

Katie Andrews Potter grew up in Carmel, Indiana and at an early age grew interested in her family history. She would (and still does) spend hours upon hours looking through old books and records searching for one more branch to her family tree. Katie has always enjoyed writing and has piles of old spiral-bound notebooks filled with stories. It was on one trip to an old cemetery in Brown County, Indiana in 2009 when the storyline for Going over Home popped in her head. What if you found your own name on a headstone? From that day on the story took a hold in her mind until it was fully formed. Going over Home will be published on Amazon's Createspace in June 2012.

Katie lives in Carmel (for now - she and her family are rehabbing a house on th...moreKatie Andrews Potter grew up in Carmel, Indiana and at an early age grew interested in her family history. She would (and still does) spend hours upon hours looking through old books and records searching for one more branch to her family tree. Katie has always enjoyed writing and has piles of old spiral-bound notebooks filled with stories. It was on one trip to an old cemetery in Brown County, Indiana in 2009 when the storyline for Going over Home popped in her head. What if you found your own name on a headstone? From that day on the story took a hold in her mind until it was fully formed. Going over Home will be published on Amazon's Createspace in June 2012.

Katie lives in Carmel (for now - she and her family are rehabbing a house on the near eastside of Indianapolis) with her husband, Ben and their 3-year-old daughter Eliana. They also have a zoo of pets - 3 dogs, 3 cats, and 6 fish.

Find Katie on Twitter @andrewspotter26
Facebook: www.facebook.com/katieandrewspotter
Email: KathrynAndrewsPotter@gmail.com

Review-Rita Garcia's Kaleidoscope Summer

ABOUT KALEIDOSCOPE SUMMER: SAMANTHA’S STORY
Samantha Forrester has it all together. Deafness at age fifteen has not hampered her success. Life, although predictable, has hit a comfortable stride. Until.
Her world crumbles when secrets of the past are brought to light. She travels to Serenity Cove to settle her birth mother’s estate and search for her true identity. Samantha soon becomes enamored with the town. And then there’s police chief Logan Delatorre who startles her pulse, and grandparents who refuse to acknowledge her. More mystery unfolds when an attack is levied against her—someone wants her out of Serenity Cove.
Samantha’s faith is called into question when she stumbles over the need to forgive. Can Dr. Ellie Clarimonde help her connect the pieces of her past and learn the power of forgiveness?

My Review:
This was a charming book, I'll admit it started out a little slow for me, but once I got intrigued by it, it held my attention.  Samantha recently learned she was adopted and went to Serenity Cove to take care of her birth mother's estate.  While there she discovers a lot about herself.  She has some trouble at first and there is a tragedy, but she sticks it out and discovers herself.  I highly recommend this book.   This is the first book I've ever read by Rita Garcia and it was wonderful.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for my participation in this blog tour.

ABOUT RITA GARCIA
Dr. Rita Garcia is an inspirational novelist—her imagination was creating stories when she was still too young to put pen to paper. Romance is a big part of her novels. Hope is an even larger element of the stories. Rita and her husband reside in Southern California. They have four adorable daughters and seven fantastic grandchildren who fill their lives with love and never a dull moment.
She is a Clinical Christian Counselor, licensed by the National Christian Counselors Association, and certified as a Biblical Christian Counselor by the American Association of Christian Counselors. She has a passion for helping others achieve their most important life goals.
Please visit Rita at her blog and website:
Blog: http://www.reflectionswithdrrita.com/
Website: http://www.ritagarcia.com/

Review-Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss-Love Finds You In Glacier Bay, Alaska

   

 

About Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska:

Singer Ginny Marshall is one signature away from the recording contract of her dreams-a deal that would guarantee success for the former foster child, who still struggles to bury the memories of her painful childhood. But Ginny needs advice from the one person who will look out for her best interests-her former fiancé, Brett Miller. She travels to the remote town of Glacier Bay, Alaska, where the town's colorful characters and stunning scenery provide respite from LA's pressures.

In Glacier Bay, Ginny discovers a box of old letters and is swept up in the love story between Clay, an early missionary to Alaska Territory, and Ellie, the woman who traveled there to be his children's governess. When Ginny is reunited with Brett in Glacier Bay, will she discover-as Ellie did-that healing and love are sometimes found in the most unexpected places?

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/gQiNn   

 

My Review:

 

I really enjoyed this book.  It had a great message, that anything is possible when you give it over to GOD.  There were two stories set in two different time periods.  Ginny and Brett were engaqed, but Ginny called it off to follow her music career, but when she if offered a great opportunity she seeks out Brett in Alaska.  While there, she is given the letter's of Ellie and these letters change how Ginny thinks.   How does Ellie's story affect Ginny and Brett.  Who was Ellie?  I recommend reading this great book to find out.  Great job Tricia and Ocieanna, a wonderful collaboration.  It made me see  Alaska in a different light.  This book was very well written. 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review for my participation in this blog tour.

 

 Meet the Authors: 

 

 

Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of over thirty books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

Find out more about Tricia at http://triciagoyer.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ocieanna Fleiss is a published author and editor. She lives with her husband and their four children in the Seattle area.

Find out more about Ocieanna at http://ocieanna.com/.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrate with Tricia and Ocieanna by entering their "Glacier Bay" Giveaway and RSVPing for their Facebook Party on Feb. 12th!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A gorgeous handmade “Glacier Bay” bracelet
• A handmade cowl in "Glacier Bay" blues and greens
• A bottle of custom-made "Glacier Bay" sparkle polish in blue
• Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss and their two other “Love Finds You” titles {Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana, and Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington}

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 11th. Winner will be announced at the "Glacier Bay" Author Chat Party on February 12th. Connect with authors Tricia and Ocieanna, get a sneak peek of their new book projects, try your hand at the Alaska trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be great giveaways—gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska, and join Tricia and Ocieanna on the evening of February 12th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!