Tag: Bethany House

Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade

Published on by pepperbasham1 Comment

ImageBad-boy-turned-good.

Broken heart surprised by a second chance

and a little princess to bind the two together?

Look no further than Becky Wade’s newest novel, Meant to Be Mine. As I’ve told Becky already, this is my favorite of her books so far, and I’m pretty sure it’s all because of Ty Porter.

Celia Park and Ty Porter joined the ranks of crazy kids who get a fast-and-furious wedding in Vegas only to wake up the next day to an emotional hangover of doubt. Celia went into it fueled by a lifetime crush for Ty. Ty’s thoughts or feelings only appeared to be in the moment, so when the fairytale romance turns into a one-night stand, Celia heads home with a  broken heart and a baby girl waiting to be born.

Five years later, as Ty has gone on to become a professional bull rider, Celia has spent the time barely making ends meet and raising her daughter, Addie. She’s basically forgotten how to dream because things like paying bills and buy groceries took precident over her desire to own her own bakery. The last thing she expects, or wants is a call from Ty Porter.

But “living the dream” might be a lonely place to stay if you’re heart isn’t at rest. Ty had never been able to forget Celia and in an attempt to find forgiveness, he discovers a deep love for her and the daughter he didn’t know existed. Is he willing to give up his dreams this time for Celia? Is she willing to trust him to help her find her dreams again?

This book is definitely one to make you laugh, sigh, and get a little teary-eyed at a story of second-chances with your first love.

Love on the Line with Deeanne Gist

Published on by pepperbasham4 Comments

Deeanne Gist’s newest novel, Love on the Line, is definitely a novel worth ringing home about. With rich historical detail, humor, suspense, and enough romantic tension to have all sorts of bells ringing, this story captures the essence of the changes during the turn-of-the century that affected the changing relationships between men and women.

Georgie Gail isn’t a typical Victorian gal. Besides having an occupation outside of the family, she’s strong-willed, smart, and a little eccentric (which is another reason she’s likeable). While she’s busy keeping the phone lines going in Washington County, TX and bird-watching on the side, an unlikely hero slips into her life.

Texas Ranger Lucious Landrum has a score to settle with the notorious train robber, Frank Comer, but the outlaw has evaded all of Lucious’ attempts to catch him. Assigned to go undercover as a telephone repairman, Lucious (aka Luke Palmer) has to work in close quarters with the sassy telephone operator. Sparks of all sorts fly between them igniting romance, humor, and intrigue that ends up shedding light not only on the truth behind Frank Comer, but the truth about what real love means.

From hat-making to sparkin’ to pistol-firing lessons and a little bit of everything else in between, Love on the Line is the perfect call for any romance reader.

There were moments I wanted to laugh out loud – pistol-lessons, luscious…

There were moments my heart squeezed from the tension – tweezers.

There were moments my heart ached for them both – betrayal & siblings

And other moments I wanted to sigh from the tenderness – phone calls, yellow dresses, & ice cream

It’s such a sweet story as only Dee can write. Maid to Match is still my all-time favorite of hers, but Love on the Line will definitely not disappoint. Fabulous & fun story!

Provided by Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

Conference Tips with Kim Sawyer

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Here’s one lady who should know about conference tips!!! Kim Sawyer has been getting things ready for the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference behind the scenes for months – and with her sense of humor and kindness, she’s probably lined up another group of volunteers to make the conference more forward with as few glitches as possible.

Kim is know mostly for her historical fiction, but her YA Katy series (Zondervan) adds showcases the wide spectrum of Kim’s writing talents. Speaking of Katy, Kim’s YA novel Katy’s New World is a finalist in ACFW’s Carol Awards – so Kim is going to have a VERY full weekend.

Congrats Kim!

So….what are the top three things we should bring to conference?

3) Business cards to share with new friends, editors, and agents, and one-sheets of your proposal if you’re pitching. Bring more than you think you’ll need–better to have it and not need then need it and not have it. I also suggest bringing the first chapter and synopsis of your work, just in case someone wants to “take a peek.”

2) A realistic expectation. Don’t go with the idea that you’re going to be snatched up as the next Jane Austen–go with the idea that you’re going to meet wonderful people, gain knowledge that will help you grow in your craft, and have a time of fellowship with likeminded folks. Anything else is frosting on the cake.
1) Be PRAYED UP. Conferences can be exhausting, emotionally. So spend time in prayer, asking God to bolster you and to be present during the long hours. He has a reason for calling you to this place, so be open to His voice.
Oh Kim – what great words! Thank you for reminding us of His call on our lives, not only as Christians, but as writers.
Are you guys ready for conference with realistic expectations? God’s plans are not always the ‘feeding five thousand’ or ‘calming the storm’ types of experiences – sometimes He comes to us as a still small voice.
What expectations do you have for conference?

The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden

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If you’re in search of adventure, a compelling hero, a daring heroine, and an intense romance that pushes the edges of your heart, then Elizabeth Camben’s newest book, The Lady of Bolton Hill  is for you. Sparks of all sorts fly between the charming and arrogant Daniel Tremain and the lovely and determined, Clara Endicott, but the beauty of their love for each other is breathtaking. Elizabeth Camden set up Clara, from the beginning, to make her actions at the end believable – otherwise, it would have been hard for me to see a  ‘proper’ young lady dumping opium crates into the ocean and running as bridges explode around her, all the while dressed as a man. But the events in chapter one, and the lovely setup from the eipilogue, make promises then carry through to the end.

Daniel Tremain is a stop-you-breath hero, and even Clara’s brother, Clyde, is a fun supporting character. Plus, Alex’s character and his story, sets a beautiful parallel to prepare the reader for Daniel’s own revelation. It’s a testament to not only the power of selfless, forgiving love – but the ultimate sacrifice of our wills to God’s.

I don’t want to give too much away, just enough to whet your appetite.

Here’s a little about the book:

Female journalists are rare in 1879, but American-born Clara Endicott has finally made a name for herself with her provocative articles championing
London’s poor. When the backlash from her work forces a return home to Baltimore, Clara finds herself face-to-face with a childhood sweetheart who is
no longer the impoverished factory worker she once knew. In her absence, Daniel Tremain has become a powerful industry giant and Clara finds him as enigmatic as
ever. However, Daniel’s success is fueled by resentment from past wounds and Clara’s deeply-held beliefs about God’s grace force Daniel to confront his own
motives. When Clara’s very life is endangered by one of Daniel’s adversaries, they must face a reckoning neither of them ever could have foreseen.

When Clara Endicott and Daniel Tremain’s worlds collide after twelve years apart, the spark that was once between them immediately reignites into a
romance neither of them thought possible. But time has changed them both.

Daniel is an industrial titan with powerful enemies. Clara is an idealistic journalist determined to defend underprivileged workers.

Can they withstand the cost of their convictions while their hearts, and lives, hang in the balance?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Lady of Bolton Hill, go HERE.

____________________________________________

Provided for my review by Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

Published by Bethany House Publishers – a division of Baker Publishing Group

A Week Review with Siri Mitchell – A Heart Most Worthy

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Siri’s newest novel, A Heart Most Worthy, still holds the same amazing story we’re used to from the award winning author, but there’s a twist. It’s written in 3rd person omniscent. You get to be in EVERYONE’s heads – including the three main characters.

It’s about three women, three romances, and three opportunities. It’s about friendship. It’s also about a luxious culture and a world described in such lucid detail, it leaves one breathless – much like the men in this story.

Whew. Lovely. Particularly Raefello. And Billy. Wow!

Even Dr. Mauro 😉 I have so much to learn from you, Siri. Your writing is SUPERB!

And the wonderful amusement, suspense, and beautiful wonder of a world a century away, filled with the opulence and eloquence of the Italian culture! Oh my, Siri – what a masterful work!

Thank you for sharing it with me.

Check out tomorrow’s post to see who I get to share this fascinating book with. Who will win it? Leave a comment about one of Siri’s books and you are in the drawing!

She Walks In Beauty by Siri Mitchell

Published on by pepperbasham5 Comments

Without a doubt, this is the BEST historical novel Siri Mitchell has written to date. And the hero? Completely adorable. What’s even better, is that there is fantastic repartee, dancing, and…humor. Oh my, Siri – this novel is second only to your contemporary novel Kissing Adrien.

So, what’s this story all about?

The novel twirls you away, lost in the middle of pretense, expectations in New York’s Guilded Era, truth, lies, and what a ‘living’ faith looks like. Harry De Vrie sweeps the reader’s heart away with his humor, sincerity, and faith. In the middle of the whirlwind of money, status, and deception, Harry stands out with his honesty and endearingly confused reaction to the social ‘expectations’ of the Age. It goes without saying, that poor Clara Carter’s innocent heart is pulled between two desires: the belief that she MUST marry for status over love & and the realization that God can be personal instead of a distant deity.

Clara is lovable, and sweetly unaware of this ‘game of life’. We experience the expectations, heartbreak, and confusion along with her. We learn the steps of an affective snub, how to wave a fan, and spin across the dancefloor with our eyes closed. It’s a brilliant, glamorous, and perplexing journey.

There are so many lovely scenes, I will not recount them, but leave curious minds to uncover the treasures in She Walks In Beauty. Be prepared for elegance, extravagance, romance, and enough humorous snubbing to make you fall in love with Harry along with Clara.

The question is – what will Clara choose? A woman in 1891? Does she have a  choice?

Siri has a unique way of weaving faith into her novels like a gentle whisper instead of a clanging gong. Hints, faded hues woven throughout scenes, and tiny sprinkles of well-placed dialogue speak to the characters as well as the reader. Wonderfully done. I’m still glowing from the aftermath of the book J

If you enjoyed Siri’s novel A Constant Heart, you will adore She Walks In Beauty. Visit Siri’s website to learn more about her books – www.sirimitchell.com

REMEMBER to leave your name and a comment about which book/character you like best of Siri’s – your name will be placed in the drawing for Siri’s newest novel, A Heart Most Worthy

A Week Review with Siri Mitchell – She Walks in Beauty

Published on by pepperbasham6 Comments

Without a doubt, this is the BEST historical novel Siri Mitchell has written to date. And the hero? Completely adorable. What’s even better, is that there is fantastic repartee, dancing, and…humor. Oh my, Siri – this novel is second only to your contemporary novel Kissing Adrien.

So, what’s this story all about?

The novel twirls you away, lost in the middle of pretense, expectations in New York’s Guilded Era, truth, lies, and what a ‘living’ faith looks like. Harry De Vrie sweeps the reader’s heart away with his humor, sincerity, and faith. In the middle of the whirlwind of money, status, and deception, Harry stands out with his honesty and endearingly confused reaction to the social ‘expectations’ of the Age. It goes without saying, that poor Clara Carter’s innocent heart is pulled between two desires: the belief that she MUST marry for status over love & and the realization that God can be personal instead of a distant deity.

Clara is lovable, and sweetly unaware of this ‘game of life’. We experience the expectations, heartbreak, and confusion along with her. We learn the steps of an affective snub, how to wave a fan, and spin across the dancefloor with our eyes closed. It’s a brilliant, glamorous, and perplexing journey.

There are so many lovely scenes, I will not recount them, but leave curious minds to uncover the treasures in She Walks In Beauty. Be prepared for elegance, extravagance, romance, and enough humorous snubbing to make you fall in love with Harry along with Clara.

The question is – what will Clara choose? A woman in 1891? Does she have a  choice?

Siri has a unique way of weaving faith into her novels like a gentle whisper instead of a clanging gong. Hints, faded hues woven throughout scenes, and tiny sprinkles of well-placed dialogue speak to the characters as well as the reader. Wonderfully done. I’m still glowing from the aftermath of the book J

If you enjoyed Siri’s novel A Constant Heart, you will adore She Walks In Beauty. Visit Siri’s website to learn more about her books – www.sirimitchell.com

REMEMBER to leave your name and a comment about which book/character you like best of Siri’s – your name will be placed in the drawing for Siri’s newest novel, A Heart Most Worthy

A Week Review with Siri Mitchell – Love’s Pursuit

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In July 2009, I read Siri Mitchell’s historical novel, Love’s Pursuit. It was one of those books that leaves an indelible mark on your spirit when you finish. One of those books where the heroine gets so deep into your psyche, she lingers beyond the final page. It’s not a book for the faint of heart, but it is a book for the heart searching for truth.

Here’s my review from 2009:

As usual, Siri Mitchell writes a beautiful story, filled with detailed historical facts and potent theological arguements, all woven nicely into a compelling novel. Topics such as God’s revelation to man, grace & faith vs. works righteousness, and what a relationship with Christ looks like, are all braided into this story of a young woman trying to know God and herself.
I would make only one reservation to this story – not all Puritans were as rigid or self-righteous as many of those in this novel. The reputation Puritans have is sad in many ways and based upon some who were set on ‘earning’ salvation instead of revelling in God’s grace. Susannah Phillips, the protagonist in this novel, is struggling with this exact question. “What does God require of me?” I think down deep, we all struggle with these questions at some time or other. How can we get to God? What does God want me to do? How can I know him?
Susannah is confronted with a truth that shakes the foundation of her childhood faith and sends her thoughts spiraling into the frightening unknown. Even though her heart wonders about the spiritual ‘freedom’ of Captain Daniel Holcombe, his believes battle against everything she’s been brought up to understand…but his personality, tenderness, wit, and logic begin to weedle away at the certainty she attempts to project.
When Susannah begins to fall in love with this captain who is an outsider to her faith (or so she believes), and when she is betrothed to a man with uncertain character, what will she do? Will God’s love come from an unexpected place to rescue her or will she conform to the rules of her world?
This story entranced me…fantastic read.
REMEMBER to leave a comment about your favorite hero/heroine in Siri’s books or why you’d like to read one. A winner will be chosen to receive Siri’s newest novel, A Heart Most Worthy, and announced during the weekend post.
Good luck!

A Week Review with Siri Mitchell – A Constant Heart

Published on by pepperbasham3 Comments

I knew I enjoyed Siri’s contemporary romance novels, so when I saw that Siri had started writing historicals, I wondered if I’d have the same feelings about those. IN 2008 her novel, A Constant Heart, debuted. A beautiful story of love discovered and refined, this novel takes the reader back to the Elizabethan era – where ‘pomp & circumstance’ was defined.

Here’s my review from 2008:

In October 2008, I enjoyed one of my first Siri Mitchell historical romances. A Constant Heart.

Having loved her contemporary novels, I wondered if I’d like the genre switch. I wasn’t disappointed. Here is my review.

One true love……but not to your wife.
One faithful devotion…..but not to your marriage.

Under the watchful and paranoid eyes of Queen Elizabeth, where adoration is rewarded with influence and honor gained through tickling her Majesty’s fancy, the balance of life & death, wealth and ruin hangs by a precarious thread.

Simon, Earl of Lytham, knew the steps to his royal dance. His fidelity to his queen promised him a life with purpose, so marriage to a simple knight’s daughter offered no distraction, only the certainty of financial gain. His role as a courtier to the queen overshadowed his painful memories of his first wife’s betrayal, kept his status secure, and gave him opportunities to advance himself into the world of privilege.

Marget knew her place, her purpose. She would marry the Earl of Lytham as her father decreed, but unlike any hopeless resignation, she determined to bring her indifferent husband honor. Uncertain of the rules at court, Marget stumbles upon Queen Elizabeth’s disdain and sinks into deeper emotional debt to her husband, until an unlikely and unsettling alliance with Lady de Winter begins to improve Marget’s station.
Against his will, Simon softens under Marget’s genuine attempts to help him. The scars from his first marriage freeze his resolve against Marget’s love, but with each act of selflessness Marget displays Simon’s heart thaws – and finally seizes the beautiful, uncontaminated affection she offers. Her devotion, sincerity, honesty, and gentleness shine a light on the pretension, deception, and base rules of life at court.
But as their love deepens, the charade they play as emotionless courtiers by day and devoted lovers by night braids together until Queen Elizabeth feels the loss and threatens, not only their marriage, but their lives.

Is love worth the risk, the gamble, the loss? Can love truly conquer all or will the deception and desire for power break ‘a constant heart’?

It isn’t often that fiction unveils romance within a marriage relationship. Usually, the entire ‘male catch female’ – or visa versa, is the tone of the novel, but in Siri Mitchell’s novel A Constant Heart, the entire book opens up the lives of a married couple, who learn to love each other. The story was beautiful, tastefully and colorfully written, gripping, funny, and incredibly tender. I enjoyed the continual switch of points of view, from Marget’s thoughts to Simon’s thoughts. The most painful instances involved her miscarriages, but my favorite scene combined a dinner party with lots of radishes (for fear of spoiling the book for others, I will not give more details). Siri Mitchell transported me back in time, weaving historical facts seamlessly through the tale. I will read it again….soon.

LEAVE a comment about the characters you enjoyed in this novel – or why you think you would enjoy this novel, for your chance to win Siri’s newest novel – A HEART MOST WORTHY.

Winner will be announced in the weekend post.

Spotlight – Coming Soon from Mary Connealy

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Well, if you don’t like waiting long between books from your favorite authors – Mary is the author for you. With an incredible list of new books released last year, she continues to keep her fans happy with a new novel about every 3 or 4 months.

Pretty impressive, don’t you think?

Starting off the year with her novel, Sharpshooter in Petticoats, Mary’s next novel comes out in May. Deep Trouble sounds like another fun ‘ride’ and great romantic adventure. It’s available on May 1, but I’m hoping to find it a week or two early 😉

Mary’s next ‘cowboy book’, Out of Control, is set to be released in August. It’s her first novel released by Bethany House (right, Mary?)

You can learn more about it on Mary’s website at www.maryconnealy.com

In October, Mary steps outside her usual genre and enters the world of contemporary suspense. Her novel, Ten Plagues, holds a very different plotline from her usual historical romance genre, but I’m sure the same clever writing and high action will be intact.

To learn more about Ten Plagues visit www.marynealy.com – since she’s being published under a pseudo-pen name 😉

Do you have a favorite Connealy Classic? If so, which one?