Review & Giveaway - The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

I had the privilege of working with Liz Johnson several years ago for the Guidepost Books' "A Cup of Christmas Cheer" collection. I loved Liz's short story! And as I have found with other authors and their stories, when I met her in person, she was just as lovely a person as her stories are! When I saw the cover of The Red Door Inn, I had to get the book. 

SPOILER ALERT: Because I do bibliotherapy reviews, I will be addressing a topic that is part of the book.  Skip to the bottom to the comments section if you just want to enter the giveaway!

Review: 
First of all -- I do not normally read contemporary fiction. I don't write contemporary fiction (other than as a favor for a friend for a recent serial.)  But I loved Liz's writing and love the idea of going to Prince Edward Island one day so I ordered the paperback. Then I had two deadlines to complete. Fast forward a few months -- both books turned in to Barbour. I wanted my escape and now I'd acquired the Kindle version of this book. 

The Red Door Inn
Book One in Prince Edward Island Dreams
By Liz Johnson
(Revell Publishing)
Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

LOVED LOVED LOVED this story!!!

Five Stars *****

Marie Carrington is one of the most fragile heroines I've seen lately, yet she has a subtle tungsten steel thread of strength, in her faith. God is drawing her back to Him after she's betrayed both by her father and by an old school mate. Ms. Johnson does a great job of drawing you into the story by revealing only just enough to hook you and propel you forward in reading.

Seth Sloane starts out as a jerk. But, again, Ms. Johnson infuses enough information about Seth that the reader quickly understands why he's acting so wounded -- because he is. But his reaction to that utter betrayal is to throw walls up. As the story goes on, both Seth and Marie seek to overcome their animosity toward each other and a true friendship and caring grows.

The next book in the series has released and I'm looking forward to reading it! And another book due out in summer, 2017!

Bibliotherapy: I was a psychologist for twenty-five years. Marie's reaction is pretty extreme, but given the rape and then her father's betrayal, and everything else Liz Johnson has set up, her flight to Prince Edward Island is understandable. As is Seth's. These two are shown God's mercy via a widower, Jack, who is setting up a bed and breakfast to fulfill his wife's wishes before she died.  This story would be a good bibliotherapy tool for: emotional abandonment, betrayal, rape, and manipulative relationships. 

Giveaway: A paperback copy of The Red Door Inn. Leave a comment! 

Regina Jennings's "Caught in the Middle" Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Caught in the Middle

Caught in the Middle by Regina Jennings

Book 3 of the Ladies of Caldwell County

Bethany House Publishers

My OWG blog angels introduced me to Regina Jennings books two years ago, but I didn't get a chance to read her work until recently.  I began with the novel that the Angels raved about: Sixty Acres and a Bride.

In the month of March, while recovering from foot surgery, I made up for lost time and read all three of her books on my Kindle!

Anne Tillerton is the abused wife from Sixty Acres and a Bride. SPOILER: She had ended up killing her husband when he tried to assault Rosa. The story starts out with a literal bang when Anne rescues a train being robbed and she shoots the toe off one of the bandits! She'd intervened when Hero Nicholas Lovelace (the antagonist's brother from book one) was trying to protect one of the young ladies. He would have been attacked if Anne had not acted. 

In Regina's latest book we finally get to understand what had happened to Anne. She'd been brought up by an unloving father and then been lured into intimate relations with her teacher, who becomes her husband.  After marriage this pedophile also becomes physically abusive. Is it any wonder that Anne has no desire to remarry? She's been hanging out with a bunch of buffalo hunters and is still a crack shot.  Nick is now living where Anne has ventured off to while searching for her old friend to bring back to a nearby town to serve as a cook. But her "friend," who has had an illegitimate child, is living is what we soon discover is a bawdy house. And the woman departs with a new consort leaving behind her infant son!

Anne takes the child to  Nick's office, since he offered his assistance, if she needed it, after the train robbery   Nick meanwhile is running for a political office and Anne wants to return to her group of buffalo hunters. But the baby grows on both of them as they begin to love the little boy and grow in their relationship with each other.

You will find yourself rooting for this unlikely couple all the way through! Strong story and character arcs.  Well done, Regina!

Bibliotherapy elements: Abandonment, abuse, adoption, trust, and learning to love again!

You can purchase this and other books by Regina at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and CBD and other bookstores.

Giveaway: We're giving away two books this week. One is an autographed copy of Caught in the Middle and the other is winner's choice of any of Regina's books, choice of format.

A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House)

A Beauty So Rare, A Belmont Mansion Novel Book #2
(Bethany House Publishers)

5 stars *****
By Carrie Fancett Pagels

Another Belmont Hit!

What a wonderful read! A Beauty So Rare starts out a little bit slow but have no worries, Tamera Alexander soon takes off with a story wonderfully woven. I was tickled pink over heroine, Eleanor's reaction to certain colors of clothing, which I enjoy. Mr. Geoffries, a German archduke, and is a wonderful hero. Eleanor is strong and capable and learns to trust her heart, over the course of the story. Loved the secondary characters, with the widowed ladies and their children receiving help through the hero's and heroine's efforts. Some terrific antagonists, with great characterization.

This is the second book in the Belmont series and I can't wait to read the next book when it releases! The reader can settle in on A Beauty So Rare for a nice long read, though--as it comes in just under 500 pages!!!

SPOILER ALERT!!!
Bibliotherapy: Eleanor's father has Alzheimer's and must be placed in an institution. Tamera does a great job in showing how irascible and even dangerous someone can become with dementia. Having had several loved ones with this disorder I've seen how someone with Alzheimer's can turn on the very ones they love the most--the paranoia that sets in can be terrifying. Beautiful and tasteful showing of both the sweet and the awful moments of coping with a parent in these later stages of deterioration.

Also, although it isn't dwelt upon, Eleanor begins the story in a combat field hospital with a dying man. So we have a 26-year-old woman experiencing the horrors of war (I could have done without some of those scenes) and so the reader can assume she has some PTSD issues.  With Eleanor now 30, in the story, she is also struggling with singleness and being "an old maid." She feels abandoned by her father and it is her intense loneliness at Aunt Adelicia's home that helps cement her relationship with "the gardener" who isn't a gardener at all! Having been almost 30 when I married my husband, I know it is worth the wait, as it is for the heroine!

Superlatives: This book will be on my best of 2014 list here on the Overcoming With God. We OWG reviewers publish these "Best of" lists the end of December. The book will also be entered in the Bibliotherapy category as well.

Highly recommend--don't miss this!

Disclosure: I purchased this book as a paperback through Amazon but I also received a Kindle copy through NetGalley and am under no compulsion to post a positive review. The reviewers on the OWG blog love Tamera's books so much that we made sure everyone got a copy of this new release, in paperback, for the gorgeous cover, too. I also ordered the audio copy of the book. Unfortunately, the narrator on the book doesn't do the story justice--so I'd recommend that you read on Kindle, setting the font to large, if you have difficulty reading long books with your eyes, like I do.

Giveaways: We are giving away several items this week, including copies of the book and my surprise pink giveaway and a $10 Starbuck gift card.

Serena Miller's "Under a Blackberry Moon" Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Under a Blackberry Moon

By Serena Miller

Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

~5 stars~*****

Serena Miller told me at the 2013 ACFW conference that she had a story set in Michigan's Upper Peninsular, where I grew up.  My OWG "Angels" also told me there was a sequel book out to The Measure of Katie Calloway, which I loved.

Moon Song is a young metisse woman, half Anglo and half Chippewa, but she identifies herself as being of the Chippewa tribe. She has a baby and had spent the winter working at a lumber camp where she also nursed an axeman (who'd been a preacher) nicknamed "Skypilot" back to health. Moon Song has good reason to believe that a white man won't stay with a native woman long term--this was especially true in earlier times among the soldiers who came and went from the forts.

Enroute, via ship, to Lake Superior, tragedy strikes. Skypilot, Moon Song, her son, and an officer's wife, Isabella, end up stuck at what I believe is meant to be "Pictured Rocks" although it is referred to as Painted Rocks in the book.  Pictured Rocks are fabulous and are near modern day Munising. I've had many a wonderful trip there and my father enjoyed having picnics up at the top, where there is a park.  But I can't imagine trying to get to the top from the beach below!

Moon Song has been coached in the old ways by her grandmother. These methods assist the foursome as they make their way to Marquette.  I loved how Serena included a priest inspired by our own precious Bishop Baraga!  The love story is very sweet and beautifully portrayed.

I have relatives of Chippewa and other native American descent and I felt Serena was thoughtful in her depiction and probably pretty accurate. And it never dawned on me, what she has happen at the end, that this could have happened to any of my relatives' grandparents or great-grandparents. Nice twist.

*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley.*

Find Serena's books at Amazon, CBD, and other bookstores.

Giveaway: We have a paperback copy of "Under A Blackberry Moon" 

to give away this week and one option of either ebook/paperback of the same (so TWO chances to win this week!)

To enter you must "LIKE" Serena's Amazon page (click here), tell us you did, and tell us if you have EVER visited Michigan's beautiful upper peninsula!

Interview with Beth Vogt by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Beth Vogt

BETH K. VOGT, welcome to Overcoming With God.  I am very pleased to have made your acquaintance several years ago as part of the My Book Therapy Voice Ezine, which we both contributed to and was recently discontinued.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers. 

Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?

I’d like to tell your readers about one of the most difficult things I’m facing right now in my life: vertigo. My first episode happened two years ago (January 2010), and I’m still dealing with periodic vertigo, which can last anywhere from a few days to several months at a time. Most days, I am able to function – drive, write, live my life normally so no one even knows – but there are times I can’t even lift my head up off my pillow without the world tilting off course.

There have been times I’ve pulled the blankets up over my head and cried because I’m just so weary of the dizziness. And then there are times I laugh and joke about having my own personal mental roller coaster. I’ve had close friends and family pray for my healing – and God knows that I believe he can heal me of this. But I also know that, for now, He’s called me to walk this time of vertigo out with faith, trusting that He loves me and hasn’t deserted me, even if I don’t know from day to day if I’m going to wake up and feel like I’m standing on firm ground or on a rolling ship.

My husband and I start each day reciting Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  And I also decided not to waste this experience, so I gave one of my characters in my upcoming novel, Catch a Falling Star, vertigo. My husband said when he read one particular scene he was a bit nauseous, so I know I got it right.

 

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

Different verses have been “favorites” during different seasons in my life. But one that first spoke to me about God’s love for me is Colossians 1:13, which says “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”

Wish You Were Here

Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print? 

WishYou Were Here and Catch a Falling Star may become available on audio at some point – the sooner the better! I also learned about ensuring my website is accessible to the visually impaired, thanks to Edie Melson and her blog, Write Conversation (http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/2012/07/is-your-blog-accessible-to-visually.html). So I am using her recommendations as I update my website and blog.

Catch a Falling Star

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

We are each called to reflect God to others in our unique way – and mine is as a writer. So I hope that readers, wherever they are in their faith walk, are brought one step closer to God as they read my novels. With each story I write, I tackle real-life issues, such facing our mistakes and life not going according to plan – I just wrap them up in a romance.

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

I learned how dependent I am on both God and others to be the writer I desire to be. I knew writing a novel wasn’t easy and the hard work didn’t scare me. But writing a good novel – now that was scary. And then writing a second novel, and upping my game, that petrified me. I’m blessed to have Rachel Hauck and Susan May Warren as wonderful, godly mentors who pour both their writing talent and their faith into my life. And I also had three very close friends praying for me as I wrote Catch a Falling Star. Their ministry was invaluable. There’s more to writing than what we see.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?

As I mentioned before, I like to write about real life and so a number of topics useful for bibliotherapy show up in both Wish You Were Here and Catch a Falling Star, including:

·         Parental abandonment

·         Parental favoritism

·         Cutting

·         Perfectionism

·         Unhealthy romantic relationships

·         Adoption – and the issues that show up between adoptive children and their foster/adoptive parents

·         Divorce

·         Death of a parent

·         Sibling relationships

Author Bio: Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. She’s discovered that God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Her contemporary romance novel,Wish You Were Here, debuted in May 2012 (Howard Books), and Catch a Falling Star Releases May 2013. An established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth is also the Skills Coach for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren. 

Thank you, Beth, for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Giveaways:  We are giving away four copies of Beth's books this week.  Beth is giving away two copies of Wish You Were Here and one copy of Catch a Falling Star.  We are giving away an ebook of either of her books, which helps open the contest up to international readers. We will be giving away throughout the week, for each post.  To enter, answer each post's question and leave your email addy if we don't know you well.  

Question: Have you ever suffered from vertigo?  What happened and how did you deal with it?  Please offer up a prayer for Beth, also--thanks!

               

English-Dutch Review of A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander

A Lasting Impression

A Lasting Impression 
by Tamera Alexander
Bethany House, 2011

Reviewed by Marian Baay

4½ stars ****

I’ve read all of Tamera Alexander’s books and really loved the western settings. It’s a complete different world that Tamera is painting in this book, but her writing is excellent, as always!

It’s shortly after the Civil War. Claire Laurent used to forge paintings for her father and ‘uncle’. Determined to start a new life she leaves the place that her ‘uncle’ has send her to. She gets a job at the Belmont Mansion as Adelicia Acklen's personal liaison. Claire and Mrs. Acklen both enjoy art. Claire didn’t say anything about the forgery and soon it becomes a burden.

In her position as liaison she's able to use her talents to paint children's toys and gift boxes. But Claire biggest desire is to paint real paintings and make a name for herself.

Sutton Monroe is working as a lawyer and is manager at Belmont. His father was killed in the war. The government threatens to take his family property. If that is going to happen then Sutton will loose everything he has.

He is working on a big case for a client who bought a forged painting with documents. They are trying to get after the person who is behind the forgeries. If he is able to win this case he’ll get a lot of money and is his future secure.

Claire and Sutton both live at Belmont and share the meals with Mrs. Acklen and her children. They fall in love, but there are some obstacles that needs to be removed before there can be a future for them together.

What will happen with their love if Sutton finds out about Claire’s past?

I really liked Claire’s character--she was sweet, lovely, and humble. Sutton was the real gentleman and Mrs. Acklen was also a great character. I loved to see how she and Claire bonded. The servants--except for Mrs. Routh--were very nice too! I loved them all!

I enjoyed reading this book and looked a lot at the cover while reading, and tried to imagine myself in such a beautiful dress!

Although I prefer the settings of Tamera’s previous books, this book too is excellently written!

In Dutch:

Ik heb alle boeken van Tamera Alexander gelezen en heb genoten van de western settings. In dit boek schildert Tamera een geheel andere wereld, maar haar schrijfstijl is zoals gewoonlijk geweldig!

Het verhaal speelt af kort na de Burgeroorlog.

Claire vervalste schilderijen in opdracht van haar vader en ‘oom’. Ze is van plan om een nieuw leven te beginnen en verlaat de plaats waar haar oom haar naartoe gestuurd heeft. Ze vindt werk in het Belmont herenhuis. Ze werkt daar als Adelicia Acklen’s persoonlijke assistente. Claire en Mevr. Acklen houden allebei van kunst. Claire vertelt niet dat ze betrokken was bij het maken van vervalste schilderijen en al snel wordt dit een zware last voor haar.

In haar positie als persoonlijke assistente van Mevr. Acklen beschildert Claire kinderspeelgoed en geschenkdoosjes voor gasten. Maar Claire’s grootste droom is om echte schilderijen te schilderen en om naam te maken voor zichzelf.

Sutton Monroe is advocaat en manager van Belmont. Zijn vader is tijdens de oorlog vermoord en de overheid dreigt de grond van zijn familie af te nemen. Als dat gebeurt dan zal Sutton alles kwijt raken.

Hij werkt nu aan een grote zaak voor een cliënt die een vervalst schilderij met certificaten gekocht heeft. Ze proberen er achter te komen wie er achter het vervalsen zit. Als Sutton deze zaak kan winnen dan verdient hij een smak met geld en is zijn toekomst zeker.

Claire en Sutton wonen beiden op Belmont en nemen deel aan de maaltijden met Mevr. Acklen en haar kinderen. Ze worden verliefd, maar er zijn een aantal obstakels die uit de weg geruimd moeten worden voordat er een toekomst voor hen mogelijk is.

Wat zal er gebeuren als Sutton achter Claire’s verleden komt?

Ik vond Claire’s personage geweldig. Ze was lief en nederig. Sutton was de echte gentleman.

Mevr. Acklen was ook een aangename personage. Ik vond het geweldig om te zien hoe zij en Claire aan elkaar hechtten.

Ik vond de bedienden ook allemaal geweldig, behalve dan Mevr. Routh.

Ik heb echt genoten van dit boek en heb vaak naar de voorkant gekeken en probeerde mezelf voor te stellen in zo’n jurk!

Persoonlijk gaat mijn voorkeur uit naar de settings van Tamera’s voorgaande boeken, maar zoals gezegd is de schrijfstijl in dit boek geweldig!

Tamera's books can be purchased through Amazon, CBD, Lifeway and other bookstores.

GIVEAWAYS: Tamera is also doing a giveaway for us this week in addition to our giveaways of a book of choice plus one Tamera Alexander paperback that we are giving away ourselves--grand total of THREE giveaways this week. Leave a comment and your email to be entered in the contest. *International winners ebook only.

QUESTION: Do you also speak a second language?

Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Kathleen L. Maher

Kathleen L. Maher

Kathy, welcome to Overcoming Through Time – With God’s Help.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers. 

Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?

Thank you for having me, Carrie. I am the adult child of an alcoholic. My father was an immigrant from Estonia after World War II and never healed from the scars of his childhood as a displaced person fleeing war-torn Europe. As you can imagine, his self-destructive and violent behavior brought a lot of turbulence to my family. (Carrie—I’ll be specific if you want me to, if you think your readers can handle it—LOL He was a serial gambler, adulterer, and physically abusive to my mother and my siblings. He abandoned our family when I was three years old) But my mother held a fierce faith in the Lord, and her influence was enough to carry me and my four siblings through chaos and poverty into the hope and good future the Lord had for each of us. 

My mother worked as a clerk in a state prison to provide a roof over our heads, and always inspired in us a love of literature and learning. She gave us stability through church attendance and faithful daily prayer, introducing the Lord’s presence in our lives in her love and selfless care until we found our own relationship with God.

That relationship I found with the Lord has sustained me through many trials in my adult life, including the time my husband lost a job he loved, my son’s diagnosis with autism, and even a brief stint with homelessness. God has turned each of these painful experiences into tremendous blessing. We moved into our very own home within a year of landing in that homeless shelter, which can only be God’s miraculous provision. It is an old farmhouse with room for my gardens, my beloved dogs, and even a writing room—all of my heart’s desires. My son’s diagnosis has shed light on so much in my own life and revealed the amazing diversity with which God made each of us. My husband now has the best job he’s ever had, working with people with disabilities, which he may never have had unless we had gone on this journey. 

I can honestly say that these things really were used by God for our good, as it says in Romans 8:28

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

Another one in the same chapter. Romans 8:18: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” 

To me, it says that God is not only sovereign through our suffering, but also that while we are walking through that suffering, we can know there is glory on the other side. Both for ourselves and for those whose lives we will touch through it.

It’s like that scripture in Hebrews 12:2 where it says of Jesus: “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 
There is joy and glory on the other side, if we can embrace God’s will and strength through any trial.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your blogs and why?

I love to share the hidden treasures of history. Some call it HIStory—the chronicle of God’s merciful dealings with man—and I believe God wants us to herald it, whether in actual historical events or in stories of redemption set in historical settings.

The purpose of Fiction Addiction Fix is to make stories of hope and inspiration available to readers for free through giveaway contests. And my blog History Repeats Itself offers book reviews for select CBA releases, plus some historical tidbits about my local history in upstate New York.

As you researched your manuscripts, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

I am always touched by people of faith who endure hardship with ingenuity and strength. It seems that the Civil war was especially hard on families. Women raised children without their men at home, and that was something I could relate to, since my mother raised her family alone, with God’s help. I was also inspired by the way our divided country turned to God in their darkest hour. A great spiritual awakening took place during the Civil War with tent meetings and revivals, and many found the Light of Life. In so many ways, it is what our country needs now. There are great chasms in our land, like nothing since that time, and our only hope is to be reconciled to the God who promises to heal our land.

In this latest work, do you have any topics that will be useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?  

I am writing about a wounded Confederate captain who longs to be reunited with his daughters far away. His journey takes him through reconciliation with his own father before he can be the leader his family needs him to be. It deals with the healing power of forgiveness on mind, body and soul, and the reciprocity of grace and respect. As we give it to others, we receive it for ourselves.

Thank you Kathy for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

I am so blessed to have been your guest, Carrie. I pray that sharing the things the Lord has brought me through will give your readers strength and courage to believe for the glory God will reveal in them through their trials, too. Praying God’s richest blessing to you and your readers.

Bio: Kathleen L. Maher is the administrator of History Repeats Itself  and of Fiction Addiction Fix. She writes historical romance set in the American Civil War and is a 2012 Genesis Winner for Historical fiction.  Kathy is a member of ACFW, 19^th Century Writers, and co-owner of CROWN fiction marketing and Civil War HIStory.

Glass pen and ink set

Giveaway:  We have a cool glass quill pen and ink set that we are giving away to one person who comments about Kathy's interview and leaves their email address.

Teresa Mathews Reviews Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato

Prize of My Heart
by Lisa Norato
(Bethany House, 2012)

4 Stars ****

In this exciting tale Lisa weaves a story of mystery, secrets and forgiveness and of a hero that is a handsome Privateer! What more can you ask for?

Captain Brogan Talvis, one of the greatest Captains from the War of 1812, is a man on a mission to find his son. When he returned from war three years ago he was told by his now deceased wife that she gave away his two year old son and she made sure he would never be found. But Brogan has searched everywhere and now he has finally found his precious Ben in the home of a prominent shipbuilder, Nathaniel Huntley. Ben is being cared for by Mr. Huntley’s beautiful daughter, Lorena. There is nothing Brogan won’t do to reclaim his son. But will Brogan be able to sweep in and sail away with his son as he has planned or will the God he has turned his back on have other plans for him?

Lorena Huntley is the beautiful, sweet spirited daughter of Nathaniel Huntley, who is not above getting her hands dirty working alongside the servants. That is why when she first encounters Captain Talvis in the seaside shipyard; he thinks she is a mere servant girl. Lorena doesn’t know who this handsome stranger is that has intruded on her quiet time with the Lord, but she knows he stirs feelings in her she has never encountered before.

Lorena has been having troubling premonitions, but little does she know she will soon be the one in need of rescue and this giant of a man will be her rescuer.

When a childhood friend takes Lorena against her will on a voyage to England, Lorena’s father begs Brogan to go after them and bring her back. This is not the plan that Brogan has in mind; he just wants to take his son and leave. Will Brogan come to realize that Lorena means as much to him as his son does?

There are some twists to this story I was not expecting, Lisa did a wonderful job of creating a story that held my attention until the end. Hopefully we will be reading more from her in the near future.

Prize of My Heart is available for purchase on Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and other book stores.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of format ebook or paperback.

Carrie Fancett Pagels Reviews Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato

Review Prize of My Heart 

by Lisa Norato

(Bethany House, 2012) 

I loved this book!  I received a softcover book from the publisher and it read fine.  But I enjoy using my Kindle and so I purchased it to read the story.  (Hint: We have a very gently used copy of this book to do as an additional giveaway at the end of the week in addition to our regular giveaway!)

The War of 1812 is over and a privateer,  Captain Brogan Talvis, can search out his son, Ben, now five-years-old. Having acquired money through his exploits, he has arranged for a ship to be built in the shipyard of the family who adopted his son. His wife, shortly before her death in a fire, gave away their son to strangers.

Little Benjamin was renamed Andrew and called “Drew” and is being cared for by Nathaniel Huntley, a widower. Huntley’s daughter Lorena has essentially been raising the boy. She is a winsome character with a strong faith.

Brogan plans to take the child with him when he departs with his ship.  But he falls in love with Lorena, whom he initially mistakes for a household servant, startling her on the beach one morning.

Mr. Huntley has sponsored and helped a gifted young architect, who has been friends with Lorena and who persists in seeking her hand in marriage despite her continual refusals. A British citizen, the suitor has accepted an excellent offer in England and intends to take Lorena with him.

Brogan has a choice to make when Huntley reports his daughter has been taken away on board a ship bound for England, apparently against her will. Should he take Ben and sail away or race after the beautiful young woman who has captured his heart?

Nice job with the spiritual arc of the hero, who has had a very rough life and is dealing with abandonment issues.  The secondary characters are well-developed and add great flavor to the story. 

The Huntleys have their own secrets, too. When these are revealed will Brogan be able to pick up the pieces of a heart and soul betrayed and deceived?   Read and find out!

This was a lovely book and I highly recommend it.  Prize of My Heart can be purchased at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and other bookstores.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered to win a copy of Lisa's new release.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  

Ovecoming Abandonment and Alcoholism with God's Help

MaryLu Tyndall posts at Colonial Quills group blog and on MaryLu's website.  
This past week we have interviewed ML and had reviews of her pirate trilogy which recently re-released!  


MaryLu shared about abandonment as an issue for herself and as faced by her heroine, Charlisse, in these books.  


Here is a really deep post on abandonment: link


My thoughts -
God will never abandon nor leave you.  He will never forsake you. Once a Christian gets that in their head a lot of those issues of feeling alone vanish. And I don't trust "Feelings" nor should you as Joyce Meyer reminds us. When you rely upon the Word you can say to the feeling - "I KNOW what God's Word says, and I am never abandoned by my Father for His Word proclaims that truth."


But we live on earth. We want examples of a godly father. For a married person that, truthfully, often translates into who your husband becomes as a father. Therefor a woman needs to choose her Christian husband carefully, as God directs her path, so she can see in her own life, in her own home, what a good father looks like. That isn't to say that her choice will be perfect.  We all have free will and who knows what that Christian husband might choose to do.  A spouse with abandonment issues needs to be careful not to react when their husband or wife needs extra emotional space, though. Be mindful of your own history so you can deal with it and not dump it on your partner.


There is a void left in your heart, as a child or teen, when a parent leaves, whether through death, abandonment, or for some other reason such as long-term illness or military. The Enemy will tell you that something is needed to fill that void.  Yes, that would be God.  But Satan will offer up many other alternatives that are meant to destroy not build you up as your Father would.  Alcoholism, as addressed in MaryLu's books, is a common example.  There are many recovery groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, all over the country, willing to help people turn from a bottle of alcohol as their god to the their higher power, or God for we Christians.


What about you today?  Who can you guide toward God and away from the earthly thing they have been using to salve their wounds? 

Review by Teresa Mathews of The Reliance by MaryLu Tyndall

The Reliance Legacy of the Kings Pirates, Book 2 By MaryLu Tyndall Review by Teresa Mathews Five Stars~ ***** The story of Captain Edmond Merrick and his beautiful wife, Lady Charlisse Hyde continues in this second book in the Legacy of the King’s Pirates. They have had their share of problems and separations but as the story opens they are enjoying some beautiful and peaceful time together and are looking forward to the birth of their first child. They are visiting friends in the Caribbean, when the town is attacked by a band of pirates being led by an evil monster from their past. He is set on destroying their lives. While trying to get Charlisse back to his ship and away from the horrors of the attack, Capt. Merrick leaves her in the safety of a church, only seconds later to witness an explosion that wipes out the church and all of his hopes for a future with his wife. After witnessing what he thinks is the death of his lovely wife, Merrick turns his back on the God that could have stopped this from happening, and returns to the life of the evil pirate he once was. When Charlisse is taken captive by the man she fears most, her faith in God wavers also, especially when she thinks she has been abandoned by her husband, and the life of her unborn child is threatened. During this ordeal she comes to realize she must rely on God to be her strength and protection. Aboard ship Charlisse meets a young woman, Lady Isabel Ashton, that has also been taken captive, and because of her, Charlisse has some protection from the lustful captain who has kidnapped her. When they finally come into port, Charlisse sees Merrick’s ship and hope rises that he will rescue her. With help from an unlikely source, Charlisse and Isabel escape from their captor, only to find out that Merrick is not with his ship but has taken up with another pirate in search of whom he thinks is the main cause of Charlisse’s death. Will Merrick see the error of his ways…will he listen to that still small voice that he hears speaking to him, or will he keep drowning his sorrows in rum and forget God? How long will it take for Charlisse to find Merrick and when she does, will her love for him be able to survive what her eyes see and her heart cannot believe? Will they realize their only hope for survival is their full reliance on God to see them through? WOW! What a wonderfully written book. If you like excitement, romance, and a dashing pirate thrown in, then this series is for you. MaryLu Tyndall is a talented writer, from the first page to the very last word printed, she had my full attention. She beautifully weaves a story that will pull you in so that you can almost feel the wind blowing on your face and smell the sea air. But what I really loved was the way she balanced the vileness of the pirates with the marvelous wonder of an awesome, powerful God. This is definite must read, I promise you won’t be disappointed matey! Purchase The Reliance at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book.com