Giveaway - My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah: Leana's Choice by Angie Dicken

My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate Utah by Angie Dicken

Book blurb:
Journey now to Castle Gate, Utah of 1910 where...
Forbidden Love Tries to Survive Old World Expectations

Schoolteacher Leanna McKee plans on leaving the coal mining town of Castle Gate, Utah, and never looking back. Good riddance to coal dust, rugged men, and the fatal mine that took her husband’s life.

Until the widow meets a widower who awakens her heart...and she finds herself inexplicably falling for miner Alex Pappas which stirs up a whole heap of trouble.

Alex’s Greek parents have arranged a more traditional match for him.  When the schoolteacher’s association with the Greek family begins to anger the American miners, they threaten Alex and his family. Leanna has received an offer to teach elsewhere and feels she has no choice but to leave Castle Gate. . .though she will be leaving her heart behind.

Guest Post by Andrea Stephens

Andrea's Thoughts

This book fits the theme of Overcoming With God so well.

     Leanna must overcome the guilt and anger she has for herself and her late husband. “How many times had she prayed forgiveness since Jack's death? Yet how many times had she thought ill of the man since he's been laid to rest?”

     Alex must overcome the prejudice between Greek immigrants and the Americans.  More importantly, he must overcome the feeling that God left him when his wife died.
     Leanna and Alex acknowledge their love. During a discussion,  Leanna says “But we have a whole country against a match like ours.”  Leanna decides it is best for everyone if she leaves and accepts a new job in Salt Lake. Before she leaves, a wealthy family friend finds her in Castle Gate from a letter she had written to her cousin. He offers to marry her, restoring her to her family and former life. She does not love him, but he does offer security. What will she do?

    Leanna leaves Castle Gate after tragedy strikes the Pappas family. Will they be able to overcome the hate crime?

     Months pass, both Alex and Leanna have moved on with their lives but are not happy. It is only after surrendering everything to God that they see the truth. Will it be together or apart? 
    

This is a good book! It is so much more than a romance. It made me want to look up some of the historical points for more information. I was not taught any of this in school.   I enjoyed the bits of Greek culture and tradition I learned from the book too.

     Angie Dicken did a wonderful job of writing the message of hope in truth and forgiveness throughout the story of Leanna and Alex.
     I will leave you with another quote from the book.
“Plan? We are all foolish to think we have the best plans for ourselves, aren't we? There's something greater nudging us out of the darkness.”

Giveaway: A paperback copy of Angie Dicken's new release My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah: Leana's Choice from Barbour Publishing!

Christmas at Carnton by Tamera Alexander -- Audiobook Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Blurb: Captain Jake Winston is a Confederate sharpshooter who suffers a head injury that may cause blindness. While he waits for his diagnosis, and still has his sight, he sketches and journals events of the war. As he heals, Jake receives orders to help with the local Women’s Relief Society Christmas auction. A society which supports Confederate and Federal soldiers, makes a difference in soldiers lives. Aletta Prescott is a widow with a six-year-old son and a child on the way. She applies for a job at the auction, only to find the position is no longer available. She meets Jake and as she gets to know him she must try to let go of the fear begins to grow inside her.

Christmas at Carnton by Tamera Alexander --
Audiobook Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

A Southern Christmas Tale by a Master Storyteller

My Review
I listened to Christmas at Carnton as an Audible.com download via my membership. As usual, master storyteller, Tamera Alexander delivers a powerful read (listen) in her newest release, the first book in a series set at Carnton Plantation in Tennessee. I thought Aletta's name was Arletta, as I was listening. I've not heard the name Aletta but had heard Arletta before. Regardless, Aletta is a very sympathetic heroine. As indicated in the blurb, Jake is an injured sharp shooter. I confess that gave me great pause. I felt that was a risky thing for Tamera to have a hero doing, especially a Confederate. Having been raised in the North, this gave me great pause. I don't know if I'd have continued listening had it not been Tamera Alexander who had written the story. I really had to deliberately force myself to overlook this Confederate sharpshooter soldier's misbegotten loyalties to keep listening. He's a lovely hero. If only he'd been a Union soldier! My father was a sharpshooter in WWII and I know that that means, but it isn't something I have tried to dwell on. So I think this story also stirred up in me some conflicted thoughts of my nerdy dad having been a sharpshooter. And the Southern ladies raising money for "The Cause" -- I confess I cringed. When I discovered a Confederate ancestor a few years back in my genealogy I had a meltdown. My husband's reaction was -- "You're family was from the South, what did you expect?" Since as far as I knew they were all in Kentucky at that time I wasn't sure what I'd find. And there was another George Washington Danner I'd found from Kentucky who'd been a Union deserter (apparently not my ancestor by the same name who was enlisted in Staunton, Virginia.) Sorry, but I digress.

Tamera Alexander's story is a truly Southern tale and and a reflection of history. I learned something I'd never heard before -- that many slave-owners had sent their slaves deeper into the South. What a tragedy. I've seen pictures of post-Civil War freed slaves gathering at various places trying to find as many of their kin as they could. Very sad. And imagine being freed in Mississippi and having loved ones back in Tennessee to find. How did they make those journeys? So I found myself having a number of tangential thoughts while listening to this story.

The story carries on at a brisk pace with well-developed characters and a plot line with plenty of layers. Even despite my reservations, I found myself rooting for Aletta and Jake who are a great heroine/hero combo. Aletta has such a difficult situation but carries herself as a lady. And caring for a son while pregnant and a widow, that makes her very sympathetic. Jake, too, is a very likable sympathetic character struggling with his own losses.

The novel is available in multiple formats including ebook, audiobook, paperback, and hardcover large print, which makes this lovely story accessible to many people. Looking for a little different kind of Christmas story this year -- check out this new audiobook! You can't go wrong with Tamera Alexander!

Diana's Review Of Secret Sister - An Amish Christmas Tale By Sarah Price

Secret Sister: An Amish Christmas Tale By Sarah Price

Realms, Oct. 2015

Reviewed By Diana Flowers

~5 stars~

(No spoilers!)

        It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

In Secret Sister, author Sarah Price has written a heartwarming Amish yuletide tale of bewildering secrets and love lost—set amongst the fragrant scent of pine, the soft glow of candles, and crystalline snowflakes ushering in the Christmas season.

Feeling so very alone and heartbroken from recently losing Menno – the love of her life – not to mention her children growing up and moving into different communities, Grace Beiler is truly suffering in silence. It is the Amish way to accept God's will in all things and not to question or complain about one's lot in life. Although her Amish community is kind to her, Grace feels like a fifth wheel when they offer to give her rides or invite her places with their families. Soon strange events begin to take place when Grace starts receiving notes and gifts that cause her to reflect on meaningful incidents in her past—when she and Menno were young and courting, and their subsequent life with their children. Apparently Grace has a "secret sister" who is seeking to encourage her, but who is she?...and how is she aware of these things that are only significant to Grace? As she attends her favorite event of the year which happens to be the Christmas program, Grace receives another gift—one that will change the course of her life forever.

In Secret Sister masterful storyteller, Sarah Price, has written an exquisite novel destined to become a Christmas classic! What an intricate, unpredictable plot! In one evening I literally read half of this book trying to figure out who the "secret sister" was and I never did. Being an empty nester myself, I could truly identify with Grace's inability to know just where she belonged after devoting her whole life to raising her children. I didn't just have tears in my eyes at the wonderful conclusion—they were literally streaming down my cheeks—I was that moved. For those of you who don't want to read a story about a more "mature" woman (lol)...have no fear. The book goes back and forth between past and present and there is plenty of blushing romance and drama, too! Highly recommended read for any time of the year!
 

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This book may be purchased through Amazon, CBD, BAM, and your local bookstore.
 

GIVEAWAY: Sarah Price has generously offered a copy of Secret Sister to one blessed commenter. To be eligible, please leave your email address written (at) and (dot) to prevent yourself from spammers.


Susan Reinhardt Interview

Susan Reinhardt

Susan J. Reinhardt is the author of her debut novel, The Moses Conspiracy.

Susan, welcome to Overcoming With God.  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?

The concept for The Moses Conspiracy was birthed shortly before my husband was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with the Philadelphia gene. Virtually all work stopped on the book during this time as we fought to save his life. After a 14-month battle, he passed away.

A season of grief, an incredible amount of challenges with the house and business, and my own health challenges followed. 2006-2008 were the most difficult years of my life.

As things settled down, I remembered the original vision and my husband's prayers and enthusiasm for the project. I knew I couldn't walk away, and picked up the threads of the story. It took a total of six years to write, re-write, get the book into publishable condition, and find someone who believed in the story.

(CFP: Susan, I am so sorry for your loss.  What a terrific fight he must have made. May your book honor his memory.)

Disability friendliness: Is this 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?

At this time, The Moses Conspiracy is in e-book format. However, it will be out in print within the next few months. Helping Hands Press is also planning to do an audio version. I believe the print size can be adjusted on some e-readers. As far as e-books with audio capability, I was unaware of this technology until now.

Does this book have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?  

None of my characters have a particular disorder, but I think a bibliotherapy is a great idea. It's something that may apply to the third book in the trilogy.

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

You can purchase the Moses Conspiracy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.

Amazon Link  

B&N Link:

Kobobooks.com Link 

You can connect with Susan on:

 Facebook 

Twitter

Susan's Blog Link

Giveaway: A copy of Susan's ebook. Leave a comment and your email address to enter!

Interview With Lynnette Bonner by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Lynnette Bonner

Lynnette Bonner is the author of High Desert Haven, book 2, and of Rocky Mountain Oasis, book 1 in The Shepherd’s Heart series.

I met Lynnette through our mutual friend Marian Baay who does guest reviews for us. Marian loved Lynnette’s stories and suggested she contact me for a spot on Overcoming Through Time - With God's Help.

Lynnette, welcome to Overcoming Through Time.  Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

One difficult thing in my life early on, was heading off to boarding school at the age of 8. My parents were missionaries and there weren’t a lot of educational options on the field. The first couple of years were pretty tough, but in the long run, I think my relationship with the Lord was strengthened because of it – I had nowhere to turn but to Him. And later I learned to love boarding school. I still have strong bonds with many of my friends from those years.

In my adult years, I could name several things that have been difficult; being a pastor’s wife…, raising children…, persevering until I finally got published…. But through all of those circumstances, I’ve learned that the best place to turn when the going gets tough is to the Lord. Prayer really does make a difference, if only in my perspective.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

This is a question to ponder, isn’t it? How does one pick just one jewel from a treasure trove full of them? Still, one of my favorite verses comes from Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Disability friendliness:

Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio? 

Currently none of my books are available as recorded audio books, but all of my stories are available for Kindle and are text to speech enabled.

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

I think, as I’m winding down writing my fourth full novel within the next week or so, the one main message I would love for my readers to hear is this: Life is hard. We are all faced with painful circumstances as a result of sin in this world. But with the Lord’s help, we can forge ahead and press on, and even make a difference in this world for the better. A relationship with Jesus is the key to true happiness on this earth.

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

For book 3 in The Shepherd’s Heart series, Fair Valley Refuge, I did quite a bit of research on the orphan trains. Many of the stories tugged at my heart strings. Families too poor to be able to properly care for their children often took them to the orphanage steps and left them there during the night. Others truly were orphans, but were separated from siblings in order to secure them homes. Many never saw each other again. Some went to good homes. Some to homes where people only wanted the free labor.

But the piece of research I’ve done that has probably most touched my heart is for a series I haven’t even started yet that will be set on the island of Zanzibar and in East Africa during the late 1800’s. Many people don’t realize that slavery from the east coast of Africa continued long after most of the slavery from the west coast had been abolished. And some of the things those poor people had to endure are enough to bring tears to your eyes. Women who weren’t strong enough to carry both their child and the load of ivory the slavers wanted them to pack to the coast from the interior, had their children killed before their eyes. Young boys, sought after as eunuchs for Indian, Arab, and Chinese royalty, were castrated by the thousands. Only 1 in 10 survived the unsterile procedure. One in ten!

I could go on. But just those glimpses of my research will give you a taste of the heartbreak.

High Desert Haven by Lynnette Bonner

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

In High Desert Haven my heroine Nicki has just lost her husband. It was a forced marriage and she didn’t really love him, but she still grieves his loss. And then has to come to terms with how she is going to forge ahead and overcome the new situation she finds herself in. So a particularly applicable topic would be grief.


Click here to order Lynnette's books from Amazon.

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


GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week's contest. Drawing will be late Saturday. Your choice of Lynnette's books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners only receive the book in ebook format, not as a paperback.