Can Maggie prove that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the inaugural Peyton Stakes, the richest race ever run in America? Find out in Tamera Alexander's To Win Her Favor. To give her that chance—and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder—Maggie must marry a man she's never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself.

Celebrate the release of To Win Her Favor with a Kindle Fire and book giveaway!


One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD 6
• A copy of To Win Her Favor

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 10th. Winner will be announced May 11th on Tamera's blog. Plus stay tuned for more opportunities to win after May 11 with a special Pinterest contest—more details coming soon!



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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Bound together across time, two women will discover a powerful connection in Kristy Cambron's new book, A Sparrow in Terezin. Connecting across a century through one little girl, a Holocaust survivor with a foot in each world, two women will discover a kinship that springs even in the darkest of times. In this tale of hope and survival, Sera and Kája must cling to the faith that sustains and fight to protect all they hold dear—even if it means placing their own futures on the line.

Kristy is celebrating by giving away a basket filled with goodies inspired by her new book!


One grand prize winner will receive:

• A set of poppy notecards
• A poppy pin
• A copy of I Never Saw Another Butterfly
• A copy of the Mrs. Miniver DVD
• Literary tea bags
• Tumbler
• A copy of A Sparrow in Terezin

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 28th. Winner will be announced April 29th on Kristy's blog.



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If you're a lover of really good books, then Kristy Cambron is an author that you should check out. In her second book of the Hidden Masterpiece series, Kristy kept me up far too late into the night with a book that I just couldn't put down. After reading The Butterfly and the Violin, I didn't think that there was a chance for her to successfully pull off another masterpiece, but I am thrilled to say that I am wrong. With two stories interwoven (modern times and World War 2), it's almost like getting two for the price of one. Honest to goodness, I cannot say enough good things about this book or this book series. I have my fingers crossed for more!



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Don't miss Shelley Shepard Gray's new series, Amish Brides of Pinecraft, and the first book in the series, The Promise of Palm Grove! Romantic Times said, "Vibrant descriptions and details bring the plot to life in this heartwarming tale of new beginnings and renewal." Does Leona follow the path set out before her? Or take a chance with only the promise of what could be to guide her?

Enter to win a copy of The Promise of Palm Grove—five winners will be chosen! The winners will be announced March 30 on Shelley's blog!


A young Amish woman finds herself torn between the man she's pledged to wed and the man her heart desires in this heartwarming story of chance, duty, and choice in the face of love—the first volume in beloved New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray's new Amish Brides of Pinecraft series

Amish bride-to-be Leona is thrilled to be in Florida, on a mini vacation in the pretty town of Pinecraft. Her girlfriends think she's happy because she's away from the stress of wedding planning. They have no idea that Leona's real joy is in being away from her fiancé.

Edmund is a good man and will make a decent husband . . . just not for Leona. The more time she spends with him and his overbearing ways, the less she wants to be his wife. Her cousins are sure Edmund is the right man for her—and their certainty makes Leona begin to doubt herself. But when a chance encounter with a wayward cat brings her face-to-face with a handsome, fun-loving Amish man named Zachary Kaufmann, Leona's faced with two vastly different futures.

Leona must decide: Should she follow the path set out before her? Or take a chance with only the promise of what could be to guide her?

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It's been forever since I've had the chance to read a really good Amish fiction book. Shelley Shepard Gray never disappoints and she certainly didn't in this book. It was such an easy and wonderful read that the pages seemed to turn themselves and before I knew it, I was done with the book and looking forward to the next one in the series. The author writes in such a way that the characters will come to feel like friends and people that you've known for ages. All I can say is thank goodness this is book one in a series and there are more to look forward to!

a Rafflecopter giveaway




I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.

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Saddle up for a new romance from novelist Debra Clopton, Betting on Hope! In Wishing Springs, Maggie finds what she has always been looking for: a community and a home. But when her past catches up to her, it threatens everything, even the tender hope that this town holds all of her heart’s desires.

Enter to win a Kindle Fire HD 6 to celebrate the release of Betting on Hope! 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A copy of Betting on Hope

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 8th. Winner will be announced March 9th on Debra's blog.

A bet gone wrong. A small town's meddling. And a cowboy intent on saving his ranch.

Maggie Hope is an advice columnist whose background leaves her with little advice to give . . . and it's beginning to show. When Maggie fills in at an interview with champion horse trainer Tru Monahan, the on-camera chemistry between them is undeniable. Maggie's bosses know this is the opportunity she's been looking for to launch her career--and their bank accounts. In order to save her column, Maggie takes Tru up on the bet that he can teach her to ride a quick-stepping cutting horse like any cowgirl, despite the fact that she has never been on a horse. And in the meantime, she can get the scoop on the man under the cowboy hat.

Tru has been on the competition circuit for longer than he'd like, but he knows it's the only way he can afford to keep the Four of Hearts Ranch that means so much to his ailing grandfather. So when his sponsors see the opportunity for Tru's fans to get to know the star on a more intimate level, he knows he must oblige. To his dismay, Maggie not only invades his small town of Wishing Springs, but she also invades his heart, and that is something he cannot let any woman do--for her own good.

In Wishing Springs, Maggie finds what she has always been looking for: a community and a home. But when her past catches up to her, it threatens everything, even the tender hope that this town holds all of her heart's desires

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Just when I was in the mood for a sweet romance, Betting on Hope came along. Filled with characters that pull you right into their world, this was another one night read. Thank goodness that wrestling season is winding down so that I can catch up on some sleep on the weekends! This book is filled with not only wonderful primary characters, but secondary characters that sometimes steal the scene, but in the end, it all comes together. Debra Clopton is another author who rarely has anything more than a home run and this book isn't any different.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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This gripping new tale from Liz Tolsma, Remember the Lilies, is a must-read for fans of WWII-era fiction. When Irene is attacked by a sinister Japanese guard and their secrets are exposed, she and Rand must learn the true meaning of forgiveness—if they can stave off starvation until the American troops bring freedom.

Help Liz celebrate the release of Remember the Lilies with a Kindle Fire giveaway!


One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• One copy of Remember the Lilies

Irene and Rand come from very different walks of life. Will they find common ground in their fight to survive?

Irene has grown up in the jungle as a missionary with her Aunt Anita, but now she and countless others are imprisoned by Japanese soldiers at the Santo Tomas Internment Camp in the Philippines. Irene and her aunt are safe there, and she keeps busy with her duty of delivering censored messages to the camp’s prisoners, but like everyone else, she prays for the war to end and for her freedom. Rand is a wealthy, womanizing American, whose attempted escape from the internment camp has put himself and others in danger. When Rand and Irene’s Aunt Anita meet one another in the hospital, Irene learns more of his story and her heart is determined to save his family. But the danger outside the walls of the hospital worsens every day, and life in this exotic place is anything but luxurious. Can Irene find Rand’s family before they disappear forever? And can a humble missionary woman and an arrogant man find common ground in the face of their biggest fears?

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How many of you have contemplated what happened to Americans living overseas when war broke out? I know that it's not something that I've spent a lot of time thinking about. This book will put you right into the middle of it. The intensely written imagery caused me to put this book down more than once, but I seemed to keep coming back to it. The book isn't without flaws though. There are some circumstances that just didn't seem realistic and the characters didn't seem as fleshed out as they could have been. So, this book is on my well, it was pretty good but perhaps not one that I'll return to time and time again.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.

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A twenty-first-century doctor travels back in time to third-century Carthage to rescue her husband, but the arrival of a deadly epidemic forces her to make an impossible choice in this fast-paced second novel in The Carthage Chronicles series.
Dr. Lisbeth Hastings salvaged two things from her accidental trip to the third century: her mother's stethoscope and her child. Making a life for her daughter Maggie back in the present is difficult, but returning to ancient Carthage is impossible. However, when Lisbeth learns her husband is slated to die a martyr's death, she must find a way around the impossible to save him.
Cyprian Thascius returns from political exile a broken man. He's lost his faith, the love of his life, and his purpose. When Ruth, an old friend, proposes he marry her to restore his position and protect his estate, the disgraced nobleman accepts. But when Cyprian's true love suddenly reappears, his heart becomes as imperiled as the fledgling church.
As Lisbeth and Cyprian reunite to battle a new epidemic and save the oppressed community of Christians, the chasm between the two of them seems too wide to bridge. But when Maggie contracts typhoid, Lisbeth must choose: stay and save the man she loves, or return home and save her daughter?
Filled with gripping action and raw emotion, this incredibly compelling adventure of star-crossed lovers will keep you engrossed with every turn of the page.

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This one is a tough one for me to write. I've spent days trying to decide what to say about this book. I love the ideas in this book...time travel...love...today's medicine being attempted in ancient times...I enjoyed the writing and the historic details and imagery were wonderful. It was the story that I struggled with and in the end, put the book down and said I'll get back to finishing this eventually. I don't want to give you any sort of spoilers, so I'm just going to say that the way one character handled herself really bothered me along with the lack of dealing with the issues this caused. In fact, the author chose to "fix it" by not fixing it. I know this is vague, but I really don't want to spoil the book for anyone who wishes to read it.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.

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Get ready for Valentine's Day with a new story of romance and falling in love in Kathryn Springer's The Dandelion Field. The handsome firefighter makes a living “coming to the rescue,” but Gin is used to fighting her own battles. Can a woman who doesn't believe in happy endings take a chance on a new beginning? 

Celebrate a second chance at love and family with Kathryn by entering her Kindle Fire giveaway!


One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• The Dandelion Field

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 15th. Winner will be announced February 16th on the Litfuse blog.

 
{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}
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This handsome firefighter makes a living coming to the rescue, but Gin doesn't need a man to fight her battles.

After Raine s dad walked out, Ginevieve Lightly never lived in one place too long, a rambling lifestyle that defined her daughter s youth. When their car dies in Banister Falls, Wisconsin, Gin promises Raine they can stay until she finishes her senior year of high school. Gin will do anything to make sure her daughter has a bright future . . . a future that s compromised when Raine reveals she s pregnant.

Dan Moretti has only ever called Banister Falls home. After losing his best friend in a tragic accident, Dan devoted himself to responding to fires, rescuing the helpless, and guiding Cody Bennett, his best friend's son, through life. With Cody being the epitome of the good kid, it was an easy job. Until he says four little words: The baby is mine.

Knowing gossip of Raine's pregnancy will erupt sooner or later in the small town, Gin's reflex is to grab the suitcase and escape to a new city, a new life. But with each passing day, Gin's feet stay rooted in Banister Falls, and she falls a little more for this local firefighter who shows her not all men abandon women at the first sign of smoke.

As Gin and Dan do the best they can to guide the two teenagers through their early entry into adulthood, they discover together that romance can bloom in the rockiest of situations. And God can turn the pieces of a broken past into a beautiful new beginning.

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Romance is always a weakness for me, no matter if it's real life or in a book. This book was a solid source of reality, romance, being caught between people and just trying to survive. The characters were not only solid, but they were real. They had real emotions and real reactions. As a parent, I read the parent/child interactions and wondered what my own relationship with my boys will be like in a few years. As a single mom who has been in a few bad places, I understood Gin's desire to grab a suitcase and run. As a person who has been there for others and somehow wound up in between people, I understood Dan's plight. I think everyone can find some part of a character and relate to it. The dialogue was wonderfully written and the story moved along at a pace that didn't feel rushed and it didn't drag. Overall, a wonderful book of courage, hope and love.




I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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They've helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples. Now twelve new couples will find themselves in the wedding spotlight in the second Year of Weddings novella collection.

This hair stylist has adorned many a bride with the perfect bridal tresses. Now, she must overcome her past in order to realize that she, too, can find true love this January.







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Ahhh! It's back! You guys know I loved, loved, loved this series last year and I am so excited to see it back. Oddly enough, I'm reviewing it through a completely different outlet this time around, but I don't care! I love the fine folks that I get to work with and I love them even more since they brought this novella to my attention.

Now, looking at the book description above, I can imagine that you're all thinking something along the lines of, "But what is this book really about?"  I thought the same thing. It's about a girl..who meets a boy...hehe... Seriously, it's about this woman named Ginger, who like most of us, is somehow wounded by her past, including our main male. They meet again and it's time to find out if they can put the past in the past, heal and move towards the future. I'm not going to give any spoilers, but I will say that this novella is full of real turmoil and has characters that you'll find some small piece of yourself in. It is a Christian novella and you will see that in this novella. However, it isn't so in your face that, if you don't share those beliefs, it will get in the way of your enjoyment of the story.

Summary? The characters are relatable, the novella actually has really good closure, unlike some, and I'm already hoping to review the remainder of this year's series.




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“It isn't the long day of monitoring a child's precarious health or being hypervigilant about her mood and mental health challenges that weighs parents down; it's the wishing that things were different. . . . Resentment, not the intense care they must provide their child, is the parents' greatest stressor and source of pain.” —Laurie Wallin

Parents of specials needs children are exhausted. They've done all the research, consulted all the experts, joined support groups, gotten counseling, fought for the best life for their children. Often just caring for their children's needs and attempting to maintain a home maxes out parents' mental, emotional, and spiritual reserves.

Laurie Wallin knows firsthand the difficulties of this journey. With Get Your Joy Back, she steps forward to make a bold, audacious claim: in the midst of this long-term, intense task, it is still possible to have an abundant life, full of joy. The key to radically changing daily life and restoring joy to the weary is forgiveness. Wallin gives parents a lifeline to find that restoration, pulling them back to shore when they feel like they're drowning.

This book is full of practical, biblical insights and strategies to shed the resentments that leave Christian special-needs parents themselves spiritually, emotionally, and socially drained. Wallin meets readers right where they are, sugar coating nothing, but addressing issues with honesty, humor, and--above all--hope.

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As a single mom to a special needs kiddo, I've found myself sometimes feeling buried under his needs. Please don't get me wrong. I don't resent it for a single moment. My grieving time for not having a "normal" child is long past and I love this kid with everything I have and I am as insanely proud of him and his accomplishments as I am his younger brother. What I mean is that while making myself available to him 24/7/365 and dealing with his special needs (such as I tutor him every single night for hours), I've lost myself in the process. I stopped dreaming or even thinking that I could have dreams.

This book made me smile from the moment that I started reading it. Laurie gets it. Every single page seemed to have something that I could relate to. Some of it I've dealt with, some of it I'm still dealing with. This book isn't about how to handle your child's needs or to find the perfect specialist. It's about finding yourself, forgiveness and finding joy in the journey again. She encourages us to dream and that we deserve to dream. Will you find joy after reading this book? I don't know but I do know that it will remind you that you are not alone and sometimes just having that reminder can make a huge difference.



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Sweeping and Romantic Historical Drama from an Award-Winning Author
Anna O'Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across a baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. She is thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, but her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help.
Luke Callahan was one of the nation's most powerful congressmen until his promising career became shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship.
Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglement with a member of Congress.
From the gilded halls of the Capitol, where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation's finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for themselves?

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When I first started reading this book, I didn't have much hope that it was going to grab me and hold onto me to the very end. I think that feeling lasted about two chapters in and then I was hooked! Anna's love of the library and Luke's love of poetry and their respect and love for books and learning...well, they could have been my best friends, I think. Then, there's Anna's best friend who I also completely adored. Honestly, I couldn't get enough of these characters and then, there was the story. While it had some twists that I figured out immediately, the main one kept me guessing right until the end of the book, when the entire truth was revealed. I especially appreciate the research that the author obviously put into the book because seeing familiar historical names and places really set the stage for the entire book. A great historical fiction/romance book and I look forward to reading more of Elizabeth Camden's work.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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Thea James has accepted an assignment as co-chairperson for Larkindale’s first quilt show extravaganza. Juggling the new assignment with running her antique business, she’s already feeling frayed when things start to unravel.
Mary-Alice Wentworth, a much-loved town matriarch, respected quilt judge, and Thea’s dear friend, is covertly conked on the head during the kick-off Quilt Show Soiree, throwing suspicion on her guests. It also appears that a valuable diamond brooch has been stolen during the attack. The family is furious. But is it because of their mugged mother or the missing diamonds?
When a renowned textile expert goes MIA and the famous Wentworth heritage quilt disappears, Larkindale’s reputation as a tourist haven is at risk. Thea attempts to piece the mystery together and save the town’s investment in the quilt show before Mary-Alice is attacked again . . . with far worse results.

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I wanted to like this book. I really did. I have really enjoyed all of the other books in this series, but this one just didn't meet up to my expectations. For starters, the cover makes it look as if this is a Christmas book, but it really isn't. Then comes the character of Thea. For whatever reason, I just didn't like her. She seemed spoiled and whiney to me. I don't know. Perhaps the problem isn't with the book but with the expectations that I had for the book. I was expecting romance and there wasn't any. Instead, this book is a basic amateur sleuth whodunit type book. The story itself moves along quickly, but in the end, it just wasn't enough to hold my attention. If there was one redeeming quality to me, it was the character of Mary-Alice. I very much adored her and would love to read a book about her history and the love of her life, who clearly meant so much to her.

All of this being said, if you're looking for an amateur sleuth meets quilting and a serious love for her cat type of book, be sure to check this one out. Just because it wasn't my favorite doesn't mean that it can't be yours!



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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Buckley and Bogey, Cat Detectives, find their next big case with the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Agency to be their most complicated ever! It all starts when someone hides a mysterious package in their Mom's antique store - in the middle of the night! Of course, the boys find it, and put it in a nice, safe place, until they can open it . . . and, find the rightful owner. But that's when a whole bunch of suspicious people show up in St. Gertrude, and every single one of them seems to be after that package! Holy Catnip! Plus, everything happens just when a priceless, jeweled statue collection goes on display at the St. Gertrude Museum. Missing from that collection are two jewel covered cat statues that disappeared almost a hundred and fifty years ago. But soon Buckley and Bogey wonder how long those statues will stay missing. Because this is one case that really keeps them on their paws! From a trip to the Museum, and to an old church for the Blessing of the Animals; and from dinosaurs to diamonds, they end up dodging shady suspects the whole time. It sure helps to have their friends with them, especially when the bad guys make a beeline for boys. That's because it becomes very clear, very quick - the priceless cat statues aren't the only cats those crooks are after! Holy Mackerel!

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While this book is geared more towards the early middle school years, it's one that I very much enjoyed reading. I appreciated how each of the cats had their own personality and yet worked together to solve crimes and to take care of their families. This is one mystery that had me reading right up until the last page because the criminals were unpredictable and the sleuths weren't giving up until the mystery was solved. The storyline flowed smoothly and as I said, each character had their own personality and it was well defined. If I had one complaint, it would be that our narrator needs to mix up his catchphrases a bit. He has a tendency to repeat the same one an awful lot. But, he's a growing boy and perhaps as he gets older, his vocabulary will expand. I'm not going out on a limb to say this is a super cute, fun book that will delight readers and cat lovers alike.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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After a flood damages the looms at Zenus Dane s Philadelphia textile mill and the bank demands loan payment, Zenus turns to his aunt for help repurposing his textiles. Trouble is . . . his aunt has already been hired by the lovely yet secretive Englishwoman Mary Varrs. Eager to acquire his aunt s quilt patterns, Zenus attends the summer Quilting Bee, a social event his aunt has uniquely designed with the secret purpose of finding Zenus a wife. However Zenus only has eyes for Mary, but Mary has no such desire for him. Though his aunt is determined to design a masterpiece marriage, both Zenus and Mary will have to overcome their stubborn ways. Can he realize that love requires stepping out of his routine? And will she recognize that following her heart doesn t mean sacrificing her ambition?"


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As much as I've loved the Quilts of Love series, I had a tough time getting into this one. I just couldn't seem to relate to the characters and it took me about half the book before I was truly engaged in the story. I'm not sure that it helped that the main male character's name was Zenus and I kept reading it as Zeus. That one is all on me though! Overall, not a bad read but it's just not going to make my top ten list for the year.

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Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn. December’s QOL release celebrates the ebb and flow of marriage. Enter to win a Kindle HDX!

• A Kindle Fire
• Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn
• Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven
• Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey

Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 18th. Winner will be announced on the Quilts of Love blog January 19th.
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Enter today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

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Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven. November’s QOL release is a spark of romance and fun just in time for the holidays.

Enter to win a Kindle HDX, and RSVP for the “Merry Quilted” Quilts of Love Facebook party on December 9th. 
One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven
• Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll
• Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey

Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 9th. Winner will be announced during the "Merry Quilted" Christmas Facebook party on December 9th. RSVP today and connect with some of the Quilts of Love authors (Jodie Bailey, Laura V. Hilton, Cindy Loven, Cathy Elliott, and Gina Welborn) for a "merry" evening of book chat, Christmas traditions, prizes, and more!
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RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on December 9th!

Sara doesn’t think she wants love. But her grandmother has other plans.

Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her ailing, stubborn grandmother. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don’t always go as planned.

Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but his heart is as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane’s grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between Drew and his new employer’s granddaughter.

Still, it doesn’t take Sara Jane long to see Drew isn’t what he seems. Questions arise, and she starts researching him online. What she discovers could change her life—and her heart—forever.

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Ahh...this one made me laugh and it made me cry. As I turned each page, I just wanted everything to be okay. The pain in these people's lives took my breath away as it returned me to a harder period of my own life. As with all of the Quilts of Love books that I've read so far, I couldn't put this one down and I have a feeling that this is one that I'm going to return to more than once.




I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.

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Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey. October’s QOL release is a warm Christmas tale of God's steadfast love.

Enter to win a Kindle HDX, and RSVP for the “Merry Quilted” Quilts of Love Facebook party on December 9th.

• A Kindle Fire
• Two copies of Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey (One for you and one to give away as a gift!)
• Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll
• Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven

Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 16th. Winner will be announced November 17th at the Quilts of Love blog.

Wait! There's more! RSVP for the "Merry Quilted" Quilts of Love Christmas Book Chat Party on December 9th and connect with some of the Quilts of Love authors. Jodie Bailey, Laura V. Hilton, Cindy Loven, Cathy Elliott, and Gina Welborn will be hosting a "merry" evening of book chat, Christmas traditions, prizes, and more!

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RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on December 9th!

A grandmother’s last wish is to communicate God’s love through an Irish chain quilt.

Taryn McKenna believes she’s easy to forget. Abandoned by her parents and left behind when her high school sweetheart joined the army, she vows to never love again and throws herself into her love for the outdoors and the pursuit of a college degree—something no one else in her family has ever accomplished. Her goal, as a young teacher in the hills of North Carolina, is to leave a legacy in the lives of the middle-schoolers she teaches.

When Taryn’s grandmother Jemma, the only other person who ever held her close, has a heart attack that reveals a fatal medical condition, Taryn is corralled into helping Grandma work on a final project—an Irish chain quilt that tells the story of her history and the love Jemma knows is out there for Taryn. As the pieces of the quilt come together, Taryn begins to see her value. Can she learn to believe that God will never leave her behind even though others have?

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Last night, I couldn't sleep. My heart was heavy with the knowledge that this year, I wouldn't have the finances to provide Christmas for my children. I tried reading another book, just to put it down a few chapters in because I just couldn't get involved in the story. I was about to give up when I spotted this book on my kindle. I'm so glad that I did. Something about this story touched me and when I was done, I closed my eyes and drifted right off to sleep. Maybe it's because I could relate to Taryn, having come from a background where I always felt I was easy to forget. I can say for certain that the writing helped draw me in. Another amazing book in what is turning out to be a wonderful series. If you have the chance to pick this one up, don't hesitate.




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The crunch of newly fallen snow, the weight of wartime

Three siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, filled with the wonder of Christmas

Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.

In White Christmas by Cara Putman, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.

Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theatre in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?

In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.

The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and God’s plan for a future?

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I've had the delight in reviewing books by at least two of these authors in the past so when I saw that they had come together to write, I couldn't resist putting my name down to review and I am so glad that I gave in to temptation. Each story, in this book, has its own feel and yet, without a doubt, these three authors did an amazing job of tying their stories in with each other. By the time that you reach the end, this family feels as if they're your neighbors. Set during WWII, it shows just how tough times back home were while still showing you the love and hope that shined forth. If you're looking for a holiday read that is broken into the perfect pre-bedtime cuddle with a book, this one will keep you reading while still leaving you with enough energy to read the next novella the following night. Or, you could be like me and grab a blanket and a mug of something yummy and curl up on the couch for a bit of a holiday reading binge. Either way, you won't regret it.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.

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Yearning for a fresh start, Ewan McKay travels with his aunt and uncle from northern Scotland to West Virginia, promising to trade his skills in the clay business for financial assistance from his uncle Hugh. Hugh purchases a brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, but it's Ewan who gets the business up and running again. Ewan seeks help from Laura, the former owner's daughter, and he feels a connection with her, but she's being courted by another man--a lawyer with far more social clout and money than Ewan. Besides, Ewan has resolved he'll focus on making the brickmaking operation enough of a success that he can become a partner in the business
and be able to afford to bring his sisters over from Scotland.

But when Hugh signs a bad business deal, all Ewan's hard work may come to naught. As his plans begin to crumble, Laura reveals something surprising. She and her mother may have a way to save the brickworks, and in turn Ewan may have another shot at winning Laura's heart.

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Historical fiction may very well be my favorite type to read these days. It's such a great escape into a time that so many have forgotten. In some ways, it really puts things into perspective when you read about how bricks were made and how backbreaking the work must have been. I don't know how they're made now, but I'm sure that it's a far more automated process than it was back then. The very fact that I have any idea how bricks were made post-civil war is a testament to this author's research and writing. In fact, she laid things out in such a way that I wouldn't be surprised if I'm on Google some time today looking for pictures of some of the machines that were used. Another point in Judith Miller's favor? The fact that none of her characters were perfect. In fact, some of them were so flawed that you loved to hate them. Every character had their own struggle and it created a wonderful read.




I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.
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