Category: book review

August 20, 2015

My Highland Bride by Maeve Greyson

In My Highland Bride, young Kenna travels through time to meet the womanizing Colum Garrison. Can they move past their judgements of each other to realize true love?

About My Highland Bride

Kenna Sinclair seems like a normal young woman from Kentucky but the truth is she can read minds, erase memories and jump through time. These skills come in handy when her match making Granny sends her back in time in the hopes of falling in love.

When she meets the womanizing man at arms, Colum Garrison, Kenna knows he only has one thing on his mind and vows to steer clear of him. But after one electrifying touch she knows that it will be much harder than she anticipated.

Colum is bewitched by the first woman who would refuse him and he would do anything to prove his devotion – even ask for Kenna’s hand in marriage. He puts off all of his normal habits and traits to focus on Kenna to prove his love. Can the two be ready for a love that will last a lifetime?

My Thoughts

My Highland Bride was an intense, steamy romance novel but also carried an extremely interesting plot line that connected her first book in this series with the time travel. One of my favourite parts was the ability of the Sinclair family to travel through time and the history their family has. I mean who wouldn’t want the ability to travel through time?? I would love to!

The attraction that Kenna and Colum feel is so much stronger than a physical attraction. For Kenna, the hardest part is looking past Colum’s past (which has quite the extensive list of women) and she finds this hard to do. This is devastating for Colum who never really realized how his past could come back and haunt him. This is an important lesson for all of us that our actions can define our future. It took a lot of courage and patience for Kenna to move forward and it was beautiful to be able to witness the faith and hope they place in each other.

My Highland Bride is so much more than a steamy romance and will become a book you can re-read over and over again like I have! You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Maeve’s mantra has always been that no one can shatter you unless you give them the power to. When she is not at her full-time job at the steel mill, she is writing about sexy highlanders and the women who tame them.

August 18, 2015

Irish Meadows by Susan Mason

Sometimes when faced with the unknown, all we can do is have the courage to dream.

About Irish Meadows

Brianna and Colleen O’Leary know their Irish immigrant father expects them to marry well. Recently he has put even more pressure on them, insinuating that the very future of their Long Island horse farm, Irish Meadows, rests in their ability to land prosperous husbands. Both girls have different visions for their futures.

Brianna, a quiet girl with a quick mind, dreams of attending college. Vivacious Colleen, meanwhile, is happy to marry–as long as her father’s choice meets her exacting standards of the ideal groom. When former stable hand Gilbert Whelan returns from business school and distant relative Rylan Montgomery visits Long Island during his seminary training, the two men
quickly complicate everyone’s plans.

As the farm slips ever closer to ruin, James O’Leary grows more desperate. It will take every ounce of courage for both sisters to avoid being pawns in their father’s machinations and instead follow their hearts.

My Thoughts

A perfect historical romance novel for you to cherish! Brianna and Colleen, although sisters, are night and day. Like any other family, the two girls fight, argue but love passionately. Their Father has always been a constant presence and pressure in their life. As they have gotten older, he uses them as pawns in order to secure his own financial future. He goes to any means in order to accomplish his goals.

When the two young men enter their lives, their whole world changes. The girls must make important decisions, risk their Father’s anger and disapproval or follow their hearts.

I loved this story not only for the romance but for the story of faith, love and following your dreams. You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page. You can purchase a copy here.

Rating: 4.5/5

About the Author

Susan Anne Mason’s debut historical novel, Irish Meadows, won the Fiction from the Heartland contest from the Mid-American Romance Authors Chapter of RWA. A member of ACFW, as well, she lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

August 14, 2015

Heart Dancing

What would you do if your heart stopped dancing?

About Heart Dancing

Brian, his wife Christine and their 14 year-old daughter, Savanna, are a typical all American family. Their lives begin to unravel when a dark secret from their past threatens to destroy them. Divorce seems imminent unless they can discover a miracle.

Savanna refuses to stand by and watch her family self-destruct. A mysterious young woman and her dog show Savanna how to look past the physical and see the spiritual side of her situation. A leap of faith and willingness to change her perspective gives Savanna a new view of her life, her values and her purpose.

But can the adults give up their stories about the past that are tearing them apart?

Brimming with inspiration, transformation and empowering messages, “Heart Dancing” is life changing. It also introduces the 4 step process called Story Alchemy, which is used to transform the stories that threaten the Hartt’s peace and happiness.

My Thoughts

Heart Dancing is a story that so many can relate. Savanna’s family is in a deep crisis, a crisis many teens and adults can relate to. This crisis arose from decisions that were made many years ago that still haunt Christine and Brian. This haunting affects not only their relationship but now their daughter. Their family starts spiraling out of control and Savanna feels so many emotions that it is hard for her to understand and cope with them. Forgiveness is not always easy and even harder is to move forward from hurt. Each member of their family must learn to heal, understand and move forward.

An interesting concept from this book is in the form of Miracle Tokens. Miracle tokens are pieces of inspiration, wisdom and advice that you would give out to those you love or even strangers.

I found the beginning of the novel slow to start and I had a hard time reading through each story but I was happy that I pushed on through the first half of the book as I began to love the story and it was well worth it.

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Kathryn Eriksen is known as the “Story Alchemist.” She has touched many people with her inspirational books, blog and articles about living your best life. A lawyer by training, she transformed her own life story from anger and frustration to love, joy and peace through the use of the same techniques that she shares in “Heart Dancing.”

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

August 14, 2015

Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin

In Through Waters Deep, it is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war.

About Through Waters Deep

Outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery job is to escort British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. On shore, Boston Navy Yard secretary Mary Stirling does her work quietly and efficiently. She is happy to be out of the limelight. Yet despite her reserved nature she never could back down from a challenge. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges and danger awaits them.

My Thoughts

I love a good historical novel and this is another huge hit set in World War II just prior to America entering the war. Sarah does an amazing job capturing the emotions, stress, tension and fear that arose in America prior to the country entering the war.

Mary, the most unlikely hero, personally challenges herself to step out of her comfort zone to help solve a mysterious case before tensions crack and disaster strikes. Everything that makes her the perfect secretary is what makes her the perfect ‘spy’ (I use spy in a loose term). Mary transforms in this novel and it is beautiful to witness as she struggles on her journey and the freedom she finds at the end. The mix in of a little bit of romance by Jim’s character tops off a completely heart warming, exciting and beautiful story. A story that reminds us that there is always much more to a person then the outer features or the fears that people hold against others.

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse Blog Tour page. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Sarah Sundin is the author of With Every Letter, On Distant Shores, In Perfect Time, and the Wings of Glory series. In 2014, On Distant Shores was a finalist for the Golden Scroll Awards from both AWSA and the Christian Authors Network. In 2011, Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist’s mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

August 5, 2015

Leo: A Ghost Story

Leo is a great friend, the only problem? Leo is a ghost.

About Leo: A Ghost Story

You would just love to be Leo’s friend! He likes to draw, make delicious snacks but no one can see him because he is a ghost. When a new family moves into Leo’s home, he tries to make them feel welcome but they don’t understand his good intentions. Leo is sad and decides to leave his home and see the world. On his adventure into the world he meets Jane, a young girl with a great imagination who has an open position for a knight. Leo’s adventure is only beginning!

My Thoughts

Leo: A Ghost Story is an adorable, sweet story that has you falling in love with Leo our ghost and hoping he finds a friend who can appreciate him for who he is even if he is a ghost. It is important for children to realize that just because we are different on the outside it is what is on the inside (the unseen parts) that matter the most. They make us a good person.

It takes the imagination and acceptance of a young Jane for Leo to realize his potential. His happiness is heart warming and makes you want to reach out and hug him (which would be impossible since he is a ghost!).

With beautiful illustrations that highlight the ghost story theme, Leo: A Ghost Story will be a special book you can treasure with your children to teach about friendship, love and imagination.

Rating: 5/5

Book Trailer

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.