Category: Litfuse blog tour

June 6, 2014

Out of the Ruins by Karen Barnett #review

In Out of the Ruins, Abby’s faith in God and her fellow men is challenged when the terrible earthquake hits 1906 San Francisco.

While her sister lies on her deathbed, Abby Fischer prays for a miracle. What Abby doesn’t expect however is for God’s answer to come in the form of the handsome Dr. Robert King, whose experimental treatment is risky at best.

As they work together toward a cure, Abby’s feelings for Robert become hopelessly entangled. Separated by the tragedy of the mighty San Francisco earthquake, their relationship suddenly takes a back seat to survival. With fires raging throughout the city, Abby fears for her life as she flees alone through burning streets. Where is God now? Will Robert find Abby even as the world burns around them? Or has their love fallen with the ruins of the city?

A wonderful story of faith and learning to trust in God. Abby is devastated by her sister’s illness. I can’t even begin to imagine how heart breaking this is for her. She blames everyone but especially God. Her faith wavers. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain and hurt she is feeling and it can be easy to see how she would blame God when we don’t understand why bad things are happening to us. The earthquake and subsequent fire that starts in San Francisco and quickly spreads is devastating. It also brings her closer to God and to her own heart. I felt connected to Abby and I love how her faith grows.

You can find more reviews on, Out of the Ruins, on the Litfuse blog tour here. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

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

June 3, 2014

A Stitch and a Prayer #review

In A Stitch and a Prayer by Eva Gibson a quilt becomes a labour of love for a lonely wife separated from her young husband.

After her fiance returns from the Klondike gold rush in 1897, Florence Harms sets about building a new life in her new marriage – even though the lingering effects of an illness have left her weak and vulnerable. The two work tirelessly to clear the land around their Northwest cabin – content with their modest life.

But a stranger comes around and Florence suddenly senses a restlessness in Will’s spirit that she had never seen before. When he leaves her with only a note that tells her he will return before their baby’s birth she is devastated and the illness that stiffens her joints returns. Counting down the days until Will walks back through her door, Florence busies herself with a Tree of Life quilt displaying a map of the farm they will call home. Doubt claws at her heart as Florence struggles to believe Will’s promise to return to her. Will her labour of love and Faith in God sustain her as she waits to see her beloved again?

A Stitch and a Prayer is a beautiful story of love, faith and community. Florence is devastated when Will leaves but has faith in him and God that he will return in time. Even when the illness ravages her body she still carries on – carrying for the baby and using the quilt to help with her faith. Her loved ones around her rally around her to protect her, to help her and to love and guide her. Her strength is unbreakable even though her body is fragile and vulnerable. I loved every moment of this story.

You can find more reviews of A Stitch and a Prayer on the Litfuse Blog tour here.

Rating: 4/5

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

June 2, 2014

Raptor 6 #review

His mission and his team. Captain Dean Watters keeps these two items in laser like focus at all times. So when hackers threaten both his mission and his team, his Special Forces training kicks into high gear. Ten military super-secure computers are missing – which if opened would give America’s enemies a blueprint of US military intelligence. Failing to stop these hackers is not an option.

Zahrah Zarrick is a missionary teacher to Afghan children in Mazar-e Sharif. She is also a target – American born and an expertise in quantum cryptology makes her an unwilling pawn in the hackers’ deadly game. They are coming for her and Dean and his team must stop them.

Before his team can get to her, she disappears. Now Dean must race to rescue her and stop the hackers from unleashing terror on millions across the globe. But to do so, Dean will be forced to crack open the steel box around his heart – a move that might come at the higher cost.

An incredibly well written and fast paced novel, Raptor 6 is a definite must read. At the beginning I found it slightly hard to follow but I liked how that fit into the current situation and the chaos that was happening in the book. The story evolves with the reader – both only receiving information at the same time as the mission changes. It really helps to draw you in to the story. The pressures that Dean face and eventually having to face his past and his fears were mind blowing. By three quarters of the way through the book you literally can not put it down in anticipation of what will happen next. It was definitely unlike any other book I have read before and one that I have started to re-read again.

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour here. To purchase a copy of this book you can do so here.

Rating: 5/5

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

May 28, 2014

A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell #review

A Season of Change by Lynette Sowell follows the life of Amish widower, Jacob Miller. Jacob decides to visit the Amish village of Pinecraft for a winter vacation when everything starts to go wrong starting with his daughter being struck by a car. Then he is stranded in Sarasota until his daughter can fully recover. As life begins to unfold in unfamiliar surroundings he gains the friendship of Englischer Natalie Bennett.

Natalie never thought her circus career as an aerial silks artist would end up with a blown out knee at the young age of twenty five. She also never knew her late mother (also an artist) held a secret – that she was once Amish.

Natalie meets the Millers at the Sarasota hospital and she is drawn in by their warm hospitality and simple way. After finding out about her mother she beings to wonder if they can help her find her family. As Jacob and Natalie begin to fall in love, their worlds collide. Will their differences tear them apart or draw them closer together?

A Season of Change is a well written story of loss, learning to love again and acceptance. Jacob is a strong man who lost the woman he loved with all his heart. He feels like he can never move on and wants to honour her. Natalie brings out the side of him he thought he had lost. The Millers take her under their wing and accept her for who she is while teaching them about their own customs and beliefs. Their romance was slow and full of obstacles. I loved every second of this book especially as their romance was not the central theme of the book. It was just one piece of a greater picture.

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

Rating: 5/5

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

May 27, 2014

Thankful by Shelley Shepard Gray #review

Thankful written by Shelley Shepard Gray is the second book in the Return to Sugarcreek Series.

Christina Kempf has always known that God chose Aden Reese to be her husband. As children, he was there to save her life when she fell through ice while skating and he has been by her side ever since. After his parents tragic death in a car accident, the Kempf’s raised Aden as one of their own and everyone sees them as brother and sister. Christina has never given up hope that Aden will one day ask her to be his wife.

Aden had always planned to court Christina. He loved her gentle ways and her faith. Losing his Mother and Father changed everything except his love for her. Her parents generously welcomed him into their home and treated him like a son. He could not betray their kindness by admitting his feelings for the girl who is like a sister but so much more.

Pressured by her parents to court, Christina begins to accept the attentions of Sugarcreek’s young men and now Aden must make a choice. Will he stand by and watch the love of his life slip away? Or will he risk losing the trust of the family he holds dear to tell Christina how he truly feels?

Thankful is wonderfully written with the stories of three families intertwined in Sugarcreek. I loved how Shelley intertwined their stories and gave a wonderful picture of life in Sugarcreek. Christina and Aden’s romance was beautiful. They had loved each other for so long but were so timid and scared to admit to it. I love how they grew through out the story and began to feel more comfortable in their feelings for each other and their strength. Thankful is well written and pulls you right in. Loved every moment of it!

You can find more reviews of Thankful on the Litfuse blog tour here. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 4.5/5

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