Category: Litfuse

May 4, 2015

To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander

A gifted rider in a world where women do not race, To Win Her Favor follows the story of a girl and her horse and their road to racing.

About To Win Her Favor

Maggie Linden is determined her horse will be a champion. But the one man who could help her has vowed to stay away from thorough bred racing.

An Irishman far from home, Cullen McGrath left a prosperous life in England because of a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him. He has come to Nashville for a new start, hoping to buy land and begin farming, all while staying away from racing. But starting over proves harder than he thought when Maggie’s Father makes him an offer he shouldn’t accept but can’t refuse.

Maggie is certain her mare can win the race, she only needs the chance to prove it. To give her that chance, her Father makes a barter. His agreement includes one tiny detail – Maggie must marry a man she has never met and a man she would never have chosen for herself.

My Thoughts

I have to start off by saying how much I love Tamera Alexander’s writing style. She draws you deep into the story, creating an emotional attachment to the characters while providing you with moral lessons. This novel was no different.

Tamera covers a time period in the South that was full of racism and states trying to recover from the war that shook them just prior to this event. To witness some of the racism that was directed towards the characters in this book was heartbreaking. You become so emotionally invested in this novel and I found myself crying along with this novel. I literally could not put this novel down I was so attached to the story.

The ending was perfect and uplifting – the perfect combination for this book.

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

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Tamera Alexander is a best-selling novelist whose deeply drawn characters and thought-provoking plots resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, her and her husband now live in Nashville along with their two children. You can connect with her on her website, Facebook and Twitter.

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

April 9, 2015

A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron #review

Two women are bound together in time through another’s powerful story of hope and survival during the midst of war in Kristy Cambron’s A Sparrow in Terezin.

About A Sparrow in Terezin

Present day: With the grand opening of her new art gallery and the upcoming wedding to the man of her dreams, Sera feels as though she has stepped into a charmed life. Until her husband is mixed up in a brutal court battle that threatens to destroy the future they have planned. William faces time in prison for a crime he did not commit and Sera must battle the accusations in order to maintain any hope for the future.

1942: Kaja narrowly escapes Prague in 1939 when she was forced to leave her family behind. Kaja’s father is Jewish and her blended family threatened to see her harmed and instead of seeing this happen her parents send her away. Now she is a reporter in England who discovers the awful and ugly truth that is happening throughout Europe. Kaja can not rest knowing this truth and returns to her birth place in order to find her family to help smuggle them out of the country to safety.

Connecting across time through one little girl, a Holocaust survivor with a foot in each world, these two women will discover a kinship that springs even in the darkest of times.

My Thoughts

I love Kristy Cambron’s writing – she draws you in and leaves you wanting more. Her newest book is no exception – it met and exceeded all of my expectations from her first book, The Butterfly and the Violin.

She cleverly and uniquely connects two young women living in different time periods. The connection is only discovered over time and this connection only exists through the kindness and sacrifice in another.

Kristy showcases faith, hope and strength in A Sparrow in Terezin. She had me crying at times and praying for those who were stuck in the camp set up by the Germans. You feel as though you are there with them and yet at the same time can not even begin to imagine the suffering that occurred during this time period. Even in this dark place, we find moments of peace, love and forgiveness.

You will not want to miss out on this book! You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page here. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Kristy fancies life as a vintage story-teller. Her debut historical novel, The Butterfly and the Violin, was named to Library Journal Reviews Best Books of 2014. Kristy holds a degree in Art History and has nearly fifteen years experience in instructional design and communication. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons.

March 24, 2015

The Promise of Palm Grove

Leona has a tough choice to make: should she follow her heart or stay on the course planned for her? In The Promise of Palm Grove we watch Leona grow in strength, courage and determination.

About the Promise of Palm Grove

A young Amish woman finds herself torn between the man who she is pledged to marry and the man that her heart desires.

Leona decides to take a trip to Florida to help relax in the small town of Pinecraft. Her friends think that she is happy to be away from the stress of wedding planning. Little do they know she is just happy to be away from her fiance.

Her fiance, Edmund, is a good and honest man who will make a good husband but just not for Leona. The more time she spends with him and his overbearing ways makes Leona realize he is not the man for her. Everyone else is so sure that he is the man for her but why can’t she make herself believe this? A chance encounter with a fun-loving Amish man brings Leona face to face with two different futures.

My Thoughts

A lovely story of honour, duty and following your heart. Leona is a young woman who feels like she must do her duty to her community and the promises she makes. She feels influenced by those around her and tries to conform her heart to their wishes but it is impossible to do so. She is a fun, caring and light-hearted individual who needs to spread her wings.

Meeting the fun-loving, Zachary, opens up a whole new person in Leona. She is allowed to be herself and truly shines around Zachary which love is meant to do. Both of them know it is love at first sight but they are both terrified of what this means.

I love how Leona grows in strength and courage throughout the book. Marriage is an important step in one’s life and should never be taken lightly even when duty and family pressure you do so. A fantastic and heart warming book that you will cherish!

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

Rating: 4.5/5

About the Author

Shelley Shepard Gray is a two-time New York best-selling author and a two-time USA best seller. She lives in Southern Ohio where she writes, bakes and can often be found on the trails walking her dogs.

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

March 3, 2015

Betting on Hope by Debra Clopton #bookreview

Betting on Hope follows the story of a bet gone wrong, a small town community and their meddling and a cowboy intent on saving his ranch.

About Betting on Hope

Maggie Hope is an advice columnist whose background leaves her with little advice to give and it is beginning to show. When Maggie fills in at an interview with champion horse trainer, Tru Monahan, the on camera chemistry between the two of them is undeniable. Maggie’s bosses see this as the opportunity she has 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. 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 would like but he knows it is 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 that 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.

My Thoughts

I love a good romance and Betting on Hope delivers this and so much more! It is a story of grace, trust and believing in yourself. Both characters have to look past their past experiences and misconceptions that surround us. Each character was believable and have internal conflicts that many of us can relate to on some level. They have each tried hard to move forward from their past experiences but somehow they each keep catching up with them.

There were quite a few twists in this novel which added to the suspense of this fairly light read. I loved how easy it was to get into Betting on Hope and it was a perfect read at bed (or in my favourite reading spot – my bubble bath!). This novel will be the perfect addition to your romance collection!

You can find more reviews of Betting on Hope on the Litfuse Blog tour page. You can purchase your own copy of the book here.

Rating: 4.5/5

About the Author

Debra Clopton is a multi award-winning novelist and has written more than twenty-two novels. Along with writing, Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their local Cowboy Church. Debra’s goal is to shine a light toward God while she entertains readers with her words. You can find Debra online on Facebook and Twitter.

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

February 13, 2015

Return to Exile by Lynne Gentry

How far would you go to save the ones you love? In Return to Exile by Lynne Gentry, Lisbeth would cross centuries.

About Return to Exile

Six years ago, impossible circumstances found Dr. Lisbeth Hastings leaving behind the love of her life, not just in another country but in another time period. Her work as an epidemiologist and single Mother help alleviate some of her pain but at night she misses her Cyprian and it haunts her.

Cyprian Thascius returns from exile a broken man. He has lost his faith, the love of his life and his purpose. He attempts to move on, to face the danger that is looming over Carthage but when the love of his life returns his heart becomes as imperiled as the Church he seeks to save.

Have the years that kept apart Lisbeth and Cyprian created too wide of chasm to bridge? In the midst of disease and oppression will their love be the most costly fatality?

My Thoughts

An exciting novel full of time travel, love and history! All of my favourite subjects wrapped up in one well written novel.

The story line in Return to Exile is fantastic and kept me guessing through out the novel. I was heartbroken for Lisbeth at times (which also made me wish I had read the first in this series!). She literally crosses time to return to the man she loves with his child he never knew he had. He never thought she was coming back so he moved on with his life still loving her. With her she brings life saving medical knowledge and vaccines. The world she returns is not even close to the one she left leaving me heartbroken for her. I can’t even begin to imagine her pain on her return. Her only comfort in this world is her Mother who is being kept as a slave.

The novel finishes off with just enough to leave you hanging and just enough to make you ready to read the next novel in this series (honestly can not wait for the next book!).

You can find more reviews of Return to Exile on the Lifuse blog tour page here. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Lynne Gentry has written for several publications. She is a professional acting coach, theater director and playwright. Lynne is also inspirational speaker. You can connect with her online on Facebook and Twitter.

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