Quilts of Love Blog Tour - Aloha Rose by Lisa Carter and The Christmas Quilt by Vannetta Chapman

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Aloha Rose by Lisa Carter
ISBN: 9781426752735
Trade Paperback

Synopsis: When Laney Carrigan's adoptive parents encourage her as an adult to seek out her birth family, her only clue is the Lokelani quilt in which she was found wrapped as an infant. Centering her search on the Big Island, she battles fears of rejection from a family that abandoned her once before while her faith struggles to embrace God's love.

Along the path to her true heritage, she meets Hawaiian cowboy/helicopter pilot, Kai Barnes. Kai is determined to protect the people he's come to regard as family against a woman he suspects of being nothing more than a gold-digger, but he finds himself drawn to Laney in spite of his reservations. He's spent his entire life seeking forgiveness from past mistakes and longs for a second chance at happiness. 

Laney's painstaking journey to find restoration and a place to belong among the breathtaking allure of the Big Island will lead her closer to her past and maybe even something more.

My Review:  This was my first book by this author and it was an enjoyable read for me. I have not read many books set in Hawaii so this was nice for me. I could almost see the places the author described as I was reading. Even though this book had many emotional issues involved with it, adoption, PTSD, and alzheimer's the author did a good job touching on those issues and telling how the characters dealt with each of them. This book sucks you in so that you can read it in a weekend. If you like modern books with some romance, emotional issues and a few twists and turns then this is the book for you. 

Meet the author: Lisa Carter has been published in MomSense andChristian Parenting Today. Lisa is currently teaching music at a preschool and enjoying the enthusiasm and joy for life for which preschoolers are famous. She and David have two beautiful daughters.

Find out more at:http://www.quiltsoflovebooks.com

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

The Christmas Quilt by Vannetta Chapman

ISBN: 9781426752773

Trade Paperback

Synopsis: Annie's life is deliciously full as the Christmas season approaches. She helps her husband, Samuel, attend to the community's minor medical needs. She occasionally assists Belinda, the local midwife, and most days, she finds herself delivering the buggy to her brother Adam. Annie's sister-in-law Leah is due to deliver their first child before Christmas morning, and Annie is determined to finish a crib quilt before the boppli arrives. With six weeks to go, she should have no problem . . . but God may have a different plan. Leah is rushed to the English hospital when the infant arrives early, and Annie discovers the Christmas quilt may hold a far greater significance than she ever imagined.

My review: Another hit from Vannetta, I can't think of a time when I have read a book by her that I have not enjoyed. I thought it was neat how the Fruits of the Spirit were tied into the quilt story. This was such a nice story to read for the holidays. I am going to give you a warning with this book because it really pulls at your heart strings. It would be nice to see another book with these same characters as they were such nice people that I fell in love with. If you are looking for a nice holiday reads that pulls at your heart strings than this is for you. 

Meet the author: Vannetta Chapman has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather's birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. Chapman lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

Before to stop by and check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour by clicking here.

Anvil of God by J. Boyce Gleason

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Anvil of God by J. Boyce Gleason
The Carolingian Chronicles - Book 1
ISBN: 9781475990195
Hardback
Published: July 26, 2013

Synopsis: It is 741. After subduing the pagan religions in the east, halting the march of Islam in the west, and conquering the continent for the Merovingian kings, mayor of the palace Charles the Hammer has one final ambition-the throne. Only one thing stands in his way-he is dying.

Charles cobbles together a plan to divide the kingdom among his three sons, betroth his daughter to a Lombard prince to secure his southern border, and keep the Church unified behind them through his friend Bishop Boniface. Despite his best efforts, the only thing to reign after Charles's death is chaos. His daughter has no intention of marrying anyone, let alone a Lombard prince. His two eldest sons question the rights of their younger pagan stepbrother, and the Church demands a steep price for their support. Son battles son, Christianity battles paganism, and Charles's daughter flees his court for an enemy's love.

Based on a true story, Anvil of God is a whirlwind of love, honor, sacrifice, and betrayal that follows a bereaved family's relentless quest for power and destiny.

My review: I have not read anything about this time period before and was a little leary about it - in fact I read what this book was about more than once before I decided to read the book and I was not in the least bit disappointed with it. This is my first book by this author and I have to say that I am impressed. The book itself was very interesting to me. I thought the author did a good job with developing the characters so you could get a real sense of who they are/were. Also for me I really enjoyed the historical detail that was used which to me helped me understand the time period and such. If you like books with religion, action, drama, history, a little romance and so much more than this book is for you. I look forward to the next book in this series. 

About the Author
After a 25-year career in crisis management and public affairs, J. Boyce Gleason began writing historical fiction and is publishing his first novel ANVIL OF GOD, Book One of the Carolingian Chronicles.  With an AB in history from Dartmouth College, Gleason brings a strong understanding of the past to his historical fiction.  He is married, has three sons and lives in Virginia.
For more information please visit www.jboycegleason.com.

To check out the rest of the stops on the tour - click here

Soy L Scent - Candle Gem Giveaway - US Only

Want to win a Candle Gem candle to light up your home for the holidays? Check out the contest below. 

I would like to introduce you to a great company that I have found and enjoy their products. The company is My SoyL Scents. This company has a variety of products that you can use in your home to enjoy throughout the year. All products are made from soy bean wax which means they burn cleaner and to me last longer. Not only that they are American grown soybeans and natural botanical oils are used to create the scents. In my own home I have switched to using their products to refresh my home. In fact I have used the melter pot, melter nightlight, candle, gems, tarts, room spray and soaps. It would be hard for me to say which scent is my favorite but right now I love the fall harvest. 

The candle gems and melter gems each come with a ring in them that can be worth any where from $10 - $1000. My daughter and mother in law have both received a ring in their gems and love them. Here is a picture of just some of the rings found. These would make a great Christmas gift for someone.  

Please check out their website My SoyL Scents to see all of their products and scents. Just click on the shop now button at top to view the catalog. If you have any questions you can contact Sandy through her Facebook page (click here) or by emailing her at mnvikings84 at gmail dot com. Her contact information is also on both her Facebook and website. Sandy is always running specials so if you like the Facebook page that will keep you up to date also you can contact her and let her know you would like to be added to her email list for specials. In fact why not just host a party and tell all of your friends. 

Now for the giveaway. Unfortunately at this time we can only offer this giveaway in the US. My SoyL Scent consultant is giving away a cranberry kettle corn candle for you to enjoy during the holidays. Just check out the rafflecopter form below to enter. I do ask for only one mandatory option and that is you visit the website and tell me what scent you would like to try. If you do not leave the comment here you will not be entered into the contest. Sorry. This contest will run from today through Monday, December 9th that way you have time to tell all of your friends about it. 

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to enter the contest. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2013 Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

This is a challenge that is being hosted by The True Book Addict at The Christmas Spirit Blog I thought this would be a fun challenge to join in on as this time of year I like to read Christmas books. I am going for Mistletoe which means I will read 2-4 books. Hopefully I will get more in but just in case I will stick with my goal. Be sure to check out the link above and join in on the fun. 

Here is my list that I hope to get through (now my list may change and hopefully there were be a few more added as I have a ton of Christmas themed books I would like to read):

Merry Ex-Mas by Sheila Roberts 

A Biltmore Christmas by Multiple Authors

Christmas on Nutcracker Court by Jody Duarte

Mistletoe Memories by Multiple Authors

   

Along with this challenge I have done the Christmas Spirit Read-a-thon. 

I did not get as much read yesterday as I wanted but I was able to finish my book which is always good and even though it was not a true Christmas book it did mention Christmas in the book as they were going to be doing a Holiday tour of houses. Today I am starting the first book in my challenge and hope to get quite a bit read on it. If you want to check out the read-a-thon here is the link

I hope you join in and have a little fun. 

Skeleton Letters by Laura Childs (Scrapbooking Mystery # 9)

Skeleton Letters by Laura Childs
Scrapbooking Mystery #9
ISBN: 9780425243893
Hardback

Synopsis: Is nothing sacred? The last thing Carmela Bertrand and her friend Ava expected to bear witness to in St. Tristan's Church was a crime. But now a beloved member of their scrapbooking circle lies lifeless next to a smashed statue of St. Sebastien-and a mysterious hooded figure has absconded with an antique crucifix. 

As Carmela and Ava are drawn deeper into New Orleans' French Quarter in search of the missing crucifix, they may need the help of more than a few patron saints. Because this is one killer they don't want to cross...

My review: I am a big fan of Laura Childs' books especially the scrapbooking ones. This was a fun book to read. If you have not read the rest of this series you can read it as a stand alone book. As always Carmela and Ava find themselves right smack in the middle of a murder scene. Carmela lets her curiosity get the best of her the best of her as she tries to find out who murdered their friend. Along the way you learn some fun scrapbooking ideas and tips that she helps her friends and customers with as she runs her business while trying to solve the murder.  If you want a fun quick read that will make you smile and has a little mystery then this is the book for you. I am looking forward to the next one in the series. 

A Divided Inheritance by Deborah Swift

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A Divided Inheritance by Deborah Swift
Published: October 24, 2013
ISBN: 9780330543446
Paperback

Synposis: A family divided by fortune. A country divided by faith.

London 1609...
Elspet Leviston’s greatest ambition is to continue the success of her father Nathaniel’s lace business. But her dreams are thrown into turmoil with the arrival of her mysterious cousin Zachary Deane – who has his own designs on Leviston’s Lace.
Zachary is a dedicated swordsman with a secret past that seems to invite trouble. So Nathaniel sends him on a Grand Tour, away from the distractions of Jacobean London. Elspet believes herself to be free of her hot-headed relative but when Nathaniel dies her fortunes change dramatically. She is forced to leave her beloved home and go in search of Zachary - determined to claim back from him the inheritance that is rightfully hers.
Under the searing Spanish sun, Elspet and Zachary become locked in a battle of wills. But these are dangerous times and they are soon embroiled in the roar and sweep of something far more threatening, sending them both on an unexpected journey of discovery which finally unlocks the true meaning of family . . 
A Divided Inheritance is a breathtaking adventure set in London just after the Gunpowder Plot and in the bustling courtyards of Golden Age Seville.

My Review: I enjoyed how the author made me feel a part of this book as if I was in London in 1609. I could almost hear all the noise on the city streets as well as being a part of a religious war in Spain. This book gave me another look in London at this time not the kings and queens I am used to reading about, it was nice to read about "everyday" people and how they lived. I felt bad for Elspet after Zachary showed up and I did not like him at all. Can you imagine some stranger showing up "claiming" he is your father's long lost son and your father believing him and then leaving everything to him after you worked so hard to help your father keep the business going. I think the author did a great job in developing the characters so you could really "see" who they are. The descriptions in this book are very good as well as the historical detail, which to me helps me envision the whole story even more. I also liked the action and mystery in the story, it kept the book moving along. If you are a fan of historical fiction then this book is for you. An absolute keeper in my book. 

Be sure to check out the rest of the tour stops here

About the Author

Deborah Swift used to work in the theatre and at the BBC as a set and costume designer, before studying for an MA in Creative Writing in 2007. She lives in a beautiful area of Lancashire near the Lake District National Park.  She is the author of The Lady’s Slipper and is a member of the Historical Writers Association, the Historical Novel Society, and the Romantic Novelists Association.

For more information, please visit Deborah's website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Dance for a Dead Princess by Deborah Hawkins

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Dance for a Dead Princess by Deborah Hawkins
ISBN: 9780988934726
Trade Paperback
Published September 2, 1013

Synopsis: In January 1997, Princess Diana received a phone call telling her she would be assassinated. She recorded the information on a secret video tape, naming her killer and gave it to a trusted friend in America for safekeeping. It has never been found.
Diana's close friend, Nicholas Carey, the 18th Duke of Burnham and second richest man in England, has vowed to find the tape and expose her killer. After years of searching, he discovers Diana gave the tape to British socialite Mari Cuniff, who died in New York under mysterious circumstances. He believes Wall Street attorney Taylor Collins, the executor of Mari's estate, has possession of it. He lures Taylor to England by promising to sell his ancestral home in Kent, Burnham Abbey, to one of her clients, a boarding school for American girls. Nicholas has dated actresses and models since the death of his wife, ten years earlier, and has no interest in falling in love again. But he is immediately and unexpectedly overwhelmed with feelings for Taylor at their first meeting.
Taylor, unaware that Diana's tape is in her long-time friend and client's estate and nursing her hurt over her broken engagement to a fellow attorney in her firm, brands Nicholas supremely spoiled and selfish. She is in a hurry to finish the sale of the Abbey and return to New York. But while working in the Abbey's library, Taylor uncovers the diary of Thomas Carey, a knight at the court of Henry VIII and the first Duke of Burnham. As she reads Thomas' agonizing struggle to save the love of his life and the mother of his child from being forced to become Henry's mistress, she begins to see Nicholas in a new light as he battles to save his sixteen-year-old ward Lucy, who is desperately unhappy and addicted to cocaine. But just as Taylor's feelings for Nicholas become clear and at the moment she realizes she is in possession of Diana's voice from the grave, she learns that Nicholas may be Lucy's father and responsible for his wife's death at the Abbey at the time of Lucy's birth. When Nicholas is arrested for Lucy's murder and taken to Wandsworth Prison, Taylor sets out to learn the truth about Nicholas, his late wife, and the death of the Princess of Wales. 
Dance for A Dead Princess is a the story of two great loves that created and preserved a family that has lasted for five hundred years

My review: I chose to read this book as I have always been intrigued by Princess Diana, so I wanted to give this book a try.  I thought it was very interesting the way the author used the Princess in a mystery book. Another thing I enjoyed about this book is that it has both mystery and romance. This book is not just about Diana's death it is so much more as the story of Taylor and Nicholas are the bones of this story. I almost forgot to say that I enjoyed how the author tied historical events into the story and it made sense. This was the first book by this author and I look forward to more by her. I highly recommend this book to fans of history and mystery as well as romance. 

A Nantucket Christmas by Nancy Thayer

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A Nantucket Christmas by Nancy Thayer
ISBN: 9780345545350
Hardcover
Published: October 28, 2013


Synopsis: Holidays on this Massachusetts island are nothing short of magical, and the season's wonderful traditions are much loved by Nicole Somerset, new to Nantucket and recently married to a handsome former attorney. Their home is already full of enticing scent of pine, baking spices and homemade pie.
But the warm, festive mood is soon tempered by Nicole's chilly stepdaughter, Kennedy, who arrives without a hint of holiday spirit. Determined to keep her stepmother at arm's length -- or, better yet, out of the picture altogether -- Kennedy schemes to sabotage Nichole's holiday preparations. Nicole, however, is not about to let anyone or anything tarnish her first Christmas with her new husband.

My review: I loved this book so much that it is hard to put it into words. It is a heartwarming story that pulls you in from page one and does not let you go even after you are done. This is the fist Christmas book I have read this year and the first by Nancy and I have to say it puts you in a good mood and makes me want to find more books by her. The only part of the book that I did not like was the story line with Snix/Pooh, but I totally understand why it had to be told in the way it was, it just really pulled at my heart strings but I will not say anything else about it as I don't want to give anything away. Nicole and little Maddox were my two favorite characters in the entire book. Nicole was such a nice person you can't help but like her and little Maddox was just the cutest thing. Kennedy on the other had was a character I could not stand but the story would not have been right without her. I encourage you to pick this book up and read it this holiday season.

Click here for the entire blog tour schedule

Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour for this great book. 

November 1st    My Home of Books

November 2nd  A Book Addict's Musings

November 3rd  Melina's Book Blog

November 6th  My Recent Favorite Books

November 7th   Griperangs Bookmarks

November 8th  The Book Bag

Nancy Thayers website

http://nancythayer.com

Nancy Thayer on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/NancyThayerBooks

12 Days of Christmas Blog Tour

I received the following books in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

A Christmas Gift for Rose by Tricia Goyer
Hardback
ISBN: 9780310336785
Published: September 24, 2013

Synopsis: Rose turned her back on the man she loves after he assisted the Englisch during World War II -- only to discover she's an Englischer herself. Born in the midst of the hardships of The Great Depression, Rose grew up in Berlin, Ohio, in the arms of a loving Amish family. But she is overwhelmed by self-doubt when she learns she was born Englisch and abandoned when her family moved West in search of work. Was she meant to be Amish or would she have been better off growing up with her own kind -- Englishers? When the man she loves leaves her behind, Rose is certain he left her for good. Yet Rose discovers sometimes our greatest gifts are the ones we fear.

My Review: Tricia has done it again with the telling of a great Amish story and making you feel for the characters as if you knew each of them personally. I like how she blends two worlds and tells their story and struggles. This was a short book so it was a very quick read but it had just as much punch as a long novel. This book was inspired by a true story and what a great story to be told. If you are looking for a book to get you in the Christmas mood then give this book a chance.

About the Author: USA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer is the author of over 35 books, including the three-book Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and "Lead Your Family Like Jesus," (co-written with Ken Blanchard). She has written over 500 articles for national publications and blogs for high traffic sites like TheBetterMom.com and MomLifeToday.com. She is the host of Living Inspired, a weekly radio show. Tricia and family live in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have six children.

Find out more about Tricia at http://triciagoyer.com

Plain Peace by Beth Wiseman
Daughters of Promise Series - Book 6
ISBN: 9781401685942
Trade Paperback

Synopsis: Anna's grandfather seems determined to ruin her Rumspringa . . . and any hopes she has of finding a husband.
Anna Byler should be enjoying her Rumspringa as allowed by her faith. But because of the strict rules enforced by her grandfather---the bishop---the available suitors in town are afraid to court her. Even Anna's grandmother is keeping a big secret from Anna's grandfather in an effort to keep the peace. Under her grandfather's oppressive watch, Anna begins to feel her faith slipping and wonders if God has forsaken her.
Jacob Hostetler and his family have relocated to Lancaster County following a family tragedy in Ohio. As his family struggles to rebuild their lives, Jacob is forced to act as head of the household when his father is unable to cope with recent events. It's been a long time since Jacob has felt any joy. Until he meets Anna Byler. But will Anna's grandfather succeed at keeping them apart? And can Jacob put the past behind him and open his heart?

My Review: I am a fan of Amish fiction as well as this series so I was happy to pick this book up. I also enjoy reading about Rumspringa as I find that part of the culture very interesting. I found myself feeling bad for Anna as everyone was grandfather was so strict that everyone was afraid to court her. But Anna's grandmother was helping her keep a big secret. Jacob was a very strong person the become head of his household while young when his father is unable to. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and in doing so you become friends with the and find yourself wanting to help out. I think Beth did a good job of continuing on with this series. 

About the Author: Beth is a Carol Award Winner, Inspirational Readers Choice Winner, INSPY Winner, and the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. All of her books have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) bestseller list and the CBA (Christian Book Association) bestseller list. She grew up in Houston, Texas and now resides in a small town west of Houston with a population of around 300. She lives with her husband, two dogs, two cats, two pot bellied pigs, two chickens and a pygmy goat. Her two grown sons also live in Texas. Beth has been writing in some capacity for most of her life. She's a former award-winning journalist with eleven honors, including 'First Place News Writing' for The Texas Press Association. However, writing love stories with a spiritual message is where her heart is. When Beth isn't writing (which is seldom these days) she enjoys traveling, cooking, fishing, reading, or just settling in for a good movie. Her best times are spent with family and friends!

Find out more about Beth at http://bethwiseman.com.

Holy Night by Colleen Coble

An Aloha Reef Christmas Novella

EBOOK 

Published November 19, 2013

One sinister phone call has derailed their wedding. Will they let it tear them apart forever?

A Christmas wedding on the beach---what could be more perfect? Poinsettias and fragrant pikake blossoms, soft sand and mistletoe, the gentle sound of the surf and the wedding march played on a ukulele. This wedding has been a long time coming, with Bane's trust issues and Leia's worries about her childlike sister, Eva.
Now they can hardly wait for the day to arrive. Thrilled to be a bridesmaid, Eva keeps trying on her ruffled dress. The tent is reserved, the caterers paid. Everything is going as planned---until Leia's phone rings and her world skids out of control. A muffled voice informs Leia that Eva's been kidnapped and will be killed unless Leia calls off the wedding without explanation---and no police! If she disobeys instructions and tells Bane, she'll risk her beloved sister's life. But how can she ever handle this without his help? And how can he ever trust her if she lies to him now?

My review: What more could you want? A wedding on the beach sounds great and at Christmas time. This novella by Colleen was a nice quick holiday read. You could almost smell the pikake blossoms (or in my case imagine their fragrance as I am not sure what they smell like) as well as the sea and hear the waves crashing as you settle in to read this book. Bane and Leia have been waiting for what seems forever for their wedding but will a phone call stop it all. There is mystery and suspense in this book that will keep you reading long into the night. 

Silent Night by Colleen Coble

A Rock Harber Christmas Novella

EBOOK

Published November 20, 2012

Synopsis: As Christmas day nears, Bree and her faithful search-and-rescue dog Samson follow the trail of a troubling mystery into the snowy forests of Rock Harbor.

Bree Matthews is preparing for Christmas guests, but her heart is reeling from the recent and tender loss of her unborn child. Her sister-in-law, Lauri, suddenly turns up on the doorstep of the lighthouse home Bree shares with her husband, Kade, in Rock Harbor. Secretive and withdrawn, Lauri seems curiously intent on discovering what happened to a parachuter who disappeared in the North Woods along Lake Superior's icy shore.
As Bree and Samson, her search-and-rescue dog, plunge into the search, Bree wonders if Lauri may know more than she's admitted about the parachuter. And then the clues lead them to the trail of a young woman whose family fears the worst about her disappearance.
Will the search on this snowy, silent night lead Bree and Samson to more than clues about the missing girl? And will Bree's prayer for a baby ever be answered?

My review: I found myself wanting to reach through the book from page one to give Bree a hug. Bree has suffered a loss when her sister in law shows up. Lauri seems to have something she is hiding and starts searching to solve the mystery of a parachuter who has disappeared. This was a book full of mystery and like Holy Night kept me up late wanting to finish this book. Colleen does a good job in grabbing you very quickly and holding your attention right to the end. I have not read any other of books from the Rock Harbor series and found it very easy to follow. 

The great thing about these two books is that they are novellas and if you have a whole day to sit and read you can finish them in one day. 

About the Author: Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA's RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

Find out more about Colleen athttp://www.colleencoble.com

Be sure to click here to check out all the other stops on this great tour

Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction are hosting the 12 Days of Christmas! They've teamed up with three of their authors for a Merry Facebook Party on November 12th {5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern}. Colleen, Tricia, and Beth will host an evening of book chat, Christmas traditions, and of course plenty of presents!

But wait! There's more! Each day between now and November 12th a different book (10 copies of each book) will be given away on the Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Facebook Page. Ring in the holiday season and warm your heart with some great reads from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan!

   

  Click here to ENTER each day's giveaway here. RSVP for the Christmas Party here!

Good luck and hope to see you on the evening of the 12th!

Paris was the Place by Susan Conley

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Paris was the Place by Susan Conley
ISBN: 9780307594075
Hardback
Published: August 6, 2013

Synopsis: With her new novel, Paris Was the Place (Knopf, 2013), Susan Conley offers a beautiful meditation on how much it matters to belong: to a family, to a country, to any one place, and how this belonging can mean the difference in our survival. Novelist Richard Russo calls Paris Was the Place, “by turns achingly beautiful and brutally unjust, as vividly rendered as its characters, whose joys and struggles we embrace as our own.”

When Willie Pears begins teaching at a center for immigrant girls in Paris all hoping for French asylum, the lines between teaching and mothering quickly begin to blur. Willie has fled to Paris to create a new family, and she soon falls for Macon, a passionate French lawyer. Gita, a young girl at the detention center, becomes determined to escape her circumstances, no matter the cost. And just as Willie is faced with a decision that could have dire consequences for Macon and the future of the center, her brother is taken with a serious, as-yet-unnamed illness. 

The writer Ayelet Waldman calls Paris Was the Place “a gorgeous love story and a wise, intimate journal of dislocation that examines how far we’ll go for the people we love most.” Named on theIndie Next List for August 2013 and on the Slate Summer Reading List, this is a story that reaffirms the ties that bind us to one another. 

My review: I picked this book to read as I am in love with all things Paris, I enjoy being transported to a place that is a dream for me to go to. One thing I enjoyed was how each chapter started out - it made you feel as if you were learning something while enjoying yourself. When reading this book you get three stories in one but you have no trouble following each of them. The characters were very well developed in this book. A well written book that gives you a different look on life in Paris. 

Author bio

Susan Conley is a writer and teacher. Her memoir, The Foremost Good Fortune (Knopf 2011), chronicles her family’s experiences in modern China as well as her journey through breast cancer. The Oprah Magazine listed it as a Top Ten Pick, Slate Magazine chose it as "Book of the Week," and The Washington Post called it "a beautiful book about China and cancer and how to be an authentic, courageous human being." Excerpts from the memoir have been published in The New York Times Magazine and The Daily Beast.

 Susan’s writing has also appeared in The Paris Review, The Harvard Review, The Massachusetts Review, The Gettysburg Review, The North American Review, Ploughshares, and elsewhere. A native of Maine, she earned her B.A. from Middlebury College and her M.F.A. in creative writing from San Diego State University. After teaching poetry and literature at Emerson College in Boston, Susan returned to Portland, where she cofounded and served as executive director of The Telling Room, a nonprofit creative writing center. She currently teaches at The Telling Room and at the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast MFA Program.

Contact Information

www.SusanConley.com

Facebook

Twitter

Be sure to click here to check out the other stops on the blog tour

Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher
Where the Heart Lives Series - Book 3
ISBN: 9780310257776
Trade Paperback
Published: September 24, 2013

Synopsis: Diana Brennan came west on the orphan train and was given a home with a loving couple who cherished and spoiled her. At 17, she fell hard for Tyson Applegate, the son of a wealthy mine owner. After a whirlwind courtship and marriage, Tyson took off for adventures around the world, including fighting with the Rough Riders in Cuba. Receiving no word of him for seven years, Diana's infatuation with her dashing husband died an ugly death, and she is ready to move past the old pain and marry again, just as soon as Tyson is declared legally dead.

But when her husband returns, supposedly a changed man, he wants to reunite with his wife and run for the senate. While Diana suspects the election is his real reason for wanting her by his side, she agrees to maintain his home and to campaign with him, but when it is over, win or lose, she wants her freedom. He agrees with one condition----she must give him a chance to change her mind about him.

My review: Robin did it again and has another hit with this book. There is a little bit of everything in this book from romance to suspense. The characters were very well developed and the scenes were written very well so you feel as if you are write there with them. I like that this book get me turning the pages as it was a good read for me. I think Diana was a strong person and can not imagine what she felt when she found out her husband was not dead. This was a fitting end to the series I just wish the series was continuing. 

Meet the author: Robin is the author of 65+ novels and novellas. Her home is in Idaho, where she spends her time writing stories of faith, courage, and love; pondering the things of God; and loving her family and friends.

Learn more at:http://www.robinleehatcher.com

Click here to find out the other stops on the blog tour

Robin Lee Hatcher is celebrating the release of her latest novel, Beloved, with an iPad Mini giveaway! 

 
  One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 15th. Winner will be announced November 16th at Robin's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Robin's blog on the 16th to see if you won. (Or, better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)!