Review (+ Tour GIVEAWAY): Christmas Embers

About the Book

Name of book: Christmas Embers  
Author: Chautona Havig  
Genre: Contemporary Christmas  
Release Date: November 25, 2016  

It’s a truth universally unacknowledged that sin will hunt you down and advertise its presence the moment you try to hide it. 

Emily Byrne sits in her daughter’s classroom listening to the deepest wishes of twenty kindergarteners as she sketches them. But when little Joey Cordell breaks down, weeping and insisting the only thing he wants to find is his father, she isn’t sure where her Christmas project will take her. 

Davia Cordell came to Rockland for one purpose–find her son’s father before she dies. An ex-prostitute, she’s well aware that the news will cause waves, but what’s a mother to do? 

As these women join forces to search for Joey’s father–a Rockland area pastor, no less– Emily learns compassion for a woman who just wants the best for her son and can’t quite imagine that Jesus wants anything to do with her. 

Each day, Davia weakens until Emily isn’t confident she’ll find the boy’s father in time–if at all. Doubts form. Should she look? Is it right to risk destroying a family like this–an entire church? The weight of that responsibility crushes her as Davia wastes away before her eyes. 

A mother’s love. A boy’s confidence. A family’s faith. A preacher’s failure. Is redemption even possible anymore? 

Christmas Embers: a story of love, failure, and redemption.

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Thoughts

Christmas Embers is the moving, compelling story of a marriage navigating the rough waters of temptation and adultery. It’s hard hitting, honest and raw. There are no easy solutions in real life, nor does this story try to put any forward, only pointing us toward the only answer – Jesus. I encourage you to take the time to read Chautona’s words in the guest post below.

I enjoy women’s fiction and stories that involve relationship drama, so the excellent writing of Chautona Havig is a delight. She’s a consistent writer; I always know what to expect and have a hard time putting her books down once I start reading. And she’s right about adultery in the church being at epidemic levels. It doesn’t seem to carry the stigma that it once did; in fact, the term “sin” isn’t always used.

I am blessed to never have experienced anything like Sean and Emily went through, but I’ve known others who have and think this story captures the reality of feelings and struggles perfectly. And like Sean, I’ve all too often thought I had strength in my own abilities. In the scene where Sean confessed to the elders, I fully expected them to be condemning and legalistic, but was thrilled to see godly wisdom and sensitivity.

You’ve undoubtedly figured out by now that this isn’t your typical light Christmas read, but I think the timing is perfect. In reflecting on the title, I decided to look up the definition of embers and realized that we most often connect it with something dying … “a small, glowing piece of wood, as in a dying fire.” Someone else defined it as “the fading remains of a past emotion.” Maybe in most marriages hit by adultery, the attack is too strong to survive and they do eventually die, but the other side of the coin is that there’s hope – and that’s what Christmas Embers gives. As long as the fire of repentance, grace and forgiveness remains in those slow-burning embers, then they can be reignited – and that makes this story the perfect message for Christmas. It’s all about Jesus.

Highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book from the author. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

About the Author

Author of the Amazon bestselling Aggie and Past Forward Series, Chautona Havig lives and writes in California’s Mojave Desert. 

With dozens of books to her name, Chautona spends most of her time writing, but when she takes the rare break, she can be found reading, sewing, paper crafting, or sleeping and dreaming of finishing the dozens of books swirling in her overly-active imagination at any given moment.

Guest Post from Chautona Havig

Infidelity to the Tune of Adeste Fideles

“I think my husband is having an affair.” 

An explanation followed. Look, I tend to be one who assumes the best of others—to a fault even. I read the “evidence” and frankly could see it going either way. It’s hard to tell across thousands of miles. While others on the message board saw red flag after red flag—and frankly, I did, too—I also saw perfectly innocent explanations for things. It’s a curse sometimes—that ability to see both sides of an issue. I cautioned against assumptions no one would want other people to make of themselves. And I prayed she was wrong. 

She wasn’t. 

It wasn’t the first time I’d come face to face with infidelity. As a child, there was an extended family member. As a newlywed, one of my wedding party—then another. Then another. The excuses, the justifications. Friends and I went to confront a sister in Christ on her affair with her husband’s best friend. We foolishly asked “what happened?” regarding her marriage. Her words: “We drifted apart.” 

I wanted to scream the words that battered my brain and heart. “Then row back together!” 

But over the years, it just grew worse. One by one, wives and husbands tossed aside vows made to a brother or sister in Christ—vows made before the Lord—in favor of what sometimes were serial affairs. Abuse. Horror. 

I’ve prayed women I love through court cases, medical visits, and disclosures from children no mother should ever have to hear. I’ve prayed for men I didn’t even like because of the pain their wives inflicted each time she left them alone with the kids. He knew. He always knew. 

Adultery is real. It’s ugly. And there’s absolutely a cure for it. Jesus. 100% surrender to Jesus. But as long as we rely on those little loops on the back of our boots instead of the saving, healing, strengthening power of Jesus, we’re just as vulnerable as the next person. 

And that’s why I wrote Christmas Embers. I took every heartbreaking story I’d observed over the years and put in each character for a reason. Every scene, every plot point, every twist—I put them exactly how and where they are for a reason. 

They’re there as a warning. 

This isn’t your lighthearted Christmas novel. Some have suggested I shouldn’t have set it at Christmastime. But you know what? Over half the disclosures I’ve ever heard of happened between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. I couldn’t get the idea of Joey’s story out of my head. And to write his story, it had to be at Christmas. 

Let me say it again. While Christmas may not seem like the optimal time for a hard-hitting book like this, I had to do it. Adultery is reaching epidemic proportions in the church. There’s a solution. His name is Jesus.

Blog Stops

Carpe Diem, December 5

A Baker’s Perspective, December 5

Mary Hake, December 5

Moments Dipped in Ink, December 6

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, December 6

Daysong Reflections, December 6

Fiction Aficionado, December 7

A Simply Enchanted Life, December 7

Genesis 5020, December 7

Blogging With Carol, December 8

The Power of Words, December 8

Bigreadersite, December 8

Reading Is My SuperPower, December 9

A Greater Yes, December 9

Radiant Light, December 9

Just Jo’Anne, December 10

For The Love of Books, December 10

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, December 10

Aryn the Libraryan, December 11

A Reader’s Brain, December 11

The Fizzy Pop Collection, December 12

Books, Books, and More Books., December 12

Quiet Quilter, December 13

Seasons of Opportunities, December 13

Christian Book Devourer, December 13

Allofakindmom, December 14

Texas Book-aholic, December 14

Pursuing Stacie, December 14

Pause for Tales, December 15

Reader’s cozy corner, December 15

margaret kazmierczak, December 15

Red Headed Book Lady, December 16

Purposeful Learning, December 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 16

Janices book reviews, December 17

Christian Bookaholic, December 17

Karen Sue Hadley, December 18

Remembrancy, December 18

Blossoms and Blessings, December 18

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away a grand prize of a 6-month Kindle Unlimited Subscription!!

Click on the image above or the link below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/c512

Review: The Gift of Christmas Past

The Gift of Christmas Past
By Cindy & Erin Woodsmall
Woodsmall Press, 2017


Summary

Arson wasn't the only fire that ignited between them.

Promises shattered.

Lies spoken.

She was arrested.

He returned to the safety of his wealthy parents.

Almost ten years later, Hadley and Monroe are both specialists in the field of speech therapy. They meet again . . . thrown together to help a four-year-old-girl rendered mute after being rescued from a fire.

Years of secrets and anger beg to be set free as Hadley and Monroe try to push aside past hurts and find common ground in order to help the traumatized child and her family.

Can the love of Christmas past drift into the present, bringing healing and hope for all?

Learn more, read an excerpt, and purchase a copy.


My thoughts

I am so glad that Cindy and Erin Woodsmall teamed up to write a contemporary romance, because The Gift of Christmas Past is a winner. If you’ve read any of Cindy’s other books, you’ll know that her stories are quite complex, and that’s certainly true here as well. Lying, manipulation, prejudice, and heartbreak play their part, but this is a heartwarming story of succeeding against all odds.

Characters are well drawn and realistically flawed. The field of pediatric speech therapy is the catalyst that reunites Hadley and Monroe, former teenage sweethearts. I connected with Hadley from the beginning, loved her determination to succeed, and was pulling for her the whole way. Monroe had some maturing to do, but he grew on me as the story progressed and earned my respect by the end.

One of my favorite parts was the caring relationship between Hadley and Elliott, sisters in the foster care system. They truly had each other’s back, worked hard, and looked after each other over the years. I also loved the story’s Asheville setting, an area that I’m familiar with and could easily visualize. The authors did a wonderful job placing their story against this backdrop.

So many things come together in an uplifting way at the end … the relationships between Hadley and Monroe, as well as Elliott and Trent, and situations with secondary characters Chloe and Jason. Readers will love the epilogue that takes place four Christmases later.

Recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book through Litfuse Publicity. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

_________________________

Cindy Woodsmall is the "New York Times" and CBA best-selling author of eighteen works of fiction. She's been featured in national media outlets such as ABC's "Nightline" and the "Wall Street Journal." 

Cindy has won numerous awards and has been finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards. 

Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in Flowery Branch, GA.

Erin Woodsmall is a writer, musician, wife, and mom of three. She has edited, brainstormed, and researched books with Cindy for almost a decade. She is very excited about their first coauthored book.

Find out more about Cindy and Erin at http://www.cindywoodsmall.com.

Review: Christy

Christy
By Catherine Marshall
50th Anniversary Edition
Evergreen Farm, 2017


Summary

New edition of Catherine Marshall's inspirational classic!

The train taking nineteen-year-old teacher Christy Huddleston from her home in Asheville, North Carolina, might as well be transporting her to another world. The Smoky Mountain community of Cutter Gap feels suspended in time, trapped by poverty, superstitions, and century-old traditions.

But as Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home, some see her - and her one-room school - as a threat to their way of life. Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two strong men with conflicting views about how to care for the families of the Cove.

Yearning to make a difference, will Christy's determination and devotion be enough?

Learn more, download a free map of Cutter Gap, and purchase a copy.


My thoughts

To say that Christy is a classic is true, but that really doesn’t do it justice. Christy is a masterpiece in which lyrical writing, vivid setting, and complex characters come together in a beautifully fascinating and compelling story that’s worth reading again and again – just as relevant today as when it was first written. The best books are life changing, and that’s the impact it had on me when first reading it as a teen. But now, reading it again through the lens of some 50 years of life experiences, this story resonates even more.

It was Christy that instilled in me a love for the mountains and people of Appalachia, which isn’t surprising because I’m the granddaughter of north Georgia mountain families. The dialect was refreshingly familiar. And the lyrical prose compelled me to read slowly, savoring every word …

There was something different about this wind. It was not a single note, but many notes playing up and down the scale, harmonizing at one moment, discordant the next, retreating, advancing. It caught at my nerves. And through it all, that sobbing sound. I wanted to shut it out, to flee.

This is a coming-of-age story, both physically and spiritually. Feeling God’s calling, 19-year-old Christy Huddleston leaves the comforts of home to teach in Cutters Gap, Tennessee – and it was her decision that made me examine God’s calling on my life all those years ago. Christy is pretty confident in her ability to make a difference, but instead becomes a student herself.

I don’t think anyone could do a better job at vividly conveying the Appalachia of Christy’s world, which included poverty, illiteracy, superstition, feuding clans, moonshine, typhoid fever – but also the rugged beauty of the mountains and friends/ students who live on in my heart, like Fairlight, Opal, Miss Alice, Little Burl and Lundy.

Christy is a story of God’s love for a people isolated from the rest of the world, and for us as well. As Christy learned of sacrifice, how to walk with others through their dark valleys, and the true meaning of faith, she discovered a timeless message that is relevant for all of us – that it is in life’s hardships that the most growth takes place.

Romance takes a secondary place in this story, but there’s a little bit of a love triangle – and I’ll just say that my guy won Christy’s hand. The final scene isn’t long or drawn out, but couldn’t have been more memorable.

Very highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book through Litfuse Publicity. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/cmarshall

_________________________

Catherine Marshall (1914-1983), The New York Times best-selling author of 30 books, is best known for her novel Christy. Based on the life of her mother, Christy captured the hearts of millions and became a popular CBS television series. Around the kitchen table at Evergreen Farm, as her mother reminisced, Catherine probed for details and insights into the rugged lives of these Appalachian highlanders.

Catherine shared the story of her husband, Dr. Peter Marshall, Chaplain of the United States Senate, in A Man Called Peter. A decade after Dr. Marshall's untimely death, Catherine married Leonard LeSourd, Executive Editor of Guideposts, forging a dynamic writer-editor partnership.

A beloved inspirational writer and speaker, Catherine's enduring career spanned four decades and reached over 30 million readers.

Find out more about Catherine at http://gileadpublishing.com/christy/.

Review (+ Tour GIVEAWAY): Runaway Romance

About the Book

Name of book: Runaway Romance  
Author: Miralee Ferrell  
Genre: Contemporary romance with Amish thread
Release Date: October, 2017

When a reality TV star meets the reality of life, will it be her downfall or her salvation? 

Ann Stanway had it all—a starring role in a reality show, an adoring boyfriend, and a sparkling future with limitless possibilities. Until the rules changed and the life she’d thought was real no longer existed. Leaving L.A. seems like her only option, and she lands in Kentucky at a quiet Amish inn—as far removed from her past as possible. Now she knows what was missing in her life–peace, true friendship and, dare she hope, a man who accepts her for who she is–or at least who he thinks she is. 

Hunter Lewis is intrigued by the new woman staying at his friend’s Amish inn. Annie appears to be what she claims, but she’s secretive and won’t open up. He’s been burned by a woman before and can’t tolerate deception. But his interest in Annie is growing, and the attraction seems to be mutual—until something happens that makes Hunter question everything he’d thought was real. Dare he risk his heart, when he’s certain Annie is keeping secrets? 

Can their new romance withstand the pressure, or will Ann choose to run again?

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Thoughts

Runaway Romance is a thoroughly enjoyable contemporary romance, which just happens to have an upcoming TV movie on the UP channel in January. Ferrell’s writing moves at a steady pace, characters are well developed, the plot is fresh, the Amish thread adds richness, and I loved the theme of hope and renewal.

Cave City, KY

Annie’s disillusionment with the reality TV show in which she starred spurs her to flee LA and leads to a journey of self-discovery in an Amish community in Cave City, Kentucky. As the name implies, Cave City is home to a fascinating complex of caves and I enjoyed learning about this area – one of my favorite scenes being when Hunter took Annie into one of the caves.

Some parts are a little predictable, for I recognized early on who the betrayer would be and what element would drive a wedge between Annie and Hunter, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment overall. The contrast between the lifestyles of Hollywood and the Amish couldn't be sharper. A strong group of secondary characters added depth … Sarah, an innkeeper conflicted between honoring Amish traditions and following what she feels is God’s leading; Carla, a homeless woman with a past begging to be discovered; the bishop, whose desire to protect bordered on legalism; an Amish driver determined to become somebody, but at what cost?

Ferrell beautifully weaves spiritual elements into the story – trust, forgiveness, being the person God created you to be, following God’s plan for your life. Runaway Romance is a refreshing romance that is much more than a light romance. There’s lots of room for further development, so I hope this will be the beginning of a series.

Recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

About the Author

I love life, love my family, love writing Christian fiction–reading, riding my horse and puttering in my garden are all ways I relax. I often have my little 7 lb Chihuahua, Lacey, on my lap when I’m working–there’s nothing like a warm ball of love on your lap to act as a stress reliever! 

First and foremost I’m a child of God and daughter of the King. I’ve been involved in women’s ministries for years, I’m married to a wonderful man, have two grown children, two cats, two dogs, 10 chickens and ride my son-in-law’s Arabian mare since my old mare passed in 2013. We live about 9 miles from the nearest town on 11 acres, in a peaceful setting surrounded by trees. 

I started writing shortly after I turned 50, and discovered I loved it so much I don’t want to stop. I have 15 novels out & a five book set of horse novels for middle-grade girls. I write both women’s contemporary fiction, historical & contemporary romance, and horse/mystery novels for girls. One of my Western romances, Love Finds You in Sundance, WY, was awarded the Will Rogers Medallion for Western Fiction, three books have been optioned as movies, and several books have been on the ECPA best seller list. 

You can find out more about me and my books at http://miraleeferrell.com/

Guest Post from Miralee Ferrell

In the spring of 2015, I received an email from a Hollywood producer, followed by a phone call. Imagine my surprise when she asked if I’d be willing to write a book for them. They were no longer producing the Love Finds You books into movies and were working on a different project for UP TV, a possible three-movie series, and she hoped I might be able to work with them. She explained that she’d optioned Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming, two or three years earlier, and loved it. Of the thirty-five or so titles she’d read of the line, that was her favorite. However, UP TV didn’t want to make historical or old west movies, so she’d shelved it for now. 

During that time period, I’d gotten my rights returned to all of my LFY books and had retitled them Finding Love in Last Chance, California, Finding Love in Tombstone, Arizona, and Finding Love in Bridal Veil, Oregon. Sundance became Outlaw Angel, and all four are still in print. 

Here’s the amazing part. I came very, very close to turning down that contract offer with Summerside for Sundance. I was disappointed in the advance and royalty rate, and shortly after they released it, they sold the line to Guideposts, and that company didn’t continue the line much longer. Understandably, sales waned on their final releases, and I was disappointed with my sales from that final book as my others had done quite well. For a long time, I wished I hadn’t taken that contract and instead held out for one with another company for a three-book series. However, had I done that, I doubt Runaway Romance would ever have been written. It was Sundance that grabbed Chevonne’s attention and caused her to contact me. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Blog Stops

Blogging With Carol, November 28

Reflections from my bookshelves, November 28

Janices book review, November 29

Books, Books, and More Books., November 29

Books n baubles, November 30

Blossoms and Blessings, November 30

Have A Wonderful Day, December 1

Inklings and notions, December 1

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, December 2

Texas Book-aholic, December 2

History, Mystery & Faith, December 3

Bigreadersite, December 4

The Power of Words, December 4

Kat’s Corner Books, December 5

Reading Is My SuperPower, December 5 (Interview)

Baker Kella, December 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 6

Splashes of Joy, December 7

Karen Sue Hadley, December 7

Quiet Quilter, December 8

Red Headed Book Lady, December 9

Just the Write Escape, December 9

Cafinated Reads, December 10

Remembrancy, December 11

Carpe Diem, December 11

Giveaway

In honor of her tour, Miralee is giving away a grand prize of a Kindle Fire! Click on the image above or the link below to enter! Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! (Contest ends December 13)

https://promosimple.com/ps/c31a

Review (+ Tour GIVEAWAY): Beauty from Ashes

About the Book

Name of book: Beauty from Ashes
Author: Alana Terry  
Genre: Christian Women’s Lit 
Release Date: July, 2017

A baby was never part of Tiff’s plans. Especially not a sick baby in a NICU, struggling for life on a ventilator. 

As days in the hospital turn to weeks, Tiff grows more and more convinced that God is punishing her for turning her back on him so many years ago. Or is it possible he’s working in the midst of her daughter’s bleak prognosis to draw Tiff back to himself once more? 

The Orchard Grove Christian Women’s Fiction books are standalone literary novels about real-life believers facing real-life struggles. You won’t meet perfect saints whose lives are faultless models of the Christian faith. Instead, you’ll meet a perfect God whose plans of redemption are far more glorious than what the mortal mind could ever imagine.

Click here to purchase your copy.

My Thoughts

There’s a lightness in my spirit now. I don’t dread each minute of

each day. I’m looking forward to what’s to come with

new expectations. New eyes. New hope.

It might not be a huge change, in your opinion, but it’s a start.

Beauty from Ashes … the title says it all. This is an incredible book – and I’m not sure I have the words to express why, so I’ll just share some random thoughts. The story transported me into another world and made me feel everything, even to the shedding of tears occasionally. It’s deep, complex, and emotional, with the promise of hope ever present.

I don’t know any of the mechanics of writing, but if there’s a recommended structure for plotting a novel, Beauty from Ashes probably doesn’t fit it – and therein lies its beauty. It’s raw; it’s so very real and honest. Things that are whitewashed or not even mentioned in most Christian fiction are uncovered here. And Alana Terry’s writing flows beautifully, making it so easy to follow.

Basically, Beauty from Ashes a first-person journey through Tiff’s life; we get to know her thoroughly as she narrates, and I loved her. I was pulling for her with every page turn. Tiff’s background in foster care was rough … she made poor choices … she’s married to her boyfriend only because she got pregnant … she has a mother-in-law from you know where … and as the story opens, she’s dealing with a baby who probably won’t see her first birthday, much less respond to her. I love it when characters are challenged to rise above themselves, becoming more than they ever thought they could be capable of, and that’s what we experience with Tiff and Jake.

I was especially drawn to two supporting characters who added so much depth to the story. First is Sandy, one of her foster care moms who implanted a nugget of faith in Tiff. That faith lay dormant for some time, but was there for Tiff to fall back on when she was ready. And then there’s Grandma Lucy, whose faith, insight, knowledge of God’s Word and His ways were so very refreshing. If I close my eyes, I can picture Grandma Lucy and imagine her words of testimony and exhortation.

Beauty from Ashes spoke to me on so many levels and will linger long in my thoughts. This is the first of Alana Terry’s books that I’ve read and I’m eager to read more from this unusual and skilled storyteller.

Highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

About the Author

Alana is a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom, self-diagnosed chicken lady, and Christian suspense author. Her novels have won awards from Women of Faith, Book Club Network, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. 

Alana’s passion for social justice, human rights, and religious freedom shines through her writing, and her books are known for raising tough questions without preaching. 

She and her family live in rural Alaska where the northern lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer make hauling water, surviving the annual mosquito apocalypse, and cleaning goat stalls in negative forty degrees worth every second.

Guest Post from Alana Terry

Click here to see the special video message from Alana. 

“You better come in,” I told my husband. “The doctors don’t think he’s going to make it.” 

Not the kind of conversation you want to have with anyone at one o’clock in the morning. I was spending the night at the hospital with our nine-month-old baby Silas and hadn’t left the hospital complex in days. Scott was home with our toddler trying to get some sleep. 

And our son Silas was dying. 

Raising a medically-fragile baby changed me like nothing else ever has. Thankfully, Silas pulled through that horrific evening, but that didn’t mean life was sugar and cream from then on. 

As anyone with experience knows, it’s hard work being a special-needs mom. 

And it can devastate a marriage. 

Thankfully, God brought my husband and me through those nearly impossible first few years while Silas was in and out of the hospital with no guarantee of his survival. 

And he continued to sustain us through even more years of therapy, hospital visits, and medical tests. 

And now we have a happy marriage, a healthy boy, and hearts full of gratitude for all God’s done for us. 

But I never want to forget where we were. 

The depths God delivered us out of. 

The despair that would have overwhelmed us if God hadn’t been our strength and our support. 

Writing Beauty from Ashes was one way to remind myself of those difficulties God brought us through. It’s not strictly autobiographical, but the baby in this novel went through a very similar traumatic birth experience as Silas did, and all the health issues — including that night in the hospital when I truly thought we were going to lose our baby — are based on the trials we went through when Silas was young. 

I wrote Beauty from Ashes because we all need to be reminded every now and then that even though life can be impossibly hard, even though there’s no guarantee our children will grow up and love Christ and make good choices with their lives or even survive until adulthood at all, God is good, and he will sustain us through all the trials we have to endure. 

I think that’s why Beauty from Ashes resonates so much with Christian readers hungry for more than a simple story with a happily-ever-after ending, like these readers: 

“…by far some of the best Christian fiction I’ve read.” Amy L, author  

"… a story that is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming.” ~ Jaime Hampton, award-winning author of Malnourished 

“I didn’t think it was possible that the author could write any better than she already does … This is a book I will never forget … She writes with realism and doesn’t pull any punches … Every time I read a book from this author, my faith grows.” Deana at Texas Bookaholic 

I hope you’ll take a chance to grab your own copy of Beauty from Ashes today, and don’t forget to watch the video and enter to win the $100 gift card to christianbooks.com. 

Because Christian fiction should encourage, edify, and inspire. 

And because God is big enough to carry all our burdens.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Alana is giving away a grand prize of a $100 CBD gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/c3c1

Review + GIVEAWAY: A Place at Our Table

A Place at Our Table
By Amy Clipston
Amish Homestead #1
Zondervan, 2017


Summary

Kayla Dienner has suffered her fair share of heartache, which is why she vows to protect her heart at all costs . . . until she meets Jamie Riehl.

Along with his volunteer work at the local fire department, running his Amish farm keeps Jamie Riehl busy. He barely has time to eat at the family table, never mind find someone to date. But when he meets Kayla Dienner, he is smitten.

Kayla tries hard to deny her attraction to Jamie. After all, she’s spent the last year discouraging her younger brother, Nathan, from becoming a firefighter. The death of their older brother in a fire a year ago is fresh in her mind—she can’t bear the idea of putting her heart on the line every time the sirens blare.

Then tragedy strikes, and Jamie wants to extinguish any flame between him and Kayla. Can Kayla set aside her own fears to save the love she was determined to deny?

The first book in the Amish Homestead series, A Place at Our Table invites us to a quiet community in Lancaster County where love burns brightly no matter the cost.


My thoughts

A Place at Our Table begins a new series that not only entertains, but tugs at the heart. It embodies all that I love about Amish fiction – family, community, hard work ethic, love, respect. And the story introduces two families who, as in real life, struggle with unimaginable loss while coping in different ways, and I felt an instant connection with them. The “table” conveys such an important theme for all families, one of welcome and hospitality, and my mind was drawn back to treasured memories of my own family dinner table when I was growing up.

Characterization is important to me in any book that I pick up to read – and when it comes to this aspect of Amy Clipston’s writing, the terms authentic and realistic instantly come to mind. Readers will always find a well-crafted story in an Amish community setting, with characters who could very well live in your neighborhood and face similar struggles.

Grief is a major theme, but it is the grief with hope that believers are assured of. I had no trouble identifying with Kayla and Jamie, for in their coping mechanisms for dealing with great loss, I could see my own various ways over the years. Their romance is tender and sweet, albeit with misunderstandings caused by insecurities and questions of loyalty.

Something new and fresh that I especially enjoyed was learning about Amish firefighters. These dedicated men are indeed deserving of honor. I also appreciated Clipston’s ability to pull my emotions in two different directions, for I understood both Jamie’s drive and determination, as well as Kayla’s fear and reluctance, especially with her brother’s desire to train.

A Place at Our Table comes to a satisfying conclusion that left me eager to spend more time with Jamie, Kayla, and their respective families. Highly recommended to all who enjoy Amish fiction.

I was provided a copy of this book from the author and Zondervan. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and three spoiled rotten cats.

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GIVEAWAY

Amy has graciously offered to give a copy of A Place at Our Table to one of you. To enter the drawing, please click on this link and share my Facebook post, then leave a comment here to let me know that you shared. And if you’re familiar with Amy’s books and have a favorite story or series, I’d love to know your thoughts.

BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on Wednesday, January 3. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by e-mail.

Eligibility: US residents