About the BookRose Island Lighthouse, Rhode Island June 1880 Will she betray his trust to stay on the island she loves? Abbie Watson is content to spend her days clamming, crabbing, and tending Rose Island Lighthouse. Her grandpa is the head light keeper, but his senility may lead to their eviction. Since leaving the island would kill her beloved Gramps, Abbie will do anything to keep him in the one place he knows and loves. Wealthy Nathaniel Winthrop III’s wild living has gained him a reputation as the ‘bad boy’ among the elite social circles of Newport. After a blow to the head in a yachting accident washes him up on Rose Island, Nathaniel has no memories of his past. Abbie tends the wounded stranger in her home only to realize he assumes they’re married. Although she knows she needs to correct Nathaniel’s mistake, his presence calms Gramps and provides a way to prevent eviction from the lighthouse. The longer the charade continues, the harder it gets for Abbie to tell Nathaniel the truth, more so as she begins to fall in love. Everyone she’s ever loved has abandoned her. Will Nathaniel leave her too, once he discovers he’s not really her husband? About the AuthorJody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling author of inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults. As a busy mama-writer, she has the wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of 5 children at home. In between grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of laundry and washes dishes. When she's not busy being a mama, you can find her in front of her laptop working on another of her page-turning stories. She loves reading almost as much as she loves writing, especially when it also involves chocolate and coffee. ReviewJody Hedlund has once again written a fantastically engaging novel that readers will not want to put down. From page one this beautifully written story will pull readers in. Readers will quickly and easily fall in love with the main characters, Abbie Watson and Nathaniel Winthrop III (from book two). The romance between this couple is breathtakingly delightful, filled with intense romantic feelings and of course plenty of fabulously sweet kisses. This story also deals with the hardships of life and teaches about building character and becoming strong people. This book five, the final installment, of this series and I am sad to see it come to an end. But I am simply thrilled with how well they all turned out. Series: Beacons of Hope Genre: historical, romance, Christian Publisher: Northern Lights Press Publication date: January 4, 2016 Number of pages: 284 Content Rating: PG Book Rating: 5 stars Other books in the series:
0.5-Out of the Storm 1-Love Unexpected 2-Hearts Made Whole 3-Undaunted Hope 4-Forever Safe A review copy of this book was provided by the author's launch team. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. First Line Fridays -- 01.27.17
1/27/2017
Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line! Today I am going to post a line from The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green Historical fiction anyone? And don't you just love the cover?!?!?!? Paris, France May 1719 "You shouldn't be here." With gentle authority, Julianne Chevalier ushered a man twice her age to the doorway of his young wife's lying-in chamber. What are you reading? What is your first line? Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below... Now head on over and join these lovely ladies in First Line Fridays on their blogs too:
Reading is My SuperPower | Bookworm Mama | Faithfully Bookish Radiant Light | Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen | All the Book Blog Names are Taken Robin's Nest | Fiction Aficionado | Bibliophile Reviews If you would like to join us, send Carrie a meassage and let her know! About the Book
Colonial Massachusetts, 1775
Abigail Stowell is a rarity for her time. The comely young woman is educated, outspoken, and attuned to the charged political climate around her. She is a staunch Patriot. In short, she is a rebel. So when Gideon Whitlock, an avowed Tory, rides into her village, Abby is not only put off by his politics and arrogance but is also annoyed by her undeniable attraction to him. When she observes a clandestine meeting between her Patriot father and Gideon, Abby soon realizes that in a world divided by loyalties, not everything is as it seems. Soon she is drawn deeper into political intrigue than she ever dreamed possible. And just as feelings begin to heat up between Abby and Gideon, the shot heard round the world ignites the beginning of war between the colonists and the British redcoats. There is no time for hesitation, and Abby finds herself thrust into a world of intrigue, treachery, and terror. Lives hang in the balance, and Abby will stop at nothing to support the Patriot movement—but will her allegiance to the cause mean losing the man she loves? About the AuthorReview
Carol Warburton has written a delightful and adventurous romance in her Revolutionary War novel, Petticoat Spy. I have always loved novels written about the Revolutionary War and Warburton’s novel is no different. From the cover of the novel, to the back cover blurb, to the first page, this book will captivate the attention of readers. I love how the main character, Abigail Stowell, is brave and bold and wants to help with the war effort; to do something to make a difference. And in the process falls in love. This is a charming read for those that love historical fiction and romance.
Genre: historical, romance, Revolutionary War Publisher: Covenant Communications Publication date: January 3, 2017 Number of pages: 296 Content Rating: PG Book Rating: 5 stars
A review copy of this book was provided by Covenant Communications. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
GiveawayTour Schedule
Jan. 23rd:
http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/ http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/ http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/ http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/ Jan. 24th: http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/ http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/ http://empowermoms.net/ Jan. 25th: http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/ http://www.wishfulendings.com/ http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/ Jan. 26th: http://rockinbookreviews.com/ http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/ http://sweetlymadejustforyou.com/blog/ Jan. 27th: http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/ http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/ http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/ http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/ Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie -- Top Ten All Time Favorite Books from Before I Started Blogging
1/24/2017
I have many other favorite books from before I started blogging, but I narrowed it down to the following ten: YouthYoung AdultAdultWhat are some of your all time favorite novels? First Line Fridays -- 01.20.17
1/20/2017
Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line! Today I am going to post a line from A Viscount's Proposal by Melanie Dickerson This is book two in the Regency Spies of London Series. You can check out book one, A Spy's Devotion, as well. I have yet to read this series, but I have them on my TBR pile to read soon. Melanie's books are always fantastic, so readers (including myself) will not want to miss this series. May 1813 Was this the night she would actually die of tedium, triviality, and hypocrisy? What are you reading? What is your first line? Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below... Now head on over and join these lovely ladies in First Line Fridays on their blogs too:
Reading is My SuperPower | Bookworm Mama | Faithfully Bookish Radiant Light | Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen | All the Book Blog Names are Taken Robin's Nest | Fiction Aficionado If you would like to join us, send Carrie a meassage and let her know! About the BookJennings Offers Another Delightful Blend of History and Romance Betsy Huckabee might be a small-town girl, but she has big-city dreams. Writing for her uncle's newspaper will never lead to independence, and the bigger newspapers don't seem interested in the Hart County news. Trying a new approach, Betsy pens a romanticized serial for the ladies' pages, and the new deputy provides the perfect inspiration for her submissions. She'd be horrified if he read her breathless descriptions of him, but these articles are for a newspaper far away. No one in Pine Gap will ever know. Deputy Joel Puckett didn't want to leave Texas, but this job in tiny Pine Gap is his only shot at keeping his badge. With masked marauders riding every night, his skills and patience are tested, but even more challenging is the sassy journalist lady chasing him. About the AuthorRegina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She is the author of “A Most Inconvenient Marriage,” “Sixty Acres and a Bride,” and “Caught in the Middle,” and contributed a novella to “A Match Made in Texas.” Regina has worked at the Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband and four children. ReviewRegina Jennings has written a fun and entertaining historical romance novel in her novel For the Record. A spunky small-town woman, Betsy Huckabee, is always sticking her nose into other people’s business. Betsy uses the adventures and mishaps that take place in her town (while adding a bit of a tweak of her own) in stories she writes for a big city paper in another state. Betsy even goes so far as to liken the deputy in her story to that in her town. The history in the story includes the Bald Knobbers, a group of “unknown” vigilantes that try to act as the law, adding more mischief and entertainment to the story. This engaging and delightful historical romance with leave readers laughing as they read. Series: Ozark Mountain Romance Genre: historical, romance, Christian Publisher: Bethany House Publication date: December 6, 2016 Number of pages: 336 Content Rating: PG Book Rating: 4 stars Other books in the series:
1-A Most Inconvenient Marriage 2-At Love’s Bidding 2.5-Her Dearly Unintended (also found in the With this Ring? Novella collection) A review copy of this book was provided by the author's launch team and the publisher, Bethany House. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. Cover Reveal for Sarah M. Eden's Newest Novella -- My Dearest Love: a Hope Springs Novella
1/19/2017
From the USA Today Bestselling author of the Longing for Home series, a new romance set in the beloved world of Hope Springs: MY DEAREST LOVE, coming July 2017! About the BookFrom the USA Today Bestselling author of the Longing for Home series, MY DEAREST LOVE is a new romance novella set in the beloved world of Hope Springs. Alone in the world and far from home, Biddy holds out little hope of lasting happiness. Ian, loving her silently from afar, dreams of one day capturing her heart. About the AuthorSarah M. Eden is the author of multiple historical romances, including the 2-time Whitney Award Winner Longing for Home and Whitney Award finalist Seeking Persephone and Courting Miss Lancaster. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances. She has twice served as the Master of Ceremonies for the LDStorymakers Writing Conference and acted as the Writer in Residence at the Northwest Writers Retreat. Sarah is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg at D4EO Literary Agency. And now for the cover reveal... What do you like most about this cover? About the BookRace Point, Massachusetts, 1876 Will she ever be able to stop running, even when she believes she’s finally safe? Heiress to a vast fortune, Victoria Cole has everything she wants, including the perfect fiancé. Having left two other men at the altar, Victoria is sure that now she’s found her true love and will finally live happily ever after. As her wedding draws near, however, Victoria’s life is threatened. To keep her safe, Victoria’s father hires a bodyguard. Tom Cushman’s number one priority is protecting his clients, which means no personal entanglements. But he’s never guarded someone as beautiful and winsome as Victoria. After a near-kidnapping, the wedding is cancelled, and Tom hides Victoria at Cape Cod’s Race Point Lighthouse until her attacker can be found. Appointed as assistant light keeper with Victoria posing as his wife, Tom believes the isolation of the lighthouse will keep her safe. As Victoria struggles to live without familiar luxuries, her heart betrays her with growing feelings for her protector. Determined to help Tom stop fleeing from his haunted past, can the runaway bride learn to face her own fears? With the attacker closing in, will both of them ever be able to stop running and find the safety they long for? About the AuthorJody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling author of inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults. As a busy mama-writer, she has the wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of 5 children at home. In between grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of laundry and washes dishes. When she's not busy being a mama, you can find her in front of her laptop working on another of her page-turning stories. She loves reading almost as much as she loves writing, especially when it also involves chocolate and coffee. ReviewJody Hedlund has written a stunning story in her fourth book, Forever Safe, in her Beacons of Hope Series. In this lighthouse story, Hedlund brings to life her many wonderful characters. With a dash of suspense and some romance, this historical novel is fantastically written and will draw readers in from page one so they will not want to put it down. Not even when they reach the end. This is one of those stories that I could read over and over and not get tired of it. As always I love that a lighthouse plays a role in the story and in bringing it to life. The lighthouse brings an element to the story that would not be there without it. This story is about overcoming fears and falling in love. If readers enjoyed the other books in this series, enjoy historical romance, and enjoy a lighthouse backdrop, this is another novel in this series to love. Series: Beacons of Hope Genre: historical, romance, Christian Publisher: Northern Lights Press Publication date: June 1, 2016 Number of pages: 344 Content Rating: PG Book Rating: 5 stars Other books in the series:
1-Love Unexpected 2-Hearts Made Whole 3-Undaunted Hope 5-Never Forget A review copy of this book was provided by the author's launch team. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own. About the BookSweeping Historical Fiction Set at the Edge of the Continent After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720s French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict. When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne's brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on? With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king's mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption. About the AuthorJocelyn Green is the award-winning author of a dozen books, including fiction and nonfiction. A former military wife herself, she offers encouragement and hope to military wives worldwide through her Faith Deployed books and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she co-authored with best-selling author Dr. Gary Chapman. Her Heroines Behind the Lines Civil War novels, inspired by real heroines on America’s home front, are marked by their historical integrity and gritty inspiration. Jocelyn graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.A. in English, concentration in writing. She loves Mexican food, Broadway musicals, Toblerone chocolate bars, the color red, and reading on her patio. Jocelyn lives with her husband Rob, two children, and two cats in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com. Connect with her also on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads. Endorsements"The Mark of the King grabbed me from the first scene and wouldn't let me go! The setting is vibrant, unique, and full of fascinating true details about the early French settlement in New Orleans. With arranged marriages, forced immigration, and struggles against starvation, the elements, and warring natives, the story is riveting. A must-read!" Jody Hedlund, Christy Award-winning author "A page-turner of a tale set against France's early struggles to colonize Louisiana, The Mark of the King bears all the marks of the best historical fiction--rich attention to detail, settings historically accurate and lushly depicted, a complex and layered plot, diverse cultures vividly portrayed, and the ever-present sense of the larger forces of time and place shaping the lives and destinies of characters I came to care about. The unjustly exiled Julianne is a woman to admire and cheer, the soldier Marc-Paul a man of strength and devotion. Lovers of historical fiction will be transported by this beautifully written novel of the early 18th-century frontier." Lori Benton, award-winning author of The Wood's Edge and A Flight of Arrows Review: Recipe: Classic French Palmiers The following recipe was adapted from an online recipe at www.thekitchn.com. Ingredients · Puff pastry, either homemade or store bought, which is what I used. (I used Pepperidge Farm brand, but if you can find a brand such as DuFour, that uses only butter, not shortening or vegetable oil, the taste will be even better.) · Sugar. (I used demerara because of its coarse texture--and it's also not as sweet as white or brown sugar--but you can use whichever kind you want.) Instructions 1. Thaw the puff pastry, if frozen, either in the refrigerator overnight, or on the counter for about half an hour or so. When it's pliable, but still cool, it's ready. 2. Roll out the puff pastry to even out the seams. 3. Sprinkle sugar in an even layer over the surface of the dough. Roll over it lightly with a rolling pin to press the sugar into the dough. 4. Fold the left and the right sides of the dough inward, lengthwise, so they meet in the middle. Your rectangle should now be half the width it was when you started. 5. Sprinkle sugar over the dough again, and roll over the dough lightly to press in the sugar. 6. Fold the left side of your rectangle over the right side. Now you should have a very long, flat length of dough. 7. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes, to make them easier to cut. This step will also help them puff better in the oven. 8. Heat the oven to 425°F. 9. After chilling, slice the log across into cookies roughly 1-inch wide. 10. Transfer cookies to parchment-lined baking sheet, cut side up. (Psst: I didn't have parchment paper when I made these, so I just put them on baking stones, and they turned out just fine.) Sprinkle the cookies with more sugar, if desired. Give the palmiers plenty of space to puff up in the oven. On a baking sheet that I normally use for a dozen cookies, I placed three rows of two palmiers, and that was perfect. If you bake in batches, keep the un-baked cookies in the fridge until it's their turn to bake. 11. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until dark golden. 12. Cool and eat! Let the palmiers cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Palmiers are best the day they are made, but can be stored in an airtight container for several days. Variations to try, instead of sugar would be shredded cheese, minced lemon peel, or finely chopped dried fruit. It's a perfect, light treat to accompany cider, coffee, or tea--and of course, a good book club discussion! Enjoy! Recipe: French Crêpes The following recipe was adapted from an online recipe at www.thekitchn.com. Ingredients This is enough for about eight crepes. Double or triple as necessary. 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups milk 2 large eggs Pinch of salt 2 tablespoons of melted butter Canola oil for cooking Instructions 1. Make the batter. Place the flour, milk, eggs, salt, and melted butter in a blender and blend for about 20 seconds until batter is smooth. Or you could whisk everything together in a bowl until thoroughly combined and frothy. 2. Let the batter rest. Cover the bowl and let the batter sit for an hour on the counter. Don’t skip this step! They won’t turn out the same. 3. Cook the crêpes. Place the pan over medium heat and add a small amount of oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Once hot, pour in about 1/4 cup of batter. Immediately, pick up the pan and swirl it to coax the batter into an even layer on the bottom of the pan. (If the batter starts cooking before you’re able to spread it evenly on the bottom of the pan, the heat is too high.) 4. Flip the crêpe. When the crêpe has browned slightly on the bottom, carefully work a spatula underneath it and flip. Cook the second side briefly, just to set the batter. Tilt the pan and loosen the crêpe, then slide it onto the cooling rack. 5. Repeat. Continue making crêpes with the rest of the batter, adding more oil as needed to keep the crêpes from sticking. If not eating the crêpes immediately, stack them one on top of the other as they cool. If they seem sticky, place a square of plastic wrap or parchment paper between them. Place the stack in a sealable plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for a few days or in the freezer for a few months. Offer a variety of ways to fill the crepes. Ideas include: Nutella, sliced strawberries and bananas, or even cheese and chives. My favorite version is to sprinkle sugar over it, then squeeze fresh lemon juice of the crepe, fold it into quarters, and eat! Bon appétit! The GiveawayEnter the giveaway HERE!!
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