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Singing Librarian Books
  • Home
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  • Contact Me
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      • Bout of Books
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Singing Librarian Books

Adult Blog

A Fragile Hope by Cynthia Ruchti -- Book Tour Review + Giveaway

4/28/2017

About the Book

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Hope grows when seeds are planted—even in the muddy middle of life.
Josiah Chamberlain’s life’s work revolves around repairing other people’s marriages. When his own is threatened by his wife’s unexplained distance, and then threatened further when she’s unexpectedly plunged into an unending fog, Josiah finds his expertise, quick wit and clever quips are no match for a relationship that is clearly broken.
Feeling betrayed, confused, and ill-equipped for a crisis this crippling, he reexamines everything he knows about the fragility of hope and the strength of his faith and love. Love seems to have failed him. Will what’s left of his faith fail him, too? Or will it be the one thing that holds him together and sears through the impenetrable wall that separates them?
GOODREADS | AMAZON--KINDLE & PRINT

About the Author

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Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in hope. She’s the award-winning author of 17 books and a frequent speaker for women’s ministry events. She serves as the Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, where she helps retailers, libraries, and book clubs connect with the authors and books they love. She lives with her husband in Central Wisconsin.
GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTERST | INSTAGRAM | AMAZON | WEBSITE

Review

Cynthia Ruchti’s novels have always captured my attention, but I had yet to read one until I got my hands on a copy of A Fragile Hope.  Wow!  This book is one fantastic and emotional roller coaster.  This story is a powerful and inspiring story about struggling relationships, family, and love.  It is a story that readers will immediately fall in love with, becoming emotionally invested in the lives of the characters, as well as the outcome of the characters throughout the story.  Ruchti has a way of writing that draws readers in as they deeply and easily relate to the characters and circumstances in the story.

Genre: contemporary, Christian
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Publication date: April 4, 2017
Number of pages: 320
 
Content Rating: PG
Book Rating: 5 stars
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A review copy of this book was provided by LitFuse.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Giveaway

Celebrate the release of A Fragile Hope by entering to win Cynthia’s Sign of Hope Giveaway!
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One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A copy of A Fragile Hope
  • A metal wall scripture hanging
Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on May 3. The winner will be announced May 4 on the Litfuse blog.
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First Line Fridays -- 04.28.17 -- My Ridiculous, Romantic Obsessions

4/28/2017
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Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line!

Today I am going to post a line from

My Ridiculous, Romantic Obsessions
by Becca Wilhite

This is a cute and funny story about a girl that thinks she's not good enough or beautiful enough for the boy that likes her.  She's a normal and average kind of girl and he is a romance novel hero, not far off from a Greek God or Mr. Darcy.
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Sarah Howard's first year at the university is everything and nothing she expected especially when a very cute boy named Ben in her Art History class starts to show interest in her.

Sarah feels like she's an average, normal, everyday girl. So, when Ben (to whom she secretly refers as Adonis because she thinks he could be a Greek god) begins to take interest in her, Sarah is in denial. For one thing, last year she was deeply crushed and humiliated by Jesse James a guy who she thought liked her.

She's determined not to get burned again. But in her heart of hearts, what she really wants is a Jane Austen kind of romance. Ridiculous, right? That kind of romance doesn t exist anymore . . . or does it? Sarah is smart and fun to be around and even pretty, despite her Medusa-like red curls. She even plays the guitar. (So does Ben!) Yes, Sarah is everything Ben has wanted. He's crazy for her, but Sarah is just not getting it. She's playing hard to get, and if she s not careful, she s going to lose a real hot gentleman -- her 21st-century Mr. Darcy.
GOODREADS | AMAZON--KINDLE & PRINT
My first line (well... paragraph):

Mom pulls her new toy, a talking GPS directions-thingie up close to her eyes. "Turn right here.  No, here. Sarah, you missed it.  Now Mildred's recalibrating." I swear if I hear the polite , British GPS voice--which , yes, Mom named--tell me one more time that she's recalibrating, I'll chuck her right out the window.
​
​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 | Kathleen Denly
Lauraine's Notes | With a Joyful Noise | A Baker's Perspective | Joy of Reading

(If you’d like to join us on your blog for First Line Fridays, shoot me a message and let me know!)

Chance for Home by Traci Hunter Abramson -- Book Tour Review + Giveaway

4/27/2017
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About the Book

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Beautiful pre-med student Kari Evans believes she’s found the man of her dreams—right up until the moment she discovers he’s a two-timing cheat. Desperately gathering the pieces of her broken heart, she realizes that what she needs most is space to reconsider her future. A summer in Washington, DC, with her professional baseball player brother, Ben, sounds like just the change of scene she’s after. But if complicated romantic entanglements are what she’s trying to escape, she’s out of luck. Ryan Strobel has had it with spotlight-seeking women. As third baseman for the Washington Nationals, he’s dealt with more than his fair share of opportunistic admirers—but his ex-fiancée, Brandi, may be the worst. When the woman refuses to take no for an answer, Ryan’s teammate Ben offers a crazy solution: Ben’s sister will pose as Ryan’s new girlfriend. Though an unlikely pair, Ryan and Kari find themselves getting surprisingly comfortable with the charade. Soon, the line between fact and fiction is blurred, and the very real feelings that develop between the couple are undeniable. But when faced with the interference of conniving exes, family objections, and the reality of their very different lives, are Ryan and Kari destined to strike out in the game of love? 
GOODREADS | AMAZON--KINDLE & PRINT | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK

About the Author

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Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for several years, eventually resigning in order to raise her family. She credits the CIA with giving her a wealth of ideas for suspense novels as well as the skills needed to survive her children's teenage years. She has gone on to write a number of bestselling suspense novels that have consistently been nominated as Whitney Award finalists. She considers shoes an optional accessory which became evident when she won her first three Whitney Awards in 2013 (Code Word), 2014 (Deep Cover), and 2016 (Failsafe.) She currently lives in Virginia with her family where she enjoys sports, travel, writing, and coaching high school swimming.
​GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON | WEBSITE

Review

​Review coming soon...
A print review copy of this book was provided by Covenant Communications. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

April 24th:
http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/
http://rockinbookreviews.com/
https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/
http://www.kindleandme.com/

April 25th:
http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/
http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/
http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/
http://brooklynberrydesigns.com/

April 26th
:
http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/
http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/
http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/
http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/

April 27th
:
http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/
http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/
http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/
http://empowermoms.net/ 
http://www.wishfulendings.com/
http://sweetlymadejustforyou.com/ 

April 28th
:
http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/
http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/
http://justcommonly.blogspot.com/
​
http://www.iamareader.com/ 
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Book Hangover Wednesdays -- 04.26.17 -- No Way Up

4/26/2017
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Today's book hangover is...

No Way Up
by Mary Connealy

This is book one in the Cimarron Legacy Series.  It was my first read my Mary Connealy and I absolutely LOVED it!!!  It is a great historical western romance read!
Check out the other books in the series HERE.

About the Book

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When Cimarron ranch patriarch Chance Boden is caught in an avalanche, the quick actions of hired hand Heath Kincaid save him. Badly injured, Chance demands that his will be read and its conditions be enforced immediately. 
Without anyone else to serve as a witness, Heath is pressed into reading the will. If Justin, Sadie, and Cole Boden don't live and work at home for the entire year, the ranch will go to their low-down cousin Mike. 
Then Heath discovers the avalanche was a murder attempt, and more danger might follow. Deeply involved with the family, Heath's desire to protect Sadie goes far beyond friendship. The danger keeps them close together, and their feelings grow until being apart is the last thing on their minds.
GOODREADS | AMAZON--KINDLE & PRINT

About the Author

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Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist. 
She is the bestselling author of 48 books and novellas. 
Her most recent three book series are: Cimarron Legacy, Wild at Heart, Trouble in Texas, Kincaid Bride for Bethany House Publishing. She’s also written four other series for Barbour Publishing and many novellas and several stand-alone books for multiple publishers. 
Mary will be a published author for ten years in 2017 with nearly a million books in print. She has a degree in broadcast communications with an emphasis in journalism and has worked at her local newspaper.
​GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | AMAZON | WEBSITE

A Snippet from the Book...

Skull Gulch, New Mexico Territory
November 1880


The steep sides of the pass into the canyon pressed down on Heath Kincaid until he could hardly breathe.  Though it was a blustery November day, a sheem of sweat broke out on his forehead.  It surprised him because Heath knew mountains, and he knew tight places.

He rode behind Chance Boden, the owner of this vast land grant, and John Hightree, the foreman of the Cimarron Ranch, and two other men brought up the rear riding single file, their aim to fetch the cattle that had gone in here.  They passed the busted-down gate Chance had put up to keep cattle out of the rugged, grassless canyon.

"That fence was stronger than the backbone of the Rockies."  Chance looked in disgust at the gateposts that just yesterday blocked the entrance.  "That cantankerous bull shouldn't've been able to knock it down."

​What are you currently reading?  What is your most recent book hangover?

Witch (The Restoration Trilogy #3) by Denise Weimer -- Book Tour Review + Giveaway

4/25/2017
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About the Book

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The Restoration Trilogy: When Jennifer Rushmore accepts a brooding bachelor’s job offer to act as coordinator for the restoration of his family’s historic doctor’s house (WHITE), apothecary (WIDOW) and log cabin (WITCH) in a rural Georgia community, little does she know it’s her own heart that will undergo the greatest renovation. Three stories. Three centuries. Three lessons on the healing of the heart. And one buried mystery that threatens their redemption.
WITCH, Book Three: Having restored Michael Johnson’s ancestors’ house and apothecary shop and begun applying the lessons of family and forgiveness unearthed from the past, Jennifer Rushmore expects to complete her first preservation job with the simple relocation of a log home. But as her crew reconstructs the 1787 cabin, home to the first Dunham doctor, attacks on those involved throw suspicion on neighbors and friends alike. And while Jennifer has trusted God and Michael with the pain of her past, it appears Michael’s been keeping his own secrets. Will she use a dream job offer from Savannah as an escape, or will a haunting tale from a Colonial diary convince her to rely on the faithfulness of his love?
GOODREADS | AMAZON--KINDLE & PRINT

About the Author

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DENISE WEIMER holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University. A former magazine writer, she is the author of romantic novella REDEEMING GRACE, The Georgia Gold Series (SAUTEE SHADOWS, THE GRAY DIVIDE, THE CRIMSON BLOOM, and BRIGHT AS GOLD – winner of the 2015 John Esten Cooke Award for outstanding Southern literature) and The Restoration Trilogy (WHITE, WIDOW and WITCH). Denise is a wife and swim mom of two daughters who always pauses for old houses, coffee and chocolate!
​GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON | WEBSITE

Guest Post from Denise Weimer

The first thing I want to tell you about Witch is … it’s not scary! Hang with me, and I’ll share more about the title.
The Restoration Trilogy mixes a unique tonic … the budding of a romance and friendships in a humorous, small-town community, a splash of suspense, and spiritual and emotional healing. Check out the summaries above.
The restoration my parents did on a real life doctor’s house and apothecary shop inspired this series. As I watched them work and learn about the historical line of doctors associated with their property, I realized how much a physical restoration project can mirror the spiritual work God wants to do in each of us. And that’s exactly what happens with Michael and Jennifer, who both conceal areas of brokenness from their pasts. As they come together to restore his family buildings, the stories they uncover about his ancestors reveal truths they need to apply in their own lives:
  • Family connection from the 1920s story of Georgia Pearl as they restore the house (White)
  • Forgiveness from the 1860s story of Charlotte as they restore the apothecary (Widow)
  • Faithfulness from the 1780s story of Verity as they restore the log cabin (Witch)

The title of each novel – and the cover – reflects that struggle of the historical heroine. Eventually each, as well as Michael and Jennifer, learn that only God, the Master Renovator and the Great Physician, can heal their broken places.

So here’s your prescription, should you choose to accept it by entering into this grand prize giveaway!

Grand Prize Gift Basket From Durham Apothecary & Museum: Take from a homemade tea pocket one of the selection of special teas. While brewing thy favorite tea, dispense liberally from the tea cookie tin onto a china plate. Prop up thy feet and commence thy reading journey through a print copy of White, Widow AND Witch! After a goodly time of rest and reflection, take up thy quill (ahem, I mean set of decorative pens) and record pearls of wisdom in thy new journal. When they husband and children begin to grumble, rise with fresh vigor to prepare a meal from Farmer’s Almanac Colonial Cookbook.

Second place prize: an e-book copy of Witch (or any other one book of The Restoration Trilogy)

Review

Witch, book three in the Restoration Trilogy by Denise Weimer is a wonderful story that readers will enjoy.  Along with a bit of suspense, readers will love the historical/contemporary intertwining within the story.  This adds intriguing value to the story as readers contemplate and compare what is taking place in the past to what is taking place in the future.  Weimer smoothly transitions between the past and the present, intensifying the story.  Readers of both contemporary and historical fiction will love this much anticipated third book in the series.  It is well written with plenty of danger and suspense to keep readers involved in the story and wondering what will happen next.
 
Series: The Restoration Trilogy
Genre: contemporary, historical, southern
Publisher: Canterbury House
Publication date: April 1, 2017
Number of pages: 215
 
Content Rating: PG
Book Rating: 5 stars
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Other books in the series:
1-White
2-Widow
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A review copy of this book was provided by CelebrateLit. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away:
A Grand Prize Gift Basket From Durham Apothecary & Museum: Take from a homemade tea pocket one of the selection of special teas. While brewing thy favorite tea, dispense liberally from the tea cookie tin onto a china plate. Prop up thy feet and commence thy reading journey through a print copy of White, Widow AND Witch! After a goodly time of rest and reflection, take up thy quill (ahem, I mean set of decorative pens) and record pearls of wisdom in thy new journal. When thy husband and children begin to grumble, rise with fresh vigor to prepare a meal from Farmer’s Almanac Colonial Cookbook.
Second place prize: an e-book copy of Witch (or any other one book of The Restoration Trilogy)
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! 

Click HERE to enter.

Tour Schedule

​April 18: Inklings and notions
April 19: Eat, Read, Teach, Blog
April 20: Blossoms and Blessings
April 21: Blogging With Carol
April 21: A Greater Yes
April 22: Jeanette’s Thoughts
April 23: A Baker’s Perspective
April 24: Christian Bookaholic
April 25: Ashley’s Bookshelf
April 25: Singing Librarian Books
April 26: Artistic Nobody
April 27: A Room without Books is Empty
April 27: Book Love
April 28: Pause for Tales
April 29: Bigreadersite
April 29: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
April 30: Tell Tale Book Reviews
April 30: Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses
May 1: For The Love of Books
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Chasing Red by Lauren Winder Farnsworth -- Book Tour Review + Giveaway

4/21/2017
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About the Book

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Ryder Redmond can’t wait to begin her new life in New York City, with her first real job after college. But the big city gets a little more complicated once she meets the charming and mysterious Damian Wolfe. On the surface he seems perfect, but her friend Hunter is suspicious of his all-too-straight smile and his motives towards Ryder. With her heart on the line, Ryder will have to decide just how much she trusts the handsome city slicker.
GOODREADS | AMAZON--KINDLE & PRINT

About the Author

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Lauren Winder Farnsworth was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She obtained bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from the University of Utah, went to work as a financial statement auditor, and then decided that since creative accounting wasn't an option, creative writing would have to do. As a nice compromise, accountants tend to crop up in her stories (as she firmly believes they're under-utilized in literature anyway). Having obtained two degrees from the same institution has made Lauren somewhat of a compound collegiate fan, and the only entity that holds more of her heart than the University of Utah is her hunky husband, Bryan. Lauren currently lives in South Jordan, Utah, where she spends entirely too much time watching Gilmore Girls and looking for excuses not to clean.
​GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON | WEBSITE

Review

Sometimes we choose to view things and people not as they are, but as we perceive them.  In fact, sometimes we are blinded by what we want rather than what is the truth.  This is a strong theme in Chasing Red by Lauren Winder Farnsworth.  A fun, engaging, and funny read, Farnsworth draws readers into her Little Red Riding Hood retelling from page one.  The story keeps readers attached and wanting to read more to find out what will happen next in the relationship of the main character Ryder and her boyfriend Damian Wolfe.  A fun and sweet romance, readers will not want to put this exciting read down.

Genre: contemporary, romance, fairytale, retelling, LDS
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Publication date: April 11, 2017
Number of pages: 240
 
Content Rating: PG
Book Rating: 5 stars
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A review copy of this novel was provided by Min Reads and Reviews.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

​April 17th - Katie's Clean Book Collection / Bookworm Lisa
April 18th - Wishful Endings / Getting Your Read On
April 19th - Min Reads and Reviews / My Book a Day
April 20th - Empower Moms / LDS and Lovin It / Mel's Shelves
April 21st - Literary Time Out / Singing Librarian Books
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First Line Fridays -- 04.21.17 -- The Sound of Diamonds

4/21/2017
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Grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line!

Today I am going to post a line from

The Sound of Diamonds
by Rachelle Rea (Cobb)

This is book one of the Steadfast Love series.  It is a fantastic young adult historical romance novel.
Add the books to this series to your GOODREADS TBR pile.
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In Reformation-era England, a converted rogue wants to restore his honor at whatever cost. Running from a tortured past, Dirk Godfrey knows he has only one chance at redemption.
An independent Catholic maiden seeking refuge in the Low Countries finds herself at the center of the Iconoclastic Fury. Jaded by tragedy, Gwyneth's only hope of getting home is to trust the man she hates, and she soon discovers her poor vision is not the only thing that has been blinding her.
But the home Gwyneth knew is not what she once thought. When a dark secret and a twisted plot for power collide in a castle masquerading as a haven, will the saint and the sinner hold to hope...or be overcome?
GOODREADS | AMAZON--KINDLE & PRINT​
My first line:

Leiden, the Low Countries, the Netherlands
23 Autust 1566


A crash shook the nun's cell I had called my own since seeking refuge in my mother's homeland.
​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
Kathleen Denly |
 Lauraine's Notes | With a Joyful Noise | A Baker's Perspective

(If you’d like to join us on your blog for First Line Fridays, shoot me a message and let me know!)

True to You Facebook Party with Author Becky Wade

4/20/2017

Raise your hand if you're ready for Becky Wade's new series! Celebrate the release of book one, True to You, with Becky and other readers on Facebook on May 4th during a fun author chat party at 8:00 PM EDT (that's 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain, & 5:00 Pacific)! Becky will be chatting about the book and answering your questions about the new series, and of course, there will be plenty of fun giveaways too!

Pre-order your copy of True to You so you're ready for a fun book discussion. Find out more about the book here.

Hope to see you on May 4 for Becky's True to You Facebook Party!

Defiance by A. L. Sowards -- Book Tour Review + Giveaway

4/20/2017
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About the Book

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Eight years after immigrating to the United States, German-born Lukas Ley embodies the American dream: successful athlete, gorgeous girlfriend, loving family. But beneath the surface, eighteen-year-old Lukas is driven by ambition, resolved to avenge the murder of his father at the hands of the Nazi regime. Unfortunately, a failed physical throws his plans for flight school off course. Unlike his war-hero older brother, Lukas’s purpose is unclear. He can’t fly, and in the eyes of the military, he’s good for only one thing—the front lines. 

From the foxholes of war-ravaged Luxembourg to the devastation of an enormous German offensive, Lukas’s journey is fraught with peril. But when he’s taken as a prisoner of war, he realizes life is about to get much worse. In the enemy camp, Lukas is viewed as a German fighting for the wrong side. Ripped from the innocence of an idealistic youth, he becomes a man beaten by the horrors of war. Now his only hope of survival is to hold tightly to his faith in God and his love of family and home. But even if he manages to make it out alive, can he ever be whole again?

Sometimes survival is the ultimate act of Defiance.
GOODREADS | AMAZON--KINDLE & PRINT | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK

About the Author

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I was born in Georgia but consider Moses Lake, Washington my hometown. I came to Utah to attend school (BYU) and ended up staying. Books have always been an important part of my life. I remember writing self-illustrated storybooks at my grandparent's house when I was in elementary school (none of those made it to publication for many good reasons) and attending my first writer's conference when I was in third grade.

Now I'm a busy mom with young chidren. I still love to read and I also love to write. I'm usually reading a couple books at once and working on multiple writing projects too. Other than that, my life is pretty ordinary. I'm grateful for that. I'll let the characters in my books have all the adventures.
​GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | AMAZON | WEBSITE

Review

Review coming soon...
A review copy of this novel was provided by Covenant Communications.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

April 17th:
https://atransparentmom.com/
https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/

April 18th:
http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/
http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/
http://rockinbookreviews.com/
http://empowermoms.net/

April 19th
:
http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/
http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/
http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/
http://thethingsilovemost.com/ 

April 20th
:
http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/
http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/
http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/
http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

April 21st:
http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/
​
http://www.wishfulendings.com/
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Reclaimed by Jennifer Rodewald -- Book Tour Spotlight + Giveaway

4/19/2017
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​Genre: Christian, Contemporary
Publisher: Rooted Publishing
Publication date: February 28, 2017
Number of pages: 346

Left wounded by a marriage cut short, Suzanna Wilton leaves city life to take up residency in a tiny Nebraska town. Her introduction to her neighbor Paul Rustin is a disaster. Assuming he’s as underhanded as the other local cowboys she’s already met, Suzanna greets him with sharp hostility.
Though Paul is offended by Suzanna’s unfriendliness, he can’t stop thinking about her, which unsettles his peaceful life. A hard-fought friendship slowly kindles something more, but just as Paul’s kindness begins to melt Suzanna’s frozen heart, a conflict regarding her land escalates in town. Even in the warmth of Paul’s love, resentment keeps a cold grip on her fragile heart. 
Will Suzanna ever find peace?
***2014 Olympia Winner***​
GOODREADS | AMAZON--KINDLE & PRINT
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Jennifer Rodewald is passionate about the Word of God and the powerful vehicle of story. The draw to fiction has tugged hard on her heart since childhood, and when she began pursuing writing she set on stories that reveal the grace of God. 
Jen lives and writes in a lovely speck of a town where she watches with amazement while her children grow up way too fast, gardens, and marvels at God’s mighty hand in everyday life. Four kids and her own personal superman make her home in southwestern Nebraska delightfully chaotic.
She would love to hear from you! Please visit her at https://www.authorjenrodewald.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authorjenrodewald or email her at write2edify@gmail.com.
​GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE
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Check out the author interview HERE.
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​Suzanna felt shock contort her face. Paul Rustin? The neighbor who had been kind to her even when she’d been horrible to him? She studied him, unable to picture him as anything other than the gentleman he’d shown himself to be.
Warmth shaded his complexion crimson. “See, not a very good story, right?”
“Why?”
“Why did I do those things?”
She pressed her lips together, wondering why she pushed him but nodded anyway.
“I don’t really know, Suz. I was just angry, and I’m not even sure why. I didn’t want to live here, I didn’t want to be nothin’, and I couldn’t see anything beyond myself. I didn’t have a real reason.”
“What happened?”
Paul’s eyes softened, and a smile crept over his features again. “I didn’t graduate from Rock Creek—I went to Boys Town in March of my senior year. My grandpa came to Omaha to visit me in April with a proposal. If I studied and got my GED, I could come out and live with them. I would have to work like a ranch hand, but they’d keep me on until I figured out what I wanted to do with my life.
“It wasn’t the out I was looking for. I didn’t want to come back to Rock Creek. I thought, man, give me some money and let me go find a life. But Boys Town wasn’t exactly Park Place, and it didn’t look like I’d be passing GO anytime soon, so I agreed.
“I must have thought it would be like visiting my grandparents when I was a kid. You know, farm breakfast at nine every morning, Grandma always ready with a cookie, and I’d collect eggs or do some trivial chore as a token of work.”
Paul chuckled and rubbed his neck. “Nope. My grandpa meant some w-o-r-k. I stayed in the bunkhouse, which was nothing more than a tin can trailer. If I wanted breakfast, I had to get up at six to eat with them because Grandma had things to do. They paid me what they would have paid a hand, and out of my earnings came the cost of rent, electricity, and food. When I slacked off that winter, my bunkhouse got awful cold because Grandpa didn’t pay me enough to cover both heat and food.”
Suzanna’s eyebrows rose. “Seriously? Your grandpa put you out in the cold?”
He laughed. “Tough love, Suz. I found out later they’d set a threshold on the thermostat of around fifty degrees so the pipes wouldn’t freeze, so it wasn’t as bad as I thought. But it felt awful cold. I hated it. And then… I didn’t.”
He stopped, and Suzanna puckered her eyebrows. His attention wandered toward his place south of hers, and she wondered if the scenes unfolded in his mind as he recounted them.
“It came time for calving, and Grandpa said it was my responsibility.” He rubbed a hand against his jeans, and the apples of his cheeks lifted. That look said it all—he loved his work. “I was so tired, but I knew he’d hold me responsible if something went sour. I wound up with a couple of bucket calves, and somewhere in between the late nights and early mornings while checking heifers and feeding orphans, I found myself. I found who God had made me to be, where I needed and wanted to be. It was right here the whole time.”
Bronco shifted under her, and Suzanna slipped a hand around the saddle horn. Fierce rebellion melted away while Paul fed a few cows?
“As simple as that?”
Paul’s gaze fell on her, his relaxed countenance contradicting his story. He looked toward the spring, then the trees, and finally to the hill rising before them.
“Not simple.” He returned his attention to her. “That’s the short version, but it wasn’t simple. I wrestled everyone, including God, for things I thought I wanted. There was a whole lot of humbling that had to happen before I made peace with life. Pride made me useless; selfishness made me difficult.”
His explanation created more questions than it offered answers. Suzanna longed for answers. His story, his life, looked nothing like hers, sounded nothing like hers, but he had peace.
Peace eluded her. She hadn’t found it in church, not the lasting kind. She hadn’t secured it in sacrifice. It wasn’t in love. Love had made her ache all over again.
Where had Paul found this peace?
“Shall we take the hill, Pickle?” Paul gathered his reins and nodded toward the rise.
The mare perked her head, and Bronco followed. Opportunity slipped away, like the waters that rose from the depths of the earth and tumbled down the creek. Suzanna swallowed, pushing a smile across her lips. At her nod, Paul took the lead.
Peace remained hidden with the secret of Rock Creek.
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