An Homage to Strong Women of Faith--"Castle on the Rise" by Kristy Cambron--Review

 

Castle on the Rise

By Kristy Cambron
Published by Thomas Nelson 

“Castle on the Rise” by Kristy Cambron is the second book in the “Lost Castle” series.  It ties in with the first book in the series, ”The Lost Castle,” but can easily be read as a standalone.  “Castle on the Rise” takes place mostly in Ireland and involves three separate stories in three different time periods, all centering around one castle.  The time periods are the revolutionary late 1700s, the 1916 Easter Rising and present day.  Ms. Cambron weaves stories of faith, love, family and women rising amidst hard times into a cohesive tale.

My o my!  I barely even took notes for this review because I was so caught up in Ms. Cambron’s beautiful and at times heart-breaking story!  She sweeps readers to the streets of Dublin, to the cozy pubs and the windswept shores of a castle’s ruins and an estate in the Wicklow Mountains!  She is the queen of setting and now I want to visit Ireland.  She also did her research well and I learned a lot about Ireland’s history and its fight for freedom.  It’s so amazing how she can connect such different periods in time so well.  I admit I was a little confused with the events surrounding the Easter Rising in 1916, just because I really knew nothing about it, but it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. 

Ms. Cambron’s stories are so moving and poignant.  Each story features families that are broken in some way; by war, prejudice or the past.  These families must move from hatred to acceptance and forgiveness.  I love especially how the women from each story must pull from a strength they didn’t know they had and rise up amidst very difficult and seemingly impossible situations to establish peace.  They can only do this through faith.  I must warn you to keep a tissue box handy.  This is a story that will resonate with you long after you read it and might even help you in your own story.

Content: I give this book a PG-13 rating.  Some examples of the content are: a woman is pregnant without being married and has been raped; a man is drunk; mentions of alcohol and pubs.

Rating: I give this book 5 stars.

Genre: Christian fiction; Historical; Romance

I want to thank Kristy Cambron, Thomas Nelson and BookLook Bloggers for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

About the Author:

KRISTY CAMBRON is an award-winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling debut The Butterfly and the Violin, and an author of Bible studies, including the Verse Mapping series. She's a Women's Ministry Leader at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY, and a passionate storyteller who travels to speak at events across the country, encouraging women to experience a deeper life in the Word through verse mapping. Her work has been named to Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews' Best Books, RT Reviewers' Choice Awards, and received 2015 & 2017 INSPY Award nominations. Kristy holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing, and has 15 years of experience in education and leadership development for a Fortune-100 Corporation, working with such companies as the Disney Institute, IBM/Kenexa, and Gallup. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, and can probably be bribed with a coconut mocha latte and a good read.

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Review of Cashmere Writing Gloves--Check out Literary Book Gifts for all your Bookish Needs!

 

 

 

I’m so excited to share about this new bookish company I recently discovered!  They are called Literary Book Gifts (https://literarybookgifts.com/).  They reached out to me to do a review of their cashmere writing gloves and of course I said yes! 

The cashmere writing gloves are so nice and well made!  They are perfect for writers or bloggers because they are fingerless.  I love them because I blog and type a lot on my keyboard.  In the winter my hands get cold, so now I can still type and my hands can be super warm and comfortable.  I love that you can choose from a variety of colors (of course I chose pink!).  They are very soft.  You can also use them to stay warm or as an accessory and still use your phone or touch screen.  I love how cute, warm, soft and stylish they are!  I would definitely recommend them to any writer, blogger or fashionista!

Literary Book Gifts has a lot of fun bookish goodies to choose from.  I went ahead and bought myself the Woman’s Emily Dickinson shirt in purple and the Little Women tote in blush (the smallest size).  I love them!  They shipped quickly.  I love that my tote is the perfect size for books and can also be a purse.  It’s great for trips to the library.  The shirt is so cute with a sparrow and words from Dickinson’s poem “Hope is the thing with feathers.”  Be sure to check out their sizing chart before you order and read the details of the product.  My shirt runs small so I ordered a size up.  These products are super cute and bookish, but also very stylish at the same time.  On their website, you can choose from Men’s shirts, Women’s shirts, tote bags and writing gloves.  There are so many books you can choose from to feature on the shirts and totes with a lot of color choices as well!  I think you should definitely check out this wonderful company!  https://literarybookgifts.com/

I want to thank Literary Book Gifts for the complimentary pair of writing gloves for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. #partner #sponsored


All photos are used with permission from Literary Book Gift's website

A Charming Regency--"A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh" by Carolyn Miller--Review

 

 

 

 My Review:

 

“A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh” by Caroline Miller sweeps you away to the windswept shores of Devonshire!  Throw in some romance and danger, and you have a wonderful read!  This is the first book in a new series, entitled “Regency Brides: Daughters of Aynsley,” although some characters from her other books make cameos.

What I especially love about this book are the characters!  They are very well fleshed out—even the side characters.  The main characters, Caroline and Gideon, remind me of Elizabeth and Darcy from “Pride and Prejudice” in some parts, with their roles reversed.  Caroline reminds me of Darcy with her pride and high social standing, while Gideon reminds me more of Elizabeth with a lower social standing and his quips and banter.  It’s great that Gideon wants to make sure Caroline is a believer in Christ before letting himself fall fully in love with her.

I really appreciate the relationship Gideon has with his sister Emma.  She ended up being my favorite character.  I am very happy that the author decided to include a character that had something akin to an autoimmune disease.  Chronic illness is very well represented in Emma’s sweet character and I think it’s something we need to see more of in Christian fiction.  Emma is able to have peace, despite what is going on with her body, because of her faith.  But she does experience fear and worry as well.  The story has a slower pace at times, but I didn’t mind because the amazing characters make up for it.

If you appreciate well-researched Regency with great characters and lots of romance, this book is definitely for you!

Content:  I give this book a PG-13, mostly because it deals with the topic of spousal abuse.  Some examples of the content are:  Mention of a man being drunk; a woman has been beaten and threatened by her husband; a man hits women; the word “devil” is used; a man calls a woman a derogatory name, but it is not written; the book deals with the issue of spousal abuse.

 

Rating: I give this book 4 stars!

 

Genre:  Christian fiction; Romance; Regency; Historical fiction

 

I want to thank Carolyn Miller and Kregal Publications for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.
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About the Author:

 

I'm an Inspirational Regency romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia with my husband and four children. I love reading (especially Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer), music, films, gardens, art, travel and food. I really enjoy creating worlds where flawed people can grow in faith, hope and love. I am represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube agency.

 

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Hope for the Lonely Women--"Girls' Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World" by Sarah, Sally & Joy Clarkson--Review

 

My Review:

 

Do you struggle with loneliness?  Do you need more female friendships in your life?  Do you want to strengthen the friendships you already have?  If you answered any of the above questions with a “yes,” then “Girls’ Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World” by Sarah, Sally & Joy Clarkson, is for you.  Even if you didn’t answer “yes,” this is a great resource and you should check it out!

“Girls’ Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World” by Sarah, Sally & Joy Clarkson is written by a mother and her two daughters.  I like how different sections of the book are told from a different person’s point of view.  I also love the relatable stories from their lives on friendship that they share throughout. 

The authors address the issue of loneliness in today’s world.  Ultimately, Christ heals us of our fundamental loneliness and answers the question, “Am I loveable?”  The Clarksons gave so many practical tips on how to be a good friend, how to make friends and how to strengthen friendships.  I found myself putting the book down multiple times to text or call my friends and apply what I had read.  This book is such a wonderful resource that I highly recommend!

Content:  This is a clean read.

Rating: I give this book 4 stars.

Genre: Christian non-fiction.

I want to thank Tyndale House Publishers and Sarah, Sally & Joy Clarkson for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

About the Authors:

Sally Clarkson is the beloved author of multiple bestselling books, including Own Your Life, The Lifegiving Home with her daughter Sarah, Desperate with Sarah Mae, and most recently, Different with her son Nathan. As a mother of four, she has inspired thousands of women through conferences, resources, and books with Whole Heart Ministries (www.wholeheart.org). She has also advocated relentlessly for the power of motherhood and the influence of home through her Mom Heart conferences (www.momheart.org), speaking to audiences on several continents.
Discipleship and mentoring women to understand how to love God in a more personal way and how to live a satisfying Christian life are threads through all of her messages. Sally encourages many through her blogs, podcasts, and websites. You can find her on her blog at www.sallyclarkson.com. Her popular podcast, At Home with Sally Clarkson and Friends, with over a million downloads, can be found on iTunes and Stitcher. She regularly teaches at conferences and on webcasts, and she participates in international discipleship ministry in venues all over the world.

Joy Clarkson is a lover of God and people, a crafter of words, and a dedicated evangelist for the soul-enriching benefits of teatime. She studied rhetorical communications at Biola University, where she competed on the speech and debate team as a champion of parliamentary debate. She is currently working on her doctorate in theology, imagination, and the arts at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where she enjoys long walks on the shore of the North Sea and visits to tiny fishing villages. She fills her days with academic research, music making, adventuring, and savoring deep conversations with her soul friends. In her spare time, Joy bakes, sings, reads, writes, dabbles in marketing, adores golden retrievers, and drinks too much tea.  https://joyclarkson.com/

Sarah Clarkson loves books, beauty, and imagination, and thinks everyone else should too. She's a published author (The Lifegiving Home, Read for the Heart, Caught Up in a Story) and recent graduate of Oxford University, where she studied theology at Wycliffe Hall. She blogs at sarahclarkson.com and is a regular guest on the podcast At Home with Sally, where she chats about her current reads and imaginative discoveries. She lives in Oxford, England, in a red-doored cottage she shares with her husband, Thomas and their daughter, Lilian.

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"Ladies of Intrigue" by Michelle Griep Blog Tour (Review) & GIVEAWAY!

About the Book

 

Title: Ladies of Intrigue
Author: Michelle Griep
Genre: Christian Historical
Release date: February 2019
Publisher: Barbour

3 Page-Turners Under One Cover from Reader Favorite Michelle Griep!
Can truth and love prevail when no one is as they appear?

The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady
Cornish Coast, 1815
When a prim and proper governess returns to England from abroad, she expects to comfort her dying father—not fall in love with a smuggler. Will Helen Fletcher keep Isaac Seaton’s unusual secret?

The Doctor’s Woman (A Carol Award Winner!)
Dakota Territory, 1862
Emmy Nelson, daughter of a missionary doctor, and Dr. James Clark, city doctor aspiring to teach, find themselves working side by side at Fort Snelling during the Dakota Uprising. That is when the real clash of ideals begins.

A House of Secrets
St. Paul, Minnesota, 1890
Ladies Aide Chairman, Amanda Carston resolves to clean up St. Paul’s ramshackle housing, starting with the worst of the worst: a “haunted” house that’s secretly owned by her beau—a home that’s his only means of helping brothel girls escape from the hands of the city’s most infamous madam.

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Review

“Ladies of Intrigue: 3 Tales of 19th-Century Romance with a Dash of Mystery” by Michelle Griep has been a much anticipated read for me as I love Ms. Grieps’ books!  This particular book is a collection of three of her novellas.  Each novella can be read as a standalone, but you might as well read them all since each one is amazing!

The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady

Fans of “Poldark” will swoon over this novella that takes place on the Cornish Coast and deals with smuggling.  I love the main character, Helen, and her spunk.  She may seem like a fragile governess, but she quickly shows that she has another side to her personality.  I appreciate the moral dilemma that Isaac (our hero) runs into concerning smuggling.  Both characters learn about trusting in God’s provisions.  Isaac needs to try to not enact his own justice but to leave it to God.  Helen learns about surrendering instead of just pretending.  This was my favorite of the novellas because I love the setting and time period.

The Doctor’s Woman

I like the hate-to-love story between the two main characters (Emmy and James) in this novella.  Ms. Griep does a great job with the setting and time period (Dakota territory, 1862).  Emmy and James both let emotion get the better of them at times and run ahead to help, instead of waiting for God to lead.  This often leads to dangerous situations.  The characters learn to believe that God is in control.

A House of Secrets

I really enjoyed the cute romance in this story.  It also has a nice message that the only good opinion we need is God’s and that we are loved by Him.

Content:  Overall, I give this collection a PG rating.  Some examples of the content are: Mention of people cursing, but the word isn’t actually written; mention of ale and drunkards; the word “Sheol” is used; men sing bawdy drinking songs; the words “hell” and “devil” are used; some medical descriptions of blood and gore; Native Americans are referred to as “Injuns;” mention of harlots and brothels (in the 3rd novella).

Rating: I give this book 4 stars!

Genre: Christian fiction; Historical; Novellas; Romance

I want to thank Celebrate Lit, Michelle Griep and Barbour Books for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

About the Author

 

Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She seeks to glorify God in all that she writes—except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager. She resides in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, where she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op. An Anglophile at heart, she runs away to England every chance she gets, under the guise of research. Really, though, she’s eating excessive amounts of scones while rambling around a castle. Michelle is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and MCWG (Minnesota Christian Writers Guild). Keep up with her adventures at her blog “Writer off the Leash” or visit michellegriep.com.

Guest post from Michelle

3 Reasons to Read Historical Fiction

Guest post by Michelle Griep

Believe it or not, some readers snub historical fiction, preferring instead to stick to contemporary reads. Several have good reason to, simply preferring one genre over another. But others have never given historical fiction a try. If you fall into that camp, here are some reasons you should consider reading a tale from the past.

1. Historical fiction books are not as boring as your high school history class.

Does the thought of endless names and dates make you break out into hives? Good news! Historical fiction is a painless way to glean some historic facts without mindless memorization. You can experience a different era and culture vicariously through heroes and heroines that live on the pages of yesteryear.

2. Makes for great conversation.

In a world that prides itself on keeping up with the Kardashians, dare to add a little cultural zest to your next dinner conversation. Reading historical fiction arms you with interesting tidbits of things that’ve happened in years gone by.

3. Because truth is timeless.

Some people yearn to go back to a simpler time. The truth is, though, that the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the historic side of the fence. People have had tough issues to deal with no matter the era. . .but therein lies a great reason to read historical fiction: truth is timeless. Be it ancient, biblical, medieval, Victorian, or anything in between, truth never changes.

In my new release, Ladies of Intrigue, you’ll experience all these things and more. Find out about the smuggling trade in Cornwall in The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady. Learn about the rough and dangerous life on a military fort during the 1860’s in The Doctor’s Woman. Find out why the gilded age wasn’t as glittery as we often think in A House of Secrets.

Don’t be doomed to repeat history. Grab a cup of tea and master it with a great read!

Blog Stops

 

The Avid Reader, February 23

The Power of Words, February 23

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, February 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 23

Blogging With Carol, February 24

Reflections From My Bookshelves, February 24

Jeanette’s Thoughts, February 24

Mary Hake, February 24

Kathleen Denly, February 25

Genesis 5020, February 25

Splashes of Joy, February 25

For the Love of Literature, February 25

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 26

Faery Tales Are Real, February 26

Through the Fire Blogs, February 26

Blossoms and Blessings, February 26

Inspired by fiction, February 27

All-of-a-kind Mom, February 27

Back Porch Reads, February 27

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, February 27

A Baker’s Perspective, February 28

Andy Carmichael, February 28

Stories By Gina, February 28

Emily Yager, March 1

Multifarious, March 1

A Reader’s Brain , March 1

Baker kella, March 1

Bibliophile Reviews, March 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 2

Remembrancy, March 2

Just the Write Escape, March 3

Bigreadersite, March 3

Inspiration Clothesline, March 3

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 4

Vicky Sluiter, March 4

Ashley’s Bookshelf, March 4

Book by Book, March 4

Kat’s Corner Books, March 5

Inklings and notions, March 5

Living Life Free in Christ, March 5

The Morning Chapter, March 5

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 6

Pause for Tales, March 6

Simple Harvest Reads, March 6 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Daysong Reflections, March 6

Texas Book-aholic, March 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 7

Janices book reviews, March 7

A Humble Cup of Lukewarm Tea, March 8

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, March 8

Christian Author, J.E. Grace, March 8

Carpe Diem, March 8

 

Giveaway

 

 

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a free copy of Ladies of Intrigue!!

 

Be sure to comment on blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/da8c/ladies-of-intrigue-celebration-tour-giveaway

An Epic Masterpiece!--The Seamstress by Allison Pittman--Review

 

 

My Review:

 

This book!  I am still thinking about it, its characters and the decisions they made.  That, my friends, is the sign of a well written book (in my opinion). 

“The Seamstress” by Allison Pittman is truly a masterpiece and the story is epic!  Ms. Pittman’s writing is phenomenal.  It is set during the French Revolution, with nods to “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens and “Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo.

 
I love the lessons Ms. Pittman includes on faith and life in general.  She shows through her writing that there are good and bad men—among both the rich and the poor—and all are equal in the eyes of God.  There is a crucial decision that a character must make regarding whether one must be loyal first to God or to one’s country.  I am still thinking about that decision and its implications. 

Bravo, Ms. Pittman for writing such an incredible read that will surely make my “top ten list” for the year!

Content:  This is definitely a more edgy Christian fiction book.  I give it a PG-13 rating.  Some examples of the content are: a man gets drunk a lot; talk of a woman’s figure; mention of alcohol; a woman is called a whore and accused of having too much sex; a man swears, but the word isn’t actually written; there’s a scene leading up to a couple having sex; the word “bastard” is used; a couple that is not married shares the same bed; a man tries to rape a woman; there is gore related to the violence of the Revolution.

Rating: I give this book five stars!

Genre: Christian fiction; Historical; Romance

I want to thank Tyndale House Publishers and Allison Pittman for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.


 

 

About the Author:

I'm a writer, a teacher, a speaker, a wife, and a mom. 

 

Not necessarily in that order!

 

To visit the author's website click here

To purchase the book click here

An Adventure the Whole Family Will Love!--"The Warrior Maiden" by Melanie Dickerson--Review

“The Warrior Maiden” by Melanie Dickerson has it all!  Action, adventure, romance, faith and girl power!  This is a Mulan retelling that takes place primarily in medieval Lithuania and Poland.  I love this time period and Ms. Dickerson does a wonderful job incorporating the culture of the time into her story. 

I really love the main character in this story, Mulan.  She is a kick-butt heroine, but she’s also not obnoxious and in your face.  I love how she grows personally throughout the story and in her relationship with God.  She learns that God can indeed be trusted.  Mulan gives credit to God for her abilities and victories and knows that God made her brave and fierce for a purpose.  I also love the romance with Wolfgang. 

During this time period, it is seen as witchcraft when a woman fights or dresses as a man.  This story stresses seeing women as an equal.  I love all the ways Mulan is able to prove herself and show that she is often just as capable as a man.

Mulan’s story really touched me, because as Christians, God calls us to be warriors for Him.  Sometimes we have to do brave and hard things.  It really inspired me to step out and trust that God will help me.

This is a wonderful book that is appropriate and entertaining for the whole family! 

Content: This is a clean read with some minor content.  I give it a PG rating.  Some examples of the content are: mention of alcohol and a person being drunk; allusion to a woman’s chest; a child is born out of wedlock and a man has a mistress; mention of the devil; innuendos.

Rating: I give this book 5 stars!

Genre: Christian fiction; Fairy tale retelling; Romance

I want to thank Melanie Dickerson and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.






About the Author:

Melanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author who combines her love for history, adventure, and romance. Her books have won a Christy Award, two Maggie Awards, The National Reader’s Choice Award, the Christian Retailing’s Best Award, the Book Buyer’s Best Award, the Golden Quill, and the Carol Award. She earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from The University of Alabama and has taught children and adults in the U.S., Germany, and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing stories of love and adventure near Huntsville, Alabama.

To visit the author's website click here
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