Through the Deep Waters Giveaway!

A past filled with shame can be washed away with a love that conquers all
Born to an unloving prostitute in a popular Chicago brothel, timid seventeen-year-old Dinah Hubley was raised amidst the secrets held in every dark, grimy room of her home. Anxious to escape, Dinah pursues her dream of becoming a Harvey Girl, waiting tables along the railroad in an upscale hotel. But when she finds out she isn’t old enough, her only option is to accept a job as a chambermaid at the Clifton Hotel in Florence, Kansas. Eager to put everything behind her, Dinah feels more worthless than ever, based on a single horrible decision she made to survive.

The Clifton offers a life Dinah has never known, but blinded to the love around her, Dinah remains buried in the shame of her past. When a handsome chicken farmer named Amos Ackerman starts to show interest, Dinah withdraws further, convinced no one could want a sullied woman like her.  Despite his self-consciousness about his handicapped leg and her strange behavior, Amos resolves to show Dinah Christ’s love. But can she ever accept a gift she so desperately needs?

A few months ago I reviewed Through the Deep Waters (read my review here). I absolutely loved it! Now the publisher is letting me have a giveaway for you! Fun, right!?!

The contest starts on July 31, 2014 at 6:00am EST and ends on August 20th, 2014 at 11:59pm. One winner will be chosen at random on August 21st, 2014 and will be alerted by email. Enter by clicking here. And, if you're inclined to do so, please follow my by blog for more reviews and hopefully more giveaways! Good Luck! 

A Match of Wits Review

After his departure from New York two years ago to meet up with his almost-fiance, Zayne Beckett is the last person Agatha Watson wanted to stumble upon in her travels as a reporter with the New York Tribune. Quite pathetically bedraggled, he clearly needs to be taken in hand and sent back East to his family. Although she no longer has feelings for him, Agatha realizes, by hook or by crook, she'll have to be the one to get the obstinate man home.

Zayne has no desire to be taken anywhere and is prepared to drag his heels all the way home. . . until he finds himself slipping back into the familiar banter of his former friendship with Agatha. Once they arrive in New York, Zayne realizes Agatha's determined nose for news has earned her a few enemies, and he hopes to repay her help with some help of his own. When she rebuffs all his attempts to prove himself a knight in shining armor, the lengths to which they'll go to win this battle of wills lead to some memorable antics. 

Everyone else may think them a match, but nothing could be further from the truth--until Agatha finds herself in real trouble. Have these two stubborn, too-smart-for-their-own-good people been meant for each other all along?

Okay first let me just say AHH! (that's a very excited scream, by the way) I could not wait until I got my hands on this book! From the first time I saw both Agatha and Zayne interact in A Change of Fortune I have been waiting and waiting for their story. AND I FINALLY GOT IT!!! AHHH!!! Okay sorry for that I'm back to (somewhat)normal.

A Match of Wits by Jen Turano is the fourth book in the Ladies of Distinction series. I love Jen's books so much and A Match of Wits is definitely not an exception. Agatha and Zayne are the kind of couple that have you just wanting to take them by the shoulders and shake them until they realize how silly they are and admit their love. The humor and good story telling throughout Jen's Ladies of Distinction series is sure to have you hooked from the first page until the very last word. If you have yet to pick up any of her book I suggest you do so as soon as possible, starting with A Change of Fortune. Do it and you won't ever regret it! 

5 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack that is scrumptious!

I got a free review copy of A Match of Wits from Bethany House Publishers in return for my honest review.

When I Fall in Love Review

Hawaii was the last place Grace Christiansen ever imagined she’d vacation, much less fall in love. But when her family surprises her with a cooking retreat in paradise, she is pulled—or maybe yanked—away from her predictable, safe life and thrown headfirst into the adventure of a lifetime.

Max Sharpe may make his living on the ice as a pro hockey player, but he feels most at home in the kitchen. Which is why he lives for the three-week culinary vacation he takes each year in Hawaii. Upon being paired with Grace for a cooking competition, Max finds himself drawn to her passion, confidence, and perseverance. But just when Grace dares to dream of a future beyond her hometown, Max pulls away.

Wrestling with personal demons, Max fights against opening his heart to a love he knows he should never hope for. And as his secrets unfold, Grace is torn between the safe path in front of her and what her heart truly desires. If love means sacrificing her ideal happily ever after, Grace’s faith will face its toughest test yet.

When I Fall in Love is the third book written about the Christiansen Family by Susan May Warren and it was really good. I loved digging even deeper into the Christiansen family and their friends. I especially loved that this book contained Hawaii and cooking, a place I'd love to go and an activity I love to do. 

But while overall I really like this book I also found myself struggling with it. I'm a happily ever after kinda girl, and I mean like FOREVER after, if you get my meaning. I like my boy meets girl, something bad happens, and then everything gets better and I can think that nothing bad ever happens to them again. And yes. I do know that's not true in real life :) And I have read many books where everything doesn't end up completely happy but it's usually something that I can easily fix in my mind. (Yes, I am also that girl who keep writing the story in her head until she is completely satisfied. Don't judge.) But for the life of me I can't think of a simple solution that would satisfy my happily ever after heart. If Susan can do this in the next book/books then she is amazing! 

4 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack that was a tasty treat. 

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House in exchange for an honest review.

A Stillness of Chimes Review

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What if the pain of the past revealed an unknown sacrifice that changes everything?
 
When teacher Laura Gantt comes home to Prospect, Georgia to settle her recently-deceased mother’s household, the last thing she expects to encounter is a swirl of rumors about the father she lost to the lake twelve years ago—that he has reportedly been seen around town. Elliott Gantt’s body was never found and he was presumed dead. 
 
Reeling from the sharp loss of a parent, Laura must now grapple with painful memories surrounding her father’s disappearance and the sense of abandonment she experienced after his death. Life-long friend and former beau Sean Halloran wants nothing more than to protect Laura from the far-fetched stories of Elliott’s resurrection and to care for her, but he has his own reasons, troubling echoes from his childhood, to put Elliott’s disappearance to rest.
 
Working together, Laura and Sean begin to uncover the truth, one mired in the wooded peaks and deep waters of the Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding Prospect. Can they fathom how many secrets the steep hills hold? With surprising facts revealed, will Laura be able to understand the sacrificial choices made that forever changed her life? And can love and a peace with God be rekindled in her heart after so much time has passed?

A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Moseley is a sweetly written book that takes the reader on a amazing journey, full of mystery, sadness, romance, humor, and of course some wonderful southern charm. I found some parts to be a little slow but otherwise A Stillness of Chimes was so worth the time spent reading it. The characters were developed so subtly, each in their own deep way that I would have been hard pressed to not fall in love with them. If you're looking for a book that you don't have to invest any emotion in than this is not for you. But if you want a book that is hard to set down and is filled with amazing characters and a beautiful story I suggest you get this book. 

This is the first of Meg's books that I have read and I look forward to picking up one of her others soon. 

4 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack as sweet as the blackberries I pick from my backyard. 

 I received this book for free fromBlogging for Books for this review.

Stuck Together Review

When a lawman who values order gets stuck with a feisty crusader who likes to stir things up, there's going to be trouble in Texas!

Now that she's settled in town, Tina Cahill is determined to get Broken Wheel's saloon closed for good. To that end, she pickets outside the place every afternoon. Unfortunately, so far no one has paid any attention.

Vince Yates earned the nickname "Invincible Vince" because of his reputation for letting absolutely nothing stop him. But Vince is about to face his biggest challenge yet: his past has just caught up with him. His father, mother, and the sister he didn't know he had show up in Broken Wheel without warning. His father is still a schemer. His mother is showing signs of dementia. And his surprise sister quickly falls for one of Vince's best friends. Vince suddenly has a lot of people depending on him, and Tina doesn't approve of how he's handling any of them.

With nearly every other man in town married off, Vince finds himself stuck with strong-willed Tina over and over again. Of course, Tina is the prettiest woman he's ever seen, so if he could just get her to give up her crazy causes, he might go ahead and propose. But he's got one more surprise coming his way: Tina's picketing at the saloon has revealed a dark secret that could put everyone Vince loves in danger.

Stuck Together is the third and final installment of Mary Connealy's Trouble in Texas Series  and one of my favorites. I have read most of Mary's books  and they seem never disappoint me. I'll start one of her books with high expectations and I always finish with them my expectations far surpassed. 

I loved getting to know the new characters that were introduced and becoming even more familiar with the old.  I loved all of the heroes in this series but I must say that I think Vince is my favorite. Oh, and if you haven't yet I suggest you visit Mary Connealy's blog site  and read Closer Than Brothers the story of how the Regulators came to be and there is even a little bit about Callie and Seth (from Over the Edge) :)

5 out of 5. This Afternoon Snack was nothing like Glynna cooking. (meaning it was amazing) ;)

I got a free review copy of Stuck Together from Bethany House Publishers in return for my honest review.

Seasons of Tomorrow Review

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As love restores Rhoda, a sudden tragedy is the test of faith she never saw coming.

More settled in her heart than ever before, Rhoda Byler feels a newfound confidence living in the Old Order Amish settlement she helped establish in Orchard Bend, Maine. Time has helped to heal the wounds of Rhoda’s recent severed relationship, and she finds that even her unusual gift of profound intuition is less of a burden as she continues to seek God’s wisdom for her future. She is happy to be working alongside the King family and the love of her life as they tend and nurture the settlement’s orchard.

Yet when Leah King’s involvement with Englischer Landon Olson becomes known outside of the Maine community, her disregard of the Ordnung could threaten all the Orchard Bend Amish are building. In the midst of addressing the discord, a shocking tragedy challenges the young settlement like never before, threatening to uproot Rhoda’s peace and the future of everything she holds dear.

When several members of Orchard Bend Farms are displaced, the estranged King brother is called upon to return. Can those who founded the new Amish community in Maine unite Or will the lingering pain of past hurts and present struggles result in the end of their dreams?

Seasons of Tomorrow is the fourth and final book in the Amish Vines and Orchards series by Cindy Woodsmall. As with all her other books Cindy has filled this book series with interesting characters who I find very easy to like. Cindy's way of weaving a story together is something I find simply amazing. The twist and turns of the plot come together in such a natural way that its hard to believe that the events within the book are not real.
Seasons of Tomorrow, or if you haven't read the first three books, the Amish Vines and Orchards series is a perfect way to start off your summer.

5 out of 5. A perfectly Amish Afternoon Snack.

 I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Until I Found You Review

Finding each other was only the beginning . . . 

When Kate Darby swerves off a mountain road to avoid hitting a California condor, she ends up trapped in her car, teetering on the edge of a cliff. Terrified, she breathes a prayer that changes her life.

It's Nick Sheridan who comes to Kate's rescue. Nick is handsome and confident, and he seems to develop a habit of rescuing her, but Kate is in town only until her grandmother recuperates from a stroke. She's not planning to get involved with one of the locals.

Nick is a reformed veteran of life in the fast lane, a new Christian, and a travel writer. When he sees a car dangling on the edge of a cliff, the daredevil in him jumps into action. He doesn't expect to be swept off his feet by the car's occupant. He's made a vow--no dating for a year--but keeping that vow is going to be a lot more difficult now that he's met Kate Darby. . . .

Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin is the first book I have ever read by Victoria and I can now say that it definitely will not be the last. I love the cast of characters in Until I Found You, they are so... human. They have real experiences and real questions and I love the change that I saw in them. This book was a wonderful read and I hope that many people will read it and get as much as I got out of it.

5 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack that was just what I needed.

I got a free review copy of Until I Found You from Bethany House Publishers in return for my honest review.