Thursday, May 19, 2016

KISSED BY A COWBOY by DEBRA CLOPTON

We return to Wishing Springs, Texas with Cassidy Starr. First I have to say I love the name of the town. It reminds me of a quaint little place where everyone knows each other. Cassidy has come to Wishing Springs, Texas to finally claim her inheritance. She loves the town and always had fond memories of the sweet little town. Where else would she want to go to find peace then the town that brought her happiness? Her parents have not been the best role model for her with their numerous divorces and questionable relationships.

Poor Cassidy has felt the sting of divorce herself and now hopes that coming back to her favorite childhood place, she can begin a new life. She is not interested in finding anyone to date and certainly won't be looking for anyone. Oh how many have said those same words only to have to take them back later?

As luck would have it, her next door neighbor is none other than Jarrod Monahan. What are the odds that the boy she loved when she was younger would be living right next door ? Jarrod  helps runs the family ranch among other duties he has in the town. He is a very determined person and soon will have his hands full trying to get Cassidy to give him a chance. Why is Cassidy so determined to keep Jarrod at arms length? Seems someone maybe is protesting to much. Is she playing hard to get ?

The story is sweet and has lots of different characters. They seem to mesh together to tell a great story that compliments the main characters. Jarrod is soon to have trouble at the ranch and it will take all he has to find out who is out to destroy him and the ranch. I loved the little intrigue mixed in the story with an emphasis on romance. There are moments that I found myself laughing at the interaction between Cassidy and  Jarrod.  Will boy get girl? Will Cassidy stop being stubborn long enough to get "KISSED BY A COWBOY?" Fans of Debra Clopton will find this book to be fun, intriguing and full of adventure in this small town atmosphere.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild for an honest review.

An AMISH MARKET by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Kelly Irvin & Vannetta Chapman

The book is a wonderful collection of stories from authors that always deliver a wonderful storyline and keep readers interested till the very last page. I loved each one and thought that each story had great character development as well as lessons we all can learn from.

In Love Birds by Amy Clipston , Ellie and her mother  are still dealing with the shock of losing Seth. Lloyd was best friends with Seth and it is hard on him as well. Ellie has been in love with Lloyd for such a long time, that she yearns to be with him always. Why does  Lloyd think Ellie has betrayed him? Will this keep them apart forever? Can they finally find healing about losing Seth?  The story is about loss, forgiveness and healing. Be sure and grab some tissues as you read this well written story that you won't forget .

A Bid For Love by Kathleen Fuller is a fun read. Ezra is single and has his eyes on the sweet Hannah he buys butter from at the market. How much butter can he possibly buy before she gets suspicious? At an auction a quilt is up for bid. Hannah wants the quilt so bad and keep bidding hoping she will be the highest bidder. Will she get the beautiful quilt? Is there something special about this quilt? Get ready for a little intrigue and maybe a budding romance in this charming story?

Sweeter Than Honey by Kelly Irwin is a great read with wonderful characters that you instantly like. Isabelle has moved with her family  to Bee County, Texas from Tennessee . Will Isabelle have trouble fitting in? Can she make friends and feel apart of the community? What happens when she runs into Will at the Combination store? They each seem to have trouble trusting people , and that makes for a great story of two young people who find their way to forgiveness and trusting.

Love In Store by Vannetta Chapman is an intriguing story surrounded by mystery and  characters that are nice and at times perhaps a little outspoken. I loved Stella so much. She is quick to say what she thinks which doesn't sit well with some people in the town.  There is something very strange going on at the Old Mill and even in the town. David doesn't care much for Stella but working at the same place, he tries to get along with her. As more unexplained things take place , will they be able to work together to solve the mystery? Can they swallow their pride and find peace? It is a great story that I loved and will keep readers glued to their seats.

I loved all the stories in this wonderful collection . Each author has a creative way of writing which makes readers want to grab their books as soon as they are published. You won't be disappointment in this collection as each story flows smoothly and creates an unforgettable time of relaxation and enjoyment as you read this collection.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild for an honest review.
oneplusonefbcover
Purchase your copy here.

About the Book

One Plus One Equals TroubleHumiliated after her broken engagement, Claire Montgomery flees her comfortable life in San Francisco for a teaching position in Pine Creek, Washington, a dot of a town nestled in the rugged Cascade Mountains. She’s determined to succeed—for once in her life—only to discover, upon her arrival, that success will have to be won. Thanks to a school board error, two teachers have been hired.
When scandal forces professor Barrett Clarke from his position, he returns to Pine Creek where his uncle, chairman of the school board, sets forth an irresistible offer: teach one year in return for ranchland. For this would-be rancher, nothing is more tempting than resurrecting his childhood dream, and nothing can deter him from earning that land.
Except perhaps Claire Montgomery. Losing the battle for the classroom means losing the ranchland, but winning may mean losing Claire’s heart.

About the Author

Sondra KraakA native of Washington State, Sondra Kraak grew up playing in the rain, hammering out Chopin at the piano, and running up and down the basketball court. Now settled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children, blogging about spiritual truths, and writing historical romance set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She delights in sharing stories that not only entertain, but nourish the soul. Her debut novel, One Plus One Equals Trouble, was an ACFW Genesis semi-finalist (2015) and the winner of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Unpublished Women’s Fiction Award (2015).

Blog Stops

May 10: cherylbbookblog
May 14: Bigreadersite
May 20: Bukwurmzzz

Giveaway

oneplusonegiveaway
To celebrate her tour, Sondra is doing a special giveaway! Click the link to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/98ca

Monday, May 16, 2016

No Neutral Ground Banner
Purchase your copy here.

About the Book

NNGFrontNo Neutral GroundAfter his father divorces his mother because of her Jewish ancestry, Rafe and the rest of his family flee Germany. As a B-17 navigator, he returns to Europe. On the ocean voyage, he meets Jennie, an artist journeying to Sweden to work with the OSS.
Flying missions against his former homeland arouses emotions that surprise Rafe. Despite being rejected, he is troubled by the destruction of Germany and his heart still cries for his father’s love.
Sweden may be neutral, but it’s full of intrigue. Jennie assists the OSS at the American legation in Sweden. She thought she’d be doing passive, behind-the-scenes work. Instead, she’s pushed into an active role to gain intelligence and frustrate the Germans.
How can Rafe and Jennie succeed in their dangerous roles when they are so conflicted?

About the Author

TerriTerri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. These days she is writing historical fiction, and won the 2013 Writers on the Storm contest and 2013 First Impressions, as well as being a 2012 Genesis finalist. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin. Her research included going for a ride in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor.
Connect with Terri:
www.terriwangard.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorTerriWangard
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/terriwangard/

Blog Stops

May 4:  A Greater Yes
May 6: Mary Hake
May 7: Bigreadersite
May 10: Bukwurmzzz
May 16: Artistic Nobody

Guest Post from Terri Wangard

I hadn’t planned on writing No Neutral GroundFriends and Enemies (book one of the Promise For Tomorrow series) was the WWII story I’d wanted to write, inspired by family history on the German side. Finishing that, I’d started writing a contemporary story set in one of my favorite places, Green Lake, Wisconsin.
At an ACFW conference, I had an appointment to pitch Friends and Enemieswith an editor. She said I’d be likelier to get a contract if I had a series. The Green Lake story got shelved.
What could I write to partner with Friends and Enemies? That stumped me. The German side of the story was my big interest, but another one? No. I had no desire to return to Nazi Germany. My ancestry is three quarters German. All of my forbearers arrived in America before 1900, but it’s still a bitter thought that their homeland spawned such evil.
Germany’s out, so that left me with the other side of Friends and Enemies—the B-17s. I’d chosen the Flying Fortress because of my timeline. In mid-1944, the only American military men in Germany were shot-down airmen. I had plenty of material I hadn’t used in Friends and Enemies, but the plot had to be different. Something other writers hadn’t touched on. Maybe…Sweden?
Who’s familiar with Sweden’s role in World War II?
If American planes got in trouble during their missions and couldn’t make it back to their bases in England, they sought sanctuary in neutral countries. Switzerland is usually the first that comes to mind. Tricia Goyer had already written The Swiss Courier which touches on internees.
But Sweden. I had even visited Sweden. In 1993, my dad and I had gone to Sweden to cover a classic boat show for our magazine, Classic Boating. During a free day, we had wandered around Stockholm and taken lots of pictures.
I started the research and discovered, hmm, there’s not much, especially if you don’t know Swedish. One book I acquired held a eureka moment. A B-17 was damaged and the pilot told the crew to bail out. The navigator hurried to the cockpit and implored him to try to make it to Sweden. He was from Germany, a former member of the Hitler Youth, and he did not want to be captured by his former countrymen. There’s my male protagonist! Rafe discovered he had Jewish ancestry and had to flee Germany. Now he’s back at war with the homeland.
I still needed a female protagonist, and Jennie proved hard to pin down. I was pulling her together throughout the writing. I enjoyed reading accounts of Betty McIntosh, who served with the OSS in the China-Burma-India theater. Why not enlist Jennie’s services with the OSS in Sweden? She’s talented but lacks confidence. Pretty soon, Jennie found her voice.
As my research continued, I made a surprising discovery. One of the photos I’d taken in Stockholm turned out to be the former home of the American legation in Sweden. Jennie’s workplace. And I had thought it was just an example of lovely architecture.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading about Rafe and Jennie in No Neutral Ground.



Review.jpg

I was really looking forward to reading this book because I love the way the author is so detailed in her story. She makes you feel as though you are right there in the midst of the action. Her intricate knowledge of the era makes the story come alive with vivid scenes about World War 2.

Jennie has boarded a ship that will be traveling to Europe. She is making the journey to meet her parents in Sweden. She hopes going to Sweden will keep her family safe from the war that is raging throughout the lands. On the ship also is Rafe who is an American navigator. He is on a mission to rejoin the battle against Hitler.  The brief encounter between Jennie and Rafe was a mutual attraction felt by both. As the ship docks, they each go their separate ways? Will they see each other again? How will these two lives intertwined? Is there danger lurking for them? Will they work together on a project or drift apart from each other?

The story takes us to the battlefield where the author shines in her exceptional description of bombs going off, and airplanes buzzing in the skies with power and determination. Yes I felt like I could look up in the sky and see the planes and hear the thunder of the engine. It is a great story with intrigue, characters that are fierce , and an unforgettable historical novel about World War 2. After  reading this incredible story you will find yourself looking for more books from this inspiring author.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit for an honest review.

Giveaway

No Neutral Ground grand prize