Posts Tagged: book reviews

The Author Reads – Book Review of ‘Solomon’s Porch’ by Janet Morris Grimes

Posted February 14, 2022 | Christy Hoss

This Post Includes:

  1. About the book
  2. My review
  3. About the author
  4. More from Janet
  5. Blog Stops
  6. Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Solomon’s Porch

Author: Janet Morris Grimes

Genre: Christian Mystery/Suspense

Release date: August 10, 2021

Time.

Solomon is running out of it.

A broken and forgotten man fighting the demons of dementia, he longs for the past when both he and his beloved military town of Ginger Ridge once thrived.

When his stooped body collides with the hardened realities of the present, Solomon lies in a coma as an unidentifiable victim of a hit-and-run accident in a faraway city.

With nothing to keep him going but flashbacks of relationships from his past, Solomon has no idea what a difference he will make on the future …

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

Solomon’s Porch is an excellent read and has come at a timely place in my life.

My mom is in her last moments on this earth with dementia. Solomon’s struggle gives me fictional insight into what a person with dementia might feel and has helped me understand my mother’s struggle.

You will laugh. You will cry. Your emotions will ride a roller coaster, but you will love every minute of this craftily written novel. Janet Morris Grimes is a gifted writer and I look forward to reading more from her.

About the Author

Janet Morris Grimes may not have realized she was a writer at the time, but her earliest childhood memories were spent creating fairy-tale stories of the father she never knew. That desire to connect with the mysterious man in a treasured photograph gave her a deep love for the endless possibilities of a healing and everlasting story.

A wife of one, mother of three, and Tootsie to four, she currently writes from her quiet two-acre corner near Louisville, Kentucky. She’s spent the last few years preparing to introduce her novels and children’s stories to the world.

More from Janet

I’d have to say my inspiration for the character of Solomon Thomas came from my precious father-in-law. When we lost him almost ten years ago, we were inundated with countless stories of simple, behind-the-scenes acts of kindness he offered over many decades. I’m not sure he realized what a difference he made in the lives of others.

The same is true for my main character, Solomon Thomas. He comes from such a place of deep tragedy. Once he lost everything, he had nothing left to offer but himself. So he did.

There are many themes running throughout this story. A lost sense of home. Running out of time. Redemption and second chances. But more than this, connection and community. Sometimes, we are so trapped by our own brokenness, we don’t know how to let others in. But what if we did?

Solomon learned to do just that. Show up for people, and let them into his world as well. And over time, it was enough to breathe new life into his beloved town of Ginger Ridge.

What happens next? Solomon deserves a sequel, so I’ll be working on that very soon.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 10

Rebecca Tews, February 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 12

A Reader’s Brain, February 13

Texas Book-aholic, February 14

The Author Reads (Christy Hoss’s blog), February 14

Inklings and notions, February 15

For Him and My Family, February 16

Blogging With Carol, February 17

Deb’s Book Review, February 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 18

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 19

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 20

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 21 (Spotlight)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 21

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, February 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Janet is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card, a Solomon newsboy cap, and a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter.

The Author Reads – Book Review of ‘Marriage Conversations’ by Cathy Krafve

Posted January 17, 2022 | Christy Hoss

This post includes:

  1. About the book
  2. My review
  3. About the author
  4. More from Cathy
  5. Blog Stops
  6. Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Marriage Conversations

Author: Cathy Krafve

Genre: Nonfiction

Release date: February 7, 2021

Are you cherishing a marriage that’s off the charts? Or co-existing in a fragile one?

What we all really want is intimacy and tingling excitement. Is true love just a fairy tale? Or can life-long companionship be a reality? You bet it can! Author Cathy Krafve shares the personal stories and conversations she first created to help inspire success for her own kids’ marriages.

Marriage entails serious communication. So, we turn to the Master Communicator for strategies to soften hearts and strengthen resolve. Cathy will help you…

  • Initiate practical, foundational truths.
  • Replace magical thinking with rock solid miraculous biblical truths.
  • Understand why we get married in the first place.
  • Invigorate your closest relationship.

For instance, learn the no-fail trick for changing an argument back into a conversation.

Inspire the delightful results your heart is craving.

Go from blah to breathtaking!

Click here to get your copy

My Thoughts

Cathy Krafve is the queen of conversation, so it makes sense for her to title her book Marriage Conversations.

The stories and scriptures are encouraging and uplifting, addressing practical and deep issues that are hard to talk about. Krafve writes with sincerity and humor in a balanced mix.

This book should be read by both husbands and wives alike. It is not a book about fixing your marriage, but it will definitely help to get hard conversations started.

I’ve been following Krafve since meeting her at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference a few years back and if you like her book, I recommend contacting her to start up a heart-to-heart dialogue. She’s a gifted listener.

About the Author

Queen of Fun and Coffee Cup Philosopher, Cathy Primer Krafve delivers creativity and encouragement on every page.

She understands companionship begins with authentic conversation. With journalistic fervor and a knack for laughter and story-telling, Cathy puts a snappy spin on deeply spiritual truths.

Host of Fireside Talk Radio, her weekly blogs and podcasts reach over 2 million listeners and readers annually. Her audiences learn to leverage compassion and courage in order to engage in two-way conversational adventures.

Join the Fireside Tribe as we create life so beautiful in its imperfection generations after us will be retelling our stories with joy and laughter.

Truth with a Texas twang spoken here!

More from Cathy

From Blah to Breathtaking!

Why does conversation at home have to be so hard? What makes it hard? How do you keep hanging in there when it’s tough?

“So, Dave and I slogged ahead. Yuck. Like trudging through a chilly winter night in clumsy snow boots, we were determined to survive,” reports Author Cathy Krafve.

Then, they began to talk a little more openly to their closest friends. Yep, they were desperate. Interestingly, they discovered marriage conversations were a problem for a bunch of their friends, too.

Lo and behold, communicating turned out to pretty much be a universal challenge!

“We picked up tons of new communication skills,” she adds, laughing, “Good thing, too, since we really NEEDED new skills!”

What can we change at home to train ourselves and our kiddos to have terrific conversations? Each chapter of Marriage Conversations offers great ideas you can try out at your house. Here are a few chapters:

  • Negotiating like an Oil Tycoon
  • Creating a Personal Etiquette
  • Only Keeping What We Give Away
  • Asking Power Questions
  • Understanding Fellowship as the Best Foreplay

Queen of Fun and Coffee Cup Philosopher, Cathy delivers creativity and encouragement on every page of Marriage Conversations: from co-existing to cherished.

While it’s the perfect book for your book club, Bible Study, or Sunday school class, Cathy has a more, ahem, intimate suggestion. Read it out loud with your spouse.

“What’s really great is the number of men who tell me they read it with their wife! Passing it back and forth. Wow! That’s genius,” she reports. “Truthfully, though, when guys tell me it’s the funniest book they’ve ever read, I assume it’s the only marriage book they’ve ever read!”

Each chapter ends with thought-provoking questions, personal applications, and prayer.

So, how things are with Dave and Cathy now?

Fair question.

“We still have arguments occasionally, maybe once a year. In some ways maybe it’s worse because it doesn’t happen very often. I get real panicky, like, Oh no! We’re falling back into our bad habits,” she confesses.

But she adds they now know how to get into a better conversation place quickly. Also, they intentionally cherish each other. So that’s really made a difference.

“But one thing I want people to know; this book is not about how to do it yourself. This book is about how I messed up. And here’s what I learned from my mistakes. If you want some good ideas, here are the things that worked for us,” says Cathy.

Tons and tons of good ideas. Anything she could get her hands on.

“Because I was originally writing for my children,” she explains. “So, I didn’t hold anything back. I don’t think anyone will feel preached at. I’m pretty sure reading friends will think, Okay this woman has been in the trenches. She gets it.”

Cathy is known for putting a snappy spin on deeply spiritual truths. She writes with journalistic fervor and a knack for laughter and story-telling.

Companionship begins with authentic conversations. How do we go from co-existing to cherished? Cathy understands good communication tools can change everything! Order two copies today; one for yourself and one to share with a friend!

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 11

Texas Book-aholic, January 12

Inklings and notions, January 13

For Him and My Family, January 14

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, January 15

deb’s Book Review, January 16

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, January 17

The Author Reads (Christy Hoss’s blog), January 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 18

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, January 19 (Spotlight)

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, January 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 21

A Baker’s Perspective, January 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, January 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 23

Simple Harvest Reads, January 24 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cathy is giving away the grand prize package of a $100 Amazon gift card and a copy of both The Well and Marriage Conversations!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter.

The Author Reads – Book Review of ‘Saving Mrs. Roosevelt’ by Candice Sue Patterson

Posted December 27, 2021 | Christy Hoss
Saving Mrs. Roosevelt banner

Saving Mrs. Roosevelt banner

This post includes:

  1. About the book
  2. My review
  3. About the author
  4. Main Blueberry Pie recipe
  5. Blog Stops
  6. Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Saving Mrs. Roosevelt

Author: Candice Sue Patterson

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical/Adventure

Release date: December, 2021

Saving Mrs. RooseveltShirley Davenport is as much a patriot as her four brothers. She, too, wants to aid her country in the war efforts, but opportunities for women are limited. When her best friend Joan informs her that the Coast Guard has opened a new branch for single women, they both enlist in the SPARs, ready to help protect the home front.

Training is rigorous, and Shirley is disappointed that she and Joan are sent to separate training camps. At the end of basic training, Captain Webber commends her efforts and commissions her home to Maine under the ruse of a dishonorable discharge to help uncover a plot against the First Lady.

Shirley soon discovers nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust? Why do the people she loves want to harm the First Lady? With the help of Captain Webber, it’s a race against time to save Mrs. Roosevelt and remain alive.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

I absolutely LOVE this book!

This historical romance takes us back to simpler-yet-harder times. Simpler times when men and women respected romance and didn’t jump into relationships but gave them careful thought and consideration. Harder times because the story is set in WWII where segregation is a problem despite minority patriotism and participation in war efforts.

As a reader, you’ll be swept into a time of struggle and triumph while being wrapped up in a conspiracy to kill the president’s wife and other dastardly deeds that happen during war.

Candice Sue Patterson writes us directly into that era so perfectly that you’ll be transported in time to follow the newly appointed company of single women called the SPARS (a division of the Coast Guard), and feel like you are walking in their shoes and boots through all kinds of weather.

You’ll also feel the spark of forbidden romance and you can bet the officer is a gentleman.

All in all, this is an awesome read that I couldn’t put down and after reading it on my Kindle, I bought the hard copy as a Christmas gift for my mother-in-law, who enjoys a good read and lived through that era.

Candice Sue Patterson is a gifted writer, drawing me into the read from page one to the end.

I’m looking forward to reading more from the Heroines of World War II.

About the Author

Candice Sue Patterson studied at the Institute of Children’s Literature and is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she’s not tending to her chickens, splitting wood, or decorating cakes, she’s working on a new story.

Candice writes Modern Vintage Romance—where the past and present collide with faith. Her debut novel, How to Charm a Beekeeper’s Heart, was a 2012 ACFW First Impressions finalist and made INSPYs Longlist for 2016.

More from Candice

The idea for Saving Mrs. Roosevelt literally came overnight. I had just finished writing a contemporary romance set in Maine, centered around a harbor town where lobstering is prevalent. My agent called me and told me about the Heroines of WWII series and asked if I’d be interested in writing a WWII novel. If so, I needed to come up with a story and proposal fast because spots were limited and filling quickly.

My mind was so consumed with research of the lobster industry that I felt I couldn’t clear my brain fast enough to come up with another story on such short notice. That’s when I started wondering how I could take the knowledge I already had and make it work for a WWII novel. I googled Maine during WWII, came across an article that mentioned the SPARs, and the idea for Saving Mrs. Roosevelt was born.

I don’t want to give too much away, but the Nancy Drew deep inside me figured out a unique way to merge lobstering with espionage.

Though the plot is purely fiction, there are some characters and events that are historically accurate that were fun to include as well. I love Maine, but I’m Hoosier born and raised, and in my SPAR research, I discovered that Dorothy C. Stratton–the woman the Coast Guard asked to direct the SPARs–was the Dean of Women at Purdue University in Indiana. She was a woman of true character, grace, and strength. I knew right away she needed a cameo in my story.

Within twenty-four hours of receiving my agent’s call, I had plotted the entire story and sent a proposal. Weeks went by, and as fall ushered in its beautiful colors, my husband surprised me with a trip to Monhegan Island, Maine. We walked the trails, ate amazing seafood, and took in the gorgeous view.

While on the island, my agent called again, this time to let me know that Barbour had contracted Saving Mrs. Roosevelt. What a special moment it was to be standing on the very shoreline where the book is set when I received the good news.

Since the book is set in Maine where the heroine works on a lobster boat with her father, I wanted to share my favorite recipe for Maine blueberry pie.

Maine Blueberry Pie

Ingredients:

2 pie crusts

1 quart of fresh Maine blueberries

1 ½ tbsp lemon juice

Freshly grated nutmeg

¼ c light brown sugar

¼ c white sugar

¼ c flour

2 tbsp tapioca for thickening (if the berries are juicy)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Place the berries into a large bowl, add lemon juice, and toss.

Add the remaining ingredients and toss until the berries are well coated with the flour and sugars mixture.

Line the pie plate with one crust. Put the berries into the pie plate and top with a solid or lattice-top crust.

Bake for 35-40 minutes until the berries are bubbly and the crust is golden brown.

Blog Stops

Where Faith and Books Meet, December 15

Girls in White Dresses, December 15

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 15

Remembrancy, December 16

Bigreadersite, December 16

Genesis 5020, December 16

Lighthouse Academy, December 17 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

lakesidelivingsite, December 17

The Sacred Line, December 17

Betti Mace, December 18

Boondock Ramblings, December 18

Inklings and notions, December 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 19

Older & Smarter?, December 20

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 20

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 20 (Spotlight)

Texas Book-aholic, December 21

Blossoms and Blessings, December 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 22

Through the Fire Blogs, December 22

Mary Hake, December 22

For Him and My Family, December 23

Spoken from the Heart, December 23

Labor Not in Vain, December 23

She Lives To Read, December 24

Elly Gilbert, December 24

Splashes of Joy, December 25

Pause for Tales, December 25

deb’s Book Review, December 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 26

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, December 26

Connie’s History Classroom, December 27

To Everything There Is A Season, December 27

The Author Reads (Christy Hoss’s blog) December 27

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 28

Southern Gal Loves to Read, December 28

Lights in a Dark World, December 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Candace is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click here to enter.

The Author Reads – Book Review of ‘Exposing the Spiritual Roots of Diabetes’ by Dr. Henry W. Wright

Posted December 13, 2021 | Christy Hoss

This post includes:

  1. About the book
  2. My review
  3. About the author
  4. Blog Stops
  5. Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Exposing the Spiritual Roots of Diabetes

Author: Dr. Henry W. Wright

Genre: BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / Healing/Prayer & Spiritual/HEALTH & FITNESS / Diseases/Diabetes

Release date: December 7, 2021

A Pathway of Healing

Are you in a battle with type 1 or type 2 diabetes? Did you know that over 30 million Americans suffer from diabetes (90 percent of them with type 2) and the ill effects it can cause their bodies?

This disease has become a plague in our anxiety-filled and often overweight society. Thankfully, God created the human body, and He has a unique and loving plan for your health. You can discover principles for moving from your illness to His pathway of healing.

Exposing the Spiritual Roots of Diabetes reveals the unseen forces that trigger disease from within and how we can overcome them. Dr. Henry Wright’s teachings, based on medical findings and powerful biblical truths, affirm that it is God’s will for you to be healthy and whole—in your spirit, soul, and body.

If you think you’ve read all you need to know about healing and disease prevention, it’s time to take another look!

Click here to get your copy.

My Thoughts

Living with type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes for 32 years, this title caught my eye. As a Christian, I am always hungry for spiritual growth books and this was a natural choice for me, connecting on a personal level.

This book was published after Dr. Wright’s passing in November 2019 to continue his ministry to those who struggle with medical issues and help lead them to better health. Dr. Wright examines how our health stems from within at the spirit, soul, and body level, arguing that chronic diseases have a ‘root’ cause in our spirits. He takes it all the way back to original sin.

This book is not a cure-all for chronic diseases but gives insight into the possible causes leading back to our thought patterns and how the brain relates to them.

Is it possible to repent and train our brains to better health?

That is a personal determination you will have to make for yourself. I found this book helpful in only one way, identifying what I had already determined, that my body attacked itself, destroying my pancreas.

Good health is a personal choice made wholly in body, mind, and soul.

I received a pdf copy of the book in exchange for my review.

About the Author

Dr. Henry W. Wright (1944–2019) was the president and founder of Be in Health Global. He was exposed to the power of God’s healing at an early age when his mother was miraculously cured of terminal cancer and a fatal tumor that was wrapped around her jugular vein.

Wright was committed to the belief that human problems are fundamentally spiritual, with associated physical and psychological manifestations. With his insights into the medical as well as the spiritual aspects of disease, he brought a fresh perspective to the process of ministering to the sick.

He presented conferences worldwide and across broad denominational lines for over twenty-five years and was a frequent guest on many well-known television and radio programs. Be in Health continues to carry on Dr. Wright’s vision and ministry, hosting the world-renowned For My Life Retreats in Thomaston, Georgia.

More from Whitaker House

This book reveals the unseen forces that trigger disease from within and how we can overcome them. Dr. Henry Wright’s teachings, based on medical findings and powerful biblical truths, affirm that it is God’s will for you to be healthy and whole—in your spirit, soul, and body. If you think you’ve read all you need to know about healing, it’s time to take another look!

Blog Stops

Daysong Reflections, December 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 8

Texas Book-aholic, December 9

Deb’s Book Review, December 10

Inklings and notions, December 11

For Him and My Family, December 12

Artistic Nobody, December 13 (Spotlight)

The Author Reads (Christy Hoss’s blog), December 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 14

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 15

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 16

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 17 (Spotlight)

Cats in the Cradle Blog, December 17

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 20

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Whitaker House is giving away the grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click here to enter

The Author Reads – Book Review of ‘Stormy,’ The Weather Girls Series, Book Two, by Jennifer Lynn Cary

Posted October 30, 2021 | Christy Hoss

This post includes:

  1. About the book
  2. My review
  3. About the author
  4. More from Jennifer Lynn
  5. Blog Stops
  6. Giveaway

Book: The Weather Girls: Stormy

Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: October 4, 2021

She doesn’t want to talk about it…

…He has no idea what he said.

Will these two ever learn to communicate?

Stormy is usually a people person but when her temper flares, it’s obvious she was aptly named. And now her ire has been piqued. Watch out world.

All but the cardinal are giving her space.

Rob is usually the smartest guy in the room, but when he forgot to think about his words, he turned loose a tornado. Now he’s dealing with the aftermath and praying there’s still enough love to save amidst the debris.

How can he convince Stormy they belong together? Could this be the perfect moment for another person to step in?

Or will the cardinal in the sycamore tree prove Rob’s case?

Return to 1970 Indiana with Stormy, the second book in The Weather Girls series for Women’s Lib, drive-ins, and Christian family values.

You will enjoy Stormy because everyone knows that sometimes you’ve just got to shake things up a bit.

My Thoughts…

Stormy picks up where the first book in The Weather Girls series left off. However, if you were to read them out of sequence, you won’t miss a thing. The author does a great job of keeping the reader up-to-date on prior events.

Main character, Stormy, rides an emotional roller coaster through the entire book, having been separated from her husband for several months. Add to the mix an out-of-control former co-worker relentlessly chasing Stormy’s husband.

Stormy doesn’t always make the right choices, truly living up to her name.

Despite setbacks in their blossoming wedding event business, the Weather Girls prevail through every kind of hardship due to their faith and a wonderful Gramma. Surprises abound throughout this tale, making for another page-tuner by Jennifer Lynn Cary.

I enjoyed reading this tale of the second sister and look forward to reading the third book in the series about the third sister, Windy.

I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the Author

Jennifer Lynn Cary likes to say you can take the girl out of Indiana, but you can’t take the Hoosier out of the girl. Now transplanted to the Arizona desert, this direct descendant of Davy Crockett and her husband of forty years enjoy time with family where she shares tales of her small town heritage and family legacies with their grandchildren.

She is the author of The Crockett Chronicles series and The Relentless series as well as the stand-alone novella Tales of the Hob Nob Annex Café and her recent split-time novel The Traveling Prayer Shawl.

More from Jennifer Lynn

What were you doing in 1970? Were you even around? It’s funny how for some that year is crystal clear in their memory and for some it’s chapter out of a history book.

I remember having lunch with a literary agent who’d been a guest speaker for a writer’s conference I attended. He mentioned that it was strange to him that now 1974 was considered historical. Worse, for me, it was the year I was graduated from high school! Talk about making one feel old.

And yet there’s so many wonderful things about setting a story in the late 60s- to early 70s.

The research is amazing—TV broadcasts, the music, fashions, events—all that is easily assessable on the internet. Plus, want some firsthand anecdotes? Plenty of people around to share their memories.

Unlike going back to Colonial, or Victorian, or Civil War eras, this was easy. Sort of. Or overwhelming with so much to choose from. Ha!

So, with Stormy, the second book in The Weather Girls trilogy, I touched on how the Women’s Movement of the day might have and an effect. There was a lot of rethinking of the male and female roles, a shifting of the paradigm. Should he open her door? Should she let him? When was it okay to think traditionally and when did you need to consider your partner might not like a traditional role? The ERA movement was a BIG deal back then.

So, even if you don’t remember it, I hope you will have fun going back to 1970 Kokomo with Stormy and me. I look forward to seeing you there. 😉

Abundant blessings!

Blog Stops for The Weather Girls: Stormy

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 29

Blogging With Carol, October 29

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 30

The Author Reads (Christy Hoss’s blog), October 30

Pause for Tales, October 31

Vicky Sluiter, November 1

Connect in Fiction, November 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 3

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 4

Texas Book-aholic, November 5

Inklings and Notions, November 6

Connie’s History Classroom, November 7

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 7

Deb’s Book Review, November 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 9

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, November 9

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 10

Batya’s Bits, November 11

For Him and My Family, November 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon card with a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click here to enter.

 

The Author Reads – Book Review of ‘Sunny,’ The Weather Girls Series, Book One, by Jennifer Lynn Cary

Posted October 10, 2021 | Christy Hoss

This post includes:

  1. About the book
  2. My review
  3. About the author
  4. More from Jennifer Lynn
  5. Blog Stops
  6. Giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Weather Girls: Sunny

Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: September 6, 2021

She got stood up on Valentine’s Day…

…Then she lost her job

Could the legend of the cardinal change her luck?

With a disposition as bright as her name, Sunny shakes it off the worst day of her life and makes a new start. She’s got the brains that it takes, but she’s more than a little scared. It’s not just her reputation on the line.

Would this cockeyed adventure be the thing her siblings need too?

Pat only wants peace in the family and never dreamed doing a favor for his sister could drop him into so much hot water. Torn between what he’s always wanted and what is staring him in the face, someone is bound to get hurt.

Odds are it will be him.

But then, only the cardinal knows for sure.

Return to 1970 Indiana with Sunny, the first book in The Weather Girls series—get into the miniskirts, bell-bottoms, and Christian family values.

You’ll love Sunny for the music, the fashions, and the hilarious antics, because who can resist a romantic trip down memory lane?

Click here to get your copy!

In My Opinion…

I chose this book as if I was in a bookstore, only I did it virtually.

First, I picked it for its whimsical cover that drew me in.

Second, I chose it because of the back cover copy.

Third, I read the first chapter and I was hooked.

Personally, I don’t like surprises and the main character, Sunny, gets smacked in the face almost immediately with a life-altering one. If I could crawl inside the pages of this story and hug her, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so.

This story is set in a decade I grew up in, so I became very nostalgic reading the details and loving every trip down memory lane. Jennifer Lynn Cary does an excellent job of landing us in the early 70s and makes her characters likeable and dislikeable.

As the story progresses, I fell in love with Gramma and how she takes care of the three siblings, Sunny, Stormy and Windy, all in a season of unexpected change.

The girls bond together and prove the power of family and the power of love as they create the perfect destination wedding platform in an old Victorian home, despite their personal challenges. I’m so emotionally invested in these girls that I can’t wait for the next book.

I received a copy of this book for free via ebook for the Celebratelit.com book tour.

About the Author

Jennifer Lynn Cary likes to say you can take the girl out of Indiana, but you can’t take the Hoosier out of the girl. Now transplanted to the Arizona desert, this direct descendant of Davy Crockett and her husband of forty years enjoy time with family where she shares tales of her small town heritage and family legacies with their grandchildren.

She is the author of The Crockett Chronicles series and The Relentless series as well as the stand-alone novella Tales of the Hob Nob Annex Café and her recent split-time novel The Traveling Prayer Shawl.

More from Jennifer Lynn

I was born in the 50s, grew up in the 60s and 70s, and married in 1980. I relate to K.T. Oslin’s song “80’s Ladies” a little too well. 😉

Though we moved from Kokomo, Indiana in 1972, it always will be my hometown.

A few years ago my sister headed up a plan to have an annual Cousin’s Reunion in Kokomo. Two cousins came from Ohio and my sister and I came from the west to converge on our family who still call Kokomo home. Each trip back reminded me of how much I loved growing up there.

One day Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny” came on the Oldies station and caught my attention. Then I remembered the songs “Stormy” and “Windy” and wondered what it might be like for girls with that sort of name—especially if their surname was Day. Would their dispositions match their names? Why would their parents give them those names? The questions kept coming and I fell in love with the whole storyline.

The best part was putting the house I grew up in into the book(s). Yep, as you read the story, Hazel Day’s house is set up mostly like the one where I grew up only I added a den and an extra bedroom upstairs.

Ferguson House is based on the Seiberling Mansion—I love that place and tour it every chance I can when I get back to Kokomo. It’s amazing.

I also included favorite landmarks. Scotty’s Drive-In saw a lot of me in my early teen years. Great for grabbing a coke and not that far from either school or home.

The funny thing about memories is that they can blur and morph over time. Thankfully someone from my hometown has put together a Facebook page where I can ask questions and get more than enough answers.

Many locales I remember no longer exist, so writing about them helps them live on.

I hope you will check out Sunny and 1970 Kokomo and come back for the rest of The Weather Girls trilogy.

Abundant blessings!

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Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon card with signed copy of the book!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click this link to enter.

The Author Reads – Mrs. Oswald Chambers (The Woman Behind the World’s Best-Selling Devotional)

Posted September 27, 2021 | Christy Hoss
Mrs. Oswald Chambers

Mrs. Oswald ChambersWelcome to the first installment of The Author Reads, Book Reviews.

One of my newest and most fun jobs is to review books.

For my first choice I am featuring the non-fiction book, Mrs. Oswald Chambers, by Michelle Ule.

Mrs. Oswald Chambers is about the wife of Oswald Chambers, the author of one of the most famous Christian devotionals, My Utmost for His Highest.

My Utmost for His HighestIt was published ten years after his death, compiled by notes his wife had taken from all his years of ministering and teaching the Bible.

I must confess, I only read biographies about people I am interested in and most of them are bogged down with too many details of the person’s life. Bestselling novelist, Michelle Ule, does an excellent job of telling the story of Biddy Chambers without boring her reader to death with wordy, unimportant details.

From her upbringing in Victorian England to her experiences in a WWI YMCA camp in Egypt,

I was captivated by young Biddy’s strength as she returns to post-war Britain a destitute widow with a toddler in tow.

Refusing personal payment, Biddy published not only My Utmost for His Highest, but also 29 other books, all with her husband’s name on the covers. As a single mother, she was ahead of her time by overcoming incredible odds, all while staying humble and true to her founding faith.

Since I started to read it, I could not put it down. If I had stars to give, it would receive five out of five stars for excellence in writing and historically accurate and captivating biography.

You could win an autographed copy of Mrs. Oswald Chambers

Michelle is giving away a signed copy of Mrs. Oswald Chambers. To enter, click here to email me. I’ll announce the winner in my October newsletter. To subscribe to my newsletter, scroll to the bottom of this page, where you’ll see a headline that says, “Free Stuff.” Be sure to tick the “Newsletter” box!