What I am Reading this Winter Break

It's the first official week of winter break and I am so pumped for five weeks of blissful reading and getting back to writing some reviews for you guys! 

Tomorrow is Christmas and I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season with their families and loved ones. Also, I hope you all are given an abundance of books too ;)

For this blog post I thought I would just showcase some books that I am or are going to be reviewing in the next coming weeks.

Winter Break's Reading Selection
Burning Sky: A Novel of the American Frontier by Lori Benton ...currently reading...review coming soon
The Headmistress of Rosemere (Whispers On The Moors) by Sarah E. Ladd
Match Made in Texas: A Novella Collection by Witemeyer, Cox, Carol and Connealy
A Miracle of Hope by Ruth Reid
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan ...currently reading
Plus, the 45 books on my kindle that I have collected over the year when they are on amazing deals and I can't resist the need to purchase... 

I am super super super excited to start reading! What are some books you are looking forward to reading during this winter break? Let me know your thoughts below! I can always use more suggestions for my reading list!

Have a terrific Christmas! God Bless you~!

For His Kingdom, 
Taylor Reid 

The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

Do not be fooled by the governess meets nobleman synopsis of Turansky's newest novel. Yes, this concept is a familiar one to fiction set in the early 20th century, but Turansky adds just the right amount of original details to this story to make this book one of a kind. 

What's it About

Julia Foster must leave India - their home for twelve years as missionaries - for England due to her father's illness. In order to help her parents' financially Julia takes up upon herself to become the governess of Highland Hall. She quickly learns that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges proves to be more challenging than she thought, and she is at odds with what to do with the master of the estate, Sir William Ramsey. 

Widowed and left to care for his two children and his two teenage cousins, William is burdened with saving the estate from financial ruin. The last thing he needs is any distraction coming from the kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith.

While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families—common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia’s steadfast heart and faith over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall’s future? (Goodreads Summary) 

My Thoughts 

This novel serves well for those who enjoy English period fiction. The customs, the language, the fashion, the romance, everything is top notch and English period fiction approved! I have many read reviews about this book claiming that it's  perfect for fans of Downtown Abbey because of it's Downtown Abbey feel. I have never watched the show (yes I've been living under a rock), but after looking into it after reading this book I would like to echo that remark. It's simply a devine and delightful read that you need to keep your eyes out for this season!

Turansky does not stop her readers from experiencing Highland Hall through the eyes of Julia and William, but also through the rest of the staff and other minor characters that live on the estate. I found it refreshing and enlightening  to not be limited to two main characters to carry on the story. With all of the people on the estate I would expect and want nothing else but to see Highland through a different lens and status of life. I truly love and appreciate that Turansky took her book that far into detail.

The dynamics between the upstairs and downstairs lives of the characters with their secrets and schemes made this book an "edge of your seat" kind of read. There is nothing more that I could want from this book than to read more about the characters! Turansky has written a captivating read with just the right amount of romance to keep your heart warm this winter! Turansky has put herself on my "Favorite Authors" list and I am looking forward to her next book that will continue on this series!

Rating: 5 out of 5 bookshelves
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Highly, highly recommend to read and to give as a gift this holiday season to your book-obsessed loved ones! 

Link to the Author's Website: http://carrieturansky.com/
Link to Book Trailer:  The Governess of Highland Hall Trailer
Purchase Links: Barnes and Noble  Amazon Christian Book

Happy Reading everyone! 

For His Kingdom, 
Taylor Reid

Stones for Bread KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway from Christa Parrish! Pin It & Win It!

Christa Parrish is celebrating her fourth novel, Stones for Bread, with a KitchenAid Mixer giveaway.

Easy steps to enter:

1. Follow Christa Parrish and TNZ Fiction on Pinterest.

2. Then Pin the Stones for Bread book cover (below), the contest graphic (above), or both, and link to this post (using this URL: #StonesforBread KitchenAid Mixer Contest #ChristaParrish http://litfusegroup.com/campaigns/stones-for-bread-by-christa-parrish).

3. Then fill out THIS SHORT FORM to let us know. (There are also some additional ways to earn extra entries, as well as an option for non-Pinterest users. It's true—people like that do exist!)

Questions? Email info @ litfusegroup dot com.

Winner will be announced on 12/9 on Christa's Facebook Page.

Litfuse Blog Tour Event: Stones for Bread by Christa Parrish

Stones for Bread will make you feel like you just took a bite out of a warm delicious piece of bread. It will fill you up and consume you with it's unique and charming story of a young woman whose passion for bread takes her farther than she ever imagined--or wanted. 

Goodreads Summary
What do you do when the gift you thought was bread turns out to be stones?Liesl McNamara’s Wild Rise is not only a popular bakehouse and café in Vermont, it’s an extension of herself. Liesl is an artisan bread maker, like her mother and grandmother before her. Even though she lost her mother to suicide when she was eleven, she keeps this maternal bond alive as she bakes. Liesl prides herself on living an uncomplicated, unattached life. But that changes when Seamus walks through the door of Wild Rise, lugging the large bags of whole wheat flour from the local food co-op. 

He and his daughter Cecelia have recently moved to the country seeking simplicity. Despite her best effort, Liesl becomes attracted to this teddy bear of a man who laughs easily and eats strange sandwich concoctions—on her bread, much to her dismay.
 
Her simple life is further complicated when a popular cooking show features her bakery. The publicity increases her business and brings several offers from larger businesses, all of which she turns down. But it also brings a completely unexpected phone call, one from a woman claiming to be her half-sister.
 
Liesl’s sense of identity dissolves as everything about her relationship with her mother—and the bread that held them together—comes into question. Has she been given stones rather than bread? And how can she ever take these crumbs and make them whole again?

My Thoughts

This book was a lot of firsts for me as a reader. To be honest I was so busy with school with transferring, work, and personal things that I was not in the reading mood. This is why this review is late! But one day I just decided to just try and read it, and I am so happy that I did. This book slowed everything down around me and from there I was captivated by this magnificent and truly endearing story that had captured my heart.

I don't usually highlight when I read a book especially when it's fiction. This book though had too many great passages that I could not not highlight or underline. 

There is so much strength and raw honesty from Liesl. She is a woman who has this connection to bread that is inspirational. She goes through a lot of uncomfortable situations in this book. First learning she'll be on t.v. for a bake-off show, than to being famous, to finding out she was adopted and so on and so on. Oh, and she is falling in love with an adorable and kind man and his daughter and trying to find out how that can work. It's all so common and yet not-- all of the things that she are placed in her path. All she wanted was peace and to go on her normal path. 

I can relate to that even now more than before reading this. 

From Liesl's POV, to her flashbacks as a child dealing with self harm, to her delicious bread recipes scattered throughout the book and also a look into bread through a biblical POV this book was overloading with genius and allure. You just want more because you never want it to stop. I loved every bite of this book. 

Liesl's story will take you through the hardest struggle of her life which is her identity. For everyone who has ever doubted their purpose and connection to someone or something will empathize and relate to this. 

The author tells us by the end of the book the meaning of the book. I just adore when authors do this! Don't you? 

Rating: 5 out 5 bookshelves 

Disclaimer: I received a free copy for an honest review from Litfuse Publicity Group.

Purchase a copy 
Learn more about the author 
Litfuse Giveaway Ends 12/7

For His Kingdom, 
Taylor Reid